A guide to blended learning

Blended Learning:

• Those looking to make a smarter choice – combining online and on-campus learning offers the best of both worlds. Limited time spent on campus allows the flexibility to manage other commitments, such as part-time work or childcare.
• Those concerned about the cost of traditional university – with Blended Learning, you pay for what matters: high-quality course content and teaching. You can save up to a third of the cost of a degree with a traditional campus uni.
• Those able and happy to commute to the city centre twice a week – not only will living it home save you money, it will also save the hassle of relocating. Those with an established family, work and social life are able to continue as normal.

Traditional Learning:

• Young people who want to get the traditional ‘university experience’.
• Those who are willing and able to postpone or pause their career in order to focus on academic study for three years.
• People who are very comfortable working with reading lists, note taking, text and lecture-delivered content and traditional learning approaches.

Blended Learning

• Tuition fees $6,000 per year (current THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY annual fee for undergraduate degree by blended learning)
• Potential to earn while you learn and compressed timetabling means you are only on campus 2 days per week.
• Eligible for Student Finance.

Traditional Learning

• Tuition fees ($9000 + a year)
• Accommodation cost (average weekly rent stands at $146.73, according to NUS & UniPol Survey).
• Eligible for Student Finance.

Blended Learning

• A ‘learn and do’ approach – lectures and presentations can be viewed online via webinar and video at a time that suits you. Your classroom time then becomes more efficient as you can apply the newly found knowledge in discussions, debates and project working.

Traditional Learning

• A ‘sit and listen’ approach – time spent passively receiving lectures and presentations.

Blended Learning

• Access to pre-recorded lectures and webinars – pause to take notes when needed.
• Rerun videos and take online tests for immediate feedback.
• Access to material that’s always up-to-date – tutors can easily tweak the content to reflect any changes in the industry.

Traditional Learning

• Content provided through books and printouts.
• Notes need to be take in real-time – no time to stop and reflect.

Blended Learning

• Best of both worlds – Full time three year degree based on compressed timetable supported by flexible online study support.
• Fully compatible with continued working for that all-important work experience and the ability to continue earning while you learn.

Traditional Learning

• The full ‘university experience’, freshers’ week, campus-bar and social activities, new friends and social groups.

Blended Learning

• Generally narrower course availability and likely to be more business and professionally orientated subjects – so less likely to be suited to those wishing to study classic humanities and similar.

Traditional Learning

• High cost means high debt
• Spread timetabling means you have to be on campus every day
• Traditional teaching model could be more passive and theoretical
• Difficult to manage around work and caring commitments