Didactic Opportunities of Applying Blended Learning Technology in Higher Education

3. Literature Review

Blended learning is a combination of “live” learning and e-learning based on various electronic resources providing for collaborative activities of the study process participants. Blended learning is defined as learning if 30 to 79% of the study process accounts for online learning (Bailey et al., 2013; Bonk & Graham, 2006).

Blended learning emerged primarily from the development of information and communication technologies that provide for information sharing over the Internet.

Successful implementation of the learning process in modern conditions requires that each teacher have a clear understanding of the features of e-learning and the best ways to integrate it with traditional learning methodology (Shelton & Pedersen, 2017).

The history of e-learning is inextricably linked to distance learning, which became widespread in the early twentieth century, at a time when education could be obtained by correspondence. The use of mass communication media for educational purposes dates back to the first decade of the twentieth century. In 1900s, educational videos were first introduced and mechanical learning machines were applied to conduct multiple-choice tests. Radio was also used as a tool for distance learning, with the first radio school opening in Austria in 1924. In 1941, the first computer was designed, but it was used mainly for training military personnel. The 1950s saw the launch of television-based distance learning courses.