Page 9 - ELG2207 Jul Issue 481

NEWS
Blended learning can improve outcomes,

especially for English language learners

By Gillian Ragsdale learning in school is termed generally known
Blended learning is better than ‘computer-assisted instruction’. to support student
regular classroom or wholly The main findings were: well-being, this may
online learning, especially for • Although online learning help to explain the
English language learners, can be as good as or better finding that 79%
according to a review by a team than being at school, blended of studies assessing
from Scotland led by Keith learning has better outcomes psychological well-
Topping from Dundee University. than either style alone. being when using
The move to online and • Online and blended learning digital learning found
blended learning during the was especially beneficial for an improvement.
pandemic increased concern as to EFL students, lower ability However, access to
the effectiveness of these methods students and girls generally. digital technology
of teaching compared to the • The use of computerised outside of school remains a which can be downloaded from
usual classroom experience. Post- educational games and computer- major issue. the online version of their open
pandemic, the question is whether supported collaborative learning It seems that there is good access paper (see the second
these methods are second best was more effective than online reason to keep some of the link in the box ‘Supporting
or should be embraced for their learning, but less than blended online strategies schools have Information’ at the end of the
benefits going forward. learning. implemented as emergency online paper).
Topping’s review covered • Computer-assisted instruction, measures, but with more support
1,355 studies on students from delivered in school, was even for teacher training and more REFERENCE
59 countries from 2020-2021. more effective than online or equitable student access to digital n Topping, K. J., Douglas, W.,
Topping defines ‘online learning’ blended learning. resources. Robertson, D. and Ferguson, N.
as taking place outside of school Many useful recommendations, (2022) Effectiveness of online and
and ‘blended learning’ as being The authors suggest that digital ideas and tips were extracted blended learning from schools:
a combination of remote online/ technology enables greater task from the reviewed papers and the A systematic review, Review of
digital learning and regular flexibility and learner autonomy. authors have helpfully organised Education, 10, e3353. https://doi.
classroom learning. Digital Since these attributes are these into their Appendix S2, org/10.1002/rev3.3353

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