Defining Online and Blended Learning

Online and Blended Learning is becoming a field that is being talked about more often. However, what is Online and Blended Learning?

Looking at the terms "Online Learning" and "Blended Learning", we could use common sense to determine what they are. For example, in "Online Learning", we can assume that learning is taking place primarily online. "Blended Learning", we could also assume that multiple learning environments are being used in conjunction with each other: online and in person. However, should the definition stop there? To truly understand what Online and Blended Learning is, we first need to understand a little bit of how it came to be and how it is today.

Distance learning paved the way for Online and Blended Learning. Having its origins traced back to as early as the 18th century, the advancements in communication technology have allowed learning to be delivered to people in more convenient formats (Kentnor, 2015). This allowed people of various backgrounds to continue their education without the need to commute to specific locations. Over the years this learning would take place through different mediums. In the beginning, learners would get their materials by post. Then as technology became more sophisticated we saw the use of radio and television programs to provide education to listeners/viewers. It wasn't until the birth of the World Wide Web in the 1990s that online learning was developed and distance learning became more commonplace (Kentnor, 2015). Now we have online institutions and organizations where learners can not only take online courses but also receive certifications and degrees through established online programs. This leads us to our first definition of "Online Learning".

After reviewing the origins of Online Learning and seeing how it functions today, we can define it as follows: Online Learning is when most if not all course content is delivered online. However, what can be considered most? Scholars like Kentnor say it should be 80% or more of the course content (Kentnor, 2015). Public Institutions such as Northern Illinois University also agree with this percentage, stating "Online courses are those in which at least 80 percent of course content is delivered online" (NIU, 2012). For me, not only should at least 80% of the course content be delivered online, but all assessments should be online. This is due to what some people may consider course content. For example, the first thing that comes to mind when I think about course content is the learning activities that are developed to pass information to learners such as lectures, readings, video recordings, etc. Assessments are how we measure mastery of said learning. To ensure the flexibility that Distance Learning was created for, assessments to measure mastery should also be given at a distance. Since Online Learning is under the umbrella of Distance Learning, this also applies to it as well. Taking this into consideration, and asking the question "What does Online Learning look like to you?", I would redefine it as follows. Online learning is when most of the learning takes place in a web-based environment and where all assessments, such as projects or exams, are given in the same environment to ensure flexibility and accessibility of learning.

Now that we have defined Online Learning, let's define Blended Learning. Even though the two modes of learning could be considered similar, they are also vastly different. For example, both Online Learning and Blended Learning use online environments to deliver content. However, Blended Learning would not be considered Distance/Remote Learning like Online Learning. Instead, it is considered and also referred to as Hybrid Learning. According to scholars Smith and Brame from Vanderbilt University, this type of learning occurs when "instruction has between 30 and 80 percent of the course content delivered online with some face-to-face interaction" (Smith & Brame, 2014). So what does this mean? Let us take a look at this in another context. Since Blended Learning is also referred to as Hybrid Learning, we can also compare it to when we work for a corporation that offers "Hybrid" positions. Sometimes we may be at a physical location working/learning, other times we would be working/learning remotely in an online environment. What percentage is in person and online can differ from class to class or case by case, but something important to note is that not all of the learning is taking place online unlike Online Learning and there is an element where we do have to meet with our instructors and peers in person.

We now know what Online and Blended Learning look like and the differences between them, but what are their benefits? What could these two learning styles have in store for use in the future? Something I mentioned previously in the definition of Online Learning was the phrase "ensure flexibility and accessibility of learning". The reason why I include this particular phrasing in my definition is because it directly ties into a major benefit of the learning style. If you do a simple Google search on the benefits of online learning, there is a common one you will see mentioned in every source. This benefit is flexibility/accessibility. The number one advantage of online learning is the fact that you can do it from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. This opens the doors for a vast number of people who would normally be barred from obtaining education due to geographical constraints. Another huge advantage of online learning is its differentiation potential. With its large range of potential format options and resources, learning can be personalized to the individual student (Gautam, 2020). There are two major setbacks to Online Learning however, these are technical issues and lack of in-person interaction which could result in feelings of isolation. Blended Learning can address these concerns somewhat. For example, Blending Learning, due to its hybrid format can remove the feelings of isolation however we do lose some of the accessibility that we achieved with online learning.

Looking into the future of these two learning formats, I can only fathom what will happen like many institutions and scholars. Since the future is a landscape that is forever changing and unfolding, no one can say for certain what will occur. We can only make guesses. However, having said this, I believe eventually we will be learning in a world where most learning occurs in one of these formats due to convenience, accessibility, and affordability.  With technology advancing the way it is now, it is entirely possible, but it will only happen if we have universal acceptance.

References:

Gautam, P. (2020). Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Learning. eLearning Industry. Retrieved from https://elearningindustry.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-online-learning

Kentnor, H. E. (2015). Distance education and the evolution of online learning in the United States. Curriculum and teaching dialogue, 17(1), 21-34.

Northern Illinois University Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. (2012). Blended and distance learning. In Instructional guide for university faculty and teaching assistants. Retrieved from https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide .

Smith, B., & Brame, C. (2014). Blended and Online Learning. Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. Retrieved from https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/blended-and-online-learning/.