The Pedagogy of Blended Learning: A Brief Review

Abstract

Pedagogy has long been seen in terms of an art, a science or a craft. The journey of pedagogy has seen many ups and downs, like it was a practice of luxury in the past, made for the privileged ones; then it also became a tool of oppression in some places. Today, it is again going through a churning phase- marked with numerous experiments and novelties. The present paper is an effort to review the methods of teaching and training students focusing on a few upcoming pedagogical methods. Blended learning environment is based on the assumption that the inherent benefits of face-to-face interaction maybe enhanced by using on-line methods. It promotes a student-centred learning and encourages increased student interaction. In addition, by providing students with more control over their learning, blended learning can also help in improving a critical thinking. It gives students more autonomy to choose their learning practices. The teacher may not be an omniscient and omnipresent figure any more but his/ her optimal presence is altered for the better as well. The teacher needs to be more creative with his/her learning now. But as freedom always comes with more responsibility, Blended Learning also needs a very careful assimilation of the various methods.