Blended Learning in Disruption Era

By: Sekar Meifi Andari

Today we live in a disruption where everything we need is available in our gadget including sciences. Education nowadays also requires the use of the gadget in order to do the blended learning. It is not an official requirement yet that schools in Indonesia have to do so, but it is an important step to guide the students to use the internet in a proper way, it means that they can use their gadget to explore further regarding the materials they are learning about.

One of the aims of blended learning is to help the students to have better progress in the learning process, under the preference and the learning style. (Pradnyana: 2013)

In order to achieve the aims, the teacher needs to employ learning models that fit to the program. But before deciding what kind of models will be used, the teacher shall learn to use the CoI (Community of Inquiry) framework first. The framework has 3 elements that are a social element, cognitive element, and teaching element.

Social element grants that students in CoI will free to express themselves openly in the way they like. They shall develop their relationship to have such commitment and ability to achieve academic purposes as it stated, not to mention to get a sense of belonging.

Cognitive element is the basic concept of the inquiry process. This element map inquiry patterns in the learning cycle from experiences through reflection and conceptualization to further exploration.

In the context of education, the teaching element is crucial to unite the social element and cognitive and to make sure that the learning community is productive. The teaching element provides designs, facilities, and instructions to create precious learning experiences.

The three elements must exist in each design of blended learning. Currently, the development of blended learning is growing faster which not only increases flexibility and individualization of student learning experiences but also allows teacher to streamline the time they spend as a learning facilitator.

There are many blended learning models that have been developed. These are several models that have been implemented by many educational institutions in various parts of the world.

1. Flex Blended Learning

Flex is included in the type of blended learning model where online learning is the core or backbone of student learning, but is still supported by offline learning activities. Students continue learning that begins in a real class with flexible schedules that are individually tailored to various learning modalities.

Most students still study at school, except for homework. The teacher provides face-to-face learning support in a flexible and adaptive manner as needed through activities such as small group, group projects, and personal guidance.

2. The 'Flipped Classroom' Blended Learning

This version of flipped classroom is the most widely known version, flipped classroom starts from student learning that is done online outside the classroom or at home with content that has been provided previously. After conducting an online learning process outside of school students then deepen and practice solving problems in school with the teacher and/or peers.

Thus it can be considered the role of traditional learning in the classroom to be "reserved". Basically this learning still maintains a traditional learning format but is implemented in a new context.

3. Individual Rotation Blended Learning

The individual rotation model allows student to rotate through stations, but according to individuals schedules set by the teacher or by software algorithms. Unlike other rotation models, students do not need to turn each station; they only roll to activities scheduled on their playlists.

4. Project-Based Blended Learning

Project-based blended learning is a learning model in which students use online as well as face-to-face teaching and collaboration to design, repeat, and implement project-based or product-specifics leaning tasks.

Online learning can take the form of online learning with forms or materials that have been prepared or independent access to learning resources needed. The main characteristics in this learning is the use of online resources to support project-based learning.

5. Mastery-Based Blended Learning

In the master-based blended learning model students do online learning and face-to-face learning in turns. The design and proportion of online and face-to-face learning is built on the mastery of certain competencies.

Assessment design is very important in any mastery-based learning experience. The Ability to use face-to-face and digital assessment tools is quite complex depending on the learning design mindset.



Sources:
https://maglearning.wordpress.com/2019/02/03/model-model-penerapan-blended-learning/