Blended learning has been suggested as having the potential to transform tertiary education through its ability to provide flexible learning options, cost reductions and high quality educational experiences. Combining the benefits of both the face-to-face and online learning environments, blended learning provides opportunities for tertiary education organisations to improve the engagement, satisfaction and achievement of students. Tertiary science is experiencing issues with student recruitment and retention due to it being complex and challenging to learn and often poorly taught. Blended learning, therefore, with its ability to support visualisation of abstract scientific processes, critical thinking and attitudes to science could provide a means to encourage students to study science. However, to date, most studies on blended learning in undergraduate science have focused on evaluating the implementation of a particular blended approach within a small number of science classes or have considered only the teacher or student perspective. This study sought to explore both lecturer and student experiences of blended learning within undergraduate science whilst also considering the institutional context within which science teaching and learning operates. A case study methodology was used to investigate blended learning in undergraduate science in a New Zealand university. Data collection methods included interviews with university management, lecturers and students. Management interviews were used to determine the university’s stage of blended learning adoption and to provide the institutional context for the study. Lecturer and student interviews provided a rich description of each group’s experiences and perspectives of blended learning in science. These were supplemented with lecturer and student surveys which provided breadth to the findings. The findings revealed both the institutional and disciplinary context influence lecturer and student perspectives of blended learning. They also highlighted the similarities between lecturer and student experiences. Lecturer perspectives and issues have long been taken into consideration by tertiary organisations when planning their blended learning implementation. However, this study suggested that student needs and support are equally as important and recommended that they receive the same attention.

Thesis (M.Ed.)--Regis University, Denver, Colo., 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 26, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

This study intends to explore how social media or social networking sites (SNSs) such as Facebook can facilitate communication channels or create dialogue spaces in a language class. Social media is a form of participatory media, which broadly refers to the “collection of communication channels or mediums (primarily online and mobile) through which social networks originate and are sustained” (Flew 2008:109). Although the term social media is often used as a collective term for SNSs or as the core trademark of Web 2.0, Flew (2008:17) also distinguishes social media by calling it a “communications infrastructure” that allows for “participation, interactivity, collaborative learning and social networking”. Flew (2008) identifies various online sites including the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia and the online user-generated video site YouTube as well as various personalised web space sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Friendster and Bebo as participatory media. The study’s data collection was situated at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) and investigated how social media can be used to facilitate dialogue between a tutor and BKI1120 Communication in English B students in a Higher Education (HE) context using qualitative methodology. This study compared the use of existing and more traditional or conventional classroom communication practices with those of SNSs as a communication channel, while focusing on social media application as a communication tool to create dialogue spaces that support teaching and learning practices. The research also attempted to identify alternative applications of social media for teaching and learning practices to inform researchers in the fields of HE and media. In the first data-collection phase, BKI1120 Communication in English B Public Management students were selected as the sample for the study. Seventeen students participated in the BKI1120 Facebook page created for the purpose of this study. In the second data-collection phase, a taped focus-group interview was conducted with eight BKI1120 Communication in English B students. The interview transcript was then analysed qualitatively for themes. The research findings showed that social media or SNSs such as Facebook can facilitate communication channels or create dialogue spaces in a language class, if it is managed effectively.

The purpose of this study is to examine and describe student and instructor experiences and perceptions of course design, and identify the critical issues regarding the use of a blended learning environment. A design based research (DBR) framework with qualitative approaches was carried out by collecting data from an undergraduate course offered to sophomores. The primary approach was phenomenology using the lens of heuristic inquiry. Interviews, questionnaires, documents, observation notes, instructor diary, and weekly reflection reports were the main data sources. Data were collected in three periods: preliminary study, pilot study, and actual implementation. The results of instructor experiences revealed that instructor considerations for the analysis period centered on needs and context. The design and development considerations centered v on pedagogical approach, course materials and documents, course organization, interaction, and instructor-student roles. The enablers (benefits and opportunities) of the implementation period included arousing student interest and participation potentially more, having flexibility, saving time, tracking student progress more easily, and increased interaction, collaboration, and communication opportunities. The barriers (challenges and limitations) were increased workload, difficulties related to the course and time management, overlaps, and creating harmony among F2F and online environments. The students mentioned interaction and communication opportunities, increased motivation, opportunity to voice opinions, and reinforcement of learning as enablers of the blended learning environment. The barriers were increased workload, cultural and technical barriers and dependability of environments. The critical issues were found to be context, pedagogical framework, instructor competency, and technical issues. It can be concluded that use of blended learning environments can be regarded as a paramount initiative for the higher education institutions by maximizing the enablers of both environments but also has its unique barriers to consider. The results also implied that it is the decisions on the instructional design approaches for creating balance in the course activities that is critical to blended learning environment designs.

Thesis (Ph.D. Education (Curriculum Studies)) -- University of Limpopo, 2022 / The introduction of technologies in our lifetime necessitates transformation in our lifestyles. This expectation is not an exception to the education system. The curriculum and the ways of teaching and learning are affected the most by new technologies. It is therefore imperative that schools, educational officials and teachers change in tandem with these new technologies. The transitioning to technologies, therefore, tends to make it obligatory for schools, principals, deputy principals, heads of departments and teachers to be competent in these new innovations and the accompanying digital strategies. The aim of this study is to investigate the implementation of blended learning as one of the technological platforms in Sekhukhune District schools in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The study was guided by blending Connected Learning Theory (CLT), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Connectivism Theory (CT) frameworks. The theories assisted in the formulation of research questions which led to the study findings. The research questions of the study included How do teachers perceive the usefulness of blended learning approaches in teaching and learning? How do teachers connect information using technology resources in blended learning? “To what extent do teachers display the necessary skills for successful implementation of blended learning?” What are teachers’ recommendations for the introduction and improvement of blended learning in rural schools? and What are the elements to be considered for the designing of blended learning model? The study used mixed methods research (MMR) to achieve the aim of the study. Convergent parallel design was used to collect, analyse and interpret data. The study was guided by a pragmatic paradigm where 10 schools were purposively sampled for the QUAN strand while 4 schools were purposively sampled for the QUAL strand. The participants of the study comprised x principals, deputy principals and teachers. For the QUAN strand 10 principals, 9 deputy principals, 35 heads of departments and 123 teachers participated while for the AQUAL strand 4 principals, 4 head of departments and 4 teachers took part in the investigation. The total sample for the QUAN was 177 participants and 12 participants for the QUAL strand. A questionnaire was used to collect data in the QUAN strand while for the QUAL strand interviews and document study were used. Data gathered through questionnaires was analysed through the IBM SPSS version 28. Thematic, content and narrative analyses were used to assess data collected from the interviews and document study. The results of the two strands were merged to obtain the final results of the study. The study established that teachers embraced the introduction and implementation of blended learning in schools. However, challenges such as lack of e-technological supply and internet connection; inadequacies in the use of classroom technologies; lack of e-tech policies; lack of teachers’ digital training; insufficient teachers′ technological competencies; and inadequate teacher support in technologies impede the effective implementation of blended learning in Sekhukhune-Limpopo schools. The study therefore recommends that the Limpopo Department of Education (LDE) should prioritise the supply of e-tech in Sekhukhune-Limpopo through fiscal policies. The study further recommends that the Department of Basic Education, through the provincial education departments and districts, train and develop officials and teachers in digital technologies for the successful implementation of blended technologies in teaching and learning. The study also suggested a proposed Blended Learning Model (BLM) which might assist in the implementation of blended learning in schools. Keywords: blended learning, blended learning model, E-Tech, EEducation policy, teachers’ digital framework

Saudi Higher Education has started to move with the international trend towards blending face-to-face with online instruction when developing new educational processes. As a contribution to the innovations in Saudi Higher Education, this study explores the perceptions of Saudi female lecturers and undergraduate students towards blended learning from their experience as participants in blended courses. The advantage of blended learning was recognized by the Ministry of Saudi Higher Education as a solution to the challenge of providing college education to the rapidly growing student population. As the move to a blended learning model represents a radical shift in the Saudi educational system, this study shows how Saudi students and lecturers reacted to this change and how it affected the quality of their learning and teaching experience. The objective of the study is to identify Saudi female undergraduate students’ and lecturers’ perceptions of the advantages, challenges and future of blended learning. Consequently, the key factors that influence the lecturers’ and students’ views are discussed, and recommendations for future research, strategy and practice are provided. Qualitative methods were used to obtain rich descriptive data to facilitate the exploration of the phenomena. Based on interpretative philosophy, the data was analysed in the form of explanation and interpretation of the participants’ perceptions of blended learning. The study concludes that blended learning has the potential to offer a successful learning experience in Saudi Arabia. As there are always challenges of adaptation when a new approach is employed, this research provides insight into how the challenges of implementing blended learning in Saudi Higher Education could be addressed. A theoretical blended learning framework is introduced to provide the factors that influence the implementation of blended learning. One of the major conclusions is that a blended learning environment offers Saudi females the flexibility to continue their higher education while maintaining their own cultural values and traditions.

This thesis deals with distance education in the setting of high schools. The first part describes the history, then the possibility of e learning and its basic components. Another part is focused on the description of the current offer of educational systems. The practical part focuses on the characterization and comparison of LMS systems. The last chapter deals with ways of graduation at the Faculty of Management and describes the courses with which students have the most problems.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 207 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 172-179).

In recent years, Blended Learning becomes more and more popular in business and educational fields. It is regarded as an important research topic in e-Learning because it¡¦s potential to enhance and improve students¡¦ learning effectiveness. Though the concept of blended learning has been existing in traditional learning for several years; with the development of information technology, it drives a new emerging blended learning model. By combining cyber-asynchronous and cyber-asynchronous becomes the new Emerging Blended Learning (EBL) in contrast to the physical-synchronous and cyber-asynchronous that is considered as the Traditional Blended Learning (TBL). Besides, interaction is a vital factor in blended learning and learning effectiveness is an urge question that all researchers want to study in e-Learning. And the classroom climate, which comes from the interaction among all members and the environment in the class, has a vital influence on students learning outcome in traditional learning. According to our survey, the conclusion of the relationship between classroom climate and learning effectiveness in e-Learning is not yet confirmed from the literature. By analyzing these two different blended learning models (EBL and TBL), the aims of our study are to explore if the learning effects of EBL is the same as that of TBL and to investigate the relationship between classroom climate and learning effectiveness in e-Learning. The methods combine questionnaire, interview and LMS system logs for applying data triangulation validation. The procedure are collecting the questionnaire data at midterm and final examinations and then interviewing some students to get their thoughts and finally analyzing the system logs to help explanation of the quantity results. The results show that the learning effect of EBL is the same as that of TBL and the changes of classroom climate and learning effectiveness in EBL are more significant than in TBL. The results also show that the correlation of classroom climate and learning satisfactory is significant. Finally, we provide some suggestions and future research directions for educators and researchers.

Selected Philippine high schools have decided to implement a blended learning program as part of its solution to address the problem of classroom shortage. This study investigated the differences between how teachers teach online and in face to face environments. It also looked into the policies needed to be in place if pedagogical change is expected in schools. This study employed a mixed methods research, where the qualitative data set was used to deepen survey results. A survey was designed to find out the learning activities implemented in F2F and online environments, teachers’ pedagogical beliefs and perception of pedagogical change. The survey was conducted to all eleven blended learning teachers of one school. Survey results showed that F2F activities were more student-centered than activities in the online environment. Furthermore, majority of the teachers believed that shifting to blended learning changed the way they teach. The second phase of the study involved observations of classes of four teachers in three learning environments: online, F2F and regular classes. The four teachers, the ICT coordinator and the school principal were also interviewed about their beliefs on teaching and learning, the role of technology in schools and their experience of blended learning from both the pedagogical and policy perspectives. Findings indicate that teachers leaning towards instructivist-behavioral orientations will most likely implement the same strategies in blended learning environments. They tend to view pedagogical change as being influenced by the national curriculum and student characteristics. Teachers with constructivist-cognitive perspectives implement more student-centered strategies online and viewed pedagogical change as a change in teacher roles. The availability of technology infrastructure, frequency and duration of blended learning classes were also found to be external drivers of pedagogy. From the perspective of policy, a shared vision, the national curriculum, the roles of program implementers and teacher support all influence the implementation of the blended learning program. The study recommended a review of the scheduling scheme, the practice of team teaching and training on collaborative technologies for both teachers and students. From the policy perspective, a program framework, a blended learning curriculum and evaluation standards for blended learning teachers were identified as critical support mechanisms for successful program implementation. This study argued that the introduction of technology and blended learning programs in schools should go beyond addressing the problem of classroom shortage and achievement test results. It questioned the government’s vision of educational reform and recommended a change in its perception of the role of technology in education. A change in vision, curriculum, assessments and work practices were found to be essential elements that enable lasting educational reform. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Science in Information Technology in Education