What is blended Learning?

The majority of the courses delivered by Coursetopia are by blended learning, which is a mixture of online study and face-to-face contact (workshops, tutorials and observations in the workplace). The online study part of the course allows distance learning.

Learners can have an online induction, which can be by web conference or attending a face-to-face workshop. The primary course delivery, especially for theory content, is delivered online. Learners can participate in one-to-one support sessions, forums and any of the scheduled workshops.

Blended learning has become increasingly popular as an educational methodology, especially with the increased access to internet-based learning technologies in recent years. The idea of a blended learning approach is to allow flexibility and give learners who cannot attend conventional classroom-based courses due to other commitments or geographical location. This is not a shortcut, as the course curriculum and delivery will still need to be at the same standard as other methods. Learners are therefore encouraged to utilise all the learning opportunities available to increase their knowledge, understanding and skills regarding the subject under study.

Although we use blended learning, learners can also be assessed by a range of assessment methods such as observations, professional discussions, witness and expert testimonies, assignments, observation of practice and work products.

Why Blended learning?

Courses utilising technology fit well with the UK government's agenda of encouraging functional and minimum core skills. Blended learning has the potential of giving access or promoting inclusion to candidates who would not have had access due to several reasons, such as other commitments, as highlighted above. Blended learning has developed over the past few years due to the development of technology. Other advantages include 24-hour access to resources and flexibility and cost-effectiveness compared to travelling for classroom sessions.

Disadvantages of Blended Learning

The main disadvantage regarding this type of delivery is that the learner should be committed and have a lot of self-motivation as some of the features of a classroom environment cannot consistently be reproduced by blended learning, such as bouncing ideas instantly and a sense of belongingness when in the company of others. Disadvantage of Technology

The most significant disadvantage of blended learning is technology. Technology can be unreliable, and it can cause confusion and frustration for both teachers and students. Additionally, the software and systems used in blended learning can be complex and costly. Additional technology training might be required to help staff get comfortable with the system, which can be time-consuming and expensive.

Another disadvantage of blended learning is the lack of personalisation. Since learners and their tutor (assessor) interact mainly online, it isn't easy to get to know learners and understand their individual learning needs. This can lead to limited engagement and lacklustre results for the learners.

Effective time management is essential when it comes to blended learning. Learners can quickly become distracted and procrastinate when working online, and tutors must be careful to track learners' progress. Additionally, it cannot be easy to coordinate activities across different learning platforms.

Blended learning can also lead to feelings of isolation among learners. Since they are working remotely, they miss out on the collaborative environment of a traditional classroom. Additionally, due to a tutor's lack of direct instruction, students can sometimes feel like they are on their own and lack the necessary guidance on how to complete their assignments.

Blended learning can also lead to the loss of valuable opportunities for learners. In an online learning environment, learners may not get as many hands-on experiences with equipment like first aid kits or other learning materials. This can limit their experiences and overall learning.

While blended learning can be a great way to bring the classroom into the digital world, it comes with disadvantages as highlighted above. It is essential to weigh the positives and negatives of this learning model before committing to it. Coursetopia has tried to address this by facilitating peer web conferences and hosting optional workshops for those who want to be in a classroom environment now and again.