scholarly journals Blended learning, Active Learning Classroom and information literacy in higher military education

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Karin Larsson ◽  
Sonja Gullberg ◽  
Malin Ekstrand
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Active Learning ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Flipped Classroom ◽  
Military Education ◽  
Learning Activities ◽  
Student Activity

How the learning environment is designed is an important part of creating good conditions for a professional education. The design of the physical and the online learning environment affects what students are expected to do in these spaces (Leijon 2016). A learning environment designed for student activity creates better conditions for activity, while an environment designed for instruction gives a different signal. A so-called Active Learning Classroom (ALC) can encourage student activity and increased learning. In an ALC environment, students become co-creators of knowledge. (Rands & Gansemer-Topf, 2017) It is impossible to know what competencies needed for the future. Therefor it is important to create a learning environment that support critical reflection, collaboration, creativity and innovation (Barnett, 2004). Flexible learning or blended learning aims to combine the strengths of online learning activities with those conducted on campus. There is a variety of ways to combine online learning activities with those conducted in the physical classroom (Vaughan, Cleveland & Garrison, 2013). For example, flipped classroom, podcast and peer learning. Adequate ICT pedagogical support can stimulate and find ways to expand the pedagogical palette with various creative online learning activities. During the round table discussion, we want to discuss the possibilities of using online learning activities, online examination and Active Learning Classroom to promote information literacy. The questions we want to discuss are: How can we combine online learning with facilitating information literacy and ALC? In what way do student’s expectations of teaching and learning affect the implementation of online learning and ALC? How can we collect student experiences of teaching online and in ALC? How can information literacy support learning and subject knowledge in higher military education?

scholarly journals Conceptual Framework for Teaching Sustainable Development Course in Blended Learning Environment

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
Tilagavati Subramaniam ◽  
Muthu Alagan Thangavelu
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Conceptual Framework ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Virtual Learning Environment ◽  
Young Generation ◽  
Framework For Teaching

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.

scholarly journals A scale development study for assessing the effectiveness of blended learning environments

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 11-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emine Cabı ◽  
Yasemin Gülbahar
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Scale Development ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Learning Environments ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Development Study ◽  
Online Learning Environments ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Development Data

This study is conducted to develop a scale for assessing the effectiveness of blended learning environments based on the features of both face-to-face and online learning environments and provide suggestions for stakeholders. In the process of scale development, data gathered from 314 students were analyzed. The reliability and validity results for collected data were found to be acceptable since they were between or above the expected value. Based on the analysis it is found that the scale is composed of 55 items having a structure of 4 factors. Hence, it can be concluded that "Effectiveness of Blended Learning Environments Scale" is found as reliable and valid, and can measure what it aims to measure. Blended Learning Environment Scale, which was developed and analyzed for reliability and validity throughout this study, is expected to facilitate the further research studies that focused on blended learning environments.

Internet-Based Remote Laboratories as a Part of a Blended Learning Environment

2012 ◽  
pp. 128-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miladin Stefanovic ◽  
Milan Matijevic ◽  
Vladimir Cvjetkovic
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Adult Learning ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Practical Training ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Remote Laboratories ◽  
The Right ◽  
And Training

Blended learning is a mixture of online learning and face-to-face activities. Online learning suffers from a lack of practical and laboratory work which is mandatory for learning in many specific fields. Adult training is also mainly focused on knowledge related to specific useful competencies and practical skills so practical training is an inseparable part of adult learning and training. Web laboratories with remotely controlled laboratory experiments should provide a necessary practical component in the concept of online learning. There are many different classifications, implementations and usages of web laboratories. This chapter deals with web laboratories, trying to define a framework for the development of web laboratories, to define pre-requests, architecture and software realization of web based laboratories and to find the right blend. This chapter also presents the contribution of web laboratories in blended learning and other possible benefits for the concept of blended learning for adults.

Mixed Approaches to Learning in the Flipped Classroom: How Students Approach the Learning Environment

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margrét Sigrún Sigurðardóttir ◽  
Thamar Melanie Heijstra
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Active Learning ◽  
Learning Environment ◽  
Learning Process ◽  
Flipped Classroom ◽  
Approaches To Learning ◽  
Male Students ◽  
Learning Approach ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Surface Approach

Flipped teaching is a trend within higher education. Through flipped teaching the learning environment can be altered by moving the lecture out of the classroom through online recordings, while in-classroom sessions focus on active learning and engaging students in their own learning process. In this paper, we used focus groups comprised of male students in a qualitative research course with the aim of understanding the ways in which we might improve active student engagement and motivation within the flipped classroom. The findings indicated that, within the flipped classroom, students mix surface and deep-learning approaches. The online recordings, which students interact with through a surface approach, can function as a stepping stone toward a deep-learning approach to in-class activities, but only if students come to class prepared. The findings therefore suggest that students must be made aware of the importance of preparation prior to flipped classroom in-class activities to ensure the active learning process is successful. By not listening to the recordings (e.g., due to technological failure, as was the case in this study), students can result in only employing a surface approach.

A Motivational Analysis of the ARCS Model for Information Literacy Courses in a Blended Learning Environment

Libri ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nai-Cheng Chang ◽  
Huei-Huang Chen
Keyword(s):  
Learning Environment ◽  
General Education ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Learning Motivation ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Arcs Model ◽  
Motivation For Learning

AbstractThis study proposes an attention, Relevance, confidence, satisfaction (ARCS)-based research model that uses a set of ARCS-oriented certified digital general education information literacy (IL) materials for higher education initiated by the Ministry of Education (MoE) in Taiwan, to determine the motivation for learning in a blended learning environment. The research model is tested using an online questionnaire survey of 292 participants. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the results. The partial least squares (PLS) method is used to validate the measurement and hypotheses. Brief comments and in-depth interviews with students who had scored very highly and very poorly in terms of their overall academic performance provided qualitative data on students’ learning motivation. The findings support the validity of the four motivational elements in the ARCS model. The quantitative and qualitative research results demonstrate that the motivation for taking IL courses, whether as a requirement or out of interest, is not a key factor in learning motivation. The results reveal that the ARCS-based digital materials, ARCS-based motivational course design for learning, and the student-centred, inquiring learning environment are critical components for achieving effective online IL courses and favourable learning outcomes.

scholarly journals Creating blended learning experiences requires more than digital skills

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Bettina Kathrin Schwenger
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Active Learning ◽  
Blended Learning ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Course Design ◽  
Research Review ◽  
Learning Design ◽  
Digital Literacies ◽  
Tertiary Institutions

With growing diversity and larger numbers of enrolled students in classes, online learning can open up new possibilities in New Zealand’s tertiary institutions to improve teaching and enhance students’ learning. Tertiary institutions have reacted with changed expectations about pedagogical approaches and practices, by, for example, integrating more online learning technologies, and by reconsidering the course design and learning environment (Conole, 2016; Johnson, Adams Becker, Estrada & Freeman, 2015). Consequently, teachers increasingly teach online as part of a course and need to engage large number of students with a broad range of skills and knowledge, including many who are first in their family to learn formally at tertiary level.   Teachers may work with certain areas of online technologies and digital literacies, for example deposit information online for students to read, but they often do not feel confident to facilitate active learning (Ako & Synapsys, 2018; Boelens, de Wever & Voet, 2017) and to offer tasks that aim to engage students collaboratively online. Kirkwood (2014) points out that teachers question how an online tool can be used but may consider less the rationale for the use of a certain pedagogical strategy for which a tool could be used. Digital literacies are more than gaining isolated technological skills (Johnson et al., 2015) as this presentation will share, based on the findings of a collaboration with two teachers in a first-year undergraduate course in Education. In the presentation, we will discuss recommendations for sustainable teacher development that enable blended learning design with opportunities for students to actively create instead of consuming information and that is likely to enhance their experiences of blended learning. The recommendations include underpinning skills and areas such as supporting learning for Māori and non-Māori students by using online affordances for pedagogical practices to, for example, integrate formative feedback, self-assessment, foster active learning online and independent learning.   References   Ako Aotearoa & Synapsys (2018). Technology in learning: Benchmarking and developing sector capability. Wellington, New Zealand: Ako Aotearoa Boelens, R., De Wever, B., & Voet, M. (2017). Four key challenges to the design of blended learning: A systematic literature review. Educational Research Review, 22, 1–18. doi:10.1016/j.edurev.2017.06.001 Conole, G. (2016). Theoretical underpinnings of learning design. In J. Dalziel (Ed.), Learning design: Conceptualizing a framework for teaching and learning online (pp. 42–62). New York, NY: Routledge. Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Estrada, V., & Freeman, A. (2015). NMC Horizon report: 2015 Higher education edition. Austin, TX: The New Media Consortium. Retrieved from https://www.nmc.org/publication/nmc-horizon-report-2015-higher-education-edition/ Kirkwood, A. (2014). Teaching and learning with technology in higher education: Blended and distance education needs ‘joined-up thinking’ rather than technological determinism. Open Learning, 29(3), 206–221.

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