scholarly journals Development of foreign language competence among higher education students in a blended learning environment

Author(s):  
Maryna Velushchak
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (33) ◽  
pp. e16671
Author(s):  
Maryna Velushchak ◽  
Tetiana Kravchenko ◽  
Kateryna Havrylenko ◽  
Tetiana Mykhailenko ◽  
Larysa Sokolovska

The circumstances of active implementation of a blended learning format at all educational levels require increased motivation and advancement of the competences learned by students of higher education institutions.Such statement equally applies to foreign language competence, which is one of most relevant skills to the future professional activity of international relations specialists. In considering this, the Ukrainian higher education institutions conducted a study on the development of foreign language competence of higher education students in the context of blended learning. The purpose of the article is to develop and empirically establish the effectiveness of the author's model of foreign language competence development of higher education students in the context of blended learning. The study involved the development, implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of the author's model of foreign language competence development of higher education students in the context of blended learning. The participants of the study were students of higher education institutions: HEI 1, HEI 2, HEI 3, who majored in the following specialties: international activities, international relations and some technical specialities. The participants were 1st, 3rd and 5th year students.A total of 138 students were interviewed (68 from the experimental and 70 from the control group). The study confirmed that the implementation of the method of organizing the formation of foreign language competence of  higher education students, which requires an optimal combination of blended learning with modern digital tools and the professional orientation of foreign language training in the system of higher education institutions, helps advance foreign language competence of higher education students.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
Tilagavati Subramaniam ◽  
Muthu Alagan Thangavelu

Purposes: This paper presents a conceptual framework for teaching sustainable development courses in an online learning environment in institutions of higher education.  Sustainability development courses are becoming essential in higher education institutions mainly to educate the younger generations who will be part of the community to make it happen. Higher education institutions are experiencing dramatic shift to cater a young generation of prospective students, to integrate technical innovations in teaching practices and to concentrate on increasing concerns about global sustainability issues. There has been little research to promote an innovative learning in the teaching of sustainable development. The goal of this paper was to create a framework for teaching sustainable development in a virtual learning environment (blended learning) due to the lack of a conceptual framework that could direct this implementation. Findings: Hence, the blended learning method is eco-friendly, whereby protects global environmental resources. For hands-on experiences, students will develop projects to make their campus and community more sustainable. In the process, students learn how to analyse sustainability and able to apply online learning knowledge into practice. Implication: The conceptual framework proposed will support all educators in higher education institutions engaged in the promotion of quality online education in this pandemic circumstance to develop an effective online practise that are aligned with the corresponding learning needs, skills and facilities.


Author(s):  
Pavlo Chervonyi ◽  
Svitlana Alieksieieva ◽  
Nadiia Senchylo-Tatlilioglu ◽  
Oleksandr Chastnyk ◽  
Nataliia Diomidova

Since the early 2000s, the potential of blended learning has been recognized worldwide as a promising trend due to the active technology development and its integration into higher education. Blended learning in higher education is at the development stage, which explains the relevance of research into the problems of higher education transformation through the introduction of technology in pedagogy. This article aims to identify the peculiarities of the higher education pedagogy transformation through the blended learning model. The methodology was based on a statistical, correlational analysis by using The Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) database containing the survey results of 7,823 educators in France and the Netherlands. Results. The study revealed an average level of teacher preparation for blended learning (50.5%) and preparation for ICT use in student learning (48.4%) components inclusion. A significant level of teachers' professional development of ICT skills was revealed (44% take courses). An average level of teachers' unpreparedness both for blended learning (28.9% not ready, 36.6% not prepared enough) and ICT use in practice was established (30.3% - almost not ready, 34.25 - not prepared enough). A positive correlation was established between the components of teachers' preparation for the blended learning environment and the subsequent passage of professional ICT skills development courses. It means that formal education does not guarantee the absence of the need for continuous professional development and the formation of a wide range of ICT skills. Teachers need continuous professional development and new ICT skills. The research identified a synergy of positive effects of ICT skills professional development (interaction of educators united by common problems related to blended learning, technology, etc.; borrowing new ideas, innovations, and practices during professional development; updating professional knowledge; using active shared learning; integrity of professional development structure). Teachers noted that professional development courses were specifically adjusted to their needs.


Author(s):  
Ellen Boeren

This chapter explores the author's experiences with blended learning, both as a tutor and as a student at a British Russell Group University. The chapter starts from the importance of encouraging an autonomy supporting learning environment, featured within self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000). In the first part of the chapter, definitions of blended learning will be briefly reviewed. Secondly, the role of the learning environment will be explained, drawing upon previous research on learning environments undertaken by Darkenwald and Valentine (1986), mentioning the importance of the learning environment within motivational theories. Thirdly, results of a critical analysis on the own teaching and learning practice will be conducted, comparing the perspective of being a tutor and being a student. Finally, recommendations for future teaching practice will be discussed, before concluding this chapter.


Author(s):  
Mara Nikolaidou ◽  
Chryssa Sofianopoulou ◽  
Nancy Alexopoulou ◽  
Kostas Abeliotis ◽  
Vassilis Detsis ◽  
...  

Blended learning has been recognized as the most promising emerging trend in higher education, offering new capabilities, as it may significantly enhance the interaction and communication between instructors and students. The challenge of blended learning is to balance weaknesses and strengths of face-to-face and e-learning teaching environments and effectively combining them to provide enhanced learning capabilities. Its success should benefit instructor-student relation. To this end, the authors adopt ecosystem-based approach to model the blended learning environment and identify its constituents, i.e., instructors, students, consultants, technology. and their evolving relations. The proposed concept was utilized to explore the potential of blended learning in the academic environment. A study was conducted at Harokopio University of Athens over a period of three years to explore the relations between blended learning ecosystem constituents, focusing on instructor -student relation.


Author(s):  
Desi Puspitasari

In recent years, blended learning has been utilizing in a variety of contexts. It emerges as one of the most popular pedagogical approaches which integrate face-to-face classes with the virtual learning environment. It offers learners considerable resources and materials. Many researchers have reported on it since it thrived. It offers learners flexibility. It also gives the learners choices about when and where they learn and participate in online learning. Therefore, it is used for teaching and training worldwide since many researchers found it an effective way to be used in the teaching-learning process. It is believed to enhance learners' understanding of learning a foreign language. Some researchers also found that blended learning affects learners' self-efficacy stronger than the other instructional modes. This study employed qualitative research. It was used to determine how blended learning was applied in a class to boost learners' self-efficacy. In conclusion, the developments of technology recently encourage educators to apply a blended learning environment in the classroom. One of the important things is how it should be implemented to help the learners develop their self-efficacy and achieve their academic goals.


Author(s):  
Vladyslava V. Shcherbytska ◽  
◽  
Inna I. Pysmenna ◽  

The article considers the issue of distance learning. The practice of training students at universities of Ukraine shows that the use of traditional forms and methods of training does not provide sufficient knowledge level of the foreign language for graduates. Therefore, it is necessary to seek and use new approaches to learning a foreign language. The transition to distance learning in higher education, due to the pandemic, was an unexpected and serious challenge for both teachers and students. That is why the problem of introducing distance learning in higher education is so important and relevant, especially in the process of learning foreign languages. It is dictated by the new social demands to higher education. Attention is drawn to the fact that distance learning has long been of interest to scientists. In the 21st century, with the advent of computers and the Internet, the spread of distance learning is gaining enormous proportions. A brief analysis of recent research and publications on this issue has been made. Definitions of the concept of “distance learning” are given. Attention is drawn to the fact that there are two concepts of “distance learning” and “complete education”. The term “distance education” is much broader than the term “distance learning”, although they are often used as synonyms. It is noted that there are two types of distance learning: traditional and e-learning (learning through the Internet and multimedia). The spread of e-learning has led to a new direction – blended learning. It is emphasized that the future lies in blended learning, which will increase or decrease offline and online components depending on the capabilities and needs of students. The disadvantages and advantages of distance learning are considered. It is emphasized that distance learning can be used when learning foreign languages at any level. Attention is drawn to the fact that the effectiveness of distance learning in foreign languages depends on the quality of methodological support of each online lesson. It is emphasized that the development of electronic textbooks is one of the leading areas of economic education, which introduced distance learning. There are various types of work that can be used for distance learning of foreign languages. Examples of various interactive games that are used in the process of teaching foreign languages are given. It is noted that the prospects for further research lie in the more active introduction of e-learning in the learning process, especially in the study of foreign languages.


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