A Practical (Blended) Teaching and "Blearning" Model

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, prolonged social unrest, and hospitalization for a long duration are forcing conventional universities to negotiate a sudden shift to blended learning, or "blearning," to avoid interruption of studies. Unfortunately, success in a traditional environment does not necessarily guarantee success in the "blearning" environment. Moreover, regulatory authorities such as Office for Students in the United Kingdom have set up student protection plans to ensure that the student continues to benefit from a fulfilling learning experience when there is a change in operation, such as the digital shift in teaching. This article presents a new practical model called the practical (blended) teaching and "blearning" method (PTBM) and discusses the ingredients necessary to ensure that the transition to "blearning" does not affect satisfaction among learners and tutors negatively. It also defines "blearning" to establish it as an integrated process so that it is no longer presented as a mixed or hybrid model. The model, based on a comprehensive literature review and compilation of best practices, attempts to address various challenges of blended learning identified by researchers. It aims to enhance the learning experience so that learners feel independent but not isolated.