Blended Learning: the Flexibility of Distance Learning

 

Sandro Serpa

Prof. Dr., University of the Azores, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, Department of Sociology; Interdisciplinary Centre of Social Sciences – CICS.UAc/CICS.NOVA.UAc;

Interdisciplinary Centre for Childhood and Adolescence – NICA – UAc, PORTUGAL, sandro.nf.serpa@uac.pt

 

Abstract

Blended Learning is a teaching modality - learning that articulates face to face moments with computer mediated moments (synchronous and asynchronous) of interaction between the trainer and the trainee(s), through the mobilization of technologies which allows a different management from the traditional and control of time and space by both trainers and trainees, given the flexibility and autonomy it offers to participants in this process.

This is a recent concept but it is already starting to be implemented in educational processes, taking into account, among several factors, the possibilities that the current technological resources provide, the ease of access that is increasingly verified to the use of these technologies, the reduction of expenditure that can generate in the medium term, the potential increase in the number of trainees and also, the contribution it can make to the improvement of learning given both its flexibility and the wide range of online and/or face-to-face learning situations and resources it can provide such as discussion forums, texts, videos, sharing of experiences and doubts, real-time chat sites, e-mail, face-to-face conversations.

All this implies a new, or at least different, perspective of approaching the teaching process - learning (from trainers but also from learners) at various levels: time management, space management, use of existing technological resources, content and materials to be made available and worked on, regulation of the process (either by the trainer or self-regulation), technological literacy, the need for online availability which often does not fit in with very strict schedules, the promotion of communication situations and not only information transmitted by the trainer (unidirectional), group management and finally evaluation (initial, continuous and final).

Blended Learning, which seems to be unavoidable today, brings great challenges as a teaching strategy. It is a formative modality to be encouraged for reasons of pedagogical effectiveness and efficiency but also for the potential to overcome geographical barriers and thus expand the audience to be trained.

Keywords: Distance learning, Blended-learning, flexibility in teaching-learning.