Blended learning at Warwick
For term 1, we’ve welcomed you into a campus-based, blended learning experience, with a combination of in-person and online teaching and learning activities.
From term 2, the decision has been taken to remove the 1.5m social distancing restrictions in teaching spaces which means there will be the opportunity for more face-to-face learning and interaction. You're expected to wear a face covering when you're moving around and when you're sitting down in teaching spaces.
While the relaxation of social distancing restrictions will allow more larger group teaching to take place face to face, we will continue to take a blended learning approach. It is clear from your feedback that a majority of you would value more face-to-face learning and interaction, but there are still some of you who value online and a continuation of blended learning. We will retain certain types of online delivery where there are benefits to your learning outcomes, specifically when there is a limited discursive element to teaching, and to enhance levels of inclusivity across our community.
We hope you welcome the return to a more recognisable teaching approach while continuing to embrace and enhance progress we’ve made with online learning.
What is a blended learning experience?
Blended learning typically means a combination of in-person and online teaching and learning activities. Online activities are used to support or improve, rather than to replace, face-to-face interactions. Our approach aims to maximise opportunities for face-to-face teaching and learning while using online activity where appropriate to enhance your experience.
What is Warwick's blended learning and teaching experience?
Seminars and tutorials are for discussion and joint exploration of difficult concepts. They help you learn how to approach a subject or learn an intellectual skill, and you are encouraged to actively engage and set out your thinking or working approach, or delve deeper into matters by asking questions. To get the best out of seminars and tutorials you need to take a direct, interactive approach with others.
Lab sessions and workshops are for practical work, learning from each other and asking questions. It is a more direct mode of engaging with what you’re learning and you’re likely to gain most if you’re actively engaged, and work together with other students and exchange directly with staff. Often the sessions involve group work, or lab work in twos or threes.
Lectures are for providing content. As an individual participant, you need to actively try to understand, take notes and think through what you’re hearing or being shown. Talking through a lecture with peers when you can will help you embed new information with other content you’ve learnt previously.
Term 1
The exact mix of activities will vary by course, year of study and module choices, and teaching methods differ across the disciplines, so you will see some exceptions. In general though, for term 1, you can expect that:
- Small group teaching (up to 50 people) will be in-person
- Larger group teaching (typically 50+ people) will be delivered online
- Exceptions may be made where online provision offers particular benefits above and beyond in-person activities or to facilitate participation from students unable to attend in-person
Why is it capped at 50?
For term 1, we've capped attendance for large group teaching at 50 to ensure social distancing is possible. When social distancing restrictions are removed from term 2, there will be greater capacity in teaching spaces, meaning more larger group teaching will be possible.
Term 2
What the change in social distancing restrictions mean at an individual level will vary according to your department, module selection and year of study. Your department will be in touch to let you know what your blended learning experience will look like for term 2.
Our students share the benefits of a blended learning experience
"[...]I can make my way through the content at my own speed & I am using a wide range of materials to enhance my understanding."
"[...]I’ve found it easier to focus on my work as opposed to feeling exhausted or distracted. [...] I’ve also seen my grade average improve this year."
"[...] The discussion in online seminars, group work, and society socials have allowed us to build new connections, whether it was the blended learning approach of Term One, or online approach of Terms Two and Three."
Sophie - English Language and Linguistics with Intercalated year
Last year, our blended approach worked
Over 3,400 students (70% of finalists) said they had found their student experience positive or highly positive when they filled out this year's National Student Survey. The feedback put us:
- 3rd in the Russell Group for Overall Satisfaction, with a score of 83%
- 1st for Assessment and Feedback in the Russell Group
- Top 2 in the Russell Group for Academic Support and Learning Resources
- 89% of students agreed that ‘I have been able to contact staff when I needed to’ - 1st in the Russell Group