Blended Learning

About Blended Learning

Blended learning, simply put, is a pedagogical approach that combines traditional face-to-face instruction with online synchronous or asynchronous learning activities. It's a flexible model that allows us to integrate the best of both worlds: the personal interaction and engagement of the classroom environment, and the accessibility and adaptability of online resources.

Combining the strengths of face-to-face teaching and online learning, we can create a more dynamic and engaging learning experience for our students, ultimately leading to deeper understanding and retention of course material.

By embracing blended learning, we can adapt our teaching practices to meet the diverse needs of our students in today's digital age. It's an opportunity to leverage technology to enhance the learning experience and promote student success.

In-Person Learning

With Blended Learning we still have the valuable opportunity for face-to-face interactions with our students in the classroom. This time allows for discussions, hands-on activities and group work. In these sessions you can also flip the traditional classroom model by assigning students pre-recorded clips or readings to review before class. Then, use class time for interactive discussions, problem-solving sessions, or deeper learning.

Online Learning

Supplementing our in-person sessions, we can incorporate online components such as pre-recorded lectures, interactive pages on Canvas, quizzes, discussion forums, and multimedia resources. These materials provide students with additional resources for learning, reinforce concepts covered in class, and offer opportunities for self-paced learning.

Flexibility

Blended learning offers flexibility in how students engage with course content. They can review material at their own pace, access resources outside of class hours, and revisit topics they find challenging. This personalised approach can cater to different learning styles and preferences, fostering a more inclusive learning environment.

Online Learning Standard

The Online Learning Standard sets out the minimum expectations for learning provision for all courses at City of Glasgow College. Students expect and value the use of multi-mode learning that Canvas can offer, but can be confused by the variability in usability, availability and quality of online materials.

The Online Learning Standard has been developed to provide a framework for staff and students. It supports blended campus delivery and wholly online courses. The Standard also provides staff the opportunity to demonstrate the digital learning, teaching and assessment skills and practice described in the Professional Standards for Lecturers in Scotland’s Colleges.

College Learning Wheel

The Learning Wheel is a pedagogical resource designed to help enhance learning and develop digital literacy skills. The learning wheel below is customised version, tailored to include supported learning technologies at the City of Glasgow College.

There are six learning modes of engagement, which identify specific tools to help support and provide a digital approach for lecturing staff and their delivery of online and blended learning. Some tools can be applied across several modes. We have cited Diana Laurillard's summary of the six learning types (2002, 2012) as well as UCL's definition from their workshop.

ABC Learning Design method by Clive Young and Nataša Perović, UCL (2015) is licensed under CC BY NC SA 4.0. Learning types, Laurillard, D. (2012). Download at abc-ld.org.

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