TRENDS AND ISSUES OF BLENDED LEARNING WITH REFERENCE TO COVID 19 PERIOD

The trend of E -Learning has drastically increased in the recent times, especially with the onset of the Covid 19 Pandemic. Infact, the pandemic has popularised blended and technology aided learning as household terms. It also promoted an ideology that not only legitimises but also celebrates the use of technology in teaching students. When schools and colleges were shut down and teachers and students had to be confined to the four walls of their homes, technology provided an instant and convenient solution of teaching students irrespective of their physical locations. It is undeniable that technology did ensure continuity in student learning as much as was possible.Blended learning is one of the major tools to implement E-Learning. This paper will give an overview of the concept, features and benefits of Blended Learning. It will also describe the various Blended Learning Models, ICT initiatives and tools that had been be useful for teachers to keepthe teaching learning process running especially during the Covid 19 period. This paper will look into the issues and challenges faced both by teacher and students in using blended learning during the Covid 19 period along with suggestions.