Technology is evolving at breakneck speed, presenting both challenges and opportunities for students and educators. Blended learning, which combines traditional classroom instruction with online learning, is one approach educators use to meet these challenges.
As schools adopt blended learning models, instructional technology specialists play a crucial role in helping educators implement and balance these hybrid techniques effectively. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) online Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Instructional Technology with a Specialization in Educational Technology program equips professionals with the skills to support blended learning in today’s schools, preparing them to bridge the gap between traditional education and modern technological tools.
Blending Learning Strategies
Many educational institutions have already embraced blended learning techniques, even if they are unfamiliar with the term. Blended Learning Universe defines the approach as a formal education program that is partly online, giving students some control over the time, place and pace of learning, and partly in a location where students are in a brick-and-mortar educational environment.
For an educational program to be truly “blended learning,” the online and in-person elements are deeply connected and provide a wraparound learning experience for the student. As D2L puts it, there’s a difference between hybrid learning, which offers students some online resources and activities, and blended learning. Blended learning tailors the educational experience to each student’s learning style by pairing their in-person educational experience with online components.
Educators can follow seven different educational models for blended learning, including station rotation, lab rotation, individual rotation, flipped classroom, flex, a la carte and enriched virtual, according to LearnWorlds. The rotation model allows students to rotate between learning modalities on a fixed schedule or one created by the teacher to tailor to each student’s needs. The different stations could include face-to-face instruction, small group work, written assignments and online learning tools.
A flipped classroom allows students to work through lectures and online courses before gathering in person with peers and their teacher to participate in projects, discussions and exercises. As part of the flex model, students have more control over their learning, as they create a customized schedule based largely on online learning with face-to-face instruction when needed.
The a la carte model, already offered in many secondary schools across the U.S., gives students the chance to take a fully online course alongside in-person courses inside a traditional classroom. Finally, as part of the enriched virtual model, students can complete most of their coursework online but must also attend some in-person classes that complement their virtual lessons.
Benefits of Blended Learning
Blended learning opens the door to various possibilities for students and educators alike. Timely points to the enhanced flexibility online platforms offer, as instructors can customize activities and instruction to each student’s needs. The approach is also more cost-efficient by reducing the amount of necessary classroom space while increasing the educator’s reach to more students.
In addition, educators get access to data on how students engage with classroom material. In turn, instructors can help identify where students are struggling earlier and begin to provide targeted support to prevent students from falling behind, according to Leading Learning.
Bring Emerging Technologies to the Classroom With Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Technological components of education are at the core of SIUE’s online MSEd, Instructional Technology – Educational Technology program. Students complete courses such as Foundational Issues for Educational Technology Specialists, where they explore historical perspectives of technology in education, K-12-based design models and educational media.
Educators also gain greater familiarity with current and innovative technologies in the field through the Emerging Technologies in Education course. Students get hands-on experience with new software and accessories in a variety of instructional settings, preparing them to step into all types of classrooms with confidence. By mastering the tools and strategies needed to blend digital resources with traditional instruction, graduates of SIUE’s program can create innovative, effective learning environments that prepare students for success in a digital world.
