Get Your Students Hired
Hyrbrid offers students the opportunity to develop relationships face-to-face, so they can put a "face" on their online connections.
Ronnie,
Yes, good point! We are much more encouraging of small children to utilize blended inputs that we are of older students :)
Dr. Ruth Reynard
It also brings out the aspect that they are teaching themselves is it a fact that our first few years of life is also this way using our enviroment to learn use of blended materials makes the student less reluctant to failure .
Robert,
Good points! Yes, there is the concept of individualized instruction but still within a wider community. The student can draw from either aspect when needed which empowers student development and learning. It also means, as you suggest, that the ideas are what connect students rather than simply being in the same class.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
One area that I like with hybrid systems is that the students may not choose the same people to work all the time as they would in a class session (typically due to sitting next to eachother). It is more based on content when they reply to discussion threads. It is more anonymous.
John,
Good points ! It is te combination of individual and community learning that works so well ...it also means that the group and f2f sessions need to be different from the individualized opportunities.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I think the biggest opportunity the blended course offers the student is the opportunity to be in control of their learning environment. They can work at their own pace, review as necessary, access the instructor through electronic communications and still sit in the classroom environment to foster group dynamics.
Randall,
Very true - it also provides access to various kinds of resources and interactive opportunities - this helps more students experience success.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
While we now live in a world swimming with information, they hybrid learning environment still provides the students with access to instructors to guide them through the over abundance of information available to them.
Daniel,
Good points. This delivery mode also balances synchronous and asynchronous interaction which enhances the learning opportunity for students. Have you found that combination effective for students?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I agree that blended learning allows the individual to work when it is covenant for them, but I also think it allows them to work when it is also a better time for them to learn. I have, and I am sure that most all instructors have noticed that each individual has better attentiveness and retention ability at different times of the day.
Bakhriya,
Can you expand your ideas a little more? Are you referring to design, dleivery, content, or all three? How do you think new technology changes things?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
john,
Yes, I agree. I have found the "culture" of the learning environment is totally different when blended delivery is implemented - much more participatory from the start - do you have any specific examples of how this has changed your teaching and learning experiences?
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I do agree with you on catching student with the eye to eye contact. This also may cause other students that are shy and do not ask a lot of questions in class to fall behind. With the blended learning, they have a voice that can be heard by all and are less apt to be shyful about asking questions they have not have done in a classroom.
I really like the flexability and opportunity it is giving instructors and students alike. i have seen a big difference from teaching conventional style to a blended learning style.
john,
Very well said! The flexibility and potential to meet diverse needs are central to this delivery mode.
Dr. Ruth Reynard
I have seen that it opens up more opportunity for the students to apply what they learn in class faster and this makes there class time a little easier on themselves. The simple things of learn and then apply it, do help them see what it is they may be having trouble with or accel at. I like the opportunity it also gives the instructor to be flexible in teaching.
I agree with Ken. Students today have so many avenues available, but they still need the input from a peer to verify that the information is correct. This also aloows the peer to grow in a sense due to the fact they may not have know the information that well.
Victoria,
On the "up" side, though, because you are relying so heavily on text and student presentations of thought, it helps you as an instructor focus on each student and follow their thinking process more closely - sometimes in a F2F environment, it is difficult to keep direct contact and follow the path of each student - particularly if you have a large class...
Dr. Ruth Reynard