Online & Blended Learning – realized better in the Post Pandemic Era

I am from India and have been a Trainer and Facilitator for almost a decade and have met, coached, trained people at different levels, from different backgrounds, cultures. As a Learning & Development Vendor, Working with corporates and Multi national Organizations especially in 21st century and in a country like India meant diverse culture, superior digitalization, hierarchical levels etc. As a Facilitator I was very much comfortable with Classrooms, Conference rooms, Training rooms, Seminar rooms etc. So typically for my One or two or Three days session the best bet was classroom along with zoom participation by people of other locational offices. However the challenge was when I had to deliver 3 months program with 70% online delivery and only 30% in class delivery. It took me a lot of time communicating with class, their seniors and preparing all the reports, assignments, handouts etc. I was managing with all the complex communication. I had heard about meeting platforms- thanks to offshore businesses and Multicultural/ Global businesses. Before the pandemic struck, there were not many options in my limited knowledge. So I used WhatsApp, zoom with all my discomfort. Covid changed the whole landscape of doing business. and thankfully Zoom wasn’t new – we were acquaintances.

Then came the Pandemic- events that happen in centuries probably. The way the world lived, worked changed. Everything in life was affected. Many losses, a few gains. Learning & Development went on a halt. Wellness was preferred. Being a Life Coach and having done Neuro Linguistic programming and quantum Healing, I started doing 2 hours sessions/seminars for various organizations. Sometimes I had 200 people in my seminars with people from Top management to Junior levels. So presentations, Q & A, activities were the way I interacted with my diverse audience Zoom/teams/Meet and many more online meeting platforms emerged conspicuously. We became friend

And in this post Pandemic Era – the world has come through a roller coaster. we survived the lockdowns, the disease, the vaccines and life went on. With life goes the struggle to survive, work and earn. The online meeting platforms changed the way we communicate, learn and operate. Today the online & blended learning has become an effective way to continue education despite all that goes on in life. after having started this course on Online and blended learning I am happy I am formally learning about how to create online courses. I think since I started this master’s course probably this course of online and blended learning is something that is really interesting and a value addition in my training & development skills. In my forties I could dream of doing a course that was not only full time but also gave me leverage to work alongside, take care of family & have friends from across the world. and I can say that Zoom/meets/teams (Online tools of learning); We are kind of- Inseparable 🙂

Online Learning in The world of Work

Blended learning Classroom

Mandeep K Avatar

Navigating the Journey of Personal Growth

My experiences and challenges with online and blended learning

 

My name is Suruchi Verma, and I’m a certified  Indian educator. I am incredibly passionate about discovering the wonders of our globe. I have over 10 years of work experience and my core areas of interest are focused on teaching Geography and work related to spatial planning using Remote Sensing as a tool. It is my goal to combine my range of experience with my ability to be a compassionate educator.
My professional background and primary areas of interest are concentrated in tasks involving spatial planning with the aid of remote sensing. My objective is to combine my breadth of expertise with my capacity as a kind, committed instructor. I think it’s important to create an environment in the classroom where students feel appreciated and free to share their opinions. I want to inspire a sense of wonder and interest in my students about the various cultures, ecosystems, and landscapes that exist on Earth through my teaching. I think education should involve more than just the dissemination of knowledge. It ought to arouse interest and a desire for information. My goal is to provide a stimulating learning atmosphere that inspires children to explore, ask questions, and look for solutions. It is incredibly gratifying to observe their eagerness and the glimmer of interest in their eyes. I have also been nominated for the Best Teacher Award category in the year 2014 under the Ministry of Environment and Forest (Government of India). As an educator with knowledge of developing online and blended learning, I envision leveraging this expertise in several ways in the future. I want to use my understanding of how to design and create engaging digital content that will maximize student engagement and learning results because online learning is becoming more and more common. I can design online learning experiences that capture students’ attention and encourage active involvement by using multimedia components, interactive exercises, and gamification. Technology is continuously changing, and this offers fascinating prospects for improving the educational process. I can investigate and integrate cutting-edge technologies like virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence into the educational landscape thanks to my experience creating for online and hybrid learning. I can develop immersive and creative learning experiences that expand comprehension and engage students in new ways by utilizing the possibilities of these technologies.

GIS technology and geography | Humanities | Teach Secondary

Technology is a vital part of everyone’s life in the modern world. Technology like computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones are becoming more and more integral to our daily life. It stands to reason that these useful technologies are also becoming increasingly common in classrooms. The vast majority of educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, and other training centers, are already considering how to include new technologies in their curricula. I believe that when establishing teaching and learning tactics, consideration is constantly given to the expectations, learning styles, and interests of students. Technology has mostly been the driving force behind the most recent modifications to the traditional classroom. Due of this, blended learning was developed, allowing students and teachers to connect in a variety of ways. I started learning online in 2019 as a result of COVID-19 school closings. In my school, many teachers were getting used to using computers, learning how to best transfer the benefits of face-to-face training to the online environment, and figuring out how to employ technology-supported instruction to enhance student learning. This instructional approach was used in my classroom. I had to make the most of hybrid learning in a totally virtual setting when I shifted to remote study in 2019. I had previously researched the flipped-classroom model, which is a well-liked approach to blended learning that frequently blends autonomous home viewing of instructional videos with class time spent finishing work. I worked to replicate the benefits of “traditional” in-person learning as I made the switch to remote learning by using live, virtual small-group classes that allowed students the chance to ask clarifying questions in real-time and to provide peer-to-peer learning opportunities as well as crucial social interactions.

To ensure a successful learning experience, it’s critical to address the specific problems that online and blended learning might provide. I made a conscious effort to incorporate as many pertinent videos and tech-savvy strategies as I could into my assignments. I frequently found it helpful to intersperse a few shorter films with questions to strengthen my case. When I initially began teaching online, I embraced Google Classroom wholeheartedly. I was a little hesitant and struggled a little. I initially struggled to understand how to upload materials and create lesson plans. Arya, one of my coworkers at the time, assisted me create a lesson plan and look for other ways to train pupils. The learning process might be interfered with by technical problems like poor internet connectivity, software bugs, or incompatibility with certain devices. Having a dependable internet connection and making sure that hardware and software are up to date are essential. Technical support and troubleshooting manuals are also excellent tools for quickly resolving technical issues. Some people’s preferred learning styles may not be accommodated by online or hybrid learning methods. For instance, visual learners may find it difficult to understand text-heavy internet content. In these circumstances, utilizing multimedia tools, asking instructors for alternate forms, or locating additional supplemental materials can all improve the learning process. It might also be helpful to be aware of your own learning preferences and modify your study methods accordingly. Setting up distinct boundaries between study time and other commitments is crucial. Create productive learning environment by setting priorities, using time management strategies, and sharing your schedule with others.What Is Blended Learning? | 2023 Benefits, Models & Challenges

I frequently showed an introductory video to students before explaining the concept in class to pique their attention. Combining conventional instruction with technological advancements, in my opinion, is the finest method to enhance learning. In my opinion, cutting-edge teaching methods must be integrated with new technology and collaboration tools to produce dynamic, inclusive, and personalized hybrid learning experiences. Through the use of digital tools, teachers are supported and given the chance to develop their teaching methods. For instance, incorporating game-based activities into the learning process may boost motivation and engagement among pupils, especially in the case of younger ones. In addition to helping teachers assess student performance in the classroom and make decisions that will improve learning outcomes, learning analytics systems can also help teachers monitor student progress. However, a lack of digital literacy among teachers continues to be one of the major barriers to blended learning.  understand how to use technologies as the curriculum shift efficiently.7 benefits of technology in the classroom

I believe that increasing teacher empowerment and professional development funding is crucial for enhancing teachers’ abilities and properly using blended learning. My expertise in building for online and blended learning gives me the tools I need to construct efficient mixed learning environments, incorporate emerging technologies, assist other educators, and advance the field of education. By utilizing these abilities, I hope to improve the educational process and get pupils ready for the digital era.