1. Benefits of Blended e-Learning in Education
Workshop on e-Learning in Higher Education
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
BADRUL HUDA KHAN

2. What is Blended Learning?
Blended Learning is combining multiple learning components and learning events to create a meaningful learning.
Blended Learning means different things to different people, which illustrates its glowing/growing potential. Our perspectives of Blended Learning is combining multiple learning components such as classroom, On-line self-paced Learning Content, , Discussion Forums , LMS (Learning Management System) etc.
and learning events such as individual or group based learning events to create a meaningful learning. It is not only about mixing the multiple learning components, it is combining the appropriate learning components to meet desired learning goals.

3. flexibility Increased in learning Why Blended Learning?
Blended Learning means different things to different people, which illustrates its glowing/growing potential. Our perspectives of Blended Learning is combining multiple learning components such as classroom, On-line self-paced Learning Content, , Discussion Forums , LMS (Learning Management System) etc.
and learning events such as individual or group based learning events to create a meaningful learning. It is not only about mixing the multiple learning components, it is combining the appropriate learning components to meet desired learning goals.

4. Why Flexibility in Learning?
With the increasing use of a variety of approaches for learning in the information age, learners' preferences are changing from wanting to be taught mostly in lectures or direct training sessions to wanting increased flexibility.

5. Why Flexibility in Learning?
Today, learners want to have more say in
WHAT they learn
WHEN they learn
WHERE they learn, and
HOW they learn
Can we do what learners want?

6. Can We Provide the Kind of Learning Flexibility That Learners Want?
Sure we can, but it depends on how much flexibility you want to give.
New developments in learning science and technology provide opportunities to develop learning environments that suit students'
needs and interests by offering them the choice of increased flexibility.

7. How Do We Provide Learning Flexibility That Learners Want?
No one single learning delivery method is capable of supporting the kind of flexibility that learners need.
Therefore, a mix of traditional and new learning approaches and technology should be appropriately utilized for flexible learning.
Blending Various Learning Strategies and Approaches for Flexibility …

8. Components of Blended Learning
1. Synchronous (live) Classroom format
2. Synchronous (live) online format
3. Asynchronous (not live) self-paced format

9. Components of Blended Learning
Let’s review what choices we have under each synchronous and asynchronous format.

10. Components of Blended Learning
1. Synchronous Physical/Face-to-Face Components (not limited to)
Face-to-face Tutoring
Coaching or Mentoring Sessions
Classroom
Workshops
Conferences
Meetings
Labs
Some Synchronous Physical/Face-to-Face Learning Components are….

11. Components of Blended Learning
2. Synchronous Electronic Components (not limited to)
Internet conferencing
Audio Conferencing (i.e., phone conferencing)
Live Video via satellite or Videoconferencing
Virtual Online Classroom
Instant Messaging
Some Synchronous Electronic Learning Components are….

12. Components of Blended Learning
3. Asynchronous Components (not limited to)
On-line self-paced Learning Content (Web pages)
, Discussion Forums
EPSS (Electronic Support Systems) & Job Aids
Web/Computer-Based instruction
Books
Articles
CD-ROM
Audio (disc/tape)
Video (disc/tape)
White papers
Archived Live Events
Some Asynchronous Learning Components are….

13. Components of Blended Learning
Within the scope of today’s presentation, let’s review some advantages and disadvantages of few synchronous and asynchronous components of blended learning.

14. Advantages and Disadvantages of Blended Learning Components
Advantages of Classroom
Motivation
Responsiveness
Experiences
Team Building
Disadvantages of Classroom
Instructor
Scheduling
Audience
Travel
Physical
There are several distinct advantages and disadvantages of each learning components. By carefully weighing various learning factors, you should be able to determine what learning components can be blended together to make an effective learning program. Due to time limit I am going to discuss advantages and disadvantages of some blended learning components that are widely used.
Some advantages of classroom are that in a classroom environment:
Student’s motivation increases due to face-to-face interaction between the student and the educator as well as the students themselves
Instructors or facilitators are more responsive to individual needs, concerns, or unexpected questions
Laboratory exercises, hands-on workshop activities can provide real-time experiences
Improve Team building capabilities
Some disadvantages of classroom are:
The quality of the learning relies on skills and preparation of the instructor
Since Class can not be scheduled around work and family, therefore scheduling conflict often occur.
Information is not available to a more geographically diverse audience, therefore less diverse or limited audience can attend
Increased time away from workplace due to traveling
Physical capabilities of classroom may limit for large groups of students to enroll at the same time

15. Advantages and Disadvantages of Blended Learning Components
Advantages of Self-Paced on-line
Learn anytime, anywhere
Time savings
Cost Efficient
Learner control
Disadvantages of Self-Paced on-line
Bandwidth
Interaction
Development
Cost
Drop-Outs
Advantages:
Learners have flexibility to learn at anytime and anywhere
Since there is no travel required, therefore students can save time. Students do not have to spend 2 hours in a lecture hall waiting for the 15 minutes of content they really want.
Self-paced on-line learning is less costly than traditional
Allow the learner to make choices and use their time in a way they feel is valuable
Allows students to select learning materials, or to be directed to content that meets their level of knowledge, interest and what they need to know to perform more effectively in their particular activity.
Disadvantages:
Bandwidth issues restrict rich presentation options and high interactivity
Lack of face to face interaction
Longer developmental time
Costly for small groups
Lack of independency, self-awareness, Self-discipline, motivation, organization can result high drop-outs
Substantial cost savings due to elimination of travel expenses.

16. Advantages and Disadvantages of Blended Learning Components
Advantages of CD-ROM
More Engaging
No Internet Connection
Disadvantages of CD-ROM
Content
Peer-to-Peer
Development
Advantages:
Rich presentation options and high interactivity make it more engaging
Fast access time: no waiting for slow internet downloads or dropped connections
Disadvantages:
Content Can not be updated or distributed easily as web based materials. Once a CD-ROM is created, the information on it can not be changed.
Lack of peer-to-peer learning opportunities
====High development cost

17. Advantages and Disadvantages of Blended Learning Components
Advantages of Videoconferencing
Savings
Participation
Visual
Disadvantages of Videoconferencing
Quality
Technical Support
Some advantages of videoconferencing :
Savings can be significant when compared to expenses associated with travel to short meetings, the
Increased participation due to elimination of travel
Less cumbersome to deal with multiple participants when compared to an audio-only conference. Facial expressions and body language facilitate communication among the personalities. Enable high levels of interaction such as asking for immediate feedback/opinions, answering impromptu questions
Some disadvantages of videoconferencing :
In order to get high quality you need better equipment and better connection which can be costly.
Require technical support team e.g., site facilitators are necessary to ensure the equipment works properly at the receiving stations.

18. Components of Blended Learning
Now, we have a sense of the capabilities of some of the components of blended-learning.
Next, let’s see how we can blend.

19. Dimensions of the Blend?
A blended learning program may combine one or more of the following dimensions:
1. Blending Offline and Online Learning
2. Blending Self-Paced and Live, Collaborative Learning
3. Blending Structured and Unstructured Learning
4. Blending Custom Content with Off-the-Shelf Content
5. Blending Learning, Practice, and Performance Support

20. A Framework for Creating the Right Blend
The Framework serves as guide and tool that enables designers to ask the right questions and organize their thinking processes when planning a blended learning program.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Deciding the right Blended learning solution is very critical.
As I mentioned previously numerous factors involved in deciding the right blend. Factors like content type, learner needs, scalability, culture, technology availability, cost, leaning effectiveness etc. require to be addressed to create a meaningful learning environment. Many of these factors are interrelated and interdependent. A systemic understanding of these factors can enable designers to create meaningful distributed learning environments .
Khan Clustered these numerous factors into eight dimensions to create a octagonal framework referred to as “A Framework for E-Learning”. The purpose of this framework to help designers to think through every aspect of what they are doing during various steps of the E-learning design process. Various issues within the eight dimensions of the framework can provide guidance in the planning, design, development, delivery, evaluation and implementation of e-learning environments. The Framework serves as guide and tool that enables designers to ask the right questions and organize their thinking processes when planning a blended learning program. This framework can be used to ensure that no important factor is omitted from the design of a blended learning program.

21. The Octagonal Framework
The framework has eight dimensions:
institutional, pedagogical
technological,
interface design,
evaluation, management
resource support, and
ethical
The framework has eight dimensions: institutional, pedagogical, technological, interface design, evaluation, management, resource support, and ethical.
Each dimension in the Framework represents a category of issues that need to be addressed. These issues help you organize your thinking, and ensures that the resulting learning program creates a meaningful learning.

22. The Octagonal Framework
Institutional
Administrative affairs
Academic affairs
Student services
Pedagogical
Goal Analysis
Audience Analysis
Content Analysis
Medium Analysis
Design approach
Methods and Strategies
The Institutional dimension addresses issues concerning organizational, administrative and academic affairs.
Within academic affairs one could ask questions about the readiness of the blended learning approach. Is your organization ready for blended learning programs?
The pedagogical dimension addresses issues concerning
Goal Analysis
Audience Analysis
Content Analysis
Medium Analysis
Design approach
Methods and Strategies
Within content analysis one could ask question about the suitability of contents. Is the content suitable for f2f classroom instruction, self-paced elearning or CD-Rom’s, etc?
The Pedagogical dimension concerns the content that has to be delivered (content analysis), the learner needs (audience analysis) and learning objectives (goal analysis). This is the most important dimension in the Octagonal framework since it deals with the actual teaching and learning besides identifying elements that comprise the blend. The pedagogical dimension also encompasses the design and strategy aspect of eLearning.
This dimension addresses a scenario where all learning goals in a given program are listed and then the most appropriate delivery method is chosen.
For example, if a learner is expected to demonstrate a product (in a sales training), then we using product simulation as part of the blend is appropriate.
If a learner is expected to come up with a new price model for a product, then using a discussion as one of the elements in the blend is effective.

23. The Octagonal Framework
Technological
Infrastructure Planning
Hardware
Software
Interface Design
Page and Site Design
Content Design
Navigation
Accessibility
Usability Testing
Technological
Technological dimension addresses issues concerning:
Infrastructure Planning
Hardware
Software
Does the organization have a sound blended-learning technology plan?
Interface Design
The interface design dimension addresses factors related to the user interface of each element in the blended learning program. You need to ensure that the user interface supports all the elements of the blend. The interface has to be sophisticated enough to integrate the different elements of the blend. This will enable the learner to use each delivery type and switch between the different delivery types. The usability of the user interface will need to be analyzed.
Issues like content structure, navigation, graphics and help also can be addressed in this dimension.
For example, in a higher education course students may study online and then attend a lecture with the professor. The blended learning course should allow students to assimilate both the online learning as well as the lecture equally well. They must be able to distinguish the breaks in the syllabus.

24. The Octagonal Framework
Evaluation
Assessment of learners
Evaluation of the instruction and learning environment.
Management
Maintenance of Learning Environment
Distribution of Information
Evaluation
The evaluation dimension also concerns the usability of a blended learning program. The program should have the capability to evaluate how effective a learning program has been as well as evaluating the performance of a learner. In a blended learning program, the appropriate evaluation method should be used for each delivery type.
For example, to evaluate the participation of learners in a discussion, you could use an evaluator make a qualitative assessment of a learner's contribution to the discussion and understanding of the topic in discussion.
Management
The management dimension deals with issues related to the management of a blended learning program such as infrastructure and logistics to manage multiple delivery types. Delivering a blended learning program is more work than delivering the entire course in one delivery type.
The management dimension also addresses issues like registration and notification, and scheduling of the different elements of the blend.
A typical scenario could be that the blended learning program is available to learners in different time zones (the self-paced online learning part of the program), then you need to ensure that the servers are always accessible.

25. The Octagonal Framework
Resource Support
Online Support
Instructional/Counseling Support
Technical Support
Career Counseling Services
Online Resources
Offline Resources
Resource Support
The resource support dimension deals with a blended learning program making different types of resources (offline and online) available for learners as well as organizing them. Resource Support could also be a counselor/ tutor always available in person, via or on a chat.
For example, books and periodicals need to be organized in the Liberia so students can find them easily. The URL pointers should be made accessible so students can reference the web sites.

26. The Octagonal Framework
Ethical
Social and Political Influence
Cultural Diversity
Bias
Geographical Diversity
Learner Diversity
Digital Divide
Etiquette
Legal Issues
Privacy
Plagiarism
Copyright
Ethical
The ethical dimension identifies the ethical issues that need to be addressed when developing a blended learning program. Issues such as equal opportunity, cultural diversity, nationality etc should be addressed. Learning programs should be designed in way that does not offend any participant.
Blended learning programs should be developed to enable all learners to have a similar learning experience. Programs should ensure that learners can access all the components of the blended learning program with equal ease. The different elements of the blend should also be compatible with each other.
For example, learners should go through the same learning experience. The classroom instruction and the online mentor on online chat supporting the course should be compatible and well coordinated.

27. Examples of a Blended Learning Course
EDUC 265:
DEVELOPING WWW MATERIALS FOR EDUCATION

28. EDUC 265
Portion A -
Online
Portion B -
Classroom
In the classroom portion new material was presented and opportunities were provided for the students to apply and practice knowledge and skills they had learned in the online portion.

29. EDUC 265 ONLINE

30. I welcome questions and comments, and we look forward to the bright future of e-learning in the Arab Gulf region as we continue to be flexible and innovative.

32. Badrul Huda Khan khanb@gwu.edu
Contact
Badrul Huda Khan

33. Benefits of Blended e-Learning in Education
Workshop on e-Learning in Higher Education
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
BADRUL HUDA KHAN