Blended
Learning
What is Blended Learning?
Blended Learning refers to a blend of teaching and learning methods typically including traditional in-class teaching and online learning. The SMSI blend includes face to face classes, live online webinars, online self study and activities and online readings and texts.
What are the advantages of Blended Learning?
Blended learning promotes 21st Century learning skills including creativity and innovation, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and communication, initiative and self-direction, leadership and responsibility, and adaptability. It also greatly enhances accessibility and flexibility enabling students study from home and at a pace that is best for them.
What technology will I need?
You will need a laptop (or desktop computer) with a good internet connection (4G is fine) and a quiet place to study online. All of our blended learning content can be accessed directly via the web and you will be provided with usernames and passwords on enrolment. Your laptop should have speakers and a microphone (a headset is even better) and you should have microsoft office, and the ability to view videos, pdf files and some other standard file types. In brief, any modern computer will be able to handle all of these requirements.
What will my blended week look like?
Typically each week will include each of the aspects of the blend described above. Students will be on campus for some of the time (this will vary by course), they will logon to live lectures and workshops delivered by our faculty and they will engage in independent study. This will include accessing a wide range of resources, activities and tasks via our virtual learning environment, Moodle. Specific week by week calendars will be provided at the beginning of each semester.
What courses are delivered using Blended Learning?
All of our courses are supported by Moodle and in that sense they are all blended. As a result of COVID19, all of our courses now also include live online lectures which helps in minimising contact and travel on public transport. Our part-time programmes tend to involve more online study, while full time courses tend to be more classroom based. As we develop new courses, such as our BA (Hons) in Psychology, they will be designed from the beginning as blended learning programmes.
