Start blending. Take your teaching beyond the classroom and make the learning context more real and authentic. Encourage learner’s autonomy and help your students develop creativity and reflective thinking. Shape the learning experience to individual needs and interests. Free up some class time to work with those who would really benefit from your support and assistance.
What are other benefits of blended learning?
Storage: The materials can be stored online. No need to print out tonnes of worksheets and handouts which will probably end up in the bin anyway. Students’ work can be submitted and commented on online. Assessment evidence (written work, presentations, videos or audio files) can be presented as an e-portfolio.
Having experimented with a range of clouds, I chose Google drive as the platform that appeals to young learners and meets their needs.
Access: Global resources and materials can be accessed by students anywhere and at anytime. Getting in touch is easier and faster. Students don’t need to feel excluded from learning even if they are not physically present in class.
My students bring their own devices for classes. The use of moblie phones during the classes is encouraged. Platforms and programs we use are also availabe as apps so students can access them easily on their phones or tablets while on-the-go.
Multimedia: The use of multimedia in education makes the whole learning experience more lively and interactive, more interesting and enaging. However, it should be carefully planned, well thought over and purposeful.
Apart form videos and interactive grammar activities, my students started preparing virtual maps and taking part in virtual tours with Google Earth Voyager. Below a map they created.
Recently, they have investigated various education models around the world from London to the Himalays. Watch this short video teaser demonstrating what the tour they took looked like.
The tour is available here. More about Google Earth Voyager in this post.
