The Covid-19 pandemic introduced students to online classrooms. Although the pandemic is over and physical classes are taking place, virtual tests and live teacher-parent meetings have become the new normal of the education system. Blended learning has become a new norm rather than exclusively physical or digital learning modes.
Blended learning is a game-changer learning method for holistic education. All school system stakeholders need to get involved in promoting and developing the new system.
Here is a guide about blended learning and its advantages for principals and education professionals. We will also plug-in suggestions for schools to implement blended learning efficiently.
Educational institutions can digitize their infrastructure smoothly with education infra solution providers like Teachmint.
What is blended learning?
It is a blend of traditional and modern tech-based education systems. Blended or hybrid learning provides customized and flexible teaching methods. It combines teacher-led classroom learning with digital technology.
Blended learning enhances the learning experience. Students perform better in exams and extra-curricular activities.
Advantages of blended learning
Schools can improvise teaching styles and cultivate a positive feedback culture. Blended learning helps to improve accurate assessment. There is an extensive application of blended learning for education, teacher training, and team management.
Greater online engagement has increased the use of blended learning in several schools. The adoption of hybrid learning has improved peer-to-peer activities, learner-centered approaches, and active learning methods.
Improved access and flexible approach
Principals and teachers can personalize the learning experience. Blended learning has provided flexibility and ensured universal access to education for all.
For example: Providing education in hilly regions of the Himalayan States and the North-East of India is an uphill task. Only big towns have the proper educational infrastructure.
A blended learning system with internet-based classes can connect the remotest of hilly areas. Internet and hybrid learning has democratized the education system.
Students can use online classes and also involve in social activities through a hybrid model. Many students prefer learning at their own pace and want to maintain human interaction.
Blended learning is the perfect education style for such people. The number of such people has multiplied many times since the lockdown.
Cost efficiency is a crucial benefit of blended learning. Higher educational institutions are implementing blended learning faster primarily because of significant cost savings.
Principals and teachers can organize multiple teaching sessions, evaluations, meetings, etc., via the internet. It is much cheaper than meeting face-to-face in school or college premises.
Higher acceptance among smartphone generation
Technology and social media are vital components of hybrid learning. Students of the current generation love to use tools and platforms for educational purposes. There is a high acceptance of tech-based learning methods among students.
What does the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 say about Blended Learning?
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 emphasized the holistic growth of children with improved learning experiences. The NEP 2020 has introduced several changes to transform the Indian education system. Blended learning is one of the crucial components to attaining the vision of NEP 2020. The policy has recognized the advantages of blended learning.
The Government of India’s ambitious education reform focused on digital education and in-person interaction to learn crucial 21st-century skills. A government think-tank will identify various effective blended learning models for suitable implementation for diverse subjects.
How can principals be prepared?
- Blended learning has brought a change in the approach to education delivery. It is no longer a top-down method where teachers follow a one-size-fits-all style. Now we need to develop a student-centric and bottom-up education system. Teachers and principals should work as coaches and mentors. We need to provide a personalized and comprehensive education.
2. Hybrid education provides spare time for principals and teachers to use the time for teacher training, one-to-one interaction, school/college facilities reviews, etc.
3. Principals can lower the excessive workloads of teachers with online teaching and evaluation.
4. Reduced work pressure is vital for India, where the teacher-to-student ratio is low at 26 to 1, per a UNESCO report.
5. We can use blended learning for the professional development of teachers. Lower workloads and spare time help to pursue courses and train teaching professionals.
6. Principals and school hiring teams should hire subject experts. There should be a focus on technology integration.
Tips for implementing blended learning
If we need to know how to implement blended learning in our schools/colleges/institutions, then we can follow the following four-step process:
1. Choosing a hybrid learning model
- We should choose a BL model according to the learners' and teachers' requirements.
- We can introduce technologies under the confines of traditional infrastructure.
- The model should invoke maximum engagement and the least resistance.
- Widely used models are lab rotation, station rotation, flipped classroom, and flex learning.
- A correct blended learning model is vital because it will affect our tech-upgrade cost, physical infrastructure, teacher’s role, student response, etc.
2. Multimedia tools
Choose multimedia tools for a comprehensive learning experience.
Some of the preferable tools for schools/colleges:
- Gamified learning
- Audio/Video insertion
- Branching scenarios
- Case studies
- Augmented reality (AR) and artificial intelligence (AI)
- Interactive illustrations
We can also allow smartphones in our institutions. It will help students to learn on their
familiar devices. They can read and revise anywhere, anytime.
3. Developing Personalized Learning Pathways
- Every student has a different understanding level and learning style. Blended learning allows our institutions to customize education.
- After discussing them with teachers, we can develop personalized, unique, and targeted learning experiences for students.
- Customized learning pathways are one of the best advantages of blended learning. Students do better when they are in a customized program.
4. Projects and training sessions
- People might feel hesitant or uncomfortable with shifting to blended learning from the traditional method of education.
- Principals should assign tasks online and conduct training at regular intervals.
- We should encourage blended learning techniques in teaching methods.
- Observe performance, review, and repeat for correct implementation
Change is the only constant. Blended learning is the need of the hour. Read the passage, follow the tips, and implement a hybrid education style now. Teachmint can help institutes adopt blended learning smoothly. With our integrated school platform, schools can manage their activities from a single platform. The lms portal, institute erp, performance management system, and other tools smoothen the process of school management.
Janga la Covid-19 limeweka wanafunzi katika madarasa ya mtandaoni. Ingawa janga limekwisha na madarasa ya kimwili yanafanyika, vipimo vya kawaida na mikutano ya moja kwa moja ya walimu na wazazi imekuwa kawaida mpya ya mfumo wa elimu. Kujifunza mchanganyiko imekuwa kawaida mpya badala ya njia za kujifunza tu za kimwili au dijiti. Kujifunza mchanganyiko ni mchezo-mabadiliko ya kujifunza mbinu kwa ajili ya elimu ya jumla. Washiriki wote wa mfumo wa shule wanahitaji kuhusika katika kukuza na kuendeleza mfumo mpya. Hapa ni mwongozo kuhusu kujifunza mchanganyiko na faida zake kwa wakurugenzi na wataalamu wa elimu. Pia tutashirikisha mapendekezo kwa shule kutekeleza kujifunza mchanganyiko kwa ufanisi. Taasisi za elimu zinaweza digitize miundombinu yao kwa urahisi na watoaji wa suluhisho za elimu kama Teachmint. Ujifunzaji mchanganyiko ni nini? Ni mchanganyiko wa mifumo ya elimu ya jadi na ya kisasa inayotegemea teknolojia. Mafunzo ya mchanganyiko au mchanganyiko hutoa mbinu za kufundisha zilizoboreshwa na rahisi. Inachanganya kujifunza darasani kunakoongozwa na mwalimu na teknolojia ya dijiti. Kujifunza mchanganyiko huongeza uzoefu wa kujifunza. Wanafunzi hufanya vizuri zaidi katika mitihani na shughuli za ziada za shule. Faida za kujifunza mchanganyiko Shule zinaweza kurekebisha mitindo ya kufundisha na kukuza utamaduni wa maoni mazuri. Kujifunza mchanganyiko husaidia kuboresha tathmini sahihi. Kuna matumizi makubwa ya kujifunza mchanganyiko kwa ajili ya elimu, mafunzo ya walimu, na usimamizi wa timu. Ushirikiano mkubwa mtandaoni umeongeza matumizi ya kujifunza mchanganyiko katika shule kadhaa. Kupitishwa kwa kujifunza mchanganyiko kumeboresha shughuli za wenzao, mbinu za kujifunza, na mbinu za kujifunza kikamilifu. Upatikanaji ulioboreshwa na mbinu ya kubadilika Wasimamizi na walimu wanaweza kubadilisha uzoefu wa kujifunza. Mafunzo ya mchanganyiko yametoa kubadilika na kuhakikisha upatikanaji wa elimu kwa wote. Kwa mfano: Kutoa elimu katika maeneo ya milima ya majimbo ya Himalaya na Kaskazini-Mashariki mwa India ni kazi ngumu. Ni miji mikubwa tu iliyo na miundombinu ifaayo ya elimu. Mfumo wa kujifunza mchanganyiko na madarasa ya mtandao unaweza kuunganisha maeneo ya mbali zaidi ya milima. Mtandao na kujifunza mchanganyiko umedemokrasia mfumo wa elimu. Wanafunzi wanaweza kutumia madarasa ya mtandaoni na pia kuhusika katika shughuli za kijamii kupitia mtindo wa mseto. Wanafunzi wengi hupendelea kujifunza kwa mwendo wao wenyewe na wanataka kudumisha mwingiliano wa kibinadamu. Kujifunza kwa mchanganyiko ni mtindo kamili wa elimu kwa watu kama hao. Idadi ya watu kama hao imeongezeka mara nyingi tangu kufungwa kwa nyumba. Ufanisi wa gharama ni faida muhimu ya kujifunza mchanganyiko. Taasisi za elimu ya juu ni kutekeleza kujifunza mchanganyiko kwa kasi hasa kwa sababu ya mapato makubwa ya gharama. Wakurugenzi na walimu wanaweza kuandaa vikao vingi vya kufundisha, tathmini, mikutano, nk, kupitia mtandao. Ni rahisi zaidi kuliko kukutana uso kwa uso katika shule au chuo kikuu. Kukubaliwa kwa juu kati ya kizazi cha simu mahiri Teknolojia na media ya kijamii ni sehemu muhimu za kujifunza mchanganyiko. Wanafunzi wa kizazi cha sasa wanapenda kutumia zana na majukwaa kwa madhumuni ya kielimu. Kuna kukubalika kwa njia za kujifunza zinazotegemea teknolojia miongoni mwa wanafunzi. Sera ya Elimu ya Kitaifa (NEP) 2020 inazungumzia nini kuhusu kujifunza mchanganyiko? Sera ya Elimu ya Kitaifa (NEP) 2020 inasisitiza ukuaji wa jumla wa watoto na uzoefu bora wa kujifunza. NEP 2020 imeanzisha mabadiliko kadhaa ya kubadilisha mfumo wa elimu wa India. Kujifunza kwa mchanganyiko ni moja ya vipengele muhimu vya kufikia maono ya NEP 2020. Sera hiyo imetambua faida za kujifunza kwa mchanganyiko. Serikali ya India imepanga marekebisho makubwa ya elimu, ikizingatia elimu ya dijiti na mwingiliano wa kibinafsi ili kujifunza ujuzi muhimu wa karne ya 21. Serikali think-tank itatambua mifano mbalimbali ya ufanisi mchanganyiko wa kujifunza kwa ajili ya utekelezaji sahihi kwa masomo mbalimbali. Viongozi wa shule wanaweza kujitayarishaje? - Mafunzo ya mchanganyiko yameleta mabadiliko katika mbinu ya utoaji wa elimu. Ni njia ya juu-chini ambapo walimu kufuata moja-ukubwa-fits-wote style. Sasa tunahitaji kuendeleza mfumo wa elimu wa chini-juu na wa mwanafunzi. Walimu na wakuu wanapaswa kufanya kazi kama makocha na washauri. Tunahitaji kutoa elimu ya kibinafsi na ya kina. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Elimu ya mchanganyiko hutoa wakati wa ziada kwa wakurugenzi na walimu kutumia wakati kwa ajili ya mafunzo ya walimu, moja-kwa-moja mwingiliano, shule, vyuo vikuu, vipimo vya vifaa, nk. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Wakurugenzi wanaweza kupunguza mzigo wa kazi wa kupita kiasi wa walimu na ufundishaji na tathmini ya mtandaoni. 4. Uwe na uhakika Uwezo wa kuongoza katika elimu ni muhimu kwa nchi ambazo kiwango cha walimu kwa wanafunzi ni cha chini kwa mwaka huu, na ni chini ya asilimia 26 kwa kila mwanafunzi. 5. Uwe na mtazamo mzuri. Tunaweza kutumia kujifunza mchanganyiko kwa ajili ya maendeleo ya kitaaluma ya walimu. Mzunguko wa kazi mdogo na wakati wa kupumzika husaidia kufuata kozi na kufundisha wataalamu wa ualimu. 6. Uwe na uhakika Wakurugenzi na timu za kuajiri shule zinapaswa kuajiri wataalamu wa somo hilo. Lazima kuwe na lengo juu ya ushirikiano wa teknolojia. Kujifunza kwa mchanganyiko: Ikiwa unajua jinsi ya kuanzisha ujifunzaji mchanganyiko katika shule yako, unaweza kufuata hatua nne zifuatazo: Kuamua mbinu ya kujifunza ya mseto - Ni muhimu kuchagua mbinu ya kujifunza ya mseto kulingana na mahitaji ya wanafunzi na walimu. - Tunaweza kuanzisha teknolojia chini ya mipaka ya miundombinu ya jadi. - Mfano huo unapaswa kusababisha ushiriki mkubwa na upinzani mdogo. - Mifano kutumika sana ni maabara mzunguko, kituo cha mzunguko, flipped darasa, na kujifunza flex. - Mfano sahihi wa kujifunza mchanganyiko ni muhimu kwa sababu itaathiri gharama yetu ya kuboresha teknolojia, miundombinu ya kimwili, jukumu la mwalimu, majibu ya mwanafunzi, nk. 2. Uwezekano wa kupata Vifaa vya multimedia Chagua vifaa vya multimedia kwa uzoefu wa kujifunza kamili. Vifaa vya shule na vyuo vikuu: Kujifunza kwa michezo - Kuingiza sauti na video - Mifano ya matawi - Uchunguzi wa kesi - Uhalisi ulioongezwa (AR) na akili bandia (AI) - Mifano ya maingiliano Tunaweza pia kuruhusu simu mahiri katika taasisi zetu. Itasaidia wanafunzi kujifunza kwenye vifaa vyao vinavyojulikana. Wanaweza kusoma na kurekebisha mahali popote, wakati wowote. 3. Uwe na mtazamo wa kweli Kuendeleza Njia za Kujifunza za Kibinafsi - Kila mwanafunzi ana kiwango tofauti cha uelewa na mtindo wa kujifunza. Kujifunza kwa mchanganyiko inaruhusu taasisi zetu kubadili elimu. - Baada ya kuzungumzia nao na walimu, tunaweza kuendeleza uzoefu wa kujifunza wa kibinafsi, wa kipekee, na uliolenga kwa wanafunzi. - Njia za kujifunza zilizoboreshwa ni moja ya faida bora za kujifunza mchanganyiko. Wanafunzi hufanya vizuri zaidi wanapokuwa katika programu iliyoandaliwa kwa ajili yao. 4. Uwe na uhakika Miradi na vikao vya mafunzo - Watu wanaweza kuhisi kusita au wasiwasi na kuhamia kwa kujifunza mchanganyiko kutoka njia ya jadi ya elimu. - Wakurugenzi wanapaswa kugawa kazi mtandaoni na kufanya mafunzo kwa vipindi vya kawaida. - Tunapaswa kuhamasisha mbinu za kujifunza mchanganyiko katika mbinu za kufundisha. - Kuchunguza utendaji, mapitio, na kurudia kwa ajili ya utekelezaji sahihi Mabadiliko ni mara kwa mara tu. Kujifunza kwa mchanganyiko ni haja ya saa. Soma kifungu hicho, fuata vidokezo, na utekeleze mtindo wa elimu ya mchanganyiko sasa. Teachmint inaweza kusaidia taasisi kupitisha kujifunza mchanganyiko kwa urahisi. Kwa jukwaa letu la shule jumuishi, shule zinaweza kusimamia shughuli zao kutoka jukwaa moja. LMS ni mfumo wa uendeshaji wa shule, mfumo wa usimamizi wa utendaji, na vifaa vingine vinavyowezesha mchakato wa usimamizi wa shule.