URDANETA CITY COLLEGE OF TEACHER

UNIVERSITY
Owned and operated by the City Government of Urdaneta
EDUCATION

MODULE 3: FLEXIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Introduction

Distance learning is a form of learning without a face-to-face contact with the teacher and
delivered via telecommunications. In the past, this involved correspondence courses wherein the
student corresponded with the teacher via mails. This turned out to be beneficial since universities
added students without having to construct classrooms while they enjoy being able to work anytime and
anywhere at their convenience. With the advent of newer technologies, distance learning is delivered
via computer – based media thus called inline learning or e-learning. This made classrooms borderless
and learning boundless. This was enhanced by the emergence of web 2.0 tools which made collaborative
learning easier.

ONLINE DISTANCE EDUCATION AND COMMUNITIES OF LEARNERS

Flexible Learning Environment

Learning nowadays is viewed differently. The present generation of learners has access to
information at their fingertips. The teacher is no longer seen as basically the dispenser of knowledge but
rather as one who expertly directs the learners to take their own track in searching for answers to
questions raised inside the classroom. Then they bring these back to the class for further discussion until
perhaps resolutions are agreed. They can search the web and discover a breadth of information related
to the lesson. They even have the patience to stay in front of the computer for an unusually longer time
in search for more articles and multimedia materials that simplify a challenging topic. That is why they
can sometimes learn more than what is confined in the four corners of the classroom.

Every chance or corner becomes a learning space. It is clear that learning takes place anywhere
and this adds to the concept of flexibility in the learning environment. With technology, students can
possibly continue to join class sessions even if they are not physically around. The learning space
becomes virtual or mediated. The library is not only a physical structure where they can read published
books but has also become virtual.

Online Distance Learning

Online distance learning is not a new concept. Some schools, higher education institutions in the
country, and educational agencies such as the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Innovations in
Educational Technology (SEAMEOINNOTECH) provide this mode of learning. It allows flexibility in
learning to a certain extent.
The Different Platforms
The flexible mode of learning uses a platform such as Moodle, Google Classroom, Edmodo,
Schoology, etc. These are free programs designed for educational purposes. It has features that are
patterned after the instructional activities of a teacher in a physical classroom. When you use this, you
can actually hold a lesson, post questions for discussion, hold an online chat discussion, give assessment
activities and provide references or links to other online materials, features relevant to instruction and
facilitating of learning.

Moodle

Moodle was created by Martin Dougiamas, founder and CEO of Moodle. MOODLE stands for
Modular Object Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment which is an open source software. It is a
Learning Management System (LMS) that supports teaching and learning.

Google Classroom and Edmodo

Google Classroom is a free service for teachers and students. It is an LMS platform that is
accessible google account. You can create classes and perform your roles and functions as a facilitator
of learning. In 2008, Edmodo was created by Nic Borg, Jeff O’Hara, and Crystal Hutter.

Martina (2015) compared Edmodo and google classroom in her blog. Although she discussed
several commonalities, there are apparently differences but with technology, things evolve in so short a
time. What is clear is that they were created as apps that can integrate well with classroom activities.
The decision lies in the teacher who will determine what works best in her teaching and learning context.
Both are amazing tools that can be explored.

Schoology

Schoology is another LMS founded in 2009 by Jeremy Friedman, Ryan Hwang, Tim Trinidad and
Bill Kindler.

You can actually create your own online distance education learning system using any of these
platforms.

MOOCs

Another recent modality to learning is the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). It is a model for
delivering learning content online to any person who wants to take a course. It allows one to pursue
learning even outside of university or higher education formal structure. Those who are working can
enroll in MOOCS with no limit on attendance. As long as you are willing to learn, you can engage in an
area of discipline and learn. It allows interconnectedness among peoples in the world to discuss and
share recent developments in their common field of interest.
 EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association with the mission is to advance higher education through the
use of information technology. The link herein provides a succinct video explaining about MOOCs.

Synchronous and Asynchronous

In the flexible learning mode, the activities can be done in two ways: (1) synchronous and (2)
asynchronous.
An online chat at real time is a Synchronous session. Course participants meet in a virtual
classroom and discuss a topic in the lesson. So wherever they are situated in the world, they agree on a
scheduled session and log in to join the live class. The LMS has this feature. The teacher called as the
online tutor facilitates the discussion. Ideas posted in an actual live class. One cannot lecture and take
all the time in explaining. In this mode, the course participants are made to be engaged in the flow of
discussion that is why, the online tutor has to plan out the instruction guide in facilitating the discourse.

Using the Skype in holding a live class is another example, Members of the class log-in in their
Skype account at a given time to join the video conferencing.

Another important feature is the Asynchronous session. This is when questions or tasks are
posted and course participants answer the question or post their reply at any time most convenient to
them. They can still participate in the discussion by replying to the post. One advantage is that you can
allow an asynchronous session.

Blended Learning
Another way of handling flexible learning is by combining modalities of instructional delivery.
Blended learning is a combination of a learning activities wherein a part of the lesson is delivered online
while the other part is handled in actual physical setting of a classroom.

Kinds of Blended Learning

1. Model 1: Face-to-Face Driver

In the face-to-face model, the teacher delivers the curricula most of the time and utilizes online
learning at certain times with the purpose to augment or provide an alternative experience.
Instruction is provided in a computer laboratory or assigned tasks are uploaded online.

2. Model 2: Rotation
In a particular course or subject, students rotate on a fixed schedule between learning online in
a one-to-one, self-paced learning environment and being inside the classroom with a face-to-
face teacher. This is the model that is in between the traditional face-to-face learning and online
learning.

3. Model 3: Flex
This model uses an online platform that delivers most of the course. Support to learning is
provided as needed through on-site support or by an online tutor who facilitates the tutorial or
small group sessions. Sessions can be arranged into synchronous or asynchronous. Course
 participants may work on their tasks at any convenient time as long as it is within the confines of
the course duration.

4. Model 4: Online Lab

The online-lab model uses an online platform in delivering the course but located in a physical
classroom or computer laboratory. Since the lessons are in modular format and available in the
online program, teacher assistants supervise these classes. However, they may not provide the
needed expertise if learners seek assistance. Furthermore, students who are enrolled in an
Online Lab model of blended learning may be enrolled in a traditional classroom courses at the
same time and therefore have block schedules.

5. Model 5: Self-Blend
The self-blend model is a system provided by the school where the students can choose the
courses they would like to have in addition to their typical brick-and-mortar classroom classes.
This model is always remote – a major difference from the Online Lab.

6. Model 6: Online Driver

The online-driver model utilizes a platform and a teacher that delivers all curricula. Students
remotely work on their program most of the time. If ever there is a face-to-face component, it is
made optional or if ever it is required for the students to go to the physical learning environment
such as in a school, then it can be extracurricular activities augmenting the curriculum.

Planning and managing blended learning experiences are very similar to planning and managing
a brick-and-mortar school with courses or subjects integrating technology. It needs to be system-wide
as the school makes a plan, develops guidelines for students to follow for the use of technology in a
blended format and provide a resource guide. A lot of preparation is needed in designing a blended
format. Technology has to be prepared. The back-end and front-end infrastructures of blended learning
have to be put in place as well as the content in varied multimedia formats. Teacher and teacher assistant
who will act as online tutors and assistants need to be pedagogically capacitated.
ACTIVTIY

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Technology for Teaching and Learning.