What is Blended Learning?

Blended Learning is an approach to learning that combines face-to-face and online learning experiences. The physical presence of both teacher and student are required over time, place, path, or pace.

For example, a student might attend classes in a real-time traditional classroom and then to further complement and supplement the lesson plan can also get enrolled by completing an online course, say at a training institute or so. It’s also been noticed that students who complete online courses have enriched educational experiences, despite having interactive, face-to-face class activities.

Blended learning combines the best of two learning approaches:

What is Hybrid Learning?

The Hybrid Learning Model is an interactional model that encapsulates teaching and learning that captures the processes from the learner and the teacher perspective.

The hybrid learning model including its capabilities, in addressing the challenges associated with capturing and describing teaching and learning practice for dissemination and redesign, are always under constant flux and are being examined continuously for improved effectiveness, with the technological progress made. The effectiveness of the hybrid learning model in ideation, conceptualization, articulating, reflecting on, designing, evaluating and sharing academic practice is investigated, for desired better outcomes. 

How did Hybrid Learning Evolve?

Hybrid learning uses online components for teaching and learning that replaces face-to-face classroom time. 

While initial hybrid learning approaches happened almost entirely at home — for both students and teachers, teachers were in the classroom teaching both in-person and online as schools shifted from an all-remote approach to a combination of virtual and in-person classes.

How Does Hybrid Learning Differ from Blended Learning?

While the terms “hybrid learning” and “blended learning” are often used interchangeably, they’re not identical.

It can be confusing, but with blended learning, learning is not taking away from facetime. Instead, blended learning is all about providing online materials and tools that supplement learning rather than replacing the face-to-face experience.

In practice, blended learning often takes the form of new initiatives such as project-based learning that add multimedia resources to common coursework and allow students to self-direct and hence learn in a self-paced manner with some of their learning experiences to explore the holistic results of differing educational disciplines.

Hybrid Learning meanwhile, takes the available online technology tools and provides them to students, through online learning portals and online learning platforms, for use outside of the traditional school environment.

When it comes to hybrid learning vs. blended learning, here’s a differentiating thumb rule to remember: 

• If technology enabled learning tools augment face-to-face frameworks, they are blended learning models.
• If technology enabled learning tools facilitate the replacement of in-person instructions, they are hybrid learning models.

Blended learning focuses 

• on the combination of offline and online learning 

Hybrid learning is about 

• finding the right mix for you out of all the possibilities in learning, no matter if they are offline or online

Conclusion:

mPowerO is a cloud-hosted eLearning platform for any time, anywhere online learning in an intuitive, mobile-friendly format. mPowerO facilitates continuity in learning beyond the classroom with eLearning resources configured to an institute’s pedagogy. 

mPowerO provides continuous support and is an end-to-end offering to Online Learning Platforms/Solutions. Reach out via email at info@mpowero.com or visit us at https://www.mpowero.com/ for more information.