What is Flexible Learning

A broad term used to describe the design and delivery of programs, courses, and learning interventions in such a way as to cater for student demands for variety, access, recognition of diverse learning styles, and student control over and customizability of the learning experience. It is often incorrectly used in an interchangeable manner with other terms such as “open learning,” “distance learning,” “work-based learning,” as well as “e-learning,” which are all instances or forms of flexible learning in that they provide flexibility to the student in terms of time/pace, place, access, content, and/or delivery mode.

An approach to learning in which the time, place, and pace of learning may be determined by learners. In this chapter this term is used to include the approaches taken by distance learning and open learning.

This term describes a learning design perspective deeply rooted in the needs of students, with the main objective being to provide them with the most flexibility about the learning content, schedules, access, and learning styles as possible. A flexible learning design customizes learning environments to meet the needs of learners, using both technological and non-technological tools. Flexible Learning is closely related to Blended Learning and Distributed Learning.

This enables teachers and students to adapt to teaching and learning requirements at any given moment. Students can modify their learning environments to fit a variety of learning styles and activities ranging from individual to group exercises.

Process that enables learners to learn when they want (frequency, timing, duration), how they want (modes of learning), and what they want (that is, learners can define what constitutes learning to them).

A set of educational philosophies and systems, concerned with providing. learners with increased choice, convenience, and personalisation to suit the learner. In. particular, flexible learning provides learners with choices about where, when, and how. learning occurs.

An approach which suggests instructional designers to provide learning facilities which gives learners choices for time and/or place for learning in a customized way.

Accessing education in way that is more responsive and often supported by use of technology.

Is a learning model where takes place when some courses are deli delivered via distance education and some are delivered via face-to-face education.

A teaching strategy designed to empower students to learn, to learn fully, effectively, efficiently, and with rewarding satisfaction. It is the responsibility of our profession as teachers or faculty to study ways of maximizing the potential of our environments to support students’ learning and to minimize those elements in their environments that may impede it.

Approaches to teaching and learning that are learner centred, free up the time, place and methods of learning and teaching and use appropriate technologies in a networked environment (Moran & Myringer, 1999, p. 60).

An approach to learning in which the time, place, and pace of learning may be determined by learners. In this chapter this term is used to include the approaches taken by distance learning and open learning.

Learning in which specific factors such as content, time, space, mode, and pace are determined by the learner.

Designing lessons in a way that allows students to choose what, when, and how they learn.