Page 182 - BLENDED LEARNING

sequence during a day. We believed that the learners would value the face-to-
face mode more highly than the other modes (based on their feedback and our
knowledge of their previous learning experiences). Therefore time spent on the
face-to-face mode needed to outweigh or at least balance the amount of time
spent on the other two modes. We also believed that an equal amount of time
needed to be spent in the computer and self-study mode as we considered them to
be as beneficial as each other, and partly because of logistics in terms of space and
student rotation between the modes. Lastly, we considered the optimal length of the
sessions in each mode, which we felt varied according to learners’ level. Based on
this rationale, combined with the fact that the face-to-face mode was the ‘lead mode’,
we devised the timetables for the four levels as seen in Table 2.

Table 2: Timetables for the four levels
Elementary and Pre-intermediate Intermediate and Upper-intermediate
Duration of session Mode Duration of session Mode
60 minutes Class 90 minutes Class
60 minutes Computer/self-study 45 minutes Computer
60 minutes Class 45 minutes Self-study
60 minutes Self-study/computer 60 minutes Class
60 minutes Class 30 minutes Computer
30 minutes Self-study

Designing for a suite of courses
In our context a high percentage of the learners worked their way through the levels
often from elementary to graduate from upper-intermediate. With these learners
in mind the content and design of the course altered in an effort to realise their
increased abilities as language learners, to cater for their needs, to maintain their
interest, and to fulfil our course aims, as in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Course changes in terms of design and content
Content
Elementary Upper-intermediate
Greater emphasis on military content
Greater learner autonomy
Greater skills focus
Design
Elementary Upper-intermediate
Increased time spent in self-study and computer modes
Longer classroom sessions
Additional CD-ROMS and internet access in the larger centres

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