Blended learning is a method of teaching that incorporates face-to-face (or live broadcast) and online course components. A well-planned blended learning course will take advantage of the best components of each teaching medium.
Face-to-face or live broadcast delivery allows students and instructors to interact with each other and to change the direction of a course based on the knowledge and experience of all persons involved. The learning experiences can be adapted to meet the needs or interests of the students.
Online course delivery allows participants to interact on a schedule convenient to each and allows for thoughtful responses that can be enhanced by outside resources and time to process the information. Students who are shy in a live classroom setting might be more willing to participate in an online environment. While students who generally talk a lot during class, may not be as likely to drive the conversation in an online environment.
We have a number of instructors at Utah State University who are developing courses to be delivered in a blended format. As I meet with them to help them plan their courses I am pleased to see them considering which activities would be better done in a live class versus an online class session, matching those activities to course objectives. Their intention is to prepare well thought out learning experiences for students to help students build on current constructs of knowledge and pursue new depth and potential.
