Blended, virtual and mobile learning should replace face-to-face instruction
“If blended learning is emerging as more effective, and possibly efficient, should we really be building quite as many schools and colleges when blended, virtual and mobile learning could provide alternatives?"
With the increasing use of technology to facilitate one-on-one as well a one-to-many communications and access to resources, plus the ability to do this independent of time and location, the traditional view of classroom based instruction is now past its 'used-by' date as the most effective means of achieving success in student learning. Despite the evidence, our education leader and policy developers remain fixed on the idea of schools as physical entities, and focus on building buildings, with box-shaped learning spaces. The recent report from the US department of education provides ample evidence now that online and blended learning are more effective than straight face-to-face instruction for student learning. We need to be exploring blended, virtual learning and mobile learning strategies as alternatives,
Bring on blended!
Side Score: 17
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Stick with classrooms!
Side Score: 16
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Kids are already using a wide variety of technologies to create their own learning networks and to access resources to support their learning. Schools and our education system need to understand this and work to accommodate it within the way schools are structured and organised. Side: Bring on blended!
Schools should definitely be reaching out beyond their walls; teachers simply can't be the experts on everything. So, access to experts elsewhere, and the ability to learn skills from others around the world can open up so many doors. It would also promote a greater tolerance and understanding of other cultures. Side: Bring on blended!
I disagree that students already use a variety of technologies to create their own 'learning' networks. The emphasis for them is social, and from what I've seen of most Facebook and Bebo pages, there's a lot of absolute rubbish talked, and a lot of show/bling with no substance. Likewise with the inane texting conversations that go backwards and forwards. They may feel connected and think they have lots of friends with these networks, but how can anyone call these 'learning networks'? Side: Stick with classrooms!
And that doesn't happen in classrooms and homes? The inane and lack of substance? It may not be happening in every interaction but I've seen lots of learning happening on social networking from texting to find out what homework is to sending people to different online resources to help them acheive a task. And then there are the discussions and events that prove a wider social issue. One of my nephew's used Facebook to protest a student representation issue at his school. If you didn't know the back story it looked kind of bizzare and very inane. Knowing his father meant I pretty much figured it out before he told me the whole story when he was in NZ on holiday. We need to be careful about how we judge our young people. The biggest difference is that online media creates a record of what has always happened as young people form identity. Side: Bring on blended!
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Blended is blurred. It is not saying either use of web 2.0 tools or not it is and-both. With this in mind new schools could and should consider the possibilities when creating learning spaces for the future. Starting with the vision of learning for the future must be paramount, which is why establishment boards should be selected for their ability to think in new ways. Otherwise we miss many opportunities. While I agree that schools may also be about keeping students safe, allowing parents to work etc there is no longer a one size fits all model of education. Yet there are few alternatives currently offered other than traditional schooling. Some schools do have many different pathways for students but many still get caught in the structures of schooling rather than the needs of learners. Blending at its best involves thinking about student needs and working from there. Maybe if this was the starting point more students would be self managing? Side: Bring on blended!
Blended is definitely the way to go that way you get the best of both worlds. Socialisation etc and the ability to access what you as a student need irrespective of location. Wow that's a good idea Eddie PS have a look here already going on in New Zealand Side: Bring on blended!
Bring on blended!!! But does this necessarily mean we need to be building less schools - or just different schools??? I think there is certainly scope for less provision of formal learning spaces as students simply do not need to spend every moment of their education in traditional classroom spaces... Few would argue that face to face and a central meeting point will not remain a critical element of our education structure, but perhaps (hopefully!!!) this may look a little different from the classroom based schools we have today... Side: Bring on blended!
Quite agree, Toni - blended delivery along with other 'permeable classroom' initiatives provide the opportunity to improve the baseline of what we provide for our students, and the opportunity to re-examine what we consider the core aspects of 'a school' to be. Does the nature of 'school' reside more in the physical campus, or in the activity that takes place? How are the two things related? How might that impact future planning and Minsitry resourcing strategies? Side: Bring on blended!
Quite agree with you. I've been in education for 28 years now and have seen quite a number of changes. I may have become an old cynic, but I think there is no single soltion to the 'problems' education faces (and has faced for years). There are many different learning styles, even per person as it were, so there should be many ways in which you can learn and get information Side: Bring on blended!
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Actually, I wonder if the statements saying that students are already familiar with so many of these tools are an exageration. Few of the students I work with are! So, where are these students? I have three of them at home, but I believe that most students 'out there' know little about the tools available or how to use them. Side: Stick with classrooms!
I'm not quite sure the implications of this have been thought through...are we ready for kids NOT to be in classrooms. If they are not in classrooms (or not as much as they are now) where will they be? We cant overlook that a key reason for the development of our education system was to keep kids safe while their parents worked in the factories (that was once we decided it was inhumane for the children to be working in the factories) Moving to a blended system implies far more change than just educational change. And while blended suggests that there will always be face to face involvement - we shouldn't underestimate the positive aspects of encouragement and celebration that teachers provide within a classroom context. Side: Stick with classrooms!
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Many of the students that I teach are poor at making wise decisions about their education. E.g. Given an hour on their own to study, they choose to sleep or socialise. They need guidance and encouragement from a variety of adults and their peers. Blended education can take place in a classroom, although the infrastructure inside the rooms may need to be updated to allow access to a wider variety of technology and information sources. Traditional styles of teaching can also be blended with other methods. Students will hopefully then be able to take the learning skills demonstrated and tested inside the classroom and continue learning outside school. Side: Stick with classrooms!
Blended, virtual and mobile learning cannot replace a teacher who is tuned into the needs of his/her students and who can adapt learning sequences to suit these needs and learning styles. Face-to-face instruction need not be totally replaced - just enhanced with the thoughtful and meaningful use of this kind of teaching tool. Side: Stick with classrooms!
Here we are all learning outside the classroom-within this debate. I know that my 16 year old son needs a classroom and a school for his learning, drama, and to develop socially. We are however frightfully risk adverse in creating flexible natural learning. By year 12-13 students could be attending more than 1 physical school and a virtual space or three.We do need to cater for the fact that the school day is only 1/3 of a 24 hour cycle. We need to consider some changes Leeds for example have closed, some high schools in favour of a polytech type experience. The worst thing we could do is change nothing. I like the idea of: classrooms in the middle of the city, a more flexible day, greater student voice. I guess my vote for the classroom is a vote for the blended classroom. In the end the risk takers will lead us to a new paradigm through trial and success. Side: Stick with classrooms!
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