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What is it?

• What is blended learning and why do so many people claim that it is much better than other types of education including face to face teaching and e-learning? These are the questions this article aims to answer. First of all, for those of you who are not familiar with the concept of blended learning: this type of education is a mix of traditional classroom education and web-based learning with the aid of Internet and all kinds of courses available online. The creators of blending education aim to take the best out of each learning style and thus, boost students’ performance and desire to study. So, why should one consider blended learning as a better choice? There are several reasons.

1. Students Get Personalized Instruction

• Since a part of blended learning is work in smaller groups, each student has a chance to receive the education that fits his needs. For instance, let’s say, Mr. Black is teaching Science. He creates video lectures and gives each of his students accesses. After student watch a video they take a test on the material. This will give Mr. Black a better understanding of difficulties each student faces even before they come to class. Preparing special personalized instruction for each student is what makes blended learning more efficient.

2. Students Can Study at Their Pace

• There is absolutely no rush. Students do not have to learn everything within the course of a lesson. If they still have questions, considering that they study at home, in class, or elsewhere in school, they can go over the material again and again until they master the content. This is not possible with the fixed pace of face-to-face classroom education. This method has a positive effect on students’ performance. Knowing that they are in charge of their study process encourages them to take their time and review the material properly.

3. A Teacher Gets More Individual Time with Students

• The idea of blended education is that once in the classroom students split up into small groups of up to eight people. And even though the class, in general, can be larger in size, teachers get more time with each group and students within these groups. The thing is that typically the class will be split up into four groups, two of which will work with computers, one will work with instructions and the last group will go to a “teacher’s station.” As groups rotate, each of them gets a chance to have individual time with a teacher, and a teacher has more chance to explain some difficult material in more detail to each and every student of the group.

4. This Education Saves You the Money

• Think of it this way: how much money will you save not having to buy all the textbooks! You can get all the material in electronic version or through your teacher’s videos. It is faster, cheaper and time-efficient.

5. It Saves Students’ Time

• Students can now save time, as they can study at home, at a coffee shop, on the school bus, elsewhere in school, or on their way to a family dinner. The only thing students need to have is Internet access and a mobile device to go to the class website, download instructions and get started. Students who learn fast no longer need to wait for the rest of the students to finish assignments. The pace is yours. So, it saves time.

6. Students Love It

• Let’s face it: no matter how much you support the traditional style of education, blended learning is fun. Students find it engaging and are more willing to study hard. Assignments are not seen as a boring activity they just need to get through, but rather like a game, and this is exactly what will keep an inquisitive mind keep going and not give up when difficulties come along.

7. It Is Very Flexible

• Usually when you think about education, somehow there is an image that immediately pops up in your head. It is an image of a thick tall wall that represents a system you cannot change or add a different shape to. It is you who has to adjust to it. Blended learning, however, allows you to study wherever you want and attend classes even if you are thousand of kilometers away from the school itself. This type of education is flexible.
• Blended education is a perfect combination you are destined to enjoy once you give it a try. So, if you still have doubts, I hope that these reasons explaining why it is better than any other type of learning showed you why this statement is, in fact, true.

Kevin Nelson

• Kevin from Los Angeles, California, started his career as a research analyst and has changed the sphere of activity to writing services and content marketing. Currently, Kevin works as a part-time writer at the OnlineWritingClass. In addition to writing, he spends a lot of time reading psychology and management literature searching for the keystones of motivation ideas. Feel free to connect with him on Facebook, Twitter (@Nelson81Kevin), Google+, Linkedin.

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