New Educational Scenarios in the Framework of Blended Learning

This work introduces readers to the use of BL in educational institutions. A theoretical framework will be built, in which the latest developments of BL in higher education environments are reported, with an examination of the digital services that are made available to teachers and students during the pandemic. The main purpose is to present a critical reflection on the possibilities that BL has offered during the COVID-19 pandemic and what it will be able to offer in the post-pandemic age. The crucial aspects of digital culture in the contemporary world of education and training are highlighted, outlining an essential theoretical path that emphasizes the substantial ad-vantages and tools offered by technology. A definition of BL is provided below, based on the definitions given by authors who have received the most international credit for their work. The study is presented as an exploratory investigation of the blended model for higher education, and is articulated with various references to the most recent strategies implemented by educational institutions. The main reference is the aforementioned Horizon 2021 Report, published by EDUCAUSE. Based on the results, we can gauge the willingness of educational institutions to invest in the design of new educational paths that use a blended methodology, to provide concrete support to teachers to fill in any gaps with respect to their digital skills. The reflection is supported by concrete examples that demonstrate some good practices that were followed at international universities, and provides as an outcome, an updated list of best practices using which it is possible to stimulate a constructive debate, innovative study, and re-search projections for the global scientific community.