12 Tips for Effective Learningin Blended Education
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Department of Teaching & Learning Support
Center for Education in Liberal Arts and Sciences,
Osaka University

Ver.1.3

6 Oct. 2020

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12 Tips for Effective Learning in Blended Education

Understand Blended Education
Set Up Your Learning EnvironmentMake Your Proper Study PlanManage Information in One Place

Get on a Data Diet

Be Careful When Submitting Your Assignments

Preserve Academic IntegrityBe an Autonomous Learner

Master ICT Tools

10. Take Care of Your Mind and Body
11. Ask Others for Help
12. Connect with Other Students1Let’s Understand Blended Education

1-1. Understand the Definition of Blended Education
Blended education is a general term for a curriculum andteaching format that effectively combines face-to-face andonline learning activities.

1

Let’s Understand Blended Education

1-2. Understand the Different Types of Blended Education Classesl Rotational classes: A form of teaching in which different types of learning(e.g., face-to-face, online, collaborative learning, etc.) rotate at regularintervals in one course or class.
l Flipped classroom: A form of teaching in which students prepare for alesson using video materials and then do individualized instruction andcollaborative learning in the classroom. It is also regarded as a form ofrotational teaching.
l Distributed classes: A form of teaching in which students are divided into
groups, one face-to-face and the other online, and then take turns in thenext class. This is urgently needed for experiments and practice in the
COVID-19 crisis.
l HyFlex classes: HyFlex is an abbreviation for Hybrid-Flexible. It can offer
face-to-face, synchronous and asynchronous forms, and then the student
can choose one from them at will.

1Let’s Understand Blended Education2Let’s Set Up Your Learning Environment2-1. Set Up Your Learning Environment at Home
Ø Prepare your personal computer or a tablet with an OS ofWindows 10 or higher (the latest OS for MacOS and iOS). In
some cases, the screen of your smartphone alone may be too
small to view materials. It is recommended that you takecourses on your personal computer if possible.
Ø Online classes are recommended to be taken under an opticalor Wi-Fi environment. Mobile communication can be restrictive
and expensive to use. Be careful.
Ø If your personal computer is not equipped with a camera or
microphone, prepare a separate one. If you have more than
one device, such as a tablet, separate screens for viewing andworking on materials and for checking on the instructor andother students. This will make it easier for you to take classes.
2

Let’s Set Up Your Learning Environment

Ø Some personal computers have difficulty in hearing the voices
through microphone. Make sure that your voice is easy forothers to hear before you start a meeting. It's a good idea tohave earphones or headphones (better if they have a
microphone). They will be clear and there’s no audio feedback.

2-2. Use Your Camera and MicrophoneØ Adjust your camera position so that your head-to-shoulder area(front) is in the picture. It is recommended that you buy a standor stack books under your personal computer.
Ø Set your audio to mute. If you turn on the microphone, you willhear even small sounds (sounds such as turning a page, typing,or coughing become noise for other students). Unmute if you
have a question or instructions.
3Let’s Make Your Proper Study Plan

3-1. Understand the Credit System and Make a Proper Study Plan
Ø A university requires 45 hours of "study" in order to earn 1 credit(Article 21 of Standards for Establishment of Universities). The
term "study" here refers to both in-class study and preparation andreview outside class time. In other words, students are notrequired to complete their studies just by attending classes, but
are required to prepare well for classes and review the materials
after classes.
Ø The number of hours of study outside class time depends on thetype of class, but in the case of a lecture-style class, it is common
for students to be assigned twice as many hours of study as they
are in class. In other words, in a 90-minute lecture, students will
be required to prepare and review for 180 minutes. You need to set
aside this kind of time on your own timetable and make your proper
study plan.
3Let’s Make Your Proper Study Plan

Ø Some students register for as many classes as possible in orderto earn a large number of credits early, so that they have no freetime at all. It can interfere with your daily life because you don't
have enough time for sleep and extracurricular activities. Be
careful not to take too many classes.
Ø To prevent this, some faculties have a CAP system (that sets a
limit on the total number of credits you can take during asemester). Let’s check your course guide for this system.
Ø If you don't want to continue taking a course, you must cancel it
during the withdrawal period which is set up after you havestarted the course. If you don't do this, your GPA will be lower
and you won't be able to monitor your progress and receive
appropriate guidance from your teachers.

3Let’s Make Your Proper Study Plan

3-2. Read the Syllabus CarefullyØ When taking elective courses, read the syllabus for eachcourse carefully for its objectives, lesson plans, teaching
methods, and assessment methods. You should also consider
whether the courses are really necessary for you and whether
the number of courses you can take is within your current
lifestyle.
Ø Syllabuses will also describe how the classes will be
conducted. If you have a series of face-to-face and concurrent
interactive classes, envision where you will be taking classes,
either in a classroom on campus or at home, and whether you
have enough time to move to and from them. If you are unlikely
to be able to make it to class on time, contact your teacher oryour departmental office in advance.
4Let’s Manage Information in One Place

4-1. Manage Information in One Placel Online ID and password information for each classl Information about teaching materials (including URLs)l Information on how to communicate with a teacher andclassmates

Let’s update
your informationaccordingly4Let’s Manage Information in One Place

4-2. Keep the Information Structured
Ø Create folders for each year and each class subject and keepthem structured so that you know where files are located.
Ø In an online class, you may share the files you create withothers. It is recommended that you clearly indicate the nameof the class, title, creator, and date of creation on the file.

5Let’s Get on a Data Diet

5-1. Reduce Your Traffic and Avoid Losing Your Connection
Ø Try not to display the video (footage). If that's not possible,
try making the video (footage) as small as possible insteadof full screen display. You can also set the screen to only
show the people whose video is off.
Ø Quit all apps and softwares except the main one. In
particular, close your browser. If you must have more than
one screen up, print pre-distributed materials or use themwith your smartphone to spread the communication load.

5-2. If You Lose the Connection, Reconnect & Reboot.
Ø Stay calm and reconnect. If you still can't connect
successfully, try restarting the app or personal computer.
6

Be Careful When Submitting Your Assignments

6-1. When Submitting the Assignment, You Should Also WriteYour Student Number and Name in the Body of the FileØ Even if you are submitting through the CLE, your student
number and name should be written in the body of the file
as well as the name of the file. This will make it easier forteachers when grading.

6

Be Careful When Submitting Your Assignments

6-2. If You Don’t Have the Software You need for Your
Assignments, Use an Alternative Tool.
Ø Use Office365. Osaka University has an umbrella
agreement with Microsoft Corporation. Students haveaccess to Windows OS, Office, and other products.
Ø A scanner app for your smartphone allows you to convert
images you take to PDFs, so you can turn yourhandwritten notes into PDFs.
Ø Google Docs is compatible with Microsoft Word and canalso be converted to PDF.

How to Create and Convert
a Google Document to PDF

7Preserving Academic Integrity

7-1. Preserve Academic Integrity
Ø Academic integrity is the values and skills involved inacademic. In other words, it means that we place a highvalue on being honest and have developed the skills to behonest.
Ø This is a basic rule that all academics must adhere to. If you
don’t follow this, the knowledge that has accumulated won't
be properly passed on. If you violate any of the rules set by auniversity, you may face disciplinary action, so be careful.
Ø Online, without exam supervision, cheating is more likely tooccur. This makes it all the more important to act withacademic integrity.
7

Preserving Academic Integrity

7-2. Understand the Violation of Academic Integrity
 Plagiarism
Using someone else's ideas or work as your own without
giving proper sources. (e.g. stating an article as one's own
opinion without quoting from the literature.) Inappropriate Collaborative Work
Solving problems with others without following theestablished rules.(e.g., solving a problem on LINE withfriends during an online test.

 Reproduction
Reproducing the work of others, with or without
permission.(e.g. Copying the content of a report written byanother student.)7

Preserving Academic Integrity

 Cheating
Stealing the answers of others on a test or otherwise, looking
at textbooks or reference books that you are not allowed toview, or consulting with others to answer.

 Unauthorized Recording, Distribution or Publication ofClass Materials
Sharing the URLs and passwords of class materials, classvideos to a third party without permission, or publishing themon social networking sites. In addition, filming of videos
without permission and publishing them on social networking
sites.



8

Be an Autonomous Learner8-1. Discipline Yourself in Your Own LearningØ Online classes, especially non-simultaneous classes, tend to
disrupt the rhythm of your life and cause you to accumulate
assignments. In this case, you'll be cramming and learning
before the test.
Ø Blended education requires students to take responsibility for
their own learning and to be disciplined in their own learning.
Those who are able to do this are called autonomous learners.
Ø First, set your own schedule for learning outside of class time (e.g.,
prep, review, create assignments, etc.). Scheduling apps such as
KOAN app or Google Calendar can be helpful.
Ø If you're having trouble in getting your life back into rhythm,
for example, don't take it too far on your own and ask for help.
8Be an Autonomous Learner

8-2. If You Are Late or Absent, Contact the Faculty Member
Directly
Ø Don't call in absences without permission or through friends, even
if it is an online class. Self-directed learning is not the same asirresponsible learning. Contact your teacher or teaching assistantdirectly.
Ø For some classes, absences or tardiness may interfere with tasks
such as permission to enter the class, grouping, or recording.
Advance notice allows the faculty members to be prepared for this.
Ø In situations where it is impossible to contact the faculty members
in advance, please be sure to do so after the fact.
Ø Each department and faculty member has different procedures forreporting absences, so be sure to check the procedures forcontacting them.
8

Be an Autonomous Learner

8-3. Take Advantage of Campus Resources
Ø Inquiry-based learning is learning to ask questions and seek
answers to those questions on your own. Regardless ofwhether or not your class instructs you to do so, you areencouraged to make active use of the library and otherresources on campus to explore your own questions. Osaka
University has resources such as electronic journals that canbe accessed from off-campus.
(Osaka University Library https://www.library.osaka-u.ac.jp/off_campus/).

Ø Ask questions of your faculty members or TAs before or afterclasses, or use office hours to talk to your faculty members
individually. They should be able to help you online or inperson. This is the best part of learning in a university.

8

Be an Autonomous Learner

8-4. Learn through Reflection
Ø Get in the habit of regularly reflecting on your learning(e.g. every Saturday). You may notice that your schedule
was too hard, or that you weren't learning as efficiently
as you should have been. Use this to readjust yourschedule and create your own learning pace.

9Let’s Master ICT Tools

9-1. Use Communication Tools
l Slack… You can send messages and files like LINE and can beused on both personal computers and smartphones. Its
immediacy makes it a great tool for group work.
l Discord… You can communicate within the server to which
you are invited to chat and make voice calls. You can create
text channels (topic-specific chats) to organize topics.
l LINE Open Chat… You can communicate without sharing youraccount information with each other. This is a great option forpeople who don't want to share their account information withothers.
l Miro… You can post stickies just like a whiteboard. You canuse it to exchange ideas with your group.
9Let’s Master ICT Tools

l KOAN…This is a system to support matters related toeducation at Osaka University. It is used not only forregistering courses, managing calendars and schedules,
filling out questionnaires, and checking grades, but also as ameans of communication with the university and its faculty.
l CLE…A class support system that provides IT support for yourclasses. The system provides not only a means of reviewingclass materials and videos, but also a bulletin board forcommunicating with faculty and other students.
l BCUBlackboard Collaborate Ultra…A CLE-based systemthat allows you to attend remote lectures. You can use screen
sharing, chat, raise your hand and use reaction buttons,
whiteboards, and breakout groups to communicate with otherstudents.
l ZOOM…A system that allows you to attend remote lectures. It
is available without CLE, so you can communicate with otherstudents outside class time.
9Let’s Master ICT Tools

9-2. Use Tools for Recording
l GoodNote5…a handwriting app recommended forstudents who have an iPad/iPhone/Mac and a computer
pen. You can add highlights and annotations.
l Google Document…a web-based document authoring
tool that is compatible with Microsoft Word and can besaved as a PDF.
l Padlet…You can store files in a variety of formats on the
web and share them with others.

Examples of How to Use the Tools
Effectively to Improve Learning
Example of a Situation
The class is in a concurrent online format using BCU and you
are supposed to work on one project as a group. Nothing has
been decided yet as to what kind of project to create. You
have not met any of the group members and have not received
any specific instructions from the faculty on how to proceed.

Example of How to Handle This Situation
You use CLE to contact members and create a LINE group
first. Then, members communicate each other on LINE outsideclass time. During class, each student use BCU and Google
Documents to work on their own work. You also use Miro when
you want to vent your ideas.
10Let’s Take Care of Your Mind and Body

10-1. Let’s Take Care of Your Mind and BodyØ In online classes, you will be working more with computer
displays. This can cause Visual Display Terminal (VDT)
syndrome, which can affect your eyes, mind and body.
Ø To avoid this, keep the following points in mind•

Maintain a distance of 50-80 cm from your computer screen.

•

Adjust the height of the screen so that the top edge of the screen is at or
below eye level.

•

Adjust the light in your work area (not too dark or too bright).

•

Take regular breaks (set a timer every hour).

•Eat three meals a day at the designated times, and make sure you have abalanced diet•

Schedule your wake-up and bed time so you get enough sleep.

•

Get some light exercise at least once a day. Go outdoors and get somesunshine.

•

Use the university library or study spaces for a change of pace andexercise.

11Let’s Ask Others for Help

11-1. Talk to Your TeachersFaculty Members
Ø Some people may think that they feel embarrassed talking
to teachers, that teachers may not be responsive, or thatthey don't want to be perceived as incompetent. However,
blended education is a new approach. Everyone encountersproblems every day in this unfamiliar environment. It is also
important to ask for help in these situations. Teachers arealways available.
Ø Raising your hand or chatting with them during the classtime has the advantage of sharing information with otherstudents. On the other hand, if you have a question aboutsomething you don't want other students to know about, you
can ask it later via email.
11Let’s Ask Others for Help

11-2. Contact the Health and Counseling Center for HelpØ The Health and Counseling Center is available to help
you with a variety of issues. Don't hesitate to use thiscenter if you have a problem or concern about somethingor don't know where to go for help.
11-3. Stay Informed through the Website and EmailØ Always check the official university website and email.
The situation is ever-changing. Make it a habit to checkthe campus website and email as often as you can. Be
sure to keep up to date with the latest information.



12

Let’s Connect with Other Students

12-1. Greet, Call Out, and React during Classes
Ø If you see faces on the screen, smile and greet themfirst. It is difficult to know who you are talking to online,
so they may not get a response to your question. Try tocall them by name to avoid this (e.g., "What do you think,
Mr. XXX?").
Ø Increase your non-verbal interactions by clapping on thereaction button or writing comments in the chat section.
12-2. Make Time for Free Talk before and after Classes
Ø Connect early or stay connected for a while after class tohave free conversations with other students. You may
ask faculty members to make such a time.
12Let’s Connect with Other Students

12-3. Organize a Social Event with Other Students
Ø Some say it‘s hard to make friends online, but it’s entirely
possible to make friends online as well. Get up the courage tosuggest that you hold a social event. With online meeting systems,
you can have a large group of people in any location. You canhave a small social event on campus as well, as long as you follow
the rules indicated by the university.

12-4. Join or Organize Events on and off Campus
Ø In university, you can make many friends outside the classroom.
You are encouraged to participate in events on- and off- campus.
Ø If you are able to gather your friends together and plan an event,you will be able to expand your own world in addition toparticipating in it. In times like these, it's important to think about
what you can do and take action!
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