The art of blended learning combines face-to face teaching with computer-mediated instruction, not only improving the efficiency of classroom use and cutting down on-campus traffic, but also increasing student learning outcomes and reducing instructional delivery costs as a whole. Its structure allows it to retain all of the elements of live instruction, making it- in the opinion of many- a combination of “the best of both worlds” when it comes to teaching. Although it remains fairly novel in respects to its use in higher education, it has the potential to combine and apply science or IT activities with the assistance of educational technologies which utilize computer, cellular, video conferencing and other emerging electronic media – key word being “potential”.
The impact that cutting edge media can have on blended learning courses is exponential, especially in the PDA cluttered internet society the world has rapidly transformed into. These outlets have the power to reach the new generation of students in ways never imagined, instantaneously and interactively, adding to the depth of learning outside of the classroom. However, one of the reasons that these emerging technologies have yet to be incorporated into programs is because of apprehension and reluctance on the part of institutions that focus on ways technology can benefit them from an economic standpoint, rather than its effect on the quality of education being offered. It’s true; an injection of these technologies into blended learning programs brings new operational challenges to the table, but overcoming these obstacles can open doors to another level of enlightenment. What better way to truly impact the teaching process other than adapting it to the normality’s which persist today. We live in an information-hungry tech-savvy instant-access culture, so shouldn’t education be tailored to these emerging themes? Sending a recording of a virtual class lecture to your students web mail inbox for review, encouraging and mediating a discussion between multiple students via webcam and VOIP capability, allowing technology to impact both profit and production; it’s the future of blended learning and online teaching and its all within reach.
