Flexible learning

Learning can take place anywhere, not just in classrooms. Many schools and teachers
create learning environments that explore the use of time and space in creative ways. The
integration of areas of learning and technology also has opened the door for teachers and schools
to approach the use of time and space in creative ways – ways that adapt to students’ needs and
interests.
According to Shurville et al. (2008) “Flexible Learning is a set of educational philosophies
and systems, concerned with providing learners with increased choice, convenience, and
personalization to suit the learner. In particular, flexible learning provides learners with choices
about where, when, and how learning occurs”.
Flexible learning approaches are often designed using a full range of teaching and learning
theories, philosophies, and methods to provide students with opportunities to access information
and expertise, contribute ideas and opinions, and correspond with other learners and mentors.
This may occur through the use of internet-based tools such as Virtual Learning
Environments or Learning Management Systems, discussion boards, or chat rooms; and may be
designed as a "blended" approach, with content available electronically and remotely, as well as
"face-to-face" classroom tutorials and lectures.

Flexible Classrooms: Providing the Learning Environment That Kids Need

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cscJcRKYxA

Online Distance Learning

Online distance learning is not a new concept. Some schools, higher education institutions
in the country, and educational agencies such as the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education
Innovations in Educational Technology (SEAMEO-INNOTECH) provide this mode of learning. It
allows flexibility in learning to a certain extent.

Types of Online Distance Learning

Distance learning has evolved greatly since the days of correspondence learning in which
the student would receive course materials including textbooks and other course materials through
the mail. Students would then work completely at their own pace, finishing the course according to
their work and life schedule. Although correspondence courses still exist, they are quickly being
replaced by online courses, which offer instruction from teachers, interaction with other students,
and a forum for feedback.
There are a number of advantages to the new formats of distance learning, such as making
permanent professional contacts, a greater amount of teacher support, and a multimedia
educational experience. With the advent and improvements in computer, digital, and Internet
technology, This is especially true for programs that traditionally require large amounts of reading
and written assignments, such as business administration and management, human resources
management and services, finance, and accounting.

Synchronous vs Asynchronous Distance Learning

The four types of distance learning fall under the categories of either synchronous or
asynchronous. Synchronous literally means “at the same time”, while asynchronous means “not at
the same time”. Synchronous distance learning involves live communication either through sitting
in a classroom, chatting online, or teleconferencing. Asynchronous distance learning usually has a
set of weekly deadlines, but otherwise allows students to work at their own pace. Students have
more interaction with their peers and deliver correspondence through online bulletin boards. This
type of learning might get tedious for some because they are usually only receiving the information
through text medium, however, some asynchronous classes involve video or audio supplements.
Synchronous learning is less flexible and disrupts the student’s life to a greater extent. It is,
however, the most popular form of college distance learning and continuing education programs,
as it facilitates a greater amount of interaction between students and professors.

Synchronous
Synchronous distance learning: Learning by chatting online, teleconferencing and sitting in
a classroom. This type of learning offers less flexibility and affects the student’s life to an extent. It
is, nevertheless, the most popular form of distance learning and continuing education programs,
as it makes the interaction between students and professors easy. Synchronous learning is best
suited for degree programs that draw attention to communication, such as nursing, counseling
psychology, general psychology, and general education.

Asynchronous
Asynchronous distance learning typically has set weekly time limit, but otherwise provides
the students with the freedom to work of their own free will. Students have more communication
with other fellow students and communicate through online notice boards. This might get difficult
at times because for the students the only information received is text medium. However, in some
classes, video or audio option are also available. Programmes dominated by assignments and
projects work well in asynchronous format because they provide the students with more time to
focus on their work. Degree programmes that work well in this format include healthcare
administration, marketing, educational/instructional media design, legal assistant or paralegal, and
advertising.

Watch the video to understand more about distance learning through the link below:
What is Distance Learning? Synchronous vs Asynchronous Learning | DepEd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PlgCQKj8Q8

Blended Learning is a flexible learning system. It is a combination of learning activities done

online and in the classroom and it has various classifications as follows.

1. Face-to-face Driver: In the face-to-face model, the teacher delivers the curricula most of the
time and utilizes online learning at certain times with the purpose of augmenting or providing an
alternative experience. Instruction is provided in a computer laboratory or assigned tasks are
uploaded online.
2. Rotation: In a particular course or subject, students rotate on a fixed schedule between
learning online in a one-to-one, self-paced learning environment and being inside the classroom
with a face-to-face teacher. This is the model that is in between traditional face-to-face learning
and online learning.
3. Flex: This model uses an online platform that delivers most of the course. Learning support is
provided as needed through on-site support or by an online tutor who facilitates the tutorial or
small group sessions. Sessions can be arranged into synchronous or asynchronous. Course
participants may work on their tasks at any convenient time as long as it is within the confines of
the course duration.
4. Online Lab: The online lab model uses an online platform in delivering the course but located
in a physical classroom or computer laboratory. Since the lessons are in modular format and
available in the online program, teacher assistants supervise these classes. However, they may
not provide the needed expertise if learners seek assistance. Furthermore, students who are
enrolled in an Online Lab model of blended learning may be enrolled in traditional classroom
courses at the same time and therefore have block schedules.
5. Self-Blend: The self-blend Model is a system provided by the school where the students can
choose the courses they would like to have in addition to their typical brick-and-mortar classroom
classes. This model is always remote - a major difference from the Online Lab.
6. Online Driver: It utilizes a platform and a teacher that delivers all curricula. Students remotely
work on their program most of the time. If ever there is a face-to-face component, it is made
optional, or if ever it is required for the student to go to the physical learning environment such as
in a school, then it can be extracurricular activities augmenting the curriculum.

Online Distance Education and Communities of Learners

When we consider online networking, internet users immediately refer to Facebook.
Everybody seems to have a Facebook account and uses this to communicate. If in the teaching
and learning situation, you work on and collaborate with classmates, friends, teachers and other
members of society, then social networking can also be appropriately employed as an educational
tool.

Networking
When productive relationships are cultivated, networking works best. A network is defined
as that group of individuals who communicates and connects on a regular basis. If an individual
has a personal network of people, one can tap on the potential contacts for social, educational or
professional purposes.

Social Networking Platforms

A social networking service (also social networking site or social media) is an online
platform which people use to build social networks or social relationships with other people who
share similar personal or career interests, activities, backgrounds or real-life connections.
Social networking services vary in format and the number of features. They can incorporate
a range of new information and communication tools, operating on desktops and on laptops, on
mobile devices such as tablet computers and smartphones. They may feature digital
photo/video/sharing and diary entries online (blogging). Online community services are sometimes
considered social-network services by developers and users, though in a broader sense, a social-
network service usually provides an individual-centered service whereas online community
services are group-centered. Defined as "websites that facilitate the building of a network of
contacts in order to exchange various types of content online," social networking sites provide a
space for interaction to continue beyond in person interactions. These computer mediated
interactions link members of various networks and may help to both maintain and develop new
social and professional relationships. Social networking sites allow users to share ideas, digital
photos and videos, posts, and to inform others about online or real-world activities and events with
people in their network.
The main types of social networking services contain category places (such as age or
occupation or religion), means to connect with friends (usually with self-description pages), and a
recommendation system linked to trust. One can categorize social-network services into four
types:
 socialization social network services are used primarily for socializing with existing friends
(e.g., Facebook)
 online social networks are decentralized and distributed computer networks where users
communicate with each other through internet services.
 networking social network services are used primarily for non-social interpersonal
communication (e.g., LinkedIn, a career- and employment-oriented site)
 social navigation social network services are used primarily for helping users to find
specific information or resources (e.g., Goodreads for books)
A. Social Networking is using websites and applications to communicate informally with others,
find people, and share similar interests
 Allows users to directly connect with one another through groups, networks, and location
Examples: Facebook and LinkedIn

B. Microblogging is posting of very short entries or updates on a social networking site. It allows
users to subscribe to other users' content, send direct messages, and reply publicly. It is also used
to create and share hashtags to share content about related subjects
Examples: Twitter and Tumblr

C. Blogging (Using Publishing Websites) is recording opinions, stories, articles, and links to
other websites on a personal website.
Examples: Wordpress and Blogger

D. Photo Sharing is publishing a user's digital photos, enabling the user to share photos with
others either publicly or privately
Examples: Instagram, Flickr, Snapchat and Pinterest

E. Video Sharing is publishing a user's digital photos, enabling the user to share photos with
others either publicly or privately. It allows users to embed media in a blog or Facebook post, or
link media to a tweet.
Examples: YouTube, Vimeo, and Periscope

F. Crowdsourcing is obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from

a large group of people, particularly those from the online community
2. Examples: Ushahidi, Inc.

For more information on crowdsourcing, view the Digital Humanitarians TED Talk on the use of
time-critical crowdsourcing to verify social media for disaster response.

G. Tools for Managing Multiple Social Media Platforms is an aggregator is a tool that can be
used to "aggregate social media site feeds in one spot, allowing users to search by keywords."
2. Examples: Hootsuite

Choosing the Right Assessment Tools

 Data Bloom's
Assessment Direct Knowledge, Comprehension, Application or Analysis/Synthesis/Evaluation
Tool or
Indirect
Abbreviation D or I K, C, A, ASE Pros Cons
K, C if carefully
Multiple Choice easy to grade reduces assessment to multiple
D constructed A, S,
Exam objective choice answers
&E
no authentic testing, may
Licensing Exams D K, C, A easy to score and compare
outdate
Standardized heavily dependent on exposure
D K, C, A? comparable between students
Cognitive Tests to topics on test
very useful for skills or can minimize large picture and
performances interrelatedness
variable
Checklists D Evaluation feedback is basically a
students know exactly what is yes/no - present/absent - without
missing detail
D -displays analytical and synthetic time consuming to grade, can be
Essay K, C, A, ASE
thinking well subjective
D -displays analytical and synthetic creating the case is time
thinking well consuming, dependent on
Case Study K, C, A, ASE
-connects other knowledge to topic student knowledge form multiple
areas
D displays analytical and synthetic difficult to grade due to multiple
thinking well methods and potential multiple
Problem Solving K, C, A, ASE
authentic if real world situations solutions
are used
Data Bloom's
Assessment Direct Knowledge, Comprehension, Application or Analysis/Synthesis/Eval
Tool or
Indirect
D easily graded with rubric difficult for ESL students
allows other students to see and stressful for students
variable learn what each student learned takes course time
Oral Speech connects general education goals
K, C, A, ASE with discipline-specific courses must fairly grade course content
beyond delivery

D provides immediate feedback to requires good rubric

the student more than one evaluator is
reveals thinking and ability to helpful
Debate K, C, A, ASE
respond based on background difficult for ESL students
knowledge and critical thinking stressful for students
ability takes course time
D students can display skills. must have clearly defined criteria
Product Creation
variable knowledge, and abilities in a way and evaluative measures
& Special
K, C, A, ASE that is suited to them "the look" can not over-ride the
Reports
content
D displays original synthetic thinking more difficult to grade, requiring
on the part of the student a checklist or rubric for a variety
Flowchart or
C, A, ASE perhaps the best way to display of different answers
Diagram
overall high level thinking and difficult for some students to do
articulation abilities on the spot
D provides the students with a clear time consuming to grade
record of their work and growth different content in portfolio
best evidence of growth and makes evaluating difficult and
change over time may require training
Portfolios variable
students can display skills. bulky to manage depending on
knowledge, and abilities in a way size
that is suited to them
promotes self-assessment
D, I provides good summative data Likert scales limit feedback, open-
Exit Surveys ASE easy to manage data if Likert-scaled ended responses are bulky to
responses are used manage,
 D provides best display of skills and stressful for students
abilities may take course time
provides excellent opportunity for some students may take the
variable
Performance peer review evaluation very hard - evaluative
K, C, A, ASE
students can display skills. statements must be carefully
knowledge, and abilities in a way framed
that is suited to them

Data Bloom's
Assessment Direct Knowledge, Comprehension, Application or Analysis/Synthesis/Eval
Tool or
Indirect
D best method to measure growth focus and breadth of assessment
overtime with regards to a course are important
or program - cumulative understanding all the variables to
Capstone produce assessment results is
project or ASE also important
course may result in additional course
requirements
requires coordination and
agreement on standards
D connects general education goals must fairly grade individuals as
with discipline-specific courses well as team
variable grading is slightly more
Team Project
K, C, A, ASE complicated
student interaction may be a
challenge
Reflective self- D, I provides invaluable ability to must use evidence to support
assessment ASE evaluate affective growth in conclusions, not just self-
essay students opinionated assessment
I provides good indirect data respondents may be influenced
can be compared by factors other than those being
Satisfaction and
longitudinally considered
Perception C, A, ASE
can be used to determine outcomes
Surveys
over a long period of time validity and reliability most be
closely watched
Source: www.evc.edu