I.

MODELS OF BLENDED LEARNING

Blended learning is a combination of face-to-face and online learning methods that offers higher
engagement, increased flexibility, more effective training, improved communication, and
accurate analysis of learning. It also saves time and money. However, there are drawbacks,
including the cost of implementation, lack of IT skills, more work for instructors, misuse of the
online platform, and disturbance in the workplace (Valamis 2021).
Blended learning models:
There are four models of blended learning that offer different approaches employers/trainers
can take to develop an advanced and personalized learning environment for learners.
1.Rotation model
A part of traditional learning that incorporates online education into the mix.
Students rotate between different tasks and exercises, including online learning.
This model is suitable for companies training large groups and is an efficient and
effective way of delivering training.
There are four different methods of implementing the rotation model:
a. Station Rotation:
an approach that requires students to switch between activities
and allot equal time to each aspect of the training program. This
approach involves dividing students into groups and assigning
them different tasks, such as online learning, looking for practical
examples and case studies, and engaging in face-to-face
discussions and brainstorming.
b. Lab Rotation:
Employees rotate between face-to-face sessions and computer
labs for online training, similar to how they do so in the Station
Rotation method.
c. Flipped Rotation:
Trainers and online platforms alternate roles, allowing students to
receive all instruction and training via lectures and exercises.
Trainers offer assistance and guidance in problem-solving to
students during in-person sessions.
d. Individual Rotation:
This method of individualized training prescribes individualized
rotation between online and face-to-face activities in order to
accommodate the diverse backgrounds and
strengths/weaknesses of each employee. This approach is
intended to maximize the effectiveness of the training in terms of
individual learning outcomes.
2. Flex Model: This learning model gives students autonomy over their learning and provides
them with the freedom to choose how they prefer to learn, as well as the ability to learn at their
own pace, all while having the support of a trainer when needed.
3. A La Carte Model: Under this model, students are able to decide which courses they will take
online, and which they would prefer to have face-to-face training sessions for, while being
guided by a trainer to ensure optimal learning outcomes.

4. Enriched Virtual Model: This model requires students to adhere to a schedule of both virtual
learning and face-to-face training as provided by trainers. While the majority of learning material
and exercises are done virtually, students must also participate in on-site training when
instructed.

II. CATEGORIES OF WEB-BASED INSTRUCTION

Web-based or computer-based training, often referred to as eLearning, is becoming increasingly
popular due to advances in information and communications technology. This type of training is
conducted either online or over the Internet (Anderson, 2023)
Web-based training falls under three main categories based on how learning
takes place in each type. Let’s have a look at them in detail:
1. Synchronous Web-Based Training: This type of training is instructor-led and
involves in-person, real-time interactions between students and instructors.
Examples include webinars, online meetings, teleconferencing, and online
tutoring.

2. Asynchronous Web-Based Training: Asynchronous training does not involve

real-time instructions, with training content made available online for students to
access at their convenience. Examples of asynchronous training include pre-
recorded webinars, online courses, and video tutorials.

3. Blended Web-Based Training: Blended training combines both synchronous

and asynchronous elements, with real-time interactions between an instructor
and students, either in-person or online, as well as self-paced learning according
to the student's schedule.

III. History of Internet and WWW

The Internet and World Wide Web have had a revolutionizing impact on communications and
computing over the past few decades, changing the way people interact with each other,
conduct business, and access information. Originally developed as a military-based networking
architecture for experimental communications, the Internet has since become a commercial
juggernaut, while the WWW has been designed to universalize the Internet and democratize
electronically based information (Encyclopedia.com, 2021).

IV IMPORTANT KEYWORDS IN THE WEB/INTERNET

a. Browser: A browser is a free software program or mobile app that displays web pages,
graphics, and other online content. Popular web browsers include Chrome, Firefox,
Microsoft Edge, and Safari, but there are many others. Internet users access the web
through web browser software, which is included in or can be downloaded on computers
and mobile devices.
b. Web Page: A web page is what is displayed in a web browser when a user is on the
internet. It can contain text, photos, images, diagrams, links, advertisements, and more.
c. URL: Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are the web browser addresses of internet
pages and files. With a URL, a user can locate and bookmark specific pages and files in
a web browser. URLs typically take the form of http://www.examplewebsite.com/mypage
and may occasionally be longer and more complicated.
d. HTTP and HTTPS: HTTP is the acronym for Hypertext Transfer Protocol—the data
communication standard of web pages. When a web page has this prefix, the links, text,
and pictures should work correctly in a web browser. HTTPS is the acronym for
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, indicating that the web page has a special layer of
encryption added to hide personal information and passwords from others.
e. IP Address: Every computer and device that connects to the internet uses an Internet
Protocol (IP) address for identification. IP addresses may look like 202.3.104.55 or
21DA:D3:0:2F3B:2AA:FF:FE28:9C5A and serve as the equivalent of an automobile
license plate to enforce accountability and traceability while browsing.
f. ISP: An internet service provider (ISP) is required for a user to gain access to the
internet. An ISP plugs the user into the internet, providing services such as web page
access, email, and web page hosting for a variety of prices, with different internet
connection speeds offered for a monthly fee depending on the user's needs.
g. Router: A router or router-modem combination is the hardware device that acts as the
traffic cop for network signals arriving at one's home or business from the ISP. It
provides defense against hackers, directs content to the specific computer, device,
streaming device, or printer that should receive it, and may require certain information to
be entered if a different router is used.
h. Email: Email is electronic mail, which is the sending and receiving of typewritten
messages from one screen to another. It is usually handled by a webmail service, such
as Gmail or Yahoo Mail, or an installed software package, such as Microsoft Outlook or
Apple Mail.
i. Social Media: is any online platform that facilitates communication between multiple
users. Popular sites include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest,
Snapchat, Tumblr, and Reddit. All of these sites provide free accounts, but it is important
to be aware of your privacy settings and protect your personal information when signing
up.
j. Downloading: Downloading is the process of transferring files from the internet to a
computer or other device.
 k. Firewall: Firewalls are security systems designed to protect computers from malicious
software, hackers, and viruses. They come in the form of hardware, software, or both,
and range from free basic packages to expensive, complex solutions. All firewalls
provide some sort of safeguard against unauthorized access and malicious activity.
l. Malware: Malware is any type of malicious software created by hackers that seeks to
vandalize, steal personal information, take control of, or manipulate computer users. It is
best to protect your computer with a firewall and to be aware of how to prevent these
programs from being installed.
m. Blogs: Blogs are online columns written by amateur and professional authors on a range
of topics. They are usually arranged chronologically and are less formal than websites.
Some bloggers make money by selling advertising space on their blog.

(Gil, 2021)

V. FRIENDSTER
In March 2002, Canadian computer programmer Jonathan Abrams founded Friendster in a
basement with ten friends. Within a few weeks it had grown to over three million users,
becoming the world's first widely-used social media platform. It quickly gained traction, but its
failure to meet user demand and the emergence of Facebook led to its eventual demise
(Ulunma, 2020).

VI. YOUTUBE
YouTube, founded in 2005 by three former PayPal employees, was registered on February 14,
2005. After its launch in May 2005, it quickly gained traction, serving 30,000 visitors per day by
December 15. By the summer of 2006, this had increased to over 100 million. With limited
success in monetizing the site, Google purchased YouTube for $1.65 billion in 2006, continuing
to operate it as before. To reduce copyright infringement lawsuits, Google negotiated deals with
entertainment companies, allowing certain copyrighted material to appear on YouTube and
giving users the right to include certain songs in their videos. In 2008 it reached an agreement
with MGM to show full-length movies and TV shows with advertisements (Hosch, 2023).
VII. INSTAGRAM
Instagram is an online social network service for sharing photos and videos, launched in 2010
by Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger and owned by Facebook (META) since 2012. It has over
two billion monthly active users and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California. It allows users
to post images, videos, and stories with geotagging, hashtags, and captions, and to follow
others, creating a feed of recent posts. It also has direct messaging, explore profiles, and in-app
editing features. It is free to use and earns revenue through advertisements. It has been
criticized for inappropriate content, misinformation, and inadequate moderation, and for its
damaging effect on teen mental health (Eldrige, 2023).

VIII. TWITTER
 Twitter is an online microblogging service that enables users to share short messages of
up to 280 characters (called "tweets") and has had an immense impact on politics and culture in
the early 21st century. Users type a tweet and send it to Twitter's servers, which then relays it to
followers who have signed up to receive the sender's messages. Users can interact with each
other through mentions (@ sign) or track topics by clicking on hashtags (# sign). This has
resulted in Twitter feeds with millions of followers.
Twitter originated from the podcasting venture Odeo, founded in 2004 by Evan Williams,
Biz Stone and Noah Glass. After Apple announced they would add podcasts to iTunes, Odeo's
leadership realized they could not compete and decided to take a new direction. Jack Dorsey
proposed a short message service (SMS) to let users share blog-like updates with friends, and
thus Twitter was created. After it was presented at South by Southwest in 2007, Twitter Inc. was
created and funded, with Dorsey as its first CEO (Britannica, 2023).
Elon Musk completed his $44 billion purchase of Twitter on October 27, 2022, beginning
an era of unpredictability and potential controversy with his promise to allow more freedom of
speech on the platform. This acquisition was celebrated by some Republicans who have argued
Twitter has censored conservative viewpoints and resulted in the firing of four top executives,
including the CEO and CFO. Elon Musk has also promised new leadership, job cuts, and the
pursuit of new revenue sources (Hirsch and Conger , 2022).

IX. FACEBOOK
Founded in 2004 by four Harvard University students: Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo
Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris Hughes. Facebook is an online social network service
owned by Meta Platforms. It is the largest social network in the world, with nearly three billion
users in 2021, half of them using the service daily. It is free to access and makes money from
advertising. Users can create profiles, upload photos, join existing groups, and form new ones,
with features such as Timeline, Status, and News Feed allowing for communication with other
users and companies. Tagged photos, unlimited photo uploads, and Live Feed have been key
features in its success. Though it has been subject to criticism for privacy issues, it has become
a powerful tool for political movements and is also open to third-party developers for income. In
2021 it changed its name to Meta Platforms to emphasize the potential of virtual reality (Hall,
2023).
REFERENCES
Anderson. (2023). What Is Web-Based Training? Retrieved from ProProfs Training Maker :
https://www.proprofstraining.com/blog/web-based-training/
Britannica. (2023). Twitter Microblogging Service . Retrieved from Britannica Encyclopedia :
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Twitter
Eldrige. (2023). Instagram. Retrieved from Britannica:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Instagram
Encyclopedia.com (2021). History of the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW). Retrieved from
https://www.encyclopedia.com/economics/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-
maps/history-internet-and-world-wide-web-www
Gil. (2021). 20 Internet Terms for Beginners. Retrieved from Lifewire:
https://www.lifewire.com/top-internet-terms-for-beginners-2483381
Hall. (2023). Facebook American Company . Retrieved from Britannica:
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Facebook
Hirsch and Conger . (2022). Elon Musk Completes $44 Billion Deal to Own Twitter. Retrieved
from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/27/technology/elon-musk-
twitter-deal-complete.html
Hosch. (2023). YouTube. Retrieved from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/topic/YouTube
Ulunma. (2020). Before Facebook there was… Friendster? Yes, that’s right! Retrieved from
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was-friendster-yes-thats-right/
Valamis (2021). Blended Learning Strategies. Retrieved from
https://www.valamis.com/hub/blended-learning-strategies/