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You may be wondering about “what is blended learning?” Well, blended learning combines traditional offline and online knowledge in a way that both complement each other.

It offers individuals the best of both worlds. For instance, a learner might choose to attend face-to-face classes and then supplement them by completing online multimedia coursework. It allows learners to attend class once a week physically, and then they would be free to go at their own pace without sweating about scheduling issues.

We will discuss in detail what this learning entails and how you can make the most of it.

What is Blended Learning?

As blended learning combines traditional methods of education and eLearning to create a more flexible experience, it creates dynamic opportunities for students outside the classroom.

The classroom setting provides the opportunity for role-playing with instant feedback from instructors. In comparison, online learning allows students to have personalized, self-paced learning with interactive media like games, quizzes, tutorials, videos, and other social media components. Students can access these eLearning features on their smartphones or tablets from the Learning Management System home page.

Why Choose It?

Educators at higher and lower institutions have organically adopted blended learning to help students in and out of the classroom.

Blended learning builds a truly integrated classroom that meets the needs of every student. Keeping learners engaged, motivated, and stimulated assists educators in being more effective and efficient. Here are the apparent benefits of blended learning;

Personalized Learning

Blended learning considers every type of learner, whether they want to learn in a traditional classroom, prefer to learn online, or want to try a mixture of both. Without the limitations of in-person learning or an online course, blended learning takes advantage of various methods so that the educational content can be customized to students and optimized for the subject matter they are studying. While it is almost impossible to fully translate face-to-face training to digital content, it’s still possible to restructure the existing content for online delivery to supplement the ongoing activity.

Latest Learning Trends

The blended approach utilizes online and offline technologies to enable instructors to seamlessly adopt the latest learning trends and modalities into their curriculum. Teachers can also use built-in reporting features in Learning Management System for in-depth and data-driven insights into the learners’ progress and success.

Reduced Costs

In-person learning may seem like a cheaper option when compared to online learning, however, you need to consider the actual cost of traditional classroom sessions. For students who are also working, in-class training means time away from work, paying educators, etc. A blended online learning approach lowers travel costs and can be used multiple times, reducing educators' burdens.

Fun & Interactive

Raising your hand and not being called on by the instructor is frustrating. In addition, it impacts the overall engagement of students in a classroom. However, blended learning offers more ways for learners to interact with educators and learning materials. It is an interactive experience in every sense of the word.

Diverse Reach & Customized Experience

Institutions worldwide are striving to make learning universal and accessible. Travel and language interpretations pose significant challenges, but blended eLearning can easily address these problems and can bring together students from different locations in its virtual space.

Learning Models

Teaching a diverse group of learners in traditional classroom learning can be challenging as it’s almost impossible to tailor the learning experience to individual needs. A blended model helps you to personalize the subject themes to time considerations, learning techniques, and personal preferences. But, to implement such models, you must change how you think about teaching and learning.

Here are some blended learning methods that you can use.

In-Person

Flex Learning

Rotation

Self-Blend

Online Driver

Online Lab

Gamification

Blended Learning: Best Practices

Blended learning is effective for covering a lot of courses material with independent and engaged students. But how do you encourage students to take charge of their education? You can maximize a combined at-home and in-class effort by putting best practices and blended learning strategies to work with the rest of your program.

A. Explain The Importance of Blended Learning

If you do not tell students the reasoning behind why you combined independent and face-to-face learning, you run the risk of losing them from the get-go. Therefore, stakeholders involved in the educational process should take the time to explain why they chose blended learning as a mode of knowledge delivery. For this, you also need to respect every student’s individual journey to fully engage them in the learning process.

B. Activities for Everyone!

To make the blended approach successful, you must have diverse activities for every student. To make this happen, try to have everything for everyone. For example, some learners prefer to learn by reading, while others learn best when doing things. You cannot use one one-size-fits-all approach, rather, you must pay attention to individual details and consider the needs of each learner. So include diverse activities like group discussions with or without tools for collaborative learning, games, online quizzes, role-playing drives, and every other method you can think of that will enhance user engagement.

C. The Tool of the Century!

Learners today have the most powerful tool at their disposal; the internet.

Why would you write questions on a whiteboard when you can show an engaging video? Also, ask learners to watch videos on their own time and then engage them in class discussions the next day. Learning becomes more interactive and practical when students explore stuff on their own, so why tell them a fact when they can actually research it and report it back in class?

How To Implement Blended Learning?

Pause and consider the benefits of your training and what you want the students to learn. You most likely already know this since you created instructor-led sessions. Then, use the experience and instructors’ knowledge to ask important questions like; where the problem lies.

Think of the aspects of your program that are difficult for you and your students and require practice to master. For example, dry, factual information, technical specifications, and compliance information. This is your opportunity to get a foot in the door and take instructor-led sessions to the next level by developing blended eLearning techniques for students to learn and practice on their own time.

To implement both online and offline training interventions set up a Learning Management System that can track the progress of students and the success of learning interventions.

The world of AI and virtual education is constantly evolving and growing. Whether you want to learn new skills or explore a subject or topic, online learning resources offer endless solutions. You can also complete an entire course on such platforms and save money compared to traditional classroom learning.

When students were forced out of school, it was challenging for them to find places to learn and develop new skills. The internet, however, saved the day, and many institutions started offering resources for online learning. In addition, many online platforms have made courses and training easier than before. Distance learning is a perfect way for most students to continue their education, so we’ve put together a list of online learning resources to help you find the best fit.

List of Top Online Learning Resources

1. Bloc

Bloc is an intensive option for students who want to learn quickly. It focuses on web development and offers a highly structured program running 25 hours per week over several months instead of short courses or lectures.

2. Canvas Network

Canvas Network provides open, online courses from educators worldwide. Canvas Learning Management System powers it and offers a place and platform for teachers, students, and institutions to come together and chat their courses for professional development, personal growth, and educational inquiry.

3. Khan Academy

Khan Academy provides an entirely free educational library of micro-lectures. It is a non-profit online platform focused on traditional academic subjects like humanities, science, mathematics, economics, and computer programming. Since the forum is free to use, anyone can get a taste of the topic before moving on to more advanced courses elsewhere.

4. SimpliTaught

SimpliTaught is an edTech platform offering curated content around key learning concepts. It offers opportunities for students to learn from the best educators worldwide. Learners can choose which key concept or course they want to take, and the AI-driven platform gives them a highly personalized learning experience based on their preferences and interests.

Also, educators, content creators, and institutions can come on the platform to create their courses to reach a vast majority of students and benefit from the AI+ML engine that lets them promote their courses, lesson plans, videos, audio, and other learning materials. SimpliTaught helps you to create, learn, and collaborate.

5. Coursera

One of the most well-known names in online education is Coursera. The platform has a vast array of online learning resources with a global roster of universities and partners offering more than 3,900 specialized courses. Most of the courses are free, or learners can use them to earn a degree from an accredited institution.

6. edX

edX is an educational platform that Harvard and MIT founded. It has taught more than twenty million people since its inception. The platform is a global non-profit organization that features courses from educators and universities all over the world in subjects such as computer science, engineering, languages, biology, marketing, electronics, and writing.

7. Academic Earth

Academic Earth is a repository of free online video lectures and courses from the world’s top universities and colleges. Students can find specific courses in many subjects and search by universities to learn what they are interested in. It is a smart search tool and an excellent site to start your academic journey.

8. Drawspace

Drawspace is an educational tool offering high-quality art lessons for all skill levels. Experienced art teachers design these lessons. They provide complete courses and individual classes to help students master different drawing techniques.

9. LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning offers subscriptions starting at $19.99 per month. It provides learners with extensive video skills and a tutorial library. Once you have subscribed, the services also include LinkedIn’s Premium Career features to assist you in growing your career.

10. Udacity

Udacity is a 100% online platform with a strong focus on technology. It has a small but well-crafted collection of courses. If you are looking to learn the latest tech skills, data science, AI, or cloud computing at home, Udacity’s data science program has instructors from companies such as Facebook and Salesforce. In addition, under the “nano degree” program, Udacity allows you to pay monthly for your courses. Their classes come with tech support, career services, and real-world projects.

11. Udemy

Udemy is well known for teaching and learning online. The company offers courses ranging from $10 to $500 based on your chosen class and educator. Most of their courses are inexpensive but costs quickly scale depending on the complexity of the subject matter. It gets a little expensive once you take more than one class on the platform.

12. Open Culture

Open Culture is a website that collects audiobooks, ebooks, textbooks, and other educational materials to support lifelong learning with free classes, videos, and audio. The non-profit educational site finds free learning resources from across the internet and gathers them under one platform. They make these materials available for students to quickly find what they want to learn.

Final Thoughts!

With the digitization of almost everything, education is also not lagging behind as many learners opt for personalized e-learning. Covid has abruptly shifted billions of learners out of schools, colleges, and universities and sparked an interest in online learning. Institutions are embracing this change and trying to figure out unique ways to implement virtual education. Thus, online learning is the future of education that lies at the heart of it as more and more students are reaping the benefits of this form of learning.

Distance learning is engaging students and moving towards interactive formats, such as technologies like gamification and augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR). We will discuss some exciting developments in the virtual education sector. But first, let’s look at online learning and its benefits.

What is Online Learning?

Online learning is a form of education that encourages students to learn from anywhere. It helps them acquire knowledge using the latest technologies. Online learning is also called eLearning, distance learning, or Internet learning. It allows learners to develop diverse skills with customized learning.

Advantages of Online Education

The future of online learning has taken center stage, and although it’s tough at first to adapt to the format, there are numerous benefits once learners get the hang of it. Distance learning offers the following advantages

It offers flexibility to pursue your course from anywhere and at any time.

There is a wide range of course and program options.

Students can acquire a broader range of perspectives as learners in online courses are from different countries and backgrounds.

It is affordable and saves time.

It enables students to build their time management skills.

Online learning allows students to communicate with teachers and peers through multiple channels like videoconferencing, emails, etc.

Why Online Learning is the Future of Education?

The top reasons are as follows:

1. Social Learning

We all use social media, and social learning takes its base from these components of human interaction, technology, and group dynamics to make the learning process easier and keep students engaged. Contrary to traditional learning, social learning is about gaining skills and knowledge through technology, interactive videos, and reading books. As a result, it is much more productive, straightforward, and effective than classroom teaching.

2. Adaptive Learning

Adaptive learning is a form of custom learning experience that addresses the unique needs of learners through instant feedback, pathways, and other resources. It offers personalization of courses rather than providing a one-size-fits-all learning model.

3. Artificial Intelligence

The worldwide online learning market was expected to grow to $325 billion by 2025, even before the pandemic. According to many eLearning experts, “an AI-based online learning platform is a system that has the power to maintain and accomplish different tasks requiring human intelligence.” AI can present solutions to human-related problems, such as speech recognition, decision-making, translation, and more.

One of the trademark features of artificial intelligence is the ability to assemble and analyze users’ data every time they interact with edTech tools. This is why online education courses can be designed to become more efficient. Using artificial intelligence technology can help to:

Decide the levels of learning expected of a student.

Aid the users to the next level by providing relevant content.

Assist students by considering their previous experience, knowledge, skills, learning styles, and preferred pace.

4. Video Learning

Video learning refers to learning experiences facilitated by video. It combines camera footage, text, graphics, animation, and audio to create a multisensory learning experience. This efficient learning technique practically demonstrates the subject material, serving as one of the best reasons for students to learn online.

5. Learning Management Systems

Managers usually use a content management system (CMS) to build and store digital information in institutes and schools. Lately, institutions have extended this concept of CMS to eLearning platforms, known as Learning Management Systems (LMS).

LMS offers several benefits as it allows educators and other faculty members to design, document, and register courses and study materials in the software. Thus, eLearning plays a significant role in a technology-based and digitalized education system. Students can go online and study any required course. Using the capabilities of LMS, educators are creating lesson plans and managing practices efficiently, thus getting rid of the old analog ways for the better.

6. Microlearning

Mostly, students are never excited about large and multi-phase projects. So, learners in collaborative classrooms have found a way around this problem. They are splitting learning materials into manageable pieces. The whole process of chunking is known as microlearning. Teachers also break study materials into modules to produce more brilliant and faster retention. For example, they can break a two-hour-long lesson into four 30-minute sessions. Besides improving knowledge retention, microlearning enables learning on the go and supports self-paced education and personalized learning.

7. Customized Learning Experience

Distance learning empowers students to study at their own pace, offering complete flexibility. It aids learners in setting the study time depending on their attention spans. Also, virtual education is customized as per students’ requirements and mastery levels which also helps students to be in a better mental health space. Many online course platforms have a record and save option, where learners can visit the saved sessions later or revise the topic as required.

8. Learning and Development

People have different learning styles and want to study according to their preferred choices. eLearning allows students to learn remotely according to their favored learning style and instructional design principles. Therefore, the future of online learning relies on Learning and Development (L&D) because it helps assess resources and overall course and assists students in learning and developing their skills.

Final Thoughts

The radical transition from face-to-face classrooms to a high technological dependency has left many consequences. The most significant of them is the effects of online learning on mental health. Learners are expected to navigate a variety of technological tools as well as maintain their productivity. This affects their mental health, and students report feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and depressed.

The harmful effects of online classes have impacted the overall morale of students. However, there are ways to navigate virtual learning and mental health in a way that puts students first. Furthermore, it allows them to get used to e-learning without any hassle. We will discuss these ways, but before that, let's look at a critical question, i.e., “How does online learning affect mental health?”

How Can Online Learning Affect Mental Well-Being?

Online education can affect mental health in a variety of ways and some of which are described here:

Causes Anxiety & Stress

We may like to believe that learning from home would be an easy-going and comfortable experience, but in reality, it is not the same for every student. According to a study, students are more likely to feel increasingly stressed due to online learning than in-person education. There is a myriad of factors contributing to such feelings of stress and anxiety.

Concentrating on study material at home can be challenging due to limited privacy for many learners. In addition, distractions like family members interrupting the live sessions, helping siblings with their work, or internet connectivity issues add to the already overwhelming experience.

Parents must ensure that their children have access to devices such as laptops, smartphones, etc., and WiFi to start at-home e-learning in the first place. Once they get their hands on the equipment, schools and parents must determine how young children can handle ed-tech tools such as Google Classroom and Zoom.

Feelings of Social Isolation

Social interaction dramatically influences the process of learning. In traditional settings, students learn as a group and are accustomed to in-person instructor feedback and attention. In an eLearning environment, it’s nearly impossible to mimic such interactions. Due to limited interactions with peers, many students report feeling isolated, thus impacting their mental health.

Learning Fatigue

The number of learning materials and resources available to students online can often lead to information overload. Teachers usually recommend to students many online resources, which learners find challenging to stay on top of. Besides, gaining knowledge from home often blurs the boundary between learning and students’ personal lives.

As a result, many students cannot extricate themselves from their studies and keep stressing about incomplete assignments and work even during their downtime. In addition, many educators are also inclined to interact with students outside the classroom hours, which adds to the feeling of never being able to enjoy free time. Consequently, students report learning fatigue and difficulty concentrating.

Solutions to the Effects of Online Learning on Mental Health

Mental health issues can seriously influence the relationship of students with learning. But there’s good news. Educators and other educational stakeholders can devise ways to ensure that online strategy is compelling and considerate of their student's mental health.

Don’t Enforce Unnecessary Rules

Many schools, colleges, and universities felt the need to implement specific rules at the start of the pandemic to maintain discipline while the students were learning from home. Although the idea to recreate the classroom environment at home was well-intentioned, it resulted in more stress in learners’ lives because in-person and online learning is different.

Promote Social Interaction

Institutions must be willing to revise their current communication strategies and devise a plan that allows dynamic interaction among students, teachers, parents, and counselors. Besides formal communication channels, teachers should also arrange informal discussion forums for students to communicate with each other. For example, many LMS platforms offer individualized meetings for each course and a conversational thread to let students discuss general topics.

Offer Online Mental Health Support

Institutions must be ready to dedicate necessary resources to enable easy access to mental health professionals to cater to students' need for mental health support. Besides organizing information sessions, promoting awareness, and sharing resources, schools must have mental health experts online to cater to learners’ needs. Institutions can arrange it through their existing Learning Management Systems (LMS), with which the students are already familiar.

Allow Personalized Instructor Feedback

Social interaction in classrooms is incomplete without instructor feedback. In traditional settings, instructors offer face-to-face feedback to students. However, this interaction is translated into emails in online learning.

Personal and Classroom Boundaries

We discussed how students experience learning fatigue and information overload due to a lack of boundaries between academic and personal lives. Due to such diminished boundaries, the effects of online learning on mental health are adverse. So, enforcing such boundaries can significantly affect students’ mental health.

Conclusion

Distance learning has almost become a permanent fixture in education; the learning future remains flexible. So, it instantly becomes vital for educators and students to stay resilient and do their best to pay attention to the mental needs of all those involved.

The pandemic had left us in unprecedented times with empty schools, colleges, and universities, thus leading to a new model of teaching and learning. Consequently, we were forced to start things online. But it also raised a vital question: classroom learning vs online learning; which is effective?

With the rise and popularity of online learning, education is taking place remotely and on different digital platforms. However, as many people have become accustomed to new technologies and transformation, they are still confused about whether “is online learning effective or not?”

The sudden shift from classroom learning has left many wondering whether online education will continue post-pandemic and how it will affect the physical classroom system. Here we will sketch a comparison between the two learning modes, i.e., online learning vs. traditional learning. We’ll also discuss their major advantages, disadvantages, and fundamental differences.

What is Classroom Learning?

Classroom learning refers to a form of education where you create a face-to-face environment for instructors and students. In this mode of learning, real-time interaction happens between students and teachers. The classroom's physical environment includes boards, projectors, teachers, and class monitors. Therefore, it holds learners accountable, and there are lesser chances of distraction.

Advantages of Classroom Learning

Physical classrooms offer many advantages that are not found in online ones.

Relationship Building

Learners develop close relationships with teachers and other students in a physical classroom. It allows students to receive feedback from their teachers in the form of their voice tone, movement, body language, facial expressions, and lessons taught on the chalkboard or whiteboard.

Exchange of Ideas

Students are present with their peers in the classroom, allowing them to share ideas, clear their doubts, collaborate, and network with fellow learners and teachers.

Reduced Distraction

Physical classrooms have fewer distractions or challenges, unlike at home, such as television screens, calls, kids, or other noises.

Disadvantages of Classroom Learning

Until recently, there were no significant drawbacks found in traditional learning.

However, with online learning making a name in the world of education, some significant flaws have been identified in traditional classroom settings. They are:

Time-Consuming and Costly

If the courses are taking place at a distance from your home or workplace, you must travel from one place to another to attend classes. Hence, it adds travel time and expenses like meals, tolls, etc.

Inflexible Schedule

An inflexible class schedule can cause serious issues if you have a static work routine. Having to cancel attending a lesson or your work, mainly because you are not the only student, can make completing the course challenging.

Learning Speed

In face-to-face learning, everyone is expected to pick the lessons at a particular speed, making personalized learning almost impossible. In addition, some learners may not relate to a fixed learning schedule or class environment and need to study at their own pace and convenience to excel at education.

What is Online Learning?

Online education is a learning experience that lets learners and instructors connect virtually. This learning mode uses online whiteboards, video conferencing, and screen sharing to conduct live sessions and discussions with students.

As online classrooms are cloud-based learning solutions conducted digitally, they are customizable and accessible to all learners on various devices like desktops, smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc

Advantages of Online Learning

Online classrooms offer the following benefits;

Multiple Multimedia Options

Although in physical classrooms, there are many multimedia options available, like videos and PowerPoint presentations, the choices in online learning are unlimited, with quizzes, screencasts, videos, and a variety of other technological functionalities.

Flexibility

Where in-person learning requires students to commute, bear extra expenses, and disturb their work schedules, online learning doesn’t demand learners to do so. A significant portion of e-learning courses doesn’t need teacher-student interaction. Learners can take lessons whenever and wherever they want through laptops, smartphones, or offline.

Endless Opportunities

Besides online learning sessions, virtual courses will likely improve students’ understanding of the study material. Students can achieve their educational goals through tutorials, certifications, or standalone courses in the corporate sector.

Shrinking Distance

With online learning, taking training from outside the country becomes an easy task. Remote classes let multinational companies train their employees across borders. Likewise, it is easier to teach learners no matter which part of the world they are in. Students can make online study groups and learn with their peers.

Virtual Quizzes

Online quizzes are more effective than the traditional pen-and-paper mode. They ensure the active engagement of students in the subject material. Moreover, they increase their motivation, help them recall information, and gain better grades.

Another significant advantage of online quizzes is that it reduces students’ stress. Platforms like Kahoot! And Quizizz has a live dashboard with background music. Learners can see their own and others’ rank. So, they get involved in healthy competition to get higher scores. The fun and interactive features make students excited and forget they are taking a quiz.

Tracking the Results

In physical classrooms, teachers used to do manual checking of the answers. But in the virtual world, quizzes and their solutions can be sent to instructors, aiding them in tracking students’ progress.

Managing Study Materials

Learners submit assignments online and can email questions to their instructors. They can also get the study materials before the class starts, helping them to prepare in advance for the lesson and even understand things at their own pace.

Disadvantages of Online Learning

Those who think online learning is a boon are not correct. It also has flaws.

Technology Issues

Although the internet has been part and parcel of daily life for a long time, not everybody is tech-savvy. That’s why it can lead to feelings of frustration and loss of time while dealing with such issues. Moreover, some students cannot handle the virtual sessions' tech requirements, like reliable WiFi and a fast processor. So, online learning will be a waste of time and energy in some cases.

Lack of Socialization

In face-to-face spaces, you can interact with fellow students and build a bond with them. On the contrary, in online classes, the scope of social interaction is limited, and the chances to meet and communicate with your peers are lesser.

No Routine

Though learners benefit from attending classes at their will, it can result in unnecessary delays. The disadvantage of online learning is that any environment away from the classroom has plenty of distractions. One must create and follow a consistent schedule to reduce the impact of these distractions and delays.

Classroom Learning vs Online Learning

Virtual classrooms have resulted in maintaining information and saving time, whereas physical classrooms offer greater socialization and accountability.

Here are a few key differences between classroom learning vs online learning.

Time Management

Time management plays a significant role in the difference between online learning vs traditional learning. Virtual education is more flexible, and one can attend lessons anywhere and anytime, saving students time and travel expenses.

Which is More Flexible?

Another difference is the flexibility online classes provide. Also, virtual education seems more organized with smaller parts that are easy to learn and manage even on busy schedules.

Learners can also appear for tests at their selected time and don’t have to be physically present in a class. Moreover, if they cannot understand a particular lesson in an online course, they can go through the subject material plenty of times to grasp the concepts.

On the other hand, traditional classes have rigid schedules, where an instructor must manage many students simultaneously.

Interaction & Collaboration

Mode of interaction is another difference between online and face-to-face classrooms. In physical classes, learners can interact face-to-face with each other and their teachers. They can ask questions and get answers on the spot, thus offering a dynamic learning experience. They also get to share their views and ideas about the subject matter at hand.

Whereas such interaction is missing in online spaces, it is somehow made possible via chats, emails, forums, and webinars. The only thing missing from them is any practical experience, for example, activities or illustrations practiced in real-time.

Mode of Instruction

An exciting feature of online learning vs traditional learning is the mode of delivery or instruction.

In-person classrooms require teachers to deliver lectures verbally or through PowerPoint presentations. In comparison, instructors use tools like graphs, videos, presentations, and visuals in online education.

Additionally, traditional classes need the physical presence of teachers and students, but virtual classrooms demand instructors to be tech-savvy.

Teachers also need to monitor students’ progress. Manual tracking is the standard in physical classes, where educators verbally instruct.

Conclusion

So, you might want to choose between classroom learning vs online learning. But the answer is we cannot conclude which is better as both have their distinct advantages and disadvantages. 

The sudden onset of the pandemic has shone a new light on the art of learning. As the world shut down, educators found different ways to deliver their programs remotely. The two buzzwords that have overtaken the online academic world are synchronous vs asynchronous learning.

If you are wondering what these forms of learning represent, they mean the difference between following your course material in real time vs. studying at your own pace. So, in the age of digital learning, where millions of students are taking courses online, the question is, what’s the best delivery method of teaching to serve the needs of learners?

Before going into the synchronous vs asynchronous learning debate, let's discuss what these learning mediums encompass.

What is Synchronous Learning?

With synchronous learning, education happens live and at the moment, as in the case of a webinar or a workshop. Before the covid-19 pandemic hit, most synchronous learning occurred in face-to-face classroom settings. However, it has changed since then! We are now seeing a shift from in-person to virtual learning environments, live training formats, video conferencing, and live chat rooms.

Why Choose It?

Why would you still opt for synchronous learning when instructors can record almost every course?

Well, it turns out that students like it. Often, learners who buy asynchronous courses do not end up completing them. Getting through the course all by yourself becomes challenging without community and accountability. That is precisely why some students still choose live learning, where they can see and interact with the instructor in real-time.

Theoretically, it might limit your scale as you cannot just sell thousands of copies of a course recording. But, synchronous learning does provide a better experience for some students. Also, some educators prefer it because it lets them feed off the energy of their students, so they bring A-game to their studies.

Pros of Synchronous Learning

There are numerous benefits to the live nature of synchronous learning, including;

Real-Time Interactions

Through synchronous learning, learners can interact with fellow students and instructors in real time. By engaging with each other, elaborate and high-quality discussions unfold among students contributing to the overall educational experience.

Instant Feedback

Also, as students can ask educators questions in real-time, they get immediate feedback on their progress. Thus it allows teachers to meet students in their exact moment of learning need– rather than sharing feedback several hours or days later when the lesson isn’t fresh in the student’s mind.

Accelerated Learning Curve

When students get to clarify their doubts instantly, they can quickly move on from their learning obstacles, allowing them to accelerate their learning curve.

Cons of Synchronous Learning

Additionally, synchronous learning has multiple challenges. Here are a few;

Lacks Flexibility

Because synchronous learning happens at a set time, it is not flexible to accommodate different schedules and priorities. Students and teachers alike are expected to commit to a fixed time and place, which can be difficult for those with other commitments.

Inconsistent Learning Experience

During synchronous learning, the quality of the session depends on who the instructor is. Consequently, the quality and learning experience of such sessions can be inconsistent.

No Personalized Attention

With multiple students participating in a single session, it’s natural to feel the need to compete for the teacher’s attention. Unfortunately, a lack of attention from educators can lead to favoritism toward some learners.

What is Asynchronous Learning?

Asynchronous learning refers to forms of education that do not occur in the classroom or at the same time. So, learners can engage with study materials anytime and at their convenience. Asynchronous learning is usually delivered through pre-recorded lectures and downloadable digital content to allow such flexibility. Some common examples are e-learning courses, recorded videos, webinars, podcasts, discussion boards, and downloadable PDF resources. 

Now that we have a clear picture let’s explore why you should choose asynchronous learning.

Why Choose It?

Like synchronous learning, asynchronous education has its benefits. The most significant advantage for students is that they can go about their studies at their own pace. They no longer have to manage schedules for a live session. They can accomplish tasks and assignments when they have time.

Moreover, learners with disabilities and different learning styles claim they have greater freedom to learn when and how they want. And for those with other responsibilities, for example, single parents juggling upskilling with work shifts, asynchronous learning ensures they’ll be successful.

Instructors can also enjoy asynchronous learning. While we do not want to create and forget during e-learning programs, asynchronous learning does allow teachers to scale their efforts without the need to re-teach their course live all the time.

Likewise, it allows instructors to reach more students who aren’t limited by time constraints.

Pros of Asynchronous Learning

The advantages of asynchronous learning are as follows;

Flexible Schedule

One of the most significant advantages of asynchronous learning is that students can engage with study material and resources at their preferred time and place. As a result, learners and educators can prioritize their other commitments besides training.

Interaction & Feedback

Even though asynchronous learning doesn’t happen in real-time, students can still post questions to discussion forums or send them through email and get responses later. Hence, there is still room for engagement and peer collaboration despite not interacting individually.

A Large Number of Learners

Additionally, as asynchronous learning occurs across multiple platforms, locations, and different times, an unlimited number of learners can participate in a single course. Therefore, it makes the training content more accessible.

Cons of Asynchronous Learning

As it has advantages, there are also some disadvantages of asynchronous learning.

Lack of Classroom Interaction

Without educators and peer presence, asynchronous learning lacks a personal touch. As a result, students are highly unlikely to form classroom relationships that they would otherwise have along their educational journey if it were in a real-time learning environment.

Need to be Self-Disciplined

Because asynchronous courses are individualistic, they require self-discipline. Students must stay focused and self-motivated to stay on top of their progress. That is why learners lacking discipline don’t do quite well in asynchronous learning.

How to Choose Synchronous vs Asynchronous Learning?

So how can you decide which form of learning is better and what suits your learning needs? There’s no set rule for every case. The choice of synchronous vs asynchronous learning depends on your particular needs.

You should try asynchronous learning if your students are self-directed and autonomous learners.

Likewise, if the learners have limitations in joining through synchronous live sessions, you should consider an asynchronous form of education. However, synchronous learning answers your educational needs if they require live feedback and assistance.

Why Not Use Both?

While we like the idea of dichotomy, setting up a choice of synchronous vs asynchronous learning is a bit misleading. When you can choose the best of both worlds and still generate a great course, why not use both?

One way to combine both is by hosting a live synchronous session and offering recordings to students who cannot attend classes simultaneously. Students can get all the benefits of interactions when they make it live, but they can also catch up later if they miss the session. 

A positive learning environment is much more than motivating posters on the wall in the learning center. And as the world has moved to remote learning after the pandemic, teachers must truly understand and support the students’ needs to create an environment for learning that celebrates diversity.

For instance, clearly establishing classroom rules will help set the tone for a healthy learning environment, where learners know what is expected of them. Students feel confident, comfortable, and successful when they fulfill these expectations. Having such structures in place will aid students to feel safe, allow teachers to understand their needs, and promote positive well-being.

Negative vs. Positive Classroom Environment

Educators also need to keep in mind that creating an environment for learning isn’t a one-time thing but requires renewed attention every time. For such attention to detail, they must understand the difference between negative and positive learning environments.

Impact of a Positive Learning Environment

To dig deep into the differences between negative and positive learning environments, let’s first look into what a positive learning space feels like to students.

Sense of Security

Take Risks

Sense of Community

Impact of Negative Learning Environment

However, in a negative learning environment, students experience more undesirable feelings such as;

Feeling Frustrated

Disconnect

Stress

Thus, the creation of a positive learning environment becomes crucial.

Why is a Positive Learning Environment Critical?

Preparing a framework for a positive online learning space requires a lot of thought and consideration. But once the system is in place, both students and teachers reap the benefits of the hard work. For example,

Research evidence suggests that such environments in place increase academic performance.

Students with disabilities will find more significant support from fellow learners.

There will be enhanced opportunities for interaction among students, teachers, and parents/guardians.

Different stakeholders will appreciate that students' and teachers' mental health is taken as seriously as their achievements.

This way, students take ownership of their learning experience, making informed efforts to improve their grades and performance (also known as self-regulated learning).

You can create an environment conducive to students’ development from the get-go to help them achieve their academic goals.

10 Ways to Create a Positive Learning Environment

Here are the critical components of creating a healthy environment for students to excel.

1. Building Positive Relationships

Creating positive relationships with students and parents is vital; it begins when students join the virtual classroom.

Knowing your students’ unique personalities, needs, likes, dislikes, strengths, and areas where they can improve is essential to building such relationships. Educators will be able to support students both individually and collectively if they put in the work early.

2. Encourage Students to Collaborate

There are plenty of ways to help foster strong student connections. Consequently, it will help improve students’ sense of belonging, create a caring positive classroom environment, and increase engagement.

Educators can use these two strategies to help students with it. First, provide a space where students can collaborate before class and discuss things they are passionate about. Then listen to what they have to say. It will forge a strong bond between students and teachers. For example, if you learn that one of your students loves ballet, try asking them about it next time they are online in the class.

3. Create Rules for Positive Behavior

High expectations from learners are vital for setting the norms for student behaviors and laying the foundation for their success. For this purpose, set clear classroom rules and techniques.

One excellent way to implement these rules is to frame them positively. For instance, instead of saying “don’t disrespect any student,” try framing it like “all students should be respectful to each other at all times.” This positive framing will make a huge difference as you show that the expectation is tied to positive behavior.

4. Use Positive Reinforcements

Positive reinforcement helps build intrinsic motivation and promotes positive learning habits. The two techniques that teachers can use are;

Recognize when students are making an effort to excel, even if they don’t display a hundred percent mastery. Sometimes, we learn best when we are failing. So praise their efforts to persevere, which will help them, in the long run, to not give up in the face of challenges and implement problem-solving methods.

5. Create a Comfortable Virtual Environment

It may be impossible to high-five kids on their way to a virtual space, but there are other ways teachers can give personality to the virtual environment. They can make the atmosphere feel real and bring a sense of togetherness by;

First, begin the class with a greeting and ensure that all students see your face. Although it may seem trivial, it adds a personal touch that lets learners feel good about attending the lesson.

Then, ask a question before jumping into the lesson’s content. A fun icebreaker can get learners to talk and interact before starting the learning process. Teachers can get help from VR and AR for a better virtual environment.

6. Keep a Positive Mindset

Anyone who has been an educator knows how exhausting this job can be. So, taking time for yourself becomes very important. Online education has its own pros and cons which everyone should have to know. While it is challenging with the demands both inside and outside of the classroom, it is highly recommended that you work to find some time for yourself to implement self-care techniques to help you maintain a positive mindset.

7. Importance of Social-Emotional Learning

Students and teachers’ well-being has taken the forefront for good reasons. Perhaps it is easier said than done, but the mental health of students and teachers is critical.

Social-emotional learning (SEL) helps students understand their emotions and regulate them in an uncertain world. Teachers can implement these SEL strategies using several ways. For example, having mindfulness activities will help students to learn and navigate new emotions and aid them in bringing their better selves to the classroom, contributing positively to the educational environment.

8. Motivation First

Creating lessons and unit plans while keeping motivation in mind sparks excitement and joy in the learning process.

Teachers must weave topics that learners are passionate about and try to find ways to make otherwise dull lessons more interactive and fun.

9. Give Instant and Personalized Feedback

Showing students that you care about their academic performance and effort can help to motivate them and foster positive learning outcomes. A pro tip for this would be to personalize feedback for students, as it’s a great way to take some time out and highlight the achievements of the students and the areas they need to improve on.

10. Find Time for Fun

Solely focusing on academic material can lead to burnout. Instead, educators should be aware of incorporating games into learning and naturally weaving fun into lessons that students will appreciate. These things will make distance learning more fun and fruitful.

Final Thoughts!

When it comes to distance learning, it’s an active and technological method of education. Distance learning universities offer an alternative academic learning environment and distance learning programs and courses for people interested in schooling but face difficulties in attending a physical school, college, or university.

Additionally, distance education is done online with less stress and more benefits for students with other responsibilities. Consequently, many people are now paying attention to getting a degree through distance learning programs, especially those who manage their businesses, families, or work to support themselves.

We will elaborate on the best distance learning universities in the world offering programs. But before that, let's dig into the meaning of distance learning.

What is Distance Learning?

Distance learning is also called e-learning, online learning, or distance education. It usually refers to an education system without physical appearance; every learning material and resource is accessed online.

Significance of Distance Learning

Distance learning offers numerous benefits, including:

Learners can access study material at any time.

They can attend classes remotely, allowing them to join from anywhere and in the comfort of their homes.

It saves students time and money, allowing them to effectively manage their time with family, work, and education.

Distance learning gives students the privilege of choosing a convenient learning time and promotes an individual’s self-discipline.

Online learning is without geographical limitations, and technology has made it available for everyone. So, learners can access top universities worldwide and acquire any professional degree, helping them overcome barriers to education.

Why Choose an Online University?

There’s a question that most stakeholders want to answer. Why does the online education format is appealing to students?

The answer is simple; it helps degree-seeking students balance classes with work and other responsibilities. In addition, it enables them to schedule school around their working hours.

The best distance learning universities in the world also offer an accessible and affordable path to a professional degree. Learners can compare top country programs when choosing a distance learning course. Rather than restricting their options to local schools or relocating, they can enroll in top distance learning universities to acquire knowledge in other states or countries.

Hence, many distance learning programs meet high academic standards where students don’t need to sacrifice quality for convenience. Moreover, accredited online universities meet these quality standards the same way as in-person courses.

How to Choose a University for Online Education?

Choosing an online university will shape your future for the good. So, how can you opt for a distance learning program that fits your schedule, budget, and goals? Unfortunately, most prospective students only look at costs and overlook other factors affecting their experience and career options.

Experts believe that you should consider your goals first when looking at different options. First, take time to identify your needs and why you want to pursue an online degree, and then recognize the kind of support you might need to succeed. Next, seek support services and resources that are significant to you, for example, tutoring, internships, career counseling, health classes, wellness classes, and social clubs. Also, research well to see which institutes offer the best distance learning courses in the world to go further.

Research all these factors to find the best fit for you.

Evaluate the Degree’s Cost

Choose an Accredited School

Pick Your College Major

Determine an Online Format

Top 10 Distance Learning Universities in the World

Here’s a list of the best distance learning universities in the world and why you should choose them.

1. University of Manchester

The University of Manchester is a social research institute. It is set up in Manchester, United Kingdom. The institute was founded in 2008 with over forty-seven thousand students and faculty members. It is one of the best distance learning university in the world.

Online Courses Offered

Following are the distance learning courses offered at the University of Manchester:

Law

Journalism

Humanities

Architecture

Social Science

Art and Design

Computer Science

Medicine and Health

Business Management

Natural and applied science

Engineering and Technology

Education, hospitality, and Sport

2. The University of Florida

The University of Florida is located in Gainesville, Florida. It is an open research university established in 1853 with 34,000 students. Also, UF provides many distance learning programs.

Offered Online Courses

The courses they are offering encompass:

Journalism

Liberal Arts

Communications

Agricultural Science

Medicine and Health

Business Administration

Science and so much more.

3. University College of London

University College of London was the first established university in London, England, in 1826. It is a top-ranked public research institution and a part of Russell Group, with almost 40,000 learners enrolled.

Online Courses Offered by UCL

The distance learning courses at the university are:

Social sciences

Business management

Humanities development

Computing and Information systems

Education and so on.

4. University of Liverpool

The University of Liverpool is one of the leading institutions in research and education. It was established in 1881 and is located in England. UL is also a part of the Russell Group.

Online Courses Offered by the University

The classes they are offering are as follows:

Psychology

Health care

Public health

Cyber security

Digital Marketing

Computer Science

Business Management

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence

5. Boston University

Boston University is a private research institution in Boston, USA. It has two campuses and was founded in 1839 in Newbury by the Methodists.

Distance Learning Courses Offered

Their distance learning program offers bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees. They are as follows:

Law

Journalism

Humanities

Architecture

Social Science

Art and Design

Computer Science

Medicine and Health

Business Management

Engineering & Technology

Natural and Applied science

Education, hospitality, and sport

6. Columbia University

Columbia University is also a private research school founded in 1745 in New York City. It has over 6,000 students.

Offered Distance Education Courses

Some of the elaborate courses offered are:

Bioethics

Engineering

Data Science

Business Studies

Applied Analytics

Computer Science

Narrative Medicine

Artificial Intelligence

Operations Research

Applied Mathematics

Technology Management

Insurance and Wealth Management

7. The University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria is among Africa’s top universities. It’s known for its socially impactful research to solve the world’s most pressing issues. Moreover, they have been offering distance learning program degrees since 2002.

Online Courses Offered by the University

You will find the following distance learning courses in Pretoria:

Law

Ecology

Economics

Accounting

Culinary science

Agriculture and forestry

Management Education

Engineering and Engineering Technology

8. The University of Southern Queensland

It’s one of the most prestigious distance learning universities in Toowoomba, Australia. USQ is renowned for its supportive environment and commitment to excellence.

Online Courses Offered by USQ

The virtual education courses at the university are:

Business

Commerce

Humanities

Climate science

Law and Justices

Agricultural science

Applied data science

Creative arts education

Health and Community

Engineering and science

Communication and Information Technology

English Language programs and so on.

9. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia Institute of Technology was established in 1885 in Atlanta, USA. The institute is committed to service, and research and provides focused, technological-based education to numerous students worldwide.

Online Courses Offered by Georgia Tech

Distance learning courses at Georgia Tech are:

Education

Mathematics

Natural sciences

Computer science

Medicine and Health

Business management

Engineering and Technology

Environmental and Earth sciences

10. Charles Sturt University

Charles Sturt University is an Australian multi-campus public university in New South Wales. They have over 43,000 students enrolled in different programs.

Online Learning Courses Offered

Their distance education courses include:

Education

Applied science

Computer science

Medicine and Health

Business management

Engineering and so on.

FAQs About Online Degree Programs

There are a lot of questions that distance learners will have on their minds while opting for an online degree. Here are the most frequently asked questions!

Are distance learning degrees considered valid by employers?

Today, as education has transitioned to online platforms, many employers prefer and hire college graduates who earned their degrees online. A distance learning degree from an accredited college or university matches the same high standards as an on-campus degree. At most institutions, distance learners and on-campus students get identical diplomas.

Also, online programs usually use the same instructional resources and staff members as an in-person program at the same college. Likewise, online students meet the exact graduation requirements as on-campus learners. Consequently, many employers hire online graduates for various entry-level positions.

Do I need any technical or soft skills to join the distance learning program?

There are only specific minimum requirements of the software and hardware components of the device for you to access the learning material and online classes. We recommend you always check the course syllabus for soft skill requirements. Usually, these requirements are only how to handle your device, set up the learning environment, and access your syllabus.

Is an online degree worthwhile like traditional ones?

The delivery method is the only difference between an online course and a traditional degree. Universities and colleges set high academic standards for all degree-granting programs, including distance learning courses.

Whether learners enroll online or in person, undergraduates must complete general education prerequisites, major courses, and electives to earn their bachelor’s degree. Accrediting bodies at colleges and universities review faculty qualifications and course materials to ensure quality online and in-person classes. So, an online degree is as worthwhile as a traditional course but has the advantage of a more flexible delivery format.

What devices do I need for distance learning?

Depending on the degree program requirements, you would need a smartphone, notebook, or computer.

How can I manage my time studying remotely?

You need to plan your course very carefully to succeed. Check your courses daily to keep yourself on track and complete the assignments and quizzes. Here are some more valuable tips to help you manage your time effectively during an online course.

Conclusion