The implications of active blended learning for English teaching in a Chinese university
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.vi23.822Keywords:
Blended learning, Pedagogical design, college English training, active blended learningAbstract
Blended Learning (BL), which is usually defined as a combination of face to face (F2F) and online instruction, has attracted considerable interest in recent years and has been increasingly adopted within the higher education sector. In this research, a thematic inductive analysis was conducted to explore how the practice of Active Blended Learning (ABL) at a British university, University of Northampton (UON) might inform the BL College English teaching curriculum design at a Chinese university, Henan Normal University (HNU), so that students may enjoy a more enhanced learning experience in both online and F2F contexts. In the study, 10 teachers from different disciplines at UON and 10 College English teachers from HNU were interviewed for between 45 and 60 minutes. The findings of this study suggest that the implementation of BL in College English courses at HNU should be supported by the institution in terms of pedagogical design, policy, staff development, technical infrastructure and small class size.
References
Alebaikan, R. and Troudi, S. (2010) ‘Blended learning in Saudi universities: challenges and perspectives’. ALT-J, 18(1), pp.49-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687761003657614
Al Zumor, A.W.Q., Al Refaai, I.K., Eddin, E.A.B. and Al-Rahman, F.H.A. (2013) ‘EFL Students' Perceptions of a Blended Learning Environment: Advantages, Limitations and Suggestions for Improvement’. English Language Teaching, 6(10), pp.95-110. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v6n10p95
Braun, V. and Clarke, V. (2006) ‘Using thematic analysis in psychology’. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), pp.77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Castro, R. (2019) ‘Blended learning in higher education: Trends and capabilities’. Education and Information Technologies, 24(4), pp.2523-2546. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09886-3
Clark, D.B. and Sampson, V. (2008) ‘Assessing dialogic argumentation in online environments to relate structure, grounds, and conceptual quality’. Journal of Research in Science Teaching: The Official Journal of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, 45(3), pp.293-321. https://doi.org/10.1002/tea.20216
Conrad, R. M., and Donaldson, J. A. (2004) ‘Engaging the online learner: Activities and resources for creative instruction’. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Cummings, C., Mason, D., Shelton, K. and Baur, K. (2017) ‘Active learning strategies for online and blended learning environments’. In Flipped instruction: breakthroughs in research and practice (pp. 58-82). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-1803-7.ch006
De Wever, B., Schellens, T., Van Keer, H. and Valcke, M. (2008) ‘Structuring asynchronous discussion groups by introducing roles: Do students act in line with assigned roles?’. Small Group Research, 39(6), pp.770-794. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496408323227
Dziuban, C., Hartman, J, Juge, F, Moskal, P, and Sorg, S. (2006) ‘Blended learning enters the mainstream’, pp.195–208, in Bonk, C.J. and Graham, C.R. (eds.) The handbook of blended learning: Global perspectives, local designs,. San Francisco, CA: Pfeiffer Publishing.
Garrison, D. R. and Kanuka, H. (2004). ‘Blended learning: Uncovering its transformative potential in higher education.’ The internet and higher education, 7(2), pp. 95-105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2004.02.001
Garrison, D.R. and Vaughan, N.D. (2013). ‘Institutional change and leadership associated with blended learning innovation: Two case studies’. The internet and higher education, 18, pp.24-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2012.09.001
Gedik, N., Kiraz, E. and Ozden, M.Y. (2013). ‘Design of a blended learning environment: Considerations and implementation issues’. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 29(1). pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.6
Ghazizadeh, T. and Fatemipour, H. (2017). The effect of blended learning on EFL learners’ reading proficiency. Journal of Language Teaching and Research, 8(3), p. 606. https://doi.org/10.17507/jltr.0803.21
Graham, C.R. (2013). ‘Emerging practice and research in blended learning’, pp. 333-350, in Moore, M. G. (ed.), Handbook of distance education. London: Routledge.
Graham, C.R., Woodfield, W. and Harrison, J.B. (2013). ‘A framework for institutional adoption and implementation of blended learning in higher education’. The internet and higher education, 18, pp.4-14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2012.09.003
Hara, N. and Kling, R. (2000). ‘Students’ distress with a web-based distance education course: An ethnographic study of participants’ experiences’. Information, Communication, and Society, 3(4), pp. 557–579. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691180010002297
Hanson, K., and Carlson, B. (2005). ‘Effective access teachers’ use of digital resources in STEM teaching’, Education Development Center, Inc.
Kenney, J., and Newcombe, E. (2010). ‘Adopting a blended learning approach: Challenges encountered and lessons learned in an action research study’. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 15(1), pp. 45-57. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v15i1.182
King, A. (1993). ‘From sage on the stage to guide on the side’. College teaching, 41(1), pp.30-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/87567555.1993.9926781
Kliger, D. and Pfeiffer, E., 2011. Engaging students in blended courses through increased technology. Journal of Physical Therapy Education, 25(1), pp.11-14. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001416-201110000-00003
Lim, D.H. and Morris, M.L. (2009). ‘Learner and instructional factors influencing learning outcomes within a blended learning environment’. Journal of Educational Technology and Society, 12(4), pp.282-293. https://www.j-ets.net/collection/published-issues/12_4 (Accessed: 28 February 2022)
López-Pérez, M.V., Pérez-López, M.C. and Rodríguez-Ariza, L., 2011. Blended learning in higher education: Students’ perceptions and their relation to outcomes. Computers & education, 56(3), pp.818-826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2010.10.023
Lotrecchiano, G.R., McDonald, P.L., Lyons, L., Long, T. and Zajicek-Farber, M. (2013). ‘Blended learning: strengths, challenges, and lessons learned in an interprofessional training program’. Maternal and child health journal, 17(9), pp.1725-1734. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-012-1175-8
Mergendoller, J.R., Maxwell, N.L. and Bellisimo, Y. (2006). The effectiveness of problem-based instruction: A comparative study of instructional methods and student characteristics. Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-based Learning, 1(2), p.49-69. https://doi.org/10.7771/1541-5015.1026
Moskal, P., Dziuban, C. and Hartman, J. (2013). ‘Blended learning: A dangerous idea?’. The Internet and Higher Education, 18, pp.15-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2012.12.001
Niemiec, M. and Otte, G. (2009). ‘An administrator's guide to the whys and hows of blended learning’. Journal of Asynchronous Learning Networks, 13(1), pp.19-30. https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v13i1.1674
O'Toole, J.M. and Absalom, D.J. (2003). ‘The impact of blended learning on student outcomes: Is there room on the horse for two?’. Journal of Educational Media, 28(2-3), pp.179-190. https://doi.org/10.1080/1358165032000165680
Owens, T. (2012). ‘Hitting the nail on the head: The importance of specific staff development for effective blended learning’. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 49(4), pp.389-400. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2012.728877
Padilla Rodriguez, B. C., and Armellini, A. (2021). Cases on Active Blended Learning in Higher Education. IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-7856-8.ch001
Penuel, W.R. and Means, B. (2000). ‘Designing a performance assessment to measure students’ communication skills in multi-media-supported, project-based learning’. In Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans.
Porter, W.W., Graham, C.R., Spring, K.A. and Welch, K.R.(2014). ‘Blended learning in higher education: Institutional adoption and implementation’. Computers & Education, 75, pp.185-195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2014.02.011
Rasheed, R.A., Kamsin, A. and Abdullah, N.A. (2020). ‘Challenges in the online component of blended learning: A systematic review’. Computers & Education, 144, p.103701. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103701
Rodrigo, C., Delgado, J.L. and Vega, J. (2010). ‘Using interactive videoconference to promote active learning in a blended learning environment’. In 2010 10th IEEE International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (pp. 658-662). IEEE.
Shih, R.C. (2011). ‘Can Web 2.0 technology assist college students in learning English writing? Integrating Facebook and peer assessment with blended learning’. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 27(5). https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.934
Singh, H. (2003). ‘Building effective blended learning programs’, Educational Technology, 43(6), pp. 51-54. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44428863 (Accessed: 4 March 2022)
Tang, C.M. and Chaw, L.Y. (2016). ‘Digital Literacy: A prerequisite for effective learning in a blended learning environment?’. Electronic Journal of E-learning, 14(1), pp.54-65. https://academic-publishing.org/index.php/ejel/article/view/1743 (Accessed: 28 February 2022)
Toth, M., Foulger, T.S. and Amrein-Beardsley, A., (2008). ‘Post-implementation Insights about a Hybrid Degree Program’. TechTrend, 52(3), pp.76-80.
Vaughan, N. (2007). ‘Perspectives on blended learning in higher education’. International Journal on E-learning, 6(1), pp.81-94. https://www.learntechlib.org/primary/p/6310/ (Accessed: 28 February 2022)
Wishart, J.M., Oades, C.E. and Morris, M., 2007. ‘Using online role play to teach internet safety awareness’. Computers & Education, 48(3), pp.460-473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2005.03.003
Woltering, V., Herrler, A., Spitzer, K. and Spreckelsen, C. (2009). ‘Blended learning positively affects students’ satisfaction and the role of the tutor in the problem-based learning process: results of a mixed-method evaluation’. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 14(5), pp.725-738. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-009-9154-6
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).