Comparison of Learning Environments - Essay Example

There are three major learning environments. The first is called Classroom-based or Face to Face where the instructor and learners meet in a single room and all interact from there- the main feature being that they are all in the same room. The second learning environment is called Distance Learning and is the complete opposite of Face to Face in that the teacher and the students are in different locations and hence have to communicate using the internet for their learning interactions. The third learning environment is called Hybrid/Blended learning environment and as the name suggests it is a mix of Classroom-based and Distance Learning. Each learning environment has their own distinct characteristics which makes it different from the other and instructors and students alike hence have a basis for deciding on the best kind of learning to make use of. Each learning environment likewise has its own benefits and limitations and a good instructor knows how to complement each and every one (Herrington.et al, 2014).

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There are similarities in the three learning environments which for both teachers/instructors and students alike makes for easy decision. One similarity among all the learning environments is the teacher/instructor maintains overall control and supervision on the rate of learning, guidance, material and instruction used. In a Face to face environment the instructor maintains control by giving classwork and homework assignments, marking the students attempts and revising. In Distance Learning control and supervision is made by creating deadlines and certain standards for the assignment such as marking originality. Hybrid environment incorporates supervisory elements of both Classroom-based and Distance learning. Another similarity is ultimately it is the students effort and diligence which counts for their performance no matter how much the differences there are in learning environments. All three learning environments also have an allowance for the use of technology in communicating with students, giving clarifications or instructions and so on; more so because of the changing world environment of the twenty-first century.

The roles of the instructors and students are distinctly different to a small degree with each learning environment. For students in Classroom-based environment they are responsible for more than half of the learning. Students have to do classwork, assignments, personal studying for tests and organize themselves in open discussion forums. The instructor is responsible for only instructional techniques such as group discussions, giving lectures and giving notes. In Distance-learning the learner is fully responsible for the learning and the learning is more personalized as this is virtually with other students and the only interaction with the instructor is submission for assignments and seeking clarification. In Distance-learning the instructors role is not as involved as any of the other two learning environments. The instructors work is very little here compared with other learning environments and involves only giving assignments through a common online platform such as a group email, website or Dropbox account, checking submissions, grading and giving the learners a feedback of their performance. In Hybrid/ Blended Learning environments the students roles and responsibilities are similar to Face to face learning environment in that students have a lot to do in their studies be it in the classroom, at home or in their own groups. The instructor also has a lot of responsibility in coming up with the methods for giving instruction which include face to face lectures, group instruction, classwork and assignments, sit-in exams and take-away tests and so on.

The fact that the instructor is there at the same location with students is an added advantage over other learning environments in that it makes it easier for students to be supervised. Classroom-based environment is more interactive, students can ask the teacher questions and raise up any issues- the teacher also encourages students to ask questions and before moving from one topic to another he or she makes sure the previous has been well comprehended by all (AlQahtani & Higgins 2013). As a result the classroom makes it possible for all the students to move at a moderately equal pace. Distance learning makes it possible for the learner and instructor alike to pursue other interests and meet other obligations. The use of the platform and technology makes learning for an individual fast and efficient. Apart from a good internet connectivity, no additional costs such as transport and school accommodation has to be considered. Hybrid learning incorporates the best features of both classroom-based and distance learning environments. Students are interactive with their teacher, they ask questions on something they do not understand and the instructor gives immediate feedback. For any issue that may have not come up in the classroom the student can communicate to the instructor via email and vice versa. When learning through the classroom is impossible then the internet is a back-up platform say if the lecturer is sick and cannot come to class he can send an assignment over e-mail.

When selecting a learning environment the most point of consideration should be ease of access and comfort for both instructor and learner (Reigeluth, 2013). The learning environment should be easily accessible and be a platform which both teacher/instructor and student/ learner is most comfortable with. For example Distance-learning is only possible if the internet and technology devices is available and easily accessible. The classroom environment works only if the teacher and students are guaranteed to meet on time the majority of the time- more than eighty percent of the time. These days many teachers and students make use of Hybrid Learning environments more and more. Hybrid Learning environments are the best because several elements are incorporated which makes it comparatively full-proof. The only problem with Hybrid Learning Environment is deciding how much of learning should be in the classroom and how much should be through the internet. However, a good instructor and good students will maneuver this small hurdle with ease.

References

AlQahtani, A. A., & Higgins, S. E. (2013). Effects of traditional, blended and elearning on students' achievement in higher education. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 29(3), 220-234.Herrington, J., Reeves, T. C., & Oliver, R. (2014). Authentic learning environments. In Handbook of research on educational communications and technology (pp. 401-412). Springer New York.

Reigeluth, C. M. (Ed.). (2013). Instructional-design theories and models: A new paradigm of instructional theory (Vol. 2). Routledge.