BLENDED LEARNING MODEL IN TEACHING MEDIA LITERACY

Abstract

This article offers insights into the practices of a blended learning course devoted to media literacy. The present study focuses on correlation of such terms as “blended learning”, “hybrid learning”, “ubiquitous learning”. Special attention is also paid to the studying of benefits and drawbacks of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). The case under investigation is the MOOC “Very Verified: Online Course on Media Literacy” developed by International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX) and EdEra in 2019. Data were collected via pre-test and post-test instruments of assessment with the aim of deriving an understanding of progress made by students, as well as analysing the fluctuations in students’ self-assessment of their own media literacy skills. The study also examined quantitative data to determine how many learners completed the course and how useful it was for them. By comparing the data from students who completed the online course combined with face-to-face sessions and those who completed the online course without attending face-to-face sessions, the research examined the benefits of blended learning model. It was found that the Psychology - Medicine - Education Science and Education, 2021, Issue 1 50 blended learning model turned out to be more effective in comparison with the ubiquitous learning model despite the uniformity of learning content. The findings and analysis offer several insights of blended-learning model and its application in formal and non-formal education.