An Exploratory Study of Blended Learning Activities in Two Classes

Author(s):  
Eugenia M.W. Ng

Though there are a number of research studies on the adoption of a blended learning approach to enhance learning, few comparative studies have examined the use of this approach for inter-class activities. Two undergraduate classes at different levels of study participated in an online discussion, an online debate, and two face-to-face debates. Data were gathered for triangulated analysis from a questionnaire that solicited participants’ opinions, from focus group meetings, and from tracked statistics provided by the learning platform. The tracked statistics showed that the participants often read online postings but not many of them expressed their opinions online. Both the responses to the questionnaire and the opinions expressed in the focus group meetings showed that they preferred a face-to-face approach to an online learning approach. Furthermore, the students embraced the opportunity to interact with another class when preparing and having face-to-face debate.

Author(s):  
Eugenia M.W. Ng

Though there are a number of research studies on the adoption of a blended learning approach to enhance learning, few comparative studies have examined the use of this approach for inter-class activities. Two undergraduate classes at different levels of study participated in an online discussion, an online debate, and two face-to-face debates. Data were gathered for triangulated analysis from a questionnaire that solicited participants’ opinions, from focus group meetings, and from tracked statistics provided by the learning platform. The tracked statistics showed that the participants often read online postings but not many of them expressed their opinions online. Both the responses to the questionnaire and the opinions expressed in the focus group meetings showed that they preferred a face-to-face approach to an online learning approach. Furthermore, the students embraced the opportunity to interact with another class when preparing and having face-to-face debate.


The 21ST century education is a revolution that encounters the use of ICT (Information Communication Technology) as a component tool of education aligned with the contexts of teaching and learning. It is widely used in every surface of education particularly in teaching and learning EFL (English as a Foreign Language). When it comes to EFL education, traditional language teaching methodologies are intensively substituted with the new technological-integrated approaches. Currently, blended learning is used as an applicable approach and EFL education is surrounded by its features. It has really restructured the educational context and has paved the way for effective EFL practices. In fact, blended learning cooperates EFL educators a variety of interactive language activities while it is double component, integration of face-to-face education and technology-generated approaches. Therefore, this article investigates the use of blended learning approach in EFL education and undertakes an in-depth review of literatures, practices, and authentic enhancements of blended learning in the context of EFL education. The study enriches creative ideas toward the use of blended learning approaches in EFL classrooms. It indicates that blended learning approach provides a flexible language learning platform, endorse academic achievements of the learners, and influences EFL education.


Author(s):  
Wing Sum Cheung ◽  
Khe Foon Hew

<span>In this paper, we share two blended learning approaches used at the National Institute of Education in Singapore. We have been using these two approaches in the last twelve years in many courses ranging from the diploma to graduate programs. For the first blended learning approach, we integrated one asynchronous communication tool with face to face tutorials, classroom discussions, and a reflection session. For the second blended learning approach, we integrated two asynchronous tools with face to face tutorials in a course. We discuss the theoretical foundation of the two blended learning approaches. In addition, we share insights from these two blended learning approaches, based on the students' data (online postings, questionnaires, reflection logs, and interviews), as well as our own reflections. Finally, we describe and discuss several important lessons learned that could inform the design of future instructional strategies in implementing blended learning in university teaching and learning settings.</span>


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Kartikasari Tandy Rerung

<p>Nowadays, the communicative teaching has been influenced by the development of technology. Becoming interactive teacher would not be enough if it is not supported by technology usage. Online learning in this case has been a powerful tool to help language learners during their learning progress.  It is said that that online instruction raised the good and average student’s reading performance and the performance of the lowest-performing as well. In listening and speaking, online learning can help students improve their pronunciaton as well the comprehension skill. Therefore, the following study is designed to find out the students’ perceptions towards the use of both online and face-to-face learning in listening and speaking classroom. There are 30 students from the 1<sup>st</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> semester of English Language and Culture Departement and they joined the class for 1 semester. Online learning platform used was taken from Cambridge Learning Management System integrated with Unlock 2 and Unlock 4 books as the source of learning. The result shows that most of the students see online learning as an alternative tool to help them during their learning process.<strong></strong></p><strong>Keywords: </strong>blended learning, online learning, face-to-face learning, language learning


2019 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 00061
Author(s):  
Anna Kirillova ◽  
Evgeniya Koss ◽  
Inna Usatova

The article focuses on the teaching English to Master's students using blended learning approach. To meet the demand of professional standards teachers at Togliatti State University are to form foreign language communicative competence having just a few academic hours for oral communication. The suggested Project-Based Blended Learning Model is considered to be a solution to this problem. This Model consists of four basic elements: face-to-face learning, a Web 2.0 application LearningApps, MOOC Coursera and Reading Science. The way to implement the Model into educational process is shown. The paper is based on the own unique survey that yields some interesting results which prove the effectiveness of this Blended Learning Model. It gives the opportunity to create the environment for providing a learning pathway and the learning process control.


Author(s):  
Alyona Sharunova ◽  
Ahmed Ead ◽  
Christopher Robson ◽  
Misha Afaq ◽  
Pierre Mertiny

With the rapid development of engineering and new demands of contemporary employers, post-secondary institutions have to adapt, improve and enhance engineering curricula to ensure that recent graduates possess appropriate levels of technical and professional skills and multilateral abilities for a successful start in industry. As industrial technologies, tools, and processes evolve, so must teaching methodologies and approaches, which significantly changes the structure of engineering courses. To ensure that students not only master technical knowledge but also develop their professional, interpersonal, cognitive and computer skills, engineering curricula have begun to shift from a classic instruction format to a blended learning format. Blended learning, the strategy of combining regular face-to-face instruction with online learning and/or other out-of-class-activities, is increasingly used in post-secondary education and disciplines and can take different forms depending on the course needs and desired learning outcomes. This paper reviews the recent implementation of blended learning in the form of gamification of a second-year introductory engineering design course using a commercial online learning platform. The reasoning, methodology, process and the results of student surveys before and after the online game are discussed along with suggested improvements.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-96
Author(s):  
Christiana Sidupa

The notion of applying ICT to support traditional learning approach (face-to-face learning) is obviously not new todays. This study aimed to seek the significant difference between the mid test and final test scores of students’ English listening and reading skills. Mid test score represents face-to-face learning approach applied from first meeting whereas final test score represents blended learning approach employed after the mid test. The method used in this study was quantitative.  A random selection of samples was carried out involving 133 first year undergraduates in Jakarta pursuing English as a compulsory course.  Data collection technique used mid and final tests of two English skills: listening and reading. This study revealed that there was a significant difference between the mid test and the post test scores.  


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