Blended learning is a particular kind of learning - teaching process emerged out of innovative application technology in education. It is opposite of nontechnological education system. One of the benefits of incorporation of technologies in education is an extension of teaching - learning process out of class, liberation from many traditional limitations and changing the role of teacher and learner. There are many models of blended learning. The final point is blended learning is not just a result of technological innovation but a solution of many problems in teaching learning process.
In Week 1 of the "Blended Learning Essentials" course we do get a very good definition at step 1.4:
Blended learning is “an appropriate mix of face-to-face and online learning activities, using traditional instruction, guided support and independent learning, underpinned by the use of digital technologies and designed using strong pedagogical principles, to support learner engagement, flexibility and success”.
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/blended-learning-embedding-practice/4/steps/138672
Blended learning is an approach to facilitating a course in which parts of the course are facilitated ‘face to face’ in a brick and mortar environment and other parts are facilitated online with learners controlling time / place and pace they will study these parts of the course.
Dziuban et al, 2004, referred to blended learning “as a pedagogical approach that combines the effectiveness and socialization opportunities of the classroom with the technologically enhanced active learning possibilities of the online environment…" (p.3) Dziuban, C. Hartman, J and Patsy, M (2004) Blended Learning, Educause Centre for Applied Research, Research Bulletin, Vol 2004, Issue 7, March 30, pp. 1-12
Blended learning has the same meaning as hybrid learning or mixed-mode learning and it can be considered so even if the course is run using the internet in small proportion (30%) or in larger proportion (75%) (Siemens, Gasevic and Dawson, Preparing for the digital university, Accessed at http://linkresearchlab.org/PreparingDigitalUniversity.pdf, 09/11/15, 15.53).
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/
Blended learning combines in-class, face-to-face instruction with learning via electronic media in a purposeful and complementary way to enhance student engagement. (Garrison and Vaughn 2008)
Although the delivery method is different, the learning outcomes for a blended course are consistent with those for a fully face-to-face version of the course (or fully online). Similarly, while the nature of the notional learning hours may be different, the number of notional student learning hours are the same.
Blended learning is not only about the partial use of ICT ( online learning ), it is also about the combined use of different pedagogical strategies (Oliver & Trigwell, 2005). like formally v.s. informal learning and individual v.s. collective learning.
Allen & Seaman (2014):
- Online education is when at least 80 % of the content is available online
- When 0 to 29 % is available online they talk about a face-to-face courses
- When 30 to 80 is online, is is blended
The possibility to download and watch it online, is according to them also online education.