Education is the future. Technology is the future. So why not blend the two to produce the best future possible? I believe that education systems should incorporate technology into the curriculum as much as possible so that they can prepare students in the best possible way for the future. However, I also value the traditional learning methods. I am not suggesting we only use an eLearning method for everyone. I am simply saying why not a blend of the two?
Source: Fox
For those of you who were like me an hour ago and didn’t know what eLearning is, I will help you out. eLearning is electronic learning which includes online courses and other activities all of which are online. This is an extreme adaptation of technology into school systems. eLearning is typically for homeschool students but can be used in any school.
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Many of us have personal experiences with traditional learning since it is how most of us were taught. Imagine sitting in your desk with your big textbook and notebook and the teacher lecturing in the front of the room. Can you see it? Well, right now you are imagining traditional learning. This is a more common way of teaching and is often referred to as “old-school”.
Source:http://click4it.org/images/f/f5/Traditional_Learning_vs_eLearning.pdf
Above is a chart explaining the major differences between eLearning and traditional learning. As you can see, there are pros and cons to both. For example, students are more involved and engaged in class discussions during eLearning, but also during eLearning, students are mostly working alone and rarely are working in groups which stops them from learning important social skills. This shows that a combo of the two is the best of both worlds.
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Would you rather have ice cream, a cookie, or both? I’m assuming that everyone would say both, so if we can/want both desserts, why can’t we have both teaching styles? Well, we can and it is called blended learning. Blended learning basically combines eLearning and traditional learning. In blended learning, students learn from both a teacher and technology based activities. Blended learning allows students to get the important ideas and explanations taught by a teacher while also learning important skills from technology. Blended learning allows students to build social skills for the real world as well as technology skills. If you are interested in learning about the benefits for each person in the school system, you can read more here.
Not only does blended learning sound like it would be more effective, but it also has a lot of research showing that it is the best learning style. The graphs below both show the successes of blended learning.
Graph A Source:https://blended.online.ucf.edu/about/benefits-of-blended-learning/
Graph A shows students’ success rates. This graph means that students’ who are being taught with a blended learning style get better grades than students’ who are being taught with either traditional learning or eLearning. A rule of thumb for teachers should be to do everything in their power to help students succeed even if that means changing their teaching style.
Graph B Source:https://blended.online.ucf.edu/about/benefits-of-blended-learning/
Graph B shows students’ withdrawal rates. So basically, this graph shows that students really like blended learning classes and are less likely to drop out of a blended learning class. Students from traditional learning and eLearning classes do not enjoy their classes as much as blended learning classes. Students really enjoy learning with a blend of “old-school” learning and technology which shows the success of blended learning teaching.
Students’ grades have increased and students enjoy their classes more when they are taught with a blended learning teaching style. Both of these positive effects give even more reasons for why schools should use a blended learning teaching style. A blended learning education will give students an opportunity to become comfortable with textbooks and lecturers as well as different forms of technology. By adding technology into the classrooms while still keeping traditional learning, students will be more prepared for a technology infused future. So instead of either traditional learning or eLearning, let’s promote the combination of the two with blended learning.
Source: DreamWorks
Well its goodbye for now…
Source: Disney
But I promise there is always tomorrow.