Volume 5 Issue 2 2016 e-Academia Journal UiTMT (http://journale-academiauitmt.edu.my/) 115 BLENDED LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION: AN OVERVIEW *Naemah Abdul Wahab, *Jamal Othman, Saiful Nizam Warris Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences UniversitiTeknologi MARA (UiTM)CawanganPulau Pinang 13500PermatangPauh, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia *Corresponding author’s email: naema586@ppinang.uitm.edu.my jamalothman@ppinang.uitm.edu.my Abstract Blended learning is an innovative approach in creating motivating and meaningful learning experiences to fulfil learner's technological demands in the rapidly changing electronic era. Recognizing the emerging implementation of this learning method, this study explores the definitions, the rationale, past studies, the importance as well as the drawbacks, the issues arising and the suggestions in achieving a successful blended education implementation in higher education settings. From this study, we found that blended environment encourages the foundation of creating independent learners with reasonable critical thinking skills that are valuable for the current working environments. Blended learning is also a solution for classroom insufficiencies as well as teaching and learning flexibility. Nevertheless, not all the courses in higher education settings could apply the blended learning. Therefore, options should be given to the learners by the institution's administrator to either choose a conventional teaching method or a blended course. This alternative will overcome the issues for the low achievers who are unable to survive in blended approach and caters the needs for difficult courses that require a fully face-to-face classroom environment. Keywords: Blended learning; blended learning in Malaysia; implementation of blended learning in higher education 1.0 INTRODUCTION The use of Internet and Communication Technologies (ICT) has transformed our daily life enormously in many ways. ICT has established a modern approach in conducting businesses, online banking and government services. It also revolutionized the manner of communication beyond boundaries. Moreover, ICT changes the way in accessing, searching and disseminating information. ICT also facilitates in information sharing in the form of text, video, audio, etc. Most importantly, ICT has characterized a transformative innovation in the educational atmosphere, particularly in the higher education settings in the 21st century. It is a significant move to transform the higher education learning environments to accommodate the fast pace of ever increasing technological changes as mentioned by William (2002). Therefore, according to Garrison and Kanuka (2004), leaders of higher education are taking up the challenge and using this opportunity in changing their institutions to fulfil their potential student's connectivity demands and meeting the expectations of society for a better quality of learning outcomes and experiences. In fulfilling the latest high technological needs and expectations, higher learning institutions have been incorporating web-based learning into their traditional class education. Masrom (2008) mentioned in his