Information and digital literacy in education via the digital path

Blended learning refers to the use of more than one delivery method to provide enhanced learning.  Originally, blended learning referred to the addition of an online segment to the traditional classroom courses. However, the evolution of technology has ensured a more or less equal share between online and offline methods. No matter which component weighs more than the other, the fact remains that blended learning uses more than one approach to learning to ensure better learning outcomes.

Blended learning is described by Garrison and Kanuka (Garrison and Kanuka , 2004) as ‘the thoughtful integration of classroom face-to-face learning experiences with online learning experiences’. This approach is particularly useful in building learning communities, and there is a reasonable body of supporting evidence for the benefits of digital learning technologies (Higgins et al., 2012).

However, it is important not to over-rely on digital technology. Studies suggest that physical cues in a book (spatio-temporal aspects, such as touch and page-turning) better support readers in navigating texts in an intuitive way (Jabr , 2013), and that longhand note-taking on paper is more effective than on a laptop (Mueller and Oppenheimer , 2014). With all this in mind, we developed and trialled our own approach to blended learning.