Technology won’t replace teachers, but teachers who use technology will replace those who don’t.
Blended learning – the mixing of digital eLearning and face-to-face teaching – empowers both students and teachers while transforming the institutions delivering the training.
Here are two great articles that I like to share that show how blended learning will impact the future of education by revitalizing the teaching profession, enabling students and challenging schools.
The future of business education is ‘blended learning, Experts Agree by HR Magazine Editor Katie Jacobs examines potential future benefits for business.
The experts were part a panel that debated the future of business education at a recent Thinkers50 event in London. Thinkers50 is a ranking of the world’s best management thinkers.
One expert note that the “disruption” caused by the democratization of learning via online courses could be an opportunity for traditional business schools to up their game.
“They should be looking at the opportunity to teach finance and strategy together, not in silos,” he said. “The advent of online learning and companies doing management training in-house rather than outsourcing makes disruption a big issue.”
In a great infrogram detailed in The 10 Benefits Of Blended Learning For Teachers article by the teachthought.com group highlights some of the more salient benefits blended learning brings to teachers including better information, team teaching, more time with students, and the ability to focus on deeper learning.
It noted how blended learning can tear down the walls of a traditional classroom and how that can lead teachers to more meaning professional development by reaching more students (sharing their lessons to millions for higher pay) as well as new skill development such as designing digital content and developing a network of peers online.
And as teachers can adjust the 'blend' - the ratio of digital vs. traditional teaching, they can adept blended learning for many different subjects and types of students.
I like to offer three action recommendations what these two articles are telling us:
Go Blended: As in institution, you need to digitize your training programs and potentially reach more employees and assess them for less cost.
Free you students: Let them schedule when and where they consume much of their required learning and the time to practice their new skills.
Empower your teachers/trainers: Redefined training roles mean improved opportunities (and sometimes compensation), which has benefits for them, the students and the school.
Blended learning can be a powerful enabler for reimagining training at every level.
About the Author
I’m the Managing Director at Vantage Siam, an authorized Cambridge English Exam Centre and management training firm.
We offer English language training via blended learning to both students and professionals in Thailand and also to remote learners throughout China.