Suggestions on the Application of Blended Learning Theory in College English Tea

Abstract：Blended Learning Theory is in a form of e-learning combined with face-to-face learning （He Kekang， 2003）. It is believed that Blended Learning Theory has advantages of combining various teaching methods to obtain the best complementary strengths and learning effect. This paper intends to study the origin， the unique advantages， such as the sharing of information resources， providing an open environment for autonomous learning， exchanging feedback in time and displaying achievements publicly. At the same time， it gives some suggestions to optimize the teaching effect when Blended Learning Theory is applied to college English teaching and learning on different aspects： The college should be well equipped with good multimedia network facilities； the functions of teachers should be clarified， including designing the teaching content and mode， organizing the teaching process， guiding the learners’ autonomous learning and evaluating the learning outcomes； the responsibilities of learners should be specified， including developing an initiative attitude of college English learning， changing the emphasized aspects in College English learning， taking active part in the whole process. Last but not the least， both teachers’ and learners’ ability of using multimedia technology should be developed.

Key words：Blended Learning Theory；College English；Teaching and Learning；Application；Suggestions

中图分类号：H319 文献标识码：A 文章编号：1673-8500（2013）01-0124-01

1. Introduction

With the rapid development of Information Technology from the end of 1980s， e-learning has come into being and gained a lot of popularity.The so-called Blended Learning Theory came into being， which is a combination of e-learning and conventional ways of teaching and learning. From this article， the readers can have a view about Blended Learning Theory’s application， and learn to improve the current situation on some aspects.

2. Suggestions on how to optimize the teaching and learning effect with Blended Learning Theory

The advantages of Blended Learning Theory will not be fully achieved unless we get well prepared before using it and make reflections frequently in order to better the way we combine it with our college English teaching and learning. So the following are some suggestions we should follow before， while or after the process of the application：

2.1Equipping with good multimedia network facilities

Schools can build the multimedia network system which can best satisfy themselves according to their own characteristics， the characteristics of English teaching and the cognitive characteristics of learners’ English learning.

2.2 Clarifying the functions of teachers

In the process of college English teaching with multimedia network， teachers should adopt brand new teaching modes， teaching methods and teaching design， and avoid traditional classroom teaching forms of “force-feeding” or linear structure forms. The role of teachers mainly shows in the following respects：

2.2.1 Designing the teaching content and mode

Teachers should design the teaching contents conforming to the level of learners’ cognition， select suitable teaching modes to cater for the students’ psychological state and environment， and stimulate the learning motivation and interest， pushing the student learning potential into full play.

2.2.2 Organizing the teaching process

Teachers can use the Internet to create meaningful scenes for learners， stimulate learners to take part in English learning， and make them fully display the main roles in learning.

2.2.3 Guiding the learners’ autonomous learning

Teachers should actively encourage learners to use interactive exercises and test software provided by networks for their study effect， help consolidate and absorb knowledge in class.

2.2.4 Evaluating the learning outcomes

Teachers should make appraisals of class activities， learning effects and self assessments， including language level， learning attitude， class participation， team spirit and other achievements at all levels.

2.3 Specifying the responsibilities of learners

Only by the teachers’ playing leading role of guidance and monitoring the teaching process and learners’ full play as the main body and learning initiative， can they achieve the best effect of teaching and learning.

2.3.1 Developing an initiative attitude of college English learning

In the conventional way of teaching and learning， the learners are prone to follow the teachers’ guidance， without too much thoughts of their own， in other words， they just followed the instructions of the teachers.

2.3.2 Changing the emphasized aspects in College English learning

Various information resources on the internet can help them get to know more about the real situations when using English， not just through the books or tests. By listening to the audio materials and watching the videos， the learners can imitate， thus improving their spoken English and communication skills.

2.3.3 Taking active part in the whole process

The learners should take active part in the whole process of the teaching and learning. Learners should first make their own concrete goals and study plan according to the teaching requirements， get well prepared for study. In the process， they should make self-monitoring and self-adjusting about the progress and learning methods as well； afterwards， they should do some self-examination and summary.

2.4 Developing both teachers’ and learners’ ability of using multimedia technology

Falk and Carlson （1995） suggest that administrators should take some actions to encourage and assist teachers improve their professional level and know more about multimedia such as setting multimedia technology training for teachers， and holding competition of multimedia courseware.It is necessary to introduce relevant knowledge on multimedia technology to freshmen in order to make them easily adapt to multimedia teaching.

3. Conclusion

Blended Learning Theory is becoming increasingly popular in college English teaching and learning as a means to motivate learners in their learning and to provide them with as many ways as possible to express their ideas. In the context of China， multimedia technology is still a new one and the potential of multimedia in higher education remains largely unfulfilled.Blended Learning Theory will be developed into better condition in China in the future.