Technology has continued to be integrated into our lives in ways we often don’t think about. Around 10-15 years ago, even something as simple as a cell phone was a luxury that only a fraction of the population had. Today, young kids have smartphones and tablets at their disposal, and are often required to have access to computers to do schoolwork. The spread and accessibility of technology – whether it’s computers, tablets, smartphones or the Internet – has been a catalyst in our everyday lives. This has led to improvements in communication, information dissemination, entertainment and more. One of the most underrated plus sides of the growth of technology is its positive contribution to education, which is where blended learning is starting to spread.
What is blended learning?
Traditional educational institutions relied on and continue to rely on pens, paper, textbooks and notes as the tools to facilitate learning. With the integration of new tech into the learning environment, specific lessons are often taught on the use of these technologies and their development.
There are forward-thinking schools out there that have recognized the value in harnessing these technologies to further the development of students and make the act of educating them more all-encompassing and in line with the tech-wielding generation. This approach is called blended learning.
Cambridge Dictionary defines it as – “a way of learning that combines traditional classroom lessons with lessons that use computer technology and may be given over the internet.”
You might think that traditional education methods work great, but we believe that blended learning programs help elevate the quality of education, especially in the medical space that we operate in.
Both our Associate Degree in Nursing and Medical Billing and Coding courses bring the immense benefits of blended learning to improve the quality of the education offered within these programs.
Why is blended learning beneficial in healthcare education?
There are a few advantages of the blended learning approach, advantages that make adopting it a no-brainer for forward-thinking and contemporary colleges.
- Scheduling Convenience: With a portion of your lessons online, you can study at your convenience. If you have a part-time job or other responsibilities, you aren’t stifled by a rigid time schedule and can fit your classes into a time-slot that suits you.
- Multimedia Content: Different people have different learning techniques, and some people find it is easier to understand a theory or concept when lessons come with pictures and videos to enhance the learning material. This holds especially true for a technical and highly focused subject like healthcare. Blended learning helps to level the playing field for students who prefer to learn with additional visual aids.
- Study at Your Own Pace: Often, when education is only imparted in the classroom, students must follow the pace set by their teachers and classmates. This means that the teacher will move on once a majority of the class has understood the subject. Students who haven’t caught up may feel like they have to abandon the topic before they fully understand it, and students ahead of the class may feel they need to wait others to understand. A blended learning program helps to solve this gap since you can tackle the online course at your own pace.
- Study Anytime, Anywhere: Another one of the many advantages of the blended learning approach is that you can study your online portion from wherever you like as long as you have an internet connection and a smartphone, tablet or computer. This offers even more convenience for students who may be working or traveling.
- Chat Rooms for Unrestricted Accessibility: At American Career College, we have a virtual chatroom available for all our students to access at all times. You can connect with your classmates and peers whenever you feel like, 24/7, and touch base with the teaching staff during office hours as well. With this, you don’t lose out on peer interactions or the mentorship of your teachers just because you are doing part of the course online.
Blended Learning is a contemporary form of education and a perfect match for this tech-savvy generation. It offers many positives and elevates the potency of our healthcare programs to new levels. If you have any questions about the programs or how our blended learning approach works, please feel free to contact us.
