A teacher with Lagos State Ministry of Education, Marta Jesulake, has advocated public and private schools to adopt blended learning as alternative study method.
Blended learning, known as hybrid learning, is an approach to education that combines online educational materials and opportunities for interaction online with traditional place-based classroom methods.
This position was expressed during June’s “EdTech Mondays”, initiative of Mastercard Foundation in partnership with Co-Creation Hub.
Speaking at a roundtable on “Strategies required to accelerate blended learning in Nigeria’’, Jesulake stressed the need to make learning exciting and interactive by exploring and adopting blended learning methodology.
Acknowledging challenges faced in deploying blended learning, she explained the creative ingenuity brought to bear improved learning outcomes among students.
She said with blended learning, barriers as high costs of expansion and infrastructure maintenance, among others, would become shattered, thus enabling students to learn quickly and conveniently.
“With blended learning, we are creating spaces for teachers to dedicate more time to their learners. Besides, it also reduces the barrier to access to education, including learning virtually in emergencies.
According to her, challenges of access to technological devices and access to Internet connectivity were hindrances to blended learning.
Admitting that blended learning is growing in Nigeria, she stated that the COVID-19 pandemic altered considerably as schools became more receptive to the alternative learning approach.
She further stressed the need for government to support the teachers by offering them training opportunities to ensure that both the teachers and students become fully aware of its significance.
“Well, you know, with the COVID-19 pandemic, we began to see that it’s possible to learn outside the four walls of the classroom.
“So, I want to believe that our teachers can be supported with requisite training if we are ready to embrace this new shift. For example, the Lagos State Government is doing a good job training teachers.
“However, I think a lot still needs to be done. You know, teachers need you need to be creative, teachers need to be aware that they don’t need to do everything on their own,” she said.