Blended learning is style of education in which students learn through online interaction and technology. Through a student centered approach that focus on student collaboration with one another and through a connected classroom. Through the integration of traditional face-to-face interactions and activities with the 21st century method of technology. The value of blended learning showcases student choice when deciding the materials that they would like to interact with to learn about the content that the teacher has given.
For educators the shift form student to teacher interaction to student to student interaction shows the collaborative approach to blended learning. For the educator technology wont be a tool that you use to assist your face-to-face learning activities, but technology would be seen as the actual classroom space where the activity, sharing, and collaboration occurs.
For learners, they receive an increase control of their learning (depending on the age of the student). When information and content is online students are able to access the information anywhere for review. Learners are able to take their time to really understand the content shared before taking their thoughts and opinions into the discussion with the whole classroom.
Flipped learning/flipped classroom is the idea where educators are seen to change from their traditional ways of teaching to create a blended learning environment. Where the learners outside of class pre-load the content that the teacher gives to them. They are able to sit at the computer and learn about the content that is going to be taught in class. Giving themselves enough time and ability to go back to rewatch or relearn anything that the student needs assistance on. Getting the information that they are going to need for class allows the students to create group discussions with each other online. Asking questions and collaborating on the content that the teacher gave them gives them a blended learning approach to be in control of their own learning. Creating an environment that focuses on differentiation and student needs rather than just teaching a select few.
In this flipped learning approach the educator is seen in the middle of the classroom walking around and being apart of the learning with the students. Rather then standing at the front and just giving out the information to the students the teacher is talking to each group and individual to see where they are at with the content and answer any questions that need to be answered. With this approach all students are able to be engaged and challenged in the classroom by having the time spent applying the content they learned rather than listening to the teacher deliver the content.
Teachers are using these techniques because they provided an environment that the students are able to engage in, feel motivated in, and challenge themselves. With differentiation the students are able to learn at their own pace, being their own advocate for their learning they will feel confident and challenged in the content. With blended and flipped learning it moves away from the teacher delivering a lecture style lesson to students becoming 21st century students who use technology to further learn the content by not only researching, but discussing with each other online, asking questions and collaborating with the classmates.