BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS BLENDED EDUCATION?

Abstract

The article analyzes the normative and conceptual evolution of blended learning in Brazilian higher education, focusing on the recent changes introduced by Decree No. 12,456/2025. The study discusses the consolidation of blended learning as a distinct educational modality, separate from distance education (EaD) and traditional in-person teaching, highlighting its regulatory trajectory from MEC Ordinance No. 4,059/2004 to the new legal framework. The research examines the main innovations brought by the decree, especially regarding pedagogical organization, minimum in-person attendance requirements, quality standards, assessment criteria, and institutional responsibilities. Furthermore, it reflects on the challenges and opportunities arising from the expansion of blended learning in the context of digital transformation and the democratization of access to higher education in Brazil.