On Blended Learning

Blended Learning Is the Right Match for Today`s and Tomorrow´s Education 

by Jorge Enrique Arango Cifuentes

We are witnessing nowadays the widespread use of the latest technological tools such as: the Web 2.0 (e-learning) to acquire knowledge in different areas, which is innovative, effective, and meaningful  for many learners.  The amount of students choosing this style of learning is increasing day after day and will  definitely  be  the number one choice in the near future. 

Nonetheless, we should not leave aside the achievements reached in learning  for centuries through traditional education.  Therefore, I dare to say that achievements in education shall be best obtained by joining and implementing  both types of learning.

Firstly, there is no doubt about the great interest as well as the  number of e-learning   advocates : “Once we free ourselves from the mental limits of viewing this technology as a weak sister to face-to-face synchronous education, the potentials to evolutionize education and learning become readily apparent “.  (Turrof 1995).  In addition,  David Rashty, rashty@addwise.com :  “Findings of research conducted in the seventies and eighties, comparing the use of computers as a learning environment, also indicated a slight improvement in the student’s achievements following use of a computer”.  

Secondly it is also undeniable the importance of  traditional education (face-to-face education) : “A study of more than 2000 traditional college students published in the Journal of College Student Development found that the collaboration in traditional learning environments has a positive influence on academic areas, including acquiring knowledge, clarifying educational goals, interpersonal skills and student effort on their studies.” Education-Portal.com

Thirdly, among the many advantages that e- learning provides us through different means are: obtaining a college degree, learning another language or getting a skill in a variety of fields in a faster and more flexible way compared to face-to-face education. However, the commitment factor plays a crucial role since most  of us tend to procrastinate tasks unless they are being revised and evaluated regularly by a tutor or teacher  in a classroom.   the  experiences lived by students  in a school or college as well as the participation by them in sports teams or clubs cannot certainly be shared through a computer but through a face-to-face interaction

On the other hand, le us not forget the fact that traditional education has its own disadvantages as well.  For instance: the passive role which pupils play in a classroom that somehow may hinder his/her own learning, in contrast  to virtual learning since the student learns as its own pace.  Another disadvantage is perhaps the difficulty for a teacher to accomodate to all learning methods,  since many students present their own difficulties in learning,  which does not occur in virtual learning,  since there is one to one communication.

For all the facts and own thoughts provided above, I  certainly arrive to the conclusion and consider  that both types of learning (e-learning, and face-to-face learning) are relevant, necessary  and  need to be implemented from now on by  institutions and government entities in order to obtain the best results in today`s and tomorrow`s  education.   Blended Learning is the best choice of learning for all in the 21st  century.