Blended Learning

A coordinated concept: Blending of in-Person and Digital Education

Blending of in-Person and Digital Education

In blended learning, in-person and digital components are coordinated and interlinked so that synchronous and asynchronous learning phases complement each other. Individual components of regular in-person classes are replaced by digitised learning elements and formats.

The mix of in-person and online learning situations in blended learning approaches can vary greatly. It is often combined with the flipped classroom (or inverted classroom) approach.

Advantages

  • Flexibility of the learning process (what & when to learn)

  • Promotes self-organisation skills

  • Social media components in the Moodle course ensure less formal interaction

  • Games, quizzes & tasks in the Moodle course create playful learning scenarios (gamification)

  • Fast communication & quick personal feedback is possible via Moodle

Disadvantages & Challenges

  • Self-responsibility for the learning process

  • Important: face-to-face exchange with fellow students (social component)

  • Role of the physical lecture hall as a learning space 

  • Training in the use of the digital learning platform Moodle

  • Time required to create the accompanying Moodle course and learning materials (e.g. teaching videos)

First Steps Towards the Blended Learning Concept

Design a teaching concept

1. Design a teaching concept

Which framework conditions can I expect? What are the learning objectives? Which didactic decisions do I need to make for synchronous and asynchronous learning phases? Go through the guiding questions for the teaching concept here and tailor your course accordingly.
Create a Moodle course

2. Create a Moodle course

Create a Moodle course for your class and find out here which activities, group assignments and tasks you can implement with Moodle to achieve an optimal interlinkage of self-learning phases and (online) classes.
Enable digital forms of examination

3. Enable digital forms of examination

Here you will find an overview of possible digital examination formats at the University of Greifswald. Consider whether these formats can also be provided and digitally implemented for your blended learning concept and the set learning objectives.

Important: A well thought-out supervision concept

Example of an excerpt from a supervision concept:

Example of a supervision concept