Preamble: the impact of technological progress on language training Human beings have been learning by combining lessons with a teacher and personal study using different types of media since the invention of written language. But the media we use today are no longer stone tablets, printed documents, or cassette tapes. They are increasingly virtual, interactive, and their contents are accessible in hitherto unimaginable quantities anytime, anywhere, thanks to the accelerated expansion of the World Wide Web. Another new development: learners today can communicate with « live » trainers at distance and share their knowledge in real time with other human beings thousands of miles away, using the same network. Everything is dematerialising and migrating online: the written word, voice, video, telephone, multimedia applications, etc. The boundaries between resources, trainers, modalities, contents and media are blurring. It is this development that has facilitated the rise of blended learning.
Table of contents 1 - State of the Art of Blended Language Learning
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Why is blended learning replacing e-learning?
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Teething troubles
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New opportunities
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2 - What are the current trends in BLL? Key words: Integration, Democratization, Individualisation 3 - What are the advantages of BLL?
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« Blended » programmes are more flexible and easier to customise
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BLL can reduce training costs
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The enriched environment of BLL is better suited to learning
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BLL can enhance motivation
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BLL can boost learning effectiveness
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4 - How to build a BLL programme that works
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Interlocking and associated resources
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A case study
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Some guidelines when implementing a corporate BLL project
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Conclusions 13 About the author
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Annex – A guide to the modalities of blended learning
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