Here - EnglishAgenda - British Council

■■The online modules are never perfect – they can be improved all the time. It isreasonable to evaluate not how perfect they are but to what extent they help inreaching the learning objectives.The following further adaptations of the online modules are envisaged:■■■■■■■■■■make it possible for learners to start working with the system from various parts(some learners already know structures and have draft models)reduce the time necessary for performing a task, thus decreasing the requiredlevel of concentrationmake it possible for learners to benefit from collaboration with other learnersthrough discussing things with them/doing tasks related to their workincrease the system effect of the site by improving connections between varioussystems, for example it should be possible for learners to use parts of the modelsdeveloped for one system when working on the otherintroduce additional tasks that help learners understand that they are improving(measuring by tests only is not enough).Lessons learned and adviceThe lessons learned as a result of work with the blend are presented through thecontradictions we faced. If a successful solution was found, it is presented hereas well.Contradiction 1The design of the online modules required high concentration from the learners.At the same time, their concentration was low as most of them do 101 things whenworking online (we found this to be a general trend among the learners irrespectiveof how engaging the task was).Solution 1Not solved during the period described.Conceptual solution: each task offered to learners requires low concentration as itcan be done fairly quickly, however, all tasks together require high concentration.Recommendation 1Each task in the course should be short enough to ensure that learners can copewith it without being distracted in the process.Contradiction 2Tasks offered to learners should be easy enough so as not to discourage themand they should be difficult enough to ensure that there is room for the developmentof thinking.Solution 2Tasks are difficult when learners work alone and they are easy when they workas a group during the classroom sessions.196 | A thinking-based blended learning course