What is blended learning? Apps for the perfect blended course

Education is so broad and every teacher teaches in a different way. Luckily, otherwise it would be boring. Think about flipped learning, mastery learning, microlearning, etc.

In this blog post I'll talk about another way of teaching: blended learning. I'll also show you some apps you can use to give a blended course.

The meaning of blended learning

Blended learning is also often called hybrid learning or mixed-mode learning. It's a mix between the traditional teaching in class and e-learning.

In a blended learning course, students are attending a class taught by the teacher AND they are also completing online components of the course outside the classroom.

So does this mean, students have less in-class time? That depends. The online part can be a supplement to the traditional teaching, but it can also replace in-class time by online learning experiences.

Take for example the flipped classroom. Flipped learning is an offspring of blended learning. Here students learn about the topic and the theory at home, so there's more time for the teacher to do exercises on the matter in class and help the students where needed. You could say that students actually do their homework in class.

Check out this example of a flipped classroom!

3 Parts of blended learning

Blended learning doesn't have a fixed definition, but there is a general agreement among education innovators that blended learning has three important components.

1. There must be in-person classroom teaching by a trained educator or legitimate teacher.
2. Online learning material (mostly videos), often include pre-recorded lectures given by that same teacher.
3. There must be structured independent study time guided by the material in the lectures and skills must be developed during the classroom experience.

Finally a teachers' time and intentions are divided for the sake of the students. A blended course teacher uses the classroom time for activities that benefit the most from direct interaction. INTERACTION. No more boring and long lectures, but real interaction. It also keeps students motivated to go to your classes or to go to school in general.

Check out this example of a flipped classroom!

Why should you use blended learning in your classroom?

These three core benefits of blended learning must really convince you to use it in your classroom. Take a look:

The interactive time in the classroom is meant to answer students' questions and to interactively work with them on the matter. When a student doesn't understand how things work, the teacher's core goal is to help that student. Because students have already learned about the topic at home, students discover their problems much quicker. This way, the teacher can address students needs better and quicker.

Some students can have difficulties with a certain topic or need more time to take in the lesson material. The online part has got this covered. Because you are making videos or other online material, the student can pause everything he wants and learn at his own pace. Blended learning is a solution for differentiation.

With BookWidgets you can make personalized exercises for your students in just minutes. Students can even test their learnings of the online session. Therefore, you can see who needs more face-to-face help. Blended learning also provides you with data and knowledge for instructional decision making.

Of course, blended learning has more benefits than those three. There's more flexibility for students and teachers, blended learning offers varied ways for students to engage and demonstrate their leaning, teachers and students get the opportunity to develop their technology skills and some technologies facilitate a specific kind of learning activity that might not be possible without the technology.

Apps for blended learning

Take a look at this post about video apps in the classroom. You can use almost every app in this list for blended learning or in the flipped classroom. My top 5 apps to teach blended courses are:

1. BookWidgets

BookWidgets released the Video Quiz widget widget in January 2023, allowing teachers to insert questions into videos at various points. With 36 different question types, the Video Quiz widget transforms traditional lessons into interactive blended learning experiences. Teachers can engage students more effectively by prompting them with questions during video content, fostering active learning.

BookWidgets, known for its wide range of interactive tools, offers over 40 widget types, including quizzes, worksheets, and puzzles, making it easy for teachers to create engaging activities. Fully integrated with platforms like Google Classroom and Microsoft Teams, BookWidgets simplifies assignment management and grading, while providing detailed analytics to track student progress. This versatile tool is ideal for both in-person and blended learning environments, helping educators create dynamic, interactive lessons that keep students engaged.

For inspiration, check out these lesson ideas and the best YouTube channels for your video quiz lessons. to use with the Video Quiz widget.

Check out this interesting example of a blended learning activity.

2. Explain Everything

Explain Everything is a powerful, interactive digital whiteboard platform widely used for teaching. It offers an extensive range of features that enhance classroom instruction and foster collaboration. Teachers can create interactive presentations, record whiteboard videos and tutorials, and work on collaborative projects with students in real time. The platform supports multimedia integration, allowing you to add images, videos, text, and even live annotations to your presentations, making lessons more dynamic and engaging.

Explain Everything is also ideal for remote learning and flipped classroom environments, as teachers can record lessons and tutorials that students can access at any time. This flexibility helps accommodate different learning paces and styles. It supports cloud collaboration, so students can work together on the same project or board, no matter where they are.

The platform's user-friendly interface and wide variety of tools make it suitable for a range of educational activities, from explaining complex topics to brainstorming and project-based learning. It integrates easily with other tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive, making it simple to import and export materials.

To get a quick overview of how Explain Everything works, check out this tutorial that explains everything in just four minutes. For more creative ways to use this tool, explore these 20 fun lesson ideas with Explain Everything.

3. Knovio

Knovio is an intuitive platform designed for creating, sharing, and managing video and online presentations with ease. It’s perfect for a wide range of uses, from onboarding and training to corporate communications and educational content. With Knovio, users can quickly turn static presentations into dynamic, multimedia experiences by adding video, voiceovers, and interactive elements.

The platform also excels in knowledge management, allowing users to organize their content efficiently, track audience engagement, and gather detailed analytics on how their presentations are being viewed and used. This makes it a powerful tool for both educators and businesses to assess the effectiveness of their content and refine it based on real-time feedback.

Knovio’s easy-to-use interface and extensive features make it versatile for any situation requiring presentation creation and distribution, whether for training new employees or delivering lectures remotely. The platform also supports live streaming and enables users to host interactive sessions with audiences.

To see how Knovio works, take this product tour and explore its full potential!

4. Simpleshow

Simpleshow has been simplifying complex ideas since 2008 with its easy-to-use, AI-powered video maker platform. Designed for everyone, it enables users to create engaging, clear, and professional videos in just a few steps, making it ideal for businesses, educators, and individuals alike. The platform helps turn complicated topics into simple, visual stories using pre-built templates, AI-assisted script generation, and intuitive tools.

Whether you need to explain a product, teach a concept, or share information, Simpleshow provides a straightforward solution for creating polished videos. For inspiration and ideas, check out their video examples to help you get started!

5. Adobe Express

Start creating stunning videos for free with Adobe Express, an all-in-one video editor perfect for teachers, students, and personal projects. Whether you're building your teacher brand on social media, enhancing slideshow videos, or working on creative projects, Adobe Express makes video editing easy—no experience required. Its user-friendly interface and powerful tools allow anyone to produce professional-quality videos effortlessly.

Even better, it’s free, making it accessible for students to use in their classroom projects as well. To get started, watch this tutorial video and begin your journey in professional video editing!

Wrap up

In conclusion, blended learning offers a powerful approach to modern education by combining the best of both in-person and online teaching. With the right tools, educators can create engaging, interactive lessons that cater to different learning styles and needs. Whether it’s through video quizzes with BookWidgets, collaborative whiteboards with Explain Everything, or dynamic presentations with Knovio, these apps help teachers build flexible, student-centered learning experiences. As you explore these tools, you’ll find new ways to enhance your teaching, provide personalized learning, and empower students both inside and outside the classroom.

If you’re looking for more tips and inspiration, join our Facebook Teacher Community or mention us on X to share your blended learning experiences!

And me? I’m Lucie from BookWidgets. I’m happy to connect with you personally on X or LinkedIn.