DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26483/ijarcs.v11i5.6645
Volume 11, No. 5, September-October 2020
International Journal of Advanced Research in Computer Science
REVIEW ARTICLE
Available Online at www.ijarcs.info
© 2020-2022, IJARCS All Rights Reserved 27
ISSN No. 0976-5697
MODEL-BASED COURSE DESIGN FOR EFFECTIVE BLENDED LEARNING
APPROACHES
Adekola Olubukola Daniel
1
Computer Science Department
Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State,
Nigeria
Awodele Oludele
2
Computer Science Department
Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State
Nigeria
Maitanmi Olusola
3
Computer Science Department
Babcock University, Ilisan Remo, Ogun State
Nigeria
Abstract: Blended learning has come off, more or less, as the most logical and natural evolution of our learning systems. It
suggests an elegant solution to the challenges of tailoring e-learning environment to face-to-face learning environment. It
represents an opportunity to integrate the innovative and technological advances offered by online learning with the interaction
and participation offered in the best of traditional learning. It can be supported and enhanced by using the wisdom and one-to-one
interaction of personal coaches. Believe it or not, the relevance of the pedagogy used in relaying knowledge cannot be over-
emphasised. Also, it has long been recognized that specialized delivery technologies can provide efficient and timely access to
learning materials. A teacher handling face-to-face students might be able to discern when they are getting the message by their
countenances or when they don’t seem to by their reactions. How would an e-learning teacher meet the needs of their students
psychologically, morally, socially and even academically since they cannot see each other? That brought the needs for the blended
knowledge of ensuring that there is a predefined method of transferring idea to online students in such a way that the needs of
these students are met. This is to fill such gap. This research considered the following four stages as paramount to the
development and practice of blended e-learning which was adapted from IBM 4-tier: learning from information, learning from
interaction, learning from collaboration, and learning from collocation.
.
Keywords: pedagogy, e-learning, online learning, blended learning
I. INTRODUCTION
The unabated debates have not stopped as to whether it is
the use of a particular delivery technology or the design of
the instruction that improves learning [1]. It has long been
recognized that specialized delivery technologies can provide
efficient and timely access to learning materials; however,
[2] claimed that technologies are merely vehicles that deliver
instructions, but do not in themselves influence student
achievement. Research according to Clark noted that meta-
analysis studies on media research have shown that students
gain significantly when learning from audio-visual as
opposed to conventional instruction. However, the same
studies suggest that the reason for those benefits is not the
medium of instruction, but the instructional strategies built
into the learning materials. In the same vein, [3] suggested
that learning is influenced by the content and instructional
strategy in the learning materials than by the type of
technology used to deliver instruction.
Blending is an art that has been practised by practical
teachers for centuries. It focuses on the integration of
different types of resources and activities within a range of
learning environments where learners can interact,
understand and build ideas. Over the past few decades,
blended learning has extended learning methodologies,
opening up opportunities for open and distance learning and
at the same time challenging more traditional methods.
Recently, the term blend has been attached to e-learning, and
this blending of e-learning with traditional methods is
attracting the interest of many teachers in further and higher
education.
Blended learning has attracted so many definitions but
found this more appealing and précised; blended learning
combine face-to-face instruction with distant education
delivery systems [4]. In the same manner other researchers
declared that blended learning combined technology with
face-to-face learning which has become generally acceptable
in most research documents [5]. [6] argues that the particular
attributes of the computer are needed to bring real-life
models and simulations to the learner; thus, the medium does
influence learning. However, it is not the computer in real
sense that make students learn, but the design of the real-life
models and simulations which are necessary in every online
learning and the students’ interaction with those models and
simulations. The computer is merely the instrument that
provides the processing capability and delivery medium.
Kozma is correct in his claim, but learners will not learn
from the simulations if the simulations are not developed