B-learning (also called blended learning) is a contemporary educational approach which combines the digital medium with other face-to-face methods and activities more conventional. It is a way in which technology and the classical classroom experience merge to take advantage of the best of both facets of education today.
Although the term b-learning is very new and not widely used, the concept is already well known among teachers. Education has been embracing new technologies as they have permeated society, although there are still teachers who, due to lack of habit, resist them. In general, in all classrooms at any educational stage, we can expect a considerable alternation between conventionalism and educational innovation with the help of technology.
In this article we show you how to implement b-learning in a conscious, thoughtful and effective way so that the synergy between the traditional and the technological can bear the expected fruits in students' learning.
Advantages of b-learning
As we say, the advantages of b-learning or blended learning are the same as those of traditional and digital learning, but combined! Although it requires more planning than traditional learning, b-learning has proven to be very effective in learning. Here are some of the advantages of this educational approach:
- Learn digital skills essential: The youngest pupils are digital natives. And not because they are born knowing how to handle new technologies with ease, but because they are immersed in them. That is why education must ensure that students, in addition to the curricular subjects, know how to navigate a digital environment and use essential tools such as office automation.
- It is fun: Whoever learns by playing, learns twice. Technologies tend to be more interactive and to offer a more original and immersive repertoire of activities. But this does not mean that we cannot take advantage of conventional playful activities as we have done all our lives.
- Encourages cooperation: Technology provides a collaborative digital environment that moves the natural interactions between learners and between teachers that occur in real life into the virtual sphere, thus representing a fluid and permanent means of communication that fosters cooperation between learners.
How to implement b-learning in the classroom? A couple of examples
It is not difficult to find use for digital media in the classroom. But we don't always make the most of them or use them correctly to teach students the necessary digital skills. That is why we propose some examples of activities for you to implement blended learning in your classes easily:
Online discussion forums
In a b-learning class, the teacher begins by presenting a topic face-to-face, explaining key concepts and encouraging an initial discussion in which students can share their ideas and opinions.
The resolution of questions and any associated discussions are then moved to a forum on an educational platform such as Moodle or Google Classroom. In this forum, students can ask questions, respond to public and private messages and interact with teachers and peers.
Online assessments and questionnaires
After a face-to-face lesson where a specific topic is addressed, the teacher can use online tools such as Kahoot!, Quizizz or Google Forms for quick and playful assessments.
Beyond teacher assessment, these platforms are very popular with students because they combine learning with challenges in an idle way. As a result, students prefer these more interactive activities to typical lectures in which they simply act as passive learners.
Collaborative projects in the cloud
The teacher assigns a group project during a face-to-face session in which he/she determines the structure of the project and the team assignment. Students then work on the project using online collaborative tools such as Google Docs, Sheets or Slides.
With these tools, which are widely used in any work environment, learners are permanently interconnected in a space that they can access to contribute their work, edit it and comment in real time.
Flipped classroom
In the inverted classroom model, homework is not done at home, but in class. It is therefore a reversal of the traditionally established model: in class, homework is taught, and then, at home, the pupil does it.
In the inverted classes, students study the theoretical content at home through videos, readings and interactive materials proposed by the teacher on platforms such as YouTube. In the face-to-face class, they focus on resolving doubts and carrying out practical activities based on the content previously studied.
Online workflow
This way of working and exchanging tasks between teachers and students became popular during the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is still the norm in online education.
The teacher explains the tasks to be done in class, detailing the objectives and assessment criteria. Students submit their work via an educational platform before the deadline. Through this same platform, the teacher grades the submitted activities, allowing students to receive constructive feedback more quickly and conveniently.
Educational games
After a theoretical introduction in class, students can use online simulators or educational games to apply the concepts learned. Some tools such as PhET Interactive Simulations or video games in education and Minecraft: Education Edition offer interactive environments where students can experiment and learn hands-on.
Online tutoring
Prior to tutoring, teachers should have identified areas of improvement for each student that they have noticed during face-to-face classes. Subsequently, the teacher organises online tutoring sessions through tools such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, in which students receive personalised after-school support.
Blogs
In class, the teacher explains the importance of personal reflection and how to document learning. Students create blogs or digital diaries on platforms such as WordPress or Blogger where they publish their reflections on what they have learned or summaries of the syllabus.
Virtual laboratories
After a theoretical explanation in class about the concepts and procedures of an experiment, students can use virtual labs such as Labster or ChemCollective to perform experiments online. Virtual labs are a less explored option, as they are more complex to implement in the classroom, but are worthwhile for their pedagogical and practical potential.
Multimedia presentations
The teacher assigns topics for students to create presentations on and explains the assessment criteria during the face-to-face class. Students then create multimedia presentations using digital tools such as Prezi, Canva or Microsoft PowerPoint. These presentations can be shared and presented both in the classroom and online.
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