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Blended/hybrid learning, a combination of face to face and online learning to deliver instruction, is growing in popularity at institutions of higher education, and may lead to many benefits for students, faculty, and administrators. However, the implementation of blended learning (BL) is a complex process. Although the move towards BL adoption is generally accepted by faculty, questions still remain when it comes to adopting and implementing standards across institutions. Given this problem, this integrative literature review was conducted to identify possible factors that impact the process of implementing BL smoothly and successfully at higher education institutions. The purpose of this study was to identify related institutional factors from empirical studies published from 2000 to 2020. Findings from this study may offer institutions a guide to effectively create, execute, and assess BL programs and courses. The study provides recommendations that may be impactful for decision-makers at Saudi higher education institutions. / Doctor of Philosophy / Blended/hybrid learning, a combination of face to face and online learning to deliver instruction, has become popular at universities because it provides advantages for students, faculty members, and the university itself. However, the implementation of blended learning (BL) is a challenging process, and in many instances there is not enough guidance available to assist universities through the process. For this reason, this study has been conducted with the goal of identifying possible factors relating to implementing BL smoothly and successfully at universities. Findings from this study may offer institutions a guide to effectively create, execute, and assess BL programs and courses. The study provides recommendations that may be impactful for decision-makers at Saudi universities

The research presented in this study investigates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on teacher self-efficacy with delivering design-based learning to elementary students and identifies what resources and support teachers need to administer online or blended learning delivery of design-based learning with elementary students in the current environment. The population was elementary teachers teaching STEM content and this study included a sample of four elementary STEM teachers teaching in rural and suburban communities. Each participating teacher completed the Teacher Efficacy and Attitudes Toward STEM Survey (T-STEM) (Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, 2012) to reveal their overall self-efficacy with delivering STEM content, followed by participating in a semi-structured interview consisting of queries targeting both research questions. This qualitative analysis revealed a temporary decrease in teachers' self-efficacy at the beginning of the shift to a virtual environment. A lack of student access to resources at home, the teachers' lack of control and support for the student in a synchronous manner, and a change in STEM education as a priority were revealed as contributors to this temporary decrease in the teachers' self-efficacy. To remediate this, teachers reported condensing activities and the Engineering Design Process to accommodate the virtual environment for a traditionally hands-on instructional strategy. Teachers cited fellow educator support, previous coursework, additional time, and access to teacher resources as resources and support that would be beneficial in the current environment. / Doctor of Philosophy / The research presented in this study investigates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on teacher self-efficacy, or confidence, in using an instructional approach to STEM education with elementary students and identifies what resources and support teachers need to use this instructional strategy online or in blended learning settings, a combination of both online and in-person education. The instructional strategy, design-based learning, allows students to use design-thinking to apply the knowledge they are learning to a construct (Doppelt et al., 2008). This study included a sample of four elementary STEM teachers teaching in rural and suburban communities. Each participating teacher completed the Teacher Efficacy and Attitudes Toward STEM Survey (T-STEM) (Friday Institute for Educational Innovation, 2012) to reveal their overall self-efficacy with delivering STEM content, followed by participating in an interview. Prominent topics, or themes, revealed from the interviews revealed a temporary decrease in the teachers' self-efficacy at the beginning of the shift to a virtual environment at the beginning of the global pandemic. A lack of student access to resources at home, the teachers' lack of control and support for the student in a real-time manner, and a change in STEM education as a priority were revealed as contributors to this temporary decrease in the teachers' self-efficacy. To address this, the teachers reported condensing activities and the Engineering Design Process to accommodate the virtual environment for a traditionally hands-on instructional strategy. Teachers cited fellow educator support, previous coursework, additional time, and access to teacher resources as resources and support that would be beneficial in the current education system.

Multilingualism is a reality in South African classrooms. The Constitution of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996) and the national language policy recognize language rights and aims at supporting, promoting and developing the official languages. However, despite the advantages of mother tongue education, English is often chosen as language of learning and teaching at the cost of the African official languages. This study proposes the accommodation and promotion of multilingualism through blended learning.Blended learning refers to the blending of traditional instruction methods, such as face-to-face instruction, with other forms of instruction such as online learning and teaching. Through a discussion of asynchronous and synchronous learning tools it was established that wikis would be used for this study. In terms of blended learning and learning theories the main emphasis in this study is on socio-constructivism as well as communal constructivism.The empirical research in this study focused on the establishment and testing of a conceptual model for the accommodation and promotion of multilingualism through blended learning in the subject IT. The research took the form of a sequential embedded mixed methods design. Both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used. A questionnaire was used with IT teachers to investigate the language and blended learning context. This was followed up with qualitative research in the form of interviews aimed at provincial and national experts in terms of the subject IT and e-learning. Based on the literature and these two investigations, a conceptual model was developed. The conceptual model’s effectiveness was tested through a quasi-experimental study. A questionnaire was also completed by the respondents at the schools after the completion of the study. Through the testing of the effectiveness of the conceptual model it was found that multilingualism could successfully be accommodated and promoted through this conceptual model.

Abstract in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa / Blended learning is referenced as the “best of both worlds” (Snart, 2010:xvi), which integrates Face-to-Face instruction with online learning. With interest in incorporating blended learning within the higher education curricula expanding, many private higher education institutions seek to understand how they can use educational technology effectively in blended learning to enhance undergraduate students’ learning engagement. This study investigated the nature and extent of private higher education students’ learning engagement in blended learning programmes within a private higher education provider. Through the lens of Bandura's (2000:121, 2009:180) Social Cognitive Theory, the study investigated private higher education students’ learning engagement in blended learning during the completion of their qualification and how it impacted teaching and learning. A descriptive quantitative research design was adopted, coupled with a positivist paradigm of inquiry. Utilising a cross-sectional survey it acquired descriptive data from a sample population of 567 respondents who answered the study’s research questions. The study found that student orientation programmes are associated with students’ perceived self-efficacy, subsequently affecting their engagement in blended learning programmes directly, and through the impact on outcome expectations, goals and socio-structural impediments. Additionally, socio-structural facilitators impacted outcome expectations and student engagement. The study’s results established a new framework, namely Social Cognitive Student Engagement in Blended Learning. / Gemengde leer word dikwels die “beste van twee wêrelde” genoem (Snart, 2010:xvi) aangesien onderrig nie alleen van aangesig tot aangesig nie, maar ook aanlyn geskied. Gesien die stygende belangstelling in die inskakeling van gemengde leer by hoëronderwysleerplanne, ondersoek talle private hoëronderwysinstellings maniere om opvoedkundige tegnologie in gemengde leer te gebruik om voorgraadse studente se leerbetrokkenheid te verbeter. In hierdie studie is ondersoek ingestel na die aard en omvang van studente se leerbetrokkenheid in die gemengdeleerprogramme wat by ʼn private verskaffer van hoër onderwys aangebied word. Hierdie studie het deur die lens van Bandura se sosiaal-kognitiewe teorie (2000:121, 2009:180) gekyk na studente se leerbetrokkenheid by gemengde leer in die verwerwing van ʼn kwalifikasie, en die uitwerking daarvan op onderrig en leer. Die navorsingsontwerp was deskriptief-kwantitatief en die ondersoekparadigma positivisties. Aan die hand van ʼn dwarssnitopname is beskrywende data by ʼn steekproefbevolking van 567 respondente ingewin. In die studie is bevind dat oriënteringsprogramme op studente se siening van hul eie selfwerksaamheid gemik is, hulle betrokkenheid by gemengdeleerprogramme verbeter, en daardeur hul uitkomsverwagtings, mikpunte en die mate waarin hulle sosiaal-strukturele struikelblokke oorkom, bepaal. Afgesien hiervan het sosiaal-strukturele fasiliteerders ʼn gunstige uitwerking op studente se uitkomsverwagtings en betrokkenheid gehad. ʼn Raamwerk is opgestel, naamlik die Sosiaal-Kognitiewe Betrokkenheid van Studente by Gemengde Leer. / Uhlelo lwemfundo ehlanganisiwe lubizwa, phecelezi nge “best of both worlds” (Snart, 2010:xvi), ukuhlanganisa umyalelo okhishwa ngendlela yokubhekana kwabantu ubuso nobuso kanye nohlelo lokufunda nge-inthanethi. Njengoba uthando lokufaka phakathi uhlelo lokufunda oluhlanganisiwe ngaphakathi kohlelo lwemfundo emazikweni aphakeme lya ngokuya lukhula nje, amaziko emfundo ephakeme amaningi angasese afuna ukuzwisisa ukuthi ngabe angabusebenzisa kanjani ngempumelelo ubuchwepheshe bethekinoloji bezemfundoi ohlelweni lwezokufunda oluhlanganisiwe ukuze kuqiniswe uhlelo lokufunda ngokuxoxisana nabafundi abasafundela iziqu zesigaba sokuqala. Lolu cwaningo luye lwaphenya ubunjalo kanye nezinga lokufunda kwabafundi ngokuxoxisana ezinhlelweni zokufunda okuhlanganisiwe ngaphakathi kweziko langasese lemfundo ephakeme. Ngokusebenzisa iso lomqondo wokufunda kaBandura (Bandura's social cognitive theory (2000:121, 2009:180), ucwaningo luye lwaphenya uhlelo lokufunda ngokuxoxisana nabafundi ohlelweni lokufunda ngokuhlanganyela ngesikhathi bephothula iziqu zabo kanye nangendlela lolu hlelo lunomthelela ngayo kwezokufundisa nokufunda. Idizayini yocwaningo oluchazayo olwencike kumanani luye lwamukelwa, ngokuthi luhambisane nohlelo lwe-positivist paradigm of inquiry. Ngokusebenzisa isaveyi i-cross-sectional survey, idatha echazayo yaqoqwa kwisampuli yenani lonke labaphenduli abayi-567. Ucwaningo luye lwathola ukuthi izinhlelo zokwamukela abafundi zihlobene nemiqondo yabafundi (students’ perceived self-efficacy), bese kulandelise ngokuthinta ngqo ukuxoxisana kwabo kwizinhlelo zokufunda ezihlanganisiwe. Ukwengeza, abahlanganisi besakhiwo somphakathi babe nomthelela phezu kwemiphumela elindelwe kanye nokuxoxisana nomfundi. Kuye kwasungulwa isakhiwo esisha, sona yilesi esilandelayo, phecelezi, Social Cognitive Student Engagement in Blended Learning. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / M. Ed. (Curriculum Studies)

The fourth industrial revolution and twenty-first century employability development has emerged on education and political agendas as a priority all over the world. Researchers have suggested and investigated more innovative learning experiences using technology as part of a blended learning approach. Restructuring current programmes to include skills development has the potential to equip students with the skills needed for employment. The development of blended learning approaches is an expanding field in both developing and developed countries. Yet, the skills graduates display and employers’ dissatisfaction is a concern. Limited research has been conducted on the use of blended learning to enhance employability development in formal learning environments. Most of the available research relies on employer perceptions, with little data available on the knowledge, skills and values graduates actually possess or on the impact this has on employability outcomes. This study aims to address this gap by focussing on managing the quality of employability development in higher education using blended learning. The study was aimed at gaining insight into the perceptions, understanding, concerns and experiences of institutional managers, tutors, graduates and students in their real world when using blended learning to enhance graduateness. This aim made the qualitative research method a suitable match. This thesis reports on the resulting comparative study between a South African and an American institution using different blended learning approaches to compare different cases for similarities and variations. The South African higher education sector’s fitness for purpose and pursuit of benchmarking against international standards of academic quality, knowledge and expertise calls for redress and reform of teaching-learning. In the fourth industrial revolution with a 21st century knowledge economy, driven from a macro- meso- and microlevel perspective, higher education in South Africa has the potential to provide a workforce that is socially and economically viable and more inclusive. The thesis concludes with a model to support employability development in blended learning environments. / Uphuhliso lwezakhono nokuqesheka ngenkulungwane yamashumi amabini nanye,zivele kwii-ajenda yezemfundo kunye nezopolitiko njengeziqaqambileyo kwihlabathi jikelele. Abaphengululi bacebisile kwaye baphanda ngamanye amava amaninzi amatsha okufunda besebenzisa itheknoloji njengenxalenye yokuvelela ukufunda ngokuhlanganisiweyo/ngokudibeneyo. Ukulungiswa kwakhona iinkqubo ezikhoyo kubandakanywa uphuhliso lwezakhono kunako ukubaxhobisa abafundi ngezakhono ezifunekayo kwingqesho. Uphuhliso lokuvelela ukufunda okudibeneyo/okuhlangeneyo ngummandla owandayo kumazwe asakhulayo naselekhulile. Kunjalo, izakhono eziboniswa ngabafundi abanemfundo ephakamileyo,zibanga inkxalabo kubaqeshi. Uphando oluncinane luqhutyiwe ekusetyenzisweni kokufunda okuhlanganisiweyo ukuphucula uphuhliso lokuqeshwa kwiindawo zokufunda ezisemthethweni. Uninzi lophando olukhoyo luxhomekeka kwiimbono zomqeshi, onolwazi oluncinane kulwazi, izakhono kunye neenqobo ezisemgangathweni abafundi abanemfundo ephakamileyo ngokwenene abanazo okanye kwifuthe le nto enalo kwiziphumo zokuqesheka. Esi sifundo(Olu phononongo) sijolise ekuxazululeni/ ekudibeni lo msantsa ngokugxila ekulawuleni umgangatho wophuhliso lokuqesheka kwimfundo ephakamileyo kusetyenziswa ukufunda okuhlangeneyo. Uhlolisiso lwalujoliswe ekufumaneni ingqiqo kwiimbono, ekuqondeni, iinkxalabo kunye namava abalawuli beziko, abafundisi, abafundi kwizifundo zemfundo ephakamileyo abaphumeleleyo nabafundi kwilizwe labo lokwenene xa befunda ngendlela yokudibanisa ukufunda ukuphucula impumelelo yabo yokuba beneziqu. Le njongo yenza indlela yophando olusemgangathweni lufaneleke. Le ngxelo yeengcingane ezibhaliweyo engqinelwe zizixhobo ekukhutshweni kwengxelo kwizifundo zothelekiso phakathi kweziko loMzantsi Afrika neziko laseMerika kusetyenziswa uvelelo lwezifundo zokufunda ngokudibeneyo ezahlukileyo ukuthelekisa imiba eyahlukileyo kwefanayo kunye neyeleleneyo. Ukufanelekeka kwecandelo lemfundo ephakamileyo eMzantsi Afrika ngenjongo kunye nokulangazelela (nokusukela) imilinganiselo esemgangathweni yemilinganiselo yemfundo yamazwe ngamazwe, ulwazi kunye nobuchule bokulungisa nokutshintshwa kokufundisa nokufunda. Ngolwazi lwezoqoqosho lwenkulungwane yamashumi amabini nanye, oluqhutywa ngokwembono yenqanaba elikhuluu, eliphakathi nelincinane, imfundo ephakamileyo eMzantsi Afrika inokukwazi ukubonelela ngabasebenzi abafanelekileyo ngokwentlalo nangokwezoqoqosho kwaye ibandakanye okuninzi. Le thisisi iphetha okanye iphela ngemodeli/ ngomzekelo ukuxhasa uphuhliso lokuqesheka kwiindawo zokufunda ngokudibeneyo. / Ukuthuthukiswa kwamakhono kanye nokuqasheka kwabafundi abaphuma ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme kuleli khulu-nyaka lama-21 sekubonakala njengento eseqhulwini ezinhlelweni zezemfundo kanye nezepolitiki emhlabeni wonke jikelele. Abacwaningi sebephakamise futhi bacubungula izindlela nezinqubo zokufunda ezintsha kusetshenziswa ubuchwepheshe njengengxenye yokufunda okuxubile. Ukuhlelwa kabusha kwezinhlelo ezikhona njengamanje ngenhloso yokubandakanya ukuthuthukiswa kwamakhono kungabahlinzeka abafundi ngamakhono adingekayo ukuze baqashwe. Ukuthuthukiswa kwezindlela zokufunda okuxubile kungumkhakha okhulayo emazweni asathuthuka ngokunjalo nasemazweni asethuthukile. Kodwa-ke nakuba kunjalo, amakhono aboniswa ngabafundi abaphuma ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme, kanye nokungagculiseki kwabaqashi, kuseyinto edala ukukhathazeka impela. Lukhona ucwaningo oluncane oselwenziwe mayelana nokusetshenziswa kwezindlela zokufunda okuxubile ngenhloso yokuphucula ukuthuthukiswa kokuqasheka kwabafundi abaphuma ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme ngaphansi kwezimo zokufunda ezihlelekile. Ucwaningo oluningi olukhona njengamanje luthembele emibonweni yabaqashi, futhi kunedatha encane kakhulu ekhona mayelana nolwazi, amakhono kanye nezimompilo abanazo abafundi asebephothule iziqu zabo noma idatha ephathelene nomthelela walokhu emiphumeleni yokuqasheka kwabo. Lolu cwaningo luhlose ukuvala leli gebe ngokuthi lugxile ekuphatheni nokulawula ikhwalithi yokuthuthukiswa kokuqasheka kwabafundi asebephothule iziqu zabo ezikhungweni zemfundo ephakeme ngokusebenzisa ukufunda okuxubile. Ngalolu cwaningo kwabe kuhloswe ukuthola ulwazi olunzulu mayelana nemibono, ukuqonda, ukukhathazeka kanye nezimo abadlule kuzona abaphathi bezikhungo, abafundisi, abafundi asebephothule iziqu zabo kanye nezitshudeni esimweni soqobo abaphila ngaphansi kwaso lapho kusetshenziswa ukufunda okuxubile ukuze kwenziwe ngcono amathuba abo okuthi babe sebezuze ulwazi namakhono anohlonze ngenkathi bephothula iziqu zabo. Le nhloso yenza ukuthi indlela yocwaningo olukhwalithethivu kube ngefanelekile kulolu cwaningo. Le thisisi ihlinzeka umbiko mayelana nocwaningo lokuqhathanisa oluwumphumela walokhu olwenziwe phakathi kwesikhungo saseNingizimu Afrika kanye nesikhungo saseMelika kusetshenziswa izindlela ezihlukahlukene zokufunda okuxubile ngenhloso yokuqhathanisa izimo ezihlukahlukene ukuze kubhekwe izinto ezifanayo kanye nalezo ezihlukile kulezo zimo. Ukufaneleka komkhakha wezemfundo ephakeme waseNingizimu Afrika ukuqhathaniseka namazinga amazwe ngamazwe ekhwalithi yezemfundo, ulwazi kanye nobungoti kudinga ukuthi kulungiswe konke lokho okungahanjiswanga ngendlela efanele esikhathini esedlule futhi kulethwe izinguquko emkhakheni wezokufunda nokufundisa. Emnothweni wolwazi wekhulu-nyaka lama-21, oqhutshwa ngokwezinga elibanzi, elimaphakathi kanye nelincane, umkhakha wemfundo ephakeme unawo amandla okuhlinzeka ngabasebenzi abangaletha impumelelo nokusimama kwezenhlalo nakwezomnotho, futhi okungabasebenzi ababandakanya izinhlobo zabantu abavela emikhakheni yempilo ehlukahlukene kanye nasezigabeni zomphakathi ezihlukahlukene. Le thisisi iphothula ngokuhlinzeka ngemodeli ezosekela ukuthuthukiswa kokuqasheka kwabafundi ngaphansi kwezimo zokufunda okuxubile. / Educational Management and Leadership / D. Ed. (Education Management)

The purpose of the research was to determine how educators could be motivated to implement internet technology in education. The literature study highlighted the need for e-learning while suggesting that educator support would not be achieved easily. The empirical study, however, revealed that at the international school examined, educators accept internet learning and demonstrate a willingness to introduce it into their pedagogy, were a blended approach to be adopted. Technological and psychological barriers had already been breached, as e-learning was taking place in a non-threatening environment. Educators were being empowered to experiment with e-learning in their subject areas. The study revealed that, having already embraced e-learning methodology educators would continue to do so if they could clearly perceive the benefits to be achieved. The study also showed that given a technologically nurturing environment, it would not be difficult to motivate educators to introduce internet technology into their pedagogy. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Adult Education)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between adult learners' preferred learning style and preference for delivery mode. The subjects (n=61) were technical and billing support call center employees from an Internet company in Dallas, Texas. The participants were randomly assigned to one of six groups and given Kolb's Learning Style Inventory to assess their preference for learning style. They received training on three modules of “Influencing Others Positively,” with each module delivered via one of three methods (web-based, classroom, and blended). Participants were also administered two surveys. The first survey collected demographic information and asked which method that they expected they would prefer. The second survey was administered after the course and asked them to rank their preferences for delivery method. It was hypothesized that learning style would be significantly associated with preference for delivery method. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and a chi-square test of independence for the variables learning style and preferred mode of delivery. Although the chi-square test of independence did not produce statistical significance, some interesting trends were identified in the data. Specifically, a majority of the participants preferred a blended approach to training delivery (a combination of self-paced web-based training and classroom group exercises). No Divergers preferred classroom training and no Accommodators preferred web-based training. Additionally, a logistic regression analysis indicated that Assimilators were six times more likely than Divergers to prefer a blended approach to training (p=.10). Further studies should utilize other learning style theories, explore different types of learning outcomes and delivery methods, and include a larger sample from different organizations. Training needs assessments should include learning style inventories as part of the audience analysis prior to training development.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This thesis proposes that it is possible to create an adjunct to traditional instructor-led training that will reduce training time and costs and at the same time improve performance using commercial off-theshelf (COTS) software. Motivated by the lessons learned following the attack on the USS Cole on October 12, 2000 in which 17 sailors were killed and 42 were wounded, we created a simulator using readily available software in minimal time with zero funding and tested it against small sample sizes of eventual recipients of the training. The simulator, as part of a blended learning solution, was shown to be as effective as traditional instructor-based learning but was conceived at a fraction of the cost and with a significant reduction in total training time. Both of these factors are increasingly being valued in today's reality of increased operational tempo and reduced resources. / Lieutenant, United States Naval Reserve

The problem that guided this study was a socio-constructivist view of education via online learning. Based in the extant literature, a deficiency existed that directly correlated online learning closing the academic achievement gap between student populations. In other words, schools invested in technology; however, few empirical data sets existed that established a connection between technology integration and the academic achievement of different student groups. The purpose of this pooled regression analysis study was to determine whether the method of class instruction effected academic achievement gaps between three subpopulations based on gender, race, and SES. Specifically, this study examined whether gender, race, and SES could predict semester grades within and across traditional, blended, and online course instructional methods. The dependent variable for this study was student success in the form of an end-of-unit test grade designed to evaluate student understanding of the curriculum. The independent variables included student gender, ethnicity, and SES. Quantitative data were collected through an analysis of Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) data and student end-of-unit exam grades. The research suggests one combined interaction, [gender x race] in the traditional learning environment, is statistically significant while several independent interactions are significant. Those independent interactions are TAKS scores, gender, and Socio-economic status. According to the trends in this research, no significant differences exists in academic achievement between African American males and White males enrolled in traditional, blended or online classes. This non-significance is important. As suggested, when all other external factors, in this research, are held constant and the academic playing field is level, male students perform equally within the classroom, also, because no significant differences exists in academic achievement, the quality of instruction from well-trained, highly qualified educators can be an integral factor in closing the achievement gap between African American, low-SES male students.