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Today, the modern world which is equipped by the fast evolution of educational models, online and blended learning have become indispensable in educational processes. The recent global events such as COVID-19 have triggered a shift to digital education and the current education system has inspired teachers to seek methods that will aid in reaching learners in settings other than a classroom. Therefore, having handhold experience with the most suitable instruments may spell a lot of difference in embracing quality instruction and meaningful student participation. Whether one is teaching in an online environment at the present or thinking of migrating from face-to-face learning environments, the right technology will support and improve on the learning process by specifically making it more engaging, flexible and open. In this blog post, we’ll look into some of the most essential technologies for online and blended learning and how they can enhance the learning-teaching process for both, teacher and learner.
Key Tools for Online and Blended Learning
- Learning Management Systems (LMS)
Talent LMS
To use this tool, there is no requirement to get trained, supports on boarding and professional learning, as this tool has mobile first course design, and learning paths. These features of the tool make it suitable for blended learning environments, as mentioned above. This LMS is implemented in the cloud and supported by AI technologies aimed at adapting the content and raising clients’ interest. TalentLMS also provides features such as leaderboards and discussion boards will be both asynchronous as well as synchronous, which make it useful to the educator.
https://www.cloudshare.com/blog/blended-learning-tools/
- Content Creation Tools
iSpring Suite:
This authoring tool allows teachers to design appealing and exciting slide-based courses, assessments, and video demonstrations of the material quickly without needing advanced IT skills. This tool can easily be embedded with PowerPoint which makes it popular among teachers since the making of the content is fast and easy. This tool is really suitable for mobile platform, the administrators of the system can make lessons with a plenty of media components. This encourages a rich learning atmosphere that can capture the students in more than one way.
https://www.ispringsolutions.com/blog/blended-learning-a-primer
- Collaboration and Engagement Tools
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Perusall
Perusall lets the students share notes, and have discussions regarding the reading materials while giving the teachers information about students’ understanding through the confusion reports feature (which shows areas where the problems in the text appears). This tool assists in creating a sense of community for the students.
https://peacheypublications.com/10-free-tools-for-building-blended-online-learning
My Experience in Online or Distance Education
While teaching online, the use of these tools in my teaching has proved to have a positive impact on achievements of my students. For example, Perusall has helped me in the formation of the students’ group because these tools imply discussions of the relevant materials. Such an interaction ensures that feelings of loneliness that come with online learning are reduced hence it allows the students to interact more with the content and their fellow students. Moreover, I really find LMS useful due to its flexibility as it enables me to incorporate both the synchronous and asynchronous learning where the students are policy in the course temporal preferences. They get to study what they want at their own using times yet they can get to enjoy live Forum discussions when necessary, which makes learning more embracing for all.
Teaching in an online format has absolutely changed my way of teaching as online environment is the first important one as it provides flexibility that was not available in traditional education allowing me to modify my lessons on the spot depending on students’ feedback or keeping in view the requirements at that time. This has helped me become more responsive as an educator, which of course will be great for my students. The tools such as Perusall help me build the encouraging environment in the online course with possible comments and questions, which plays an important role in students’ motivation and interest while studying. In addition, analytics offered by Adobe Learning Manager or Talent LMS feature significantly help in analysing the performance of the student which is quite effective feature. Using engagement data, I have been able to establish what students do not understand, and then change my teaching to encompass their needs.
Good evening Prabhdeep. I enjoyed how you summarized how a few tech tools work and there benefits. I can see how those could work well. I also enjoyed your description of how this technology has impacted your teaching practices. They do improve flexibility and interest if set up and used correctly. In a synchronous setting, I felt they did improve social interactions, especially during Covid, but in asynchronous settings, I still believe there are pieces missing for some students. I think that without proper preparation and internal motivation, there is still a section of students that miss out on a full learning experience. Great overall blog that promotes thought and discussion. Thank you.
Thanks for your feedback Edward.