This topic is related to the TTLA subject. Technology for Teaching and Learning 2 Flexible Learning Environment and Online Resources, Educational Sites and Portals What is Distance Learning Environment? Flexible learning is a method of learning where students are given freedom in how, what, when and where they learn. Flexible learning environments address how physical space is used, how students are grouped during learning and how time is used throughout teaching. With space, students may be given dedicated breakout rooms to work collaboratively. Schools may restructure traditional schedules to provide students with time for collaboration and other activities such as guest speakers or performances to assist their understanding of a topic. Flexible learning refers to the ability to customize one’s pace, place and mode of learning. With pace, for example, students may take accelerated programs or engage in part-time learning to ensure they have time to work on the side. Learning can take place in a variety of settings, including in the classroom, at home via the Internet, while commuting or as part of a work-study program. Mode refers to the way that content is delivered by technology, typically through blended learning, fully online courses or technology-enhanced experiences.

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Flexible Learning
Environment and
Online Resources,
Educational Sites
and Portals
Technology for Teaching and
Learning 2

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What is Distance Learning
Environment?
 Flexible learning is a method of learning where students are given freedom in
how, what, when and where they learn. Flexible learning
environments address how physical space is used, how students are
grouped during learning and how time is used throughout teaching. With
space, students may be given dedicated breakout rooms to work
collaboratively. Schools may restructure traditional schedules to provide
students with time for collaboration and other activities such as guest speakers
or performances to assist their understanding of a topic.
 Flexible learning refers to the ability to customize one’s pace, place and mode
of learning. With pace, for example, students may take accelerated programs or
engage in part-time learning to ensure they have time to work on the side.
Learning can take place in a variety of settings, including in the classroom, at
home via the Internet, while commuting or as part of a work-study program.
Mode refers to the way that content is delivered by technology, typically through
blended learning, fully online courses or technology-enhanced experiences.

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Distance learning is a form of learning
without face- to-face contact with the
teacher and delivered via
telecommunications. In the past, this
involves in the correspondence course
where in the student corresponded with
the teacher via mails.
With the advent of newer technologies,
distance learning is
delivered via computer-based media thus
called online learning or e-learning. This
made classroom borderless and learning
boundless. This was enhanced by
the emergence of web 2.0 tools which
made collaborative learning easier.

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Online Distance Education and
Communities of Learners
 Learning nowadays is viewed differently. The present generation of
learners has access to information at their fingertips. The teacher is
no longer seen as basically the dispenser of knowledge but rather
as one who expertly directs learners to take their own track in
searching for answers to questions raised inside the classroom.

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 Every chance or corner becomes a learning space. It is
clear that learning takes place anywhere and this adds to
the concept of flexibility in the learning environment. With
technology, students can possibly continue to join class
sessions even if they are not physically around. The
learning space becomes virtual or mediated. The library is
not only a physical structure where they can read
published books but has also become virtual.

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ONLINE DISTANCE LEARNING
Online distance learning
is not a new concept.
Some schools, higher
education institutions in the
country, and educational
agencies such as the
Southeast Asian Ministers
of Education Innovations in
Educational Technology
(SEAMEO-INNOTECH)
provide mode of learning.
It allows flexibility in
learning to a certain extent.

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Benefits of Flexible Online Learning
Environments for Professionals
How Does It Work?
Online courses have various formats. Some are synchronous, which
means that all enrolled students access the course material
simultaneously. Synchronous courses require scheduled
attendance through online chats or teleconferencing. In
asynchronous courses, participants can view course materials,
such as PowerPoint presentations, videos, and syllabi, anytime
and in any way they like.

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 ike traditional students, those taking an online course
must submit assignments and take tests. All material
is submitted electronically, often through education-
specific programs such as Blackboard, Canvas, and
Moodle. Students are expected to keep track of all
requirements and deadlines and submit materials
according to the course’s schedule, with little to no
oversight or reminders.

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Key Benefits
 Online programs have many advantages compared to traditional in-person
programs. Although these advantages hold true for any student, they are
particularly beneficial for professionals who wish to maintain their jobs while
taking coursework. The Open Education Database (OEDb), a database of
more than 1,600 institutions that offer online courses, lists 10 key benefits of
online classes:
 1 – Variety of programs and courses. Students today can earn any
academic degree online, from a single career-specific certificate to a
doctorate. They are not limited by geography but can choose the program
that best suits their needs, no matter where it is located physically (if,
indeed, it has a physical location—many programs today do not).

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 2 – Lower total costs. Online programs tend to be more affordable than
traditional colleges. The OEDb points out that although online tuition rates are not
always lower, associated expenses are almost always less. “For example, there
are no commuting costs, and sometimes required course materials, such as
textbooks, are available online at no cost. In addition, many colleges and
universities accept credits earned via free massive open online courses (MOOCs),
the most recent advance in online education. These free online courses can help
students fulfill general education requirements,” the organization says.
 3 – More comfortable learning environment. If you want to attend class in your
pajamas, online learning may be for you. Grab a cup of tea, kick back in your
favorite easy chair, and settle in for a pleasant hour or two listening to lectures and
completing assignments. No hard wooden chairs or tiny desks required!

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 4 – Convenience and flexibility. Online students are able to plan
study time around the rest of their day, instead of the other way around.
You can work at your convenience, which makes balancing work and
family commitments with your education possible.
 5 – More interaction and greater ability to concentrate. While not
true for every student, studies suggest that shy students participate in
online class discussions more easily than face-to-face. Some students
also report better concentration in online classes due to the lack of
classroom distractions.
 6 – Career advancement. Online courses position students for career
advancement even while they are working, between jobs, or taking time
to raise a family. This academic work will explain any discontinuity or
gaps in a resume as well. Earning a degree also shows prospective
employers that you are ambitious and motivated.

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 7 – Continue in your profession. Many students today begin as traditional students but
discover that they must work to afford to continue school. Online courses allow these students
to continue in their jobs while also pursuing academic credentials.
 8 – Avoid commuting. Instead of driving an hour to class through snowstorms and
thunderstorms, then fighting to find a parking spot, online students simply stroll to the computer
and turn it on. Not only does this save time and hassle, many online students also find
substantial savings on fuel costs, not to mention wear and tear on their car.
 9 – Improve your technical skills. Even the most basic online course requires the
development of new computer skills as students learn to navigate different learning
management systems and programs. In addition, the participation skills students learn within
their online courses translate to many professions. Examples include creating and sharing
documents, incorporating audio/video materials into assignments, and completing online
training sessions.
 10 – Transfer credits. The ability to transfer credits can be extremely helpful in many different
circumstances. College students, for example, may want to attend summer classes away from
their physical college while enjoying their summer vacation or doing seasonal jobs at home.
They can take a course online and transfer the credits. Or, if desired courses at their regular
college are full, they can take the courses online for credit.

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Online Resources, Educational sites and Portals
What is Online Learning Resources
1. Learning resources that are made available online, not from printed
sources.
2. Any resource available on the Internet in an online educational environment.
It might be HTML documents such as course or chapter objectives, lecture
notes, assignments, or answers to chapter questions. It might be audio or video
lessons, interactive exercises or exams, or documents providing links to other
Web sites.
3. Any digital material used for supporting student learning that is delivered in
multiple delivery models.

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Examples of Online Resources

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Online Resources Application

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To know more about the Types of Websites and Their Functions
Do visit this website: https://www.skillonpage.com/types-of-websites/

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What is an Education Portal?
 An education portal is a specially designed website that provides a
host of educational services. The term portal was historically used to
describe a port or location of multiple loading and offloading
activities. It is now used most widely to describe a multi-function
website that includes public and private sections, data retrieval and
submissions tools, personalized content, and often links or
connections to education related systems or services.

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The Different Platforms
 The flexible mode of learning used a platform such as Moodle, Google
classroom, Edmodo, Schoology, etc. These are free programs designed for
educational purposes, it has features that are patterned after the instructional
activities of a teacher in a physical classroom. When you use this, you can
actually hold a lesson, post questions for discussion. Hold an online chat
discussion, give assessment activities and provide references or links to other
online materials.

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 Moodle was created by Martin Dougiamas, founder and CEO of Moodle, stands
for Modular Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment which is an open source
software. It is a Learning Management System (LMS) that supports teaching
and learning.
 Google Classroom and Edmodo Google Classroom is a free service for
teachers and students. It is an LMS platform that is accessible google account.
You can create and perform your roles and functions as a facilitator of learning.
In 2008, Edmodo was created by Nic Borg Jeff O’Hara and Crystal Hutter.
Compared Edmodo and Google Classroom, despite of its commonalities, there
are apparently differences but with technology, things evolve in so short a time.
What is clear is that they were created as apps that can integrate well with
classroom activities. The decision lies in the teacher who will determine what
works best in his or her teaching and learning context. Both are amazing tools
that can be explored.

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 Schoology is another LMS founded in 2009 by Jeremy Friedman, Ryan Hwang,
Tim Trinidad and Bill Kindler. You can create your own online distance education
learning system using any of thesesplatforms. MOOCs Another recent modality to
learning is the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). It is a model for delivering
learning content online to any person who wants to take a course. It allows one to
pursue learning even outside of university or higher education formal structure.
 EDUCAUSE is a non-profit association with the mission is to advance higher
education through the use of information technology.
https://library.educause.edu/topics/teaching-and-learning/massive-open-online-
course-mooc

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 BLENDED LEARNING Another way of handling flexible leaning is combining
modalities of instructional delivery. Blended learning is a combination of learning
activities wherein a part of the lesson is delivered online while the other part is
handled in actual physical setting of a classroom.
 KINDS OF BLENDED LEARNING MODEL
 1 : Face to Face Driver MODEL
 2 : Rotation MODEL 3
 : Flex MODEL
 4 : Online Lab MODEL
 5 : Self-Blend MODEL 6 : Online Driver

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This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

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End of My Research
References:
 https://tophat.com/glossary/f/flexible-learning/
 https://www.slideshare.net/erwinmarlonsario/the-flexible-learning-
environment-part-ihttps://onlinemba.wsu.edu/blog/benefits-of-flexible-
online-learning-environments-for-professionals/
 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Examples-of-online-information-
resources_fig1_325900482
 https://sjupals.wordpress.com/online-resources/
 https://www.skillonpage.com/types-of-websites/
 https://www.invespcro.com/blog/109-useful-websites-online-
applications/
 https://www.easytechjunkie.com/what-is-an-education-portal.htm

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Prepared by:
Venus Katrina M. Sotto
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