Blended Learning in the Age of Global Digitalization: A Pedagogical Paradigm Shift

The widespread impact of globalization and digital innovation has transformed the educational methodologies, giving rise to blended learning—an integration of traditional classroom teaching and online learning. This paper explores how blended learning addresses the limitations of both conventional instruction and e-learning, especially in the context of developing nations. While e-learning offers accessibility and autonomy, and traditional teaching ensures interpersonal interaction and structure, whereas their hybrid model provides a more holistic and flexible educational experience. Despite its promise, the effective implementation of blended learning continues to face considerable challenges such as homogeneous classrooms, infrastructure disparities and gaps in digital literacy among both educators and learners leading to a growing digital divide that threatens to marginalize learners who are less equipped to navigate or benefit from digital learning environments. The paper also evaluates the pedagogical, infrastructural, and ethical challenges associated with blended learning and underscores its growing relevance in the 21st-century educational ecosystem.