Blended Online Learning (BOL) combines synchronous and asynchronous online learning in ways that potentially can overcome limitations of fully asynchronous online. Although BOL has been an emergent modality for decades, research on the experiences, benefits and challenges of its implementation has been limited. However, the Covid-19 pandemic forced many college courses to go fully online, including courses with hands-on learning components assumed to require face-to-face instruction to support learners. For this study, the pandemic disruption offered an authentic learning setting to investigate the learning and experiences of pre-service teachers in a technology course that was forced into a fully online BOL modality. Previously, the technology course was delivered in a Blended Learning modality (BL) that combined face-to-face computer lab meetings with asynchronous online materials and activities using a Learning Management System (LMS). BOL replaced face-to-face meeting with synchronous online (e.g., Zoom) meetings.The purpose of this study was to explore if BL and BOL course modalities would generate different student outcomes in terms of rubric scores obtained on a final project (competence), along with student-written reflections on the final project (confidence/self-efficacy) that covered topics and skills such as digital audio, digital video, and PowerPoint. The study showed that students enrolled in the BL modality obtained higher scores on the final project as compared to students engaged in the BOL modality. On the other hand, BOL students made a higher number of problem-solving statements in their written reflections about the final project, displaying an antifragile disposition. This study contributes to the existing body of research on online learning modalities by exploring the dimension of competency and self-efficacy of students enrolled in blended and blended online versions of a course with concentration on learning technology. The findings of this study can inform decisions of teacher education administrators and faculty about how they are going to integrate educational technology into Teacher Education Programs. Further, the study has implications for adopting BOL modality in a range of higher education courses in which fully online delivery has been resisted because of students’ assumed needs for face-to-face support in skills learning.

The outbreak of COVID-19 forced the world population to find new ways to improve their productivity. It also significantly changed the course of education and instruction entirely. Like many students worldwide, adult English as a Second Language (ESL) students have been dramatically impacted by the sudden switch to online courses due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Blended Online Learning (BOL) was considered an innovative transition for adult ESL students due to the fact that it allows the learner to view the classroom as a social learning environment, thereby strengthening their connection to the language. This dissertation aimed to investigate the online learning experiences of a group of ESL students and their instructor through online zoom classes during COVID-19. The study employed a qualitative case study research methodology. This case study utilized purposeful sampling to focus on the experiences of adult ESL students and their course instructor with learning and teaching online during the pandemic. The target population for this study was a group of 8 international adult students and their respective course instructor. Data were collected from ten field observations, nine semi-structured interviews through Zoom, field notes, and document analysis. Findings revealed that participants showed positive experiences with online learning as it had provided students with new communication forms. Breakout rooms, group discussions, and discussion boards were methods the majority of students agreed were helpful for participation while facilitating social interaction. Students preferred to communicate with each other through online platforms as they feel safer and less shy to express their opinions. Conversely, participants showed negative experiences with the lack of reliable internet connectivity, especially in rural areas, which affected the students' ability to access online courses. Based upon the dissertation's findings, there are several practical implications for students, instructors, institutions, and administrators. Recommendations for additional research are needed to provide various observations and solutions to promote online platforms, including offering instructors training to guide students through these platforms expertly and merging synchronous and asynchronous learning to ensure a holistic learning environment for adult ESL learners.