5 Different Types of Blended Learning

In our last article, we introduced the concept of blended learning and the benefits it brings for both our educators and teachers. Today, we will be diving deeper to look at the types of blended learning. While there is a catalogue of models used worldwide, Project ID has decided to share the five most popular models that are applicable and relevant to Malaysia’s classrooms.

* For the following illustrations, computer icons depict online learning, blue dots represent offline learning and students, red icons are instructors/teachers and green icons are ICT instructors.

1. Station Rotation

In Station Rotation, students will rotate at fixed points in time between different learning stations either on a fixed schedule or at the teacher’s discretion. At least one station needs to be an online learning one while the remaining stations could initiate activities such as small-group or full-class instructions, group projects, individual tutoring or pencil-and-paper assignments.

Station rotation will polish the students’ teamwork skills while keeping the newly learned information fresh in their minds. It is the easiest to implement because a majority of Malaysia’s schools already enforce group projects and have computer labs at the ready.

Summary:

• Students rotate at fixed times within a given subject between different stations.
• At least one has to be an online learning station.
• Other stations could include group projects or individual assignments.

2. Lab Rotation

Lab rotation, as the name suggests, involves having students rotate between classes and a computer lab within a particular subject, while being carried out according to the instructor’s schedule. In this model, students learn predominantly online and the classroom is reserved for other learning activities, mostly for students to raise questions and clear their confusions.

Students will learn individually during their lab time and have the opportunity to work with other students or complete assignments in traditional classes under the supervision of an instructor.

Summary:

• Students rotate as per schedule between traditional classrooms and a computer lab.
• The computer lab is used mainly for individual learning and the traditional classrooms for other work and assignments with the presence of instructors.

3. Flex Model

In the Flex model, online learning is the backbone of a student’s education and all other forms of activities serve to reinforce what was learned online. Students operating in a Flex model will be directed toward offline activities at select times while retaining the flexibility to experiment with different learning models.

In this particular model, students have their individual ‘offices’ in a central learning space, equipped with computers, where they will carry out their online learning regimen. The next feature are breakout rooms that enable students to work in small groups when there is a need for collaboration or exchange of ideas.

The science lab is where students carry out practical work and get a hands-on understanding of the material, and the social area is ideal for when students need to work in larger groups.

Such configuration of the Flex model grants the freedom of mobility to students at all times, giving them greater control over their learning process — they get to plan out where they want to spend their time and how long they want to study at each station. In essence, every student is allowed to customize their own learning playlist so it tailors to their needs.

Summary:

• Students are directed to offline activities at select times while being able to experiment with different learning modes.
• Students get to plan where they want to spend their learning time and for how long they plan to stay there for.
• An instructor will be available at every learning space to provide face-to-face support and tutoring on a need basis.
• Students learn online individually in their ‘offices’ in the central learning space and utilize breakout rooms for collaborations and projects with peers. The science lab and social area are amenities students can use to their advantage to attain further understanding of materials.

4. Flipped Classroom

In Malaysia, students are used to attending lectures for consecutive hours at school and completing their assignments at home. The Flipped Classroom changes this by literally flipping around the routine we have grown accustomed to.

In Flip teaching, students are tasked to study the topics by themselves during out-of-school time, with the aid of materials their teachers have uploaded online. When they get to class, they will then solve problems and do practical work supervised by an instructor. Students then take tests and quizzes at the same time to check for understanding.

After Station Rotation, this model of blended learning is perhaps the easiest to implement because it doesn’t require additional facilities, yet reaps the improvement that blended learning classrooms can bring.

Summary:

• Students study topics by themselves outside of school.
• Instructors provide supplemental materials online for students’ use to study.
• Quizzes and tests are done at the same time to check for understanding.

5. Mastery-based Model

The Mastery-based model acknowledges that not every student will master the lesson at the same time. As we’ve reiterated, learning isn’t one-size-fits-all; some students require more practice while others can understand concepts right as it is taught to them.

In this model, students rotate between online and physical classes based on the completion of ‘checkpoints’ and learning objectives. Simply put, let’s imagine Lily and John start learning their first chapter via materials uploaded online by their instructor. Lily finished the online materials and understood the concepts, so she felt prepared to take quizzes and assignments online to prove her understanding. In physical classes, the teacher would then test her; John, on the other hand, found it difficult to grasp the concept, so he decided to spend more time watching explanation videos.

Even though Lily and John will learn at different paces and be tested at different times, the end goal is achieved — that both students have a strong concept of the topic.

By granting students the sufficient time they need for a lesson and letting them decide when they want to take quizzes and tests, the Mastery model ensures that students will have learned how to apply what they have learned at the end of each course.

Summary:

• The Mastery model gives each student the time they need to absorb a lesson.
• Students get tested on the subject in physical classes by their instructor when they feel they are ready at different times.
• Students in the same class might then move at different speeds and pace based on their mastery of the subject, but all of them will succeed in applying what they’ve learned with this model.

It goes without saying that there are more models of blended learning out there waiting to be innovated and explored, but the five you have just learned about are Project ID’s top picks. The welcoming aroma of blended learning has only started to seep into our education system, and without a doubt, there is more to learn.

If you find this article useful, Project ID will be launching a series of teachers’ workshops on strategies for online teaching and learning. Click here to register your interest.

This article was written by Allison Lee, a writer for Project ID, with the research and support of PID’s programme team.

Project ID is an education social enterprise that runs high-impact programmes empowering students to lead self and others with 21st century skills. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Project ID has run over 40 online workshops with more than 1000 student participation across Malaysia.