Blended Learning: Research Perspectives
Blended and Hybrid Terminology
January 23, 2007 - 12:46pm — cjennings
All,
Yes, there needs to be a standardization in the terms as there is much confusion. Especially considering that "hybrid" means something very specific in other industries. For example, a "hybrid" car is a concept car or one that uses alternate fuel. For consistancy, I propose the following that I learned from various books and articles:
Blended Learning - Selected courses within general education and specific degree programs are developed using an appropriate mix of 50% classroom and lab, and 50% online learning strategies. Core technical courses may use a two-thirds classroom and one-third online approach. Not to be confused with Hybrid Learning or a Hybrid Course.
Hybrid Learning (Courses) - students can select available online courses within a degree program or general education and take them along with classroom courses to meet their program requirements. Hybrid courses or programs could also be "pilot" concepts.
Cheers,
Chris
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For what it's worth, I've
For what it's worth, I've proposed the following definition at our college:
"Blended: any class that meets face-to-face for at least 5 50-minute periods per Carnegie unit of credit per semester and the equivalent of at least 5 50-minute periods per semester must be taught fully online. In less technical terms, this means that at least one third of the time the class must meet face-to-face and at least one third of the material must be presented online."
I chose to use 1/3 rather than the more common 1/2 in order to allow for lab classes where the catalog may show "4 hours lecture / 1 hour lab" or "2 hours lecture / 2 hours lab" or whatever. This permits the instructional managers some flexibility in scheduling "blended" classes for their own sections.
This definition has not be adopted by our institution; but, then, we have no definition, yet. I just wanted to throw it into the mix.
Flexibility is key
We use blended learning in our K12 schools and it does not replace seat time in the class. We use it to enhance the curriculum and provide after hour resources to students as well as digital submissions, discussion boards, and other digital resources. In our case we would define blended as it relates to types of learning vs types of time.
Re: Flexibility is key
Our organization has begun looking at blended learning as a way to extending the classroom beyond the four walls and providing students with increases access to the curriculum and providing a variety of learning modes. We settled on the term "blended learning" after some discussion of terms including hybrid and web-enhanced classrooms. The primary reason was that we thought that the term blended learning reflected flexible nature of what we had envisioned. What we were seeking was to incorporate the best practices in online learning with the best of classroom teaching techniques which could be adapted for the learner.
For what it's worth, we
For what it's worth, we would call this type of class a "Web Enhanced" class, indicating that all of the seat time was in a traditional class environment; but certain activities (like those you mentioned) were done online.
--George