Reflective Practice, Professional Learning, and Educational Partnerships

In light of current interest in teacher education, this chapter presents an outcome of a study that sought to explore ways that the classroom practices and status of teachers might be improved. The enquiry used a model of professional learning that incorporated blended learning, reflective practice, performance management processes, authentic experiences, and tertiary learning to encourage change in classroom settings. Teacher insights were explored and their classroom practices analysed to identify any change in teacher behaviours that might be attributed to participation in the learning program. Findings suggest that teachers are largely dissatisfied with conventional approaches to professional development believing them to be separate from the classroom experience and ineffective in bring about change. However, teachers in this study found that a blended learning setting that fostered an intentional connection between theory and practice and collaborative learning provided a strong learning experience that translated to change in classroom practice.

Comparing IT and Non-IT Faculty and Students' Perceptions on Blended Learning

The successful implementation of blended learning depends on many factors, but the interactions between academics and students far outweigh technology and all other factors put together. However, so far, no satisfactory research has been conducted relating to teacher education or to providing a comprehensive analysis on academic and student teachers’ perceptions. For the purpose of this study, thirteen academics were interviewed or attended focus group meetings to share their views on blended learning. Some of them were classified as information technology (IT) academics whilst others were not. The academics had a very positive attitude towards the concept of blended learning and there were no notable differences between IT and non-IT academics. Their findings are also cross referenced with findings from students who participated in a questionnaire survey. There were a total of seventy student teachers, who participated in the survey. Forty-four of them were regarded as IT students whilst the rest was regarded as non-IT students. These two groups of students gave high ratings on most of the questionnaire items. There were some minor differences between the two groups of students but the differences were not very statistically significant. These thought-provoking findings not only serve as practical and beneficial information for The Hong Kong Institute of Education, but they also serve as an invaluable source of knowledge and information for all individuals in the field of teacher education.

Cross Disciplinary Learning in Distance Higher Education

Adequately selecting and applying the multi-model structure from the backdrop of cross-disciplinary learning in stimulating professionals’ research empowerment in distance higher education, is a regular focus of research. How the benefits of research is developed, nurtured, continuously enhanced, and sustained in value-driven academic activities is the direct consequence of learners’ emotionality. The study argues that distance learners learn meaningfully when their emotionality is adequate. Using the emotional spiral model, the study in a pre-test, post-test, control quasi-experimental research design evaluated the impact of behaviour techniques subsumed psychotherapeutically in facilitating learners’ emotional stability for inducing research competences. The distance learners were initially screened for their fears in research activities and quantitative abilities, and then subsequently allotted into four independent intervention sub-groups. Under the vantage application of psychotherapy, for a four-week out of a six-week maximum teaching-learning encounter, prior to the post-evaluation (i.e. post-test) period, the learners were exposed to the benefits of the reframing techniques, rational emotive bahaviour techniques, assignment method, and the control technique (i.e the non-treatment) group. Utilizing the analysis of variance statistical method at the 0.05 alpha, the findings showed that the participants’ research prowess improved tremendously with a statistically significant treatment effect [F (4, 1052) =7.52; P

Blending Classroom Activities with Multi-User Virtual Environment for At-Risk Primary School Students in an After-School Program

This chapter documents how a group of 14 academically at-risk Primary 5 students have been engaged in academic related tasks in an after-school program mediated by a game-like 3D multi-user virtual environment (MUVE), Quest Atlantis (QA). The case study explores the possibilities and potentials of using the game-like 3D MUVE for the re-engagement of this group of academically at-risk students. From the observation notes, interviews with the students and students’ activities in the MUVE, the two main elements in the MUVE that have been found to engage the students are: ‘play and fun’ and ‘recognition and affirmation of performance.’ However, these engaging elements alone could not purposefully engage these students. Non-ICT activities such as orientation tasks, support by teachers, and the careful selection of authentic assignments are necessary to further enhance their engagement with their learning.

Comparing Face-to-Face with Blended Learning in the Context of Foreign Language Education

The discussion presented in this chapter is based on the findings of a post doctoral research, which compared face-to-face with blended learning in the field of foreign language education and the learning of English in Europe. The studying conditions that are present in each of these two modes are explored and juxtaposed in order to draw the reader’s attention to a number of benefits that spring from blended learning, namely the development of skills and strategies, the cultivation of positive attitudes towards learning, the promotion of literacies, and the unfolding of communicative competence. Specifically, as we assert in this chapter, it follows from our research that the combination of blended learning with cross cultural online collaboration supports the construction of foundational and new literacies, enhances the development of linguistic, pragmatic, strategic, sociolinguistic, and intercultural competences, and boosts students’ cognitive, metacognitive, and social strategies, as well as their critical thinking skills. Overall, the chapter emphasizes the need for blended learning in foreign language education.

Allegheny Women's Biotechnology Workforce Collaborative

The Allegheny Women’s Biotechnology Workforce Collaborative (AWBWC) is a research based educational intervention designed to support participants with “lifelines” using blended learning as they further their education and enter the biotechnology workforce. This holistic educational approach provides didactic instruction with a focus on individualized learning using technology to foster personal skill development and mentoring from industry professionals. The AWBWC participants live at 60% below the poverty level and 90% have been victimized. This comparative study is based on a new model and its impact upon achievement. The quantitative data includes participant grade point average (GPA), technology usage, and rate of attrition. The qualitative data includes emails, text messages, focus group and face-to-face interviews. Additionally, anecdotal evidence indicates the children of participants have increased selfesteem, perform better in school as measured by GPA, and desire to pursue higher education.

Online Literacy among Students and Faculty

Based on the recent proliferation of online education and the ongoing technological revolution, this research focused on interaction of students and faculty as a main contributor to the success of online education. During 2003, a survey was distributed to convenience samples of faculty members and students from the Midwest of the U.S. and three Eastern European countries. The data reflects students’ and faculty members’ opinions about the state of technology, online communication, and instruction. The results confirm findings from the literature about the existence of a digital divide between developed and emerging nations. Although Eastern European respondents don’t benefit from the technology base of their American correspondents, their satisfaction and comfort with technology remains relatively strong. The digital divide may result from administrative rigidity; Eastern European students enjoy less access to computer labs, due to fewer and less flexible hours. Faculty members and administrators remain entrenched in “old” technologies such as e-mail, whereas Millennials expect newer communication tools and prefer synchronous ones. Considering the available technology, online assessment is employed relatively inconsistently. Libraries as technology providers are perhaps underutilized particularly in Bulgaria, Moldova, and Macedonia.

When Cultures Meet in Blended Learning

This chapter presents a literature review of the blended learning projects that involved learners from different cultures. The studies reviewed essentially addressed two issues: the feasibility of cross-cultural blended learning and leaner differences in such a learning environment. While the studies overwhelmingly reported the benefits of using the Internet to create opportunities for students to learn with peers from other cultures, they also highlighted issues of cultural impact on learner behaviors. Learner differences reported included approaches to asking questions, collaborating with others and preferences in the way they made use of technologies. Patterns emerged from the review, implying some design considerations for planning cross-cultural blended learning. It seems that successful cross-cultural blended learning programs need committed teaching teams who make decisions on curriculum choices, learning tasks and assessments, and which technology tools to use; and who skillfully handle issues of language barriers, project management, and preparation of learners.

Student Profile and Its Effects on Online and Hybrid Courses

This chapter is based on a longitudinal descriptive study that identifies the types of students enrolled in a Management Information Systems class offered in face-to-face and online delivery modalities over 15 semesters. The study used a total sample of 622 students where 296 students were enrolled in the faceto- face control section and 326 students were enrolled in the online experimental sections. The study profiles the demographics of students including: student type (traditional undergraduate or adult), age, gender, ethnicity, Myers Briggs personality profile, religion, citizenship, marital status, academic family generation, academic major, academic standing (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior), and grade point average (GPA). The study findings include: (1) adult students dominated the online delivery modality. (2) African American and Hispanic female adult students prefer taking online courses compared to face-to-face. (3) Forty percent of the students enrolled in online delivery modality were of extravert type. (4) The majority of the first generation students were enrolled in face-to-face delivery modality. Recommendations include short modules, use of different exercises in order to accommodate various learning styles. The chapter and the study results will assist administrators and faculty members to make better decisions by understanding the student population type.

A Case Study of Infusing Web 2.0 Tools for Blended Learning

In the era of Web 2.0, students are not restricted to search and collect information from existing Internet resources. They are expected to be able to collaborate, create, and share new information on the Web through different tools. On the other hand, students of this era are also familiar with sharing multimedia contents on the Internet. We can also observe that presentations are not limited to face-to-face and university students should be able to present virtually using multimedia technology. It seems that Web 2.0 tools open another space for the assessment modes for teachers. This study aims to describe an innovative practice of having two groups of student teachers conducting a virtual presentation about their final assignments, which could either be videos or other digital formats. One group of students was final year undergraduate while another group consisted of post-graduate Diploma of Education student teachers. For the purpose of the study, the virtual presentation materials were uploaded to a learning management system (LMS) platform to enable the two different classes to comment each other’s work within one week. Thereafter, the data collected from tracked statistics provided by the learning platform and students’ reflections of this interclass activity were analyzed and compared with each other. It was found that most of the participants were positive about this new presentation approach and ready to accept it as a part of the assessment. However, the undergraduate students were more active in participating in virtual presentations of both classes. Furthermore, their attitudes were influenced by the tutors’ participation. Thus, it is suggested that tutors involved in virtual presentations should play an active role and give encouragement to their students regularly.