Defining Online and Blended Learning

I have two perspectives on how online and blended learning looks like. First, online and blended learning, as it looks to me, is the space where you are learning. When I used to think of the word "learning" a classroom visual comes to mind. Online is all remote and blended learning uses both in-person and digital technology. It reminds me of when I get writer’s block using a laptop to do my writing, as soon as I physically get a pen and paper, the flood gates of my thoughts and ideas open. I can imagine, depending on the person, that is the experience some have in that they need human interaction and connection by being in a space that allows them to focus away from technology. 

As a learner I tried both online and blended learning. I thought I needed to be in a physical space interacting with my peers and instructor in order to stay motivated, focused, and make more sense of learning objectives. When I did the blended learning, it was almost ten years ago, online meeting tools were not mainstream. After a while, as an adult, going in-person became inconvenient due to things like rushing after work or being too tired to actually understand what was going on. Today, there are online tools and resources that can fulfill what students need in order to be successful in a fully digital learning environment. Applications like Zoom for meetings, that create a feeling of community and Learning Management Systems with a simpler way of organizing all learning materials, have made it much easier today.

Currently, as an online teacher I am using the blended learning model with a co-teacher who is onsite in a classroom. I do all things technology based and my partner teacher handles in-person methods. My experience is that I plan for instruction the same way I do when I was in-person. When planning my main focus is how am I going to convey my learning objectives so that students meet them. In a study, authored by O’Byrne and Pytash (2015) discussed that for instructional design, use of technology is the last thing to think about when planning for instruction. Some of my students would prefer to be fully online and just go to school for social activities, which makes sense since they are in middle school.

Online and blended learning is significant as it provides advantages like access, flexibility, differentiation, and utilizing technology that helps with skills in the workforce. With the help of technological advancements, the quality of instruction could be better than what a traditional classroom can provide. An article stated blended learning is just as good as traditional learning in the classroom as long as successful research methods in design are used (2021). Online and blended learning has opened up ways to use accessibility features to reach as many learners as possible. As an in-person instructor it was quite a feat to provide differentiation to all the types of learners in the classroom. The use of technology has features like closed caption, color adjustments, and screen reader. The world is running on technology, when used as learning tools, it allows for more exposure for the skills needed in the current job market.

The disadvantages that arise are having a good sense of time management, internet access for all whether it be provided for free or reduced prices, and technology access because not all areas get the same quality internet connection as most big cities. Finally, the cost to obtain these modalities of learning. I currently reside in Arizona, US, my home country is the Philippines. When I visit, some of my family lives in the most remote parts of the island, to my surprise they still get cell phone and internet service via satellite. My half-sister actually works remote where you can hear the chickens clucking in the background when she is on a call. The Philippines is considered a third world country but has access to technology providing opportunities for continuing education but still runs into the costs.

In my own journey of continuing education, I knew that being in-person was not going to be sustainable as a working adult with a family. I tried online learning in its early stages, and I made it work to a certain point. I stepped away for years and returned by finishing my undergraduate degree online and to keep the momentum going I started my master’s program with a different school but in a blended/hybrid environment. Blended learning did not work for me as the travel time and school caseload was not aligning with my schedule, in other words my time management was very weak.  I again, took some time away and realized I wanted to finish what I started. Fortunately, I was presented with an opportunity through my employer to reduce my tuition for a master’s degree program. I decided to return as a fully online graduate student and so far, the program has been student-centered.  How do I know that? It is fulfilling the Community of Inquiry model, which is satisfying the needs of learners through their perspective. As I go through the program, I see the changes and the flexibility that the instructors are implementing, and I hope that it goes for not just the learning design program but for other degree programs who have the same audience of adult learners. Adult learners are capable and motivated to learn the skills they need and earn a degree for growth in their field or goals they have set for themselves but that is just it, adults, who have so many outside responsibilities.

The future of online and blended learning is looking stable. With the rise in social media and technology influence, I can see it being the norm and face to face would be at a premium. An article discussed that even though online learning will be just as good if not better than in-person learning, it will not diminish the need for traditional classroom environments (McPherson & Bacow, 2015). Online and blended learning will not only reach higher education but also in K12 to meet the needs of learners of all ages. Now in my own thinking, not just a classroom pops up in my mind associated with the word "learning", it is so much more. The pandemic gave us a beta test on how online and blended learning would be used, now we just need to work on solutions for all the issues that were faced, so that the learning is more effective and beneficial to all stakeholders involved.

References

McPherson, M. S., & Bacow, L. S. (2015). Online higher education: Beyond the hype cycle. The Journal of Economic Perspectives, 29(4), 135–153. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43611014

Müller, C., & Mildenberger, T. (2021). Facilitating flexible learning by replacing classroom time with an online learning environment: A systematic review of blended learning in higher education. Educational Research Review, 34, 100394, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2021.100394

O’Byrne, W. I., & Pytash, K. E. (2015). Hybrid and blended learning: Modifying pedagogy across path, pace, time, and place. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, 59(2), 137–140. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44011233