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| Blended learning, a combination of classroom training and e-learning may bridge the gap between the present and the future of education |
Prince Gora
When the national lockdown came into effect at the end of March 2020, we all thought that it was a matter of weeks before we returned to campus again. But, it didn't turn out that way as COVID-19 cases and deaths spiked and the lockdown kept on being extended. It soon became apparent that institutions had to adjust and adapt to the new normal so, everyone hastily moved online. The shift to emergency remote teaching and learning has been a crash course for many universities and colleges, and many have achieved things previously thought impossible.
Though it allowed for progress, online learning soon proved to have many shortcomings of its own. In our case, not only did we find ourselves lacking the necessary technology, infrastructure and electronic gadgets, we also faced challenges with basics like network accessibility and electricity. Mobile data and Wi-Fi proved to be too expensive while practical disciplines like engineering and medicine saw little to no progress at all.
With the advent of the vaccine, it is therefore not surprising to hear people insinuating that we should go back to how things were before the COVID-19 pandemic came. The argument is understandable but, I believe that going back to the status quo is folly.
While digital learning has shown that it cannot completely replace face to face teaching, it’s difficult to find an area of higher education where digital teaching and learning has no role to play at all. What we need to do now is to take advantage of the best of both worlds and embrace what is called blended learning - a style of education in which students learn via electronic and online media as well as traditional face-to-face teaching. When blended learning is done well, digital and in-person delivery can enhance each other.
A blended learning model is undoubtedly a great way to augment the learner’s experience, but its advantages go beyond that. Academic research suggests that blended learning gives learners a more comprehensive understanding of course content as it offers the learner convenience and flexibility; it broadens the learner experience by supporting anytime, anywhere learning, and reshapes the role of the instructor. Essentially, through blended learning, online and instructor-led training is complementary and creates an integrated learning environment. Blended learning also reduces face-to-face training costs, such as travel, accommodation, and printed teaching materials.
Another reason for not reducing schooling to interaction with a computer (even if it were possible) is that doing so limits the opportunity to learn important human skills and attributes like kindness, humility, sharing, support, etc. We humans are social and develop by interaction with each other in the material, corporeal world. Real-world interaction is enjoyable and pleasurable, as well as being developmental. Human children learn to be intelligent, empathic, and considerate through interaction with adults and peers. Thus, interaction within the family and beyond is essential for humanity as we know it.
While allowing learning to continue, blended learning will enable institutions to gradually move away from traditional face to face teaching to more sophisticated online methods. This gradual adaptation will also allow the government and institutions to ensure that all students can fully access the benefits of digital teaching and learning.
The most significant barrier to online learning has been digital poverty. For every student to be ready and able to learn digitally, they should be provided with an appropriate device; good connectivity; reliable back-up when things go wrong; relevant software; a trained teacher; and space in which to work in. While the government, institutions, NGOs and well-wishers try to make that a reality, we need to embrace blended learning.
Though it allowed for progress, online learning soon proved to have many shortcomings of its own. In our case, not only did we find ourselves lacking the necessary technology, infrastructure and electronic gadgets, we also faced challenges with basics like network accessibility and electricity. Mobile data and Wi-Fi proved to be too expensive while practical disciplines like engineering and medicine saw little to no progress at all.
With the advent of the vaccine, it is therefore not surprising to hear people insinuating that we should go back to how things were before the COVID-19 pandemic came. The argument is understandable but, I believe that going back to the status quo is folly.
While digital learning has shown that it cannot completely replace face to face teaching, it’s difficult to find an area of higher education where digital teaching and learning has no role to play at all. What we need to do now is to take advantage of the best of both worlds and embrace what is called blended learning - a style of education in which students learn via electronic and online media as well as traditional face-to-face teaching. When blended learning is done well, digital and in-person delivery can enhance each other.
A blended learning model is undoubtedly a great way to augment the learner’s experience, but its advantages go beyond that. Academic research suggests that blended learning gives learners a more comprehensive understanding of course content as it offers the learner convenience and flexibility; it broadens the learner experience by supporting anytime, anywhere learning, and reshapes the role of the instructor. Essentially, through blended learning, online and instructor-led training is complementary and creates an integrated learning environment. Blended learning also reduces face-to-face training costs, such as travel, accommodation, and printed teaching materials.
Another reason for not reducing schooling to interaction with a computer (even if it were possible) is that doing so limits the opportunity to learn important human skills and attributes like kindness, humility, sharing, support, etc. We humans are social and develop by interaction with each other in the material, corporeal world. Real-world interaction is enjoyable and pleasurable, as well as being developmental. Human children learn to be intelligent, empathic, and considerate through interaction with adults and peers. Thus, interaction within the family and beyond is essential for humanity as we know it.
While allowing learning to continue, blended learning will enable institutions to gradually move away from traditional face to face teaching to more sophisticated online methods. This gradual adaptation will also allow the government and institutions to ensure that all students can fully access the benefits of digital teaching and learning.
The most significant barrier to online learning has been digital poverty. For every student to be ready and able to learn digitally, they should be provided with an appropriate device; good connectivity; reliable back-up when things go wrong; relevant software; a trained teacher; and space in which to work in. While the government, institutions, NGOs and well-wishers try to make that a reality, we need to embrace blended learning.
First published on March 31st, 2021 in The SAFRAP Newsletter Volume 2: Issue 2 of March 2021 titled Education Reloaded.
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