Seizing the Moment: Realizing the Promise of Student-Centered Learning

This brief outlines policy recommendations for supporting student-centered learning at the local, state, and federal level

Exploring ESL learners’ blended learning experiences and its’ effectiveness through web-based technologies

The inability to gain employment among the Malaysian graduates became a critical issue due to lack of 21st century skills. Higher learning institutions are urged to play their significant roles in producing graduates who have subject knowledge and relevant 21st century skills. There are many teaching strategies which are currently in practice at tertiary institutions, however more efficient approach is needed to produce well-balanced graduates. This present research proposed a promising approach which is blended learning with web-based technologies to improve students’ 21st century skills. Current literature indicated blended learning has not been sufficiently explored in English as Second Language (ESL) context. Thus, this study aimed to explore ESL learners’ blended learning experiences using innovative web-based technologies and to examine the effectiveness of the blended learning strategy in improving the learners’ 21st-century skills. Qualitative data were collected through phone call interviews with the participants and analyzed through thematic analysis. Working with a sample of bachelor degree students at a tertiary institution revealed the participants’ blended learning experience exceptionally improved their 21st-century skills in various ways. The result of this study contributes to the pedagogical aspects of ESL teaching and learning and the improvement of 21st century skills among the students

Social presence in the 21st Century: an adjustment to the Community of Inquiry framework

The Community of Inquiry framework, originally proposed by Garrison, Anderson and Archer (2000) identifies teaching, social and cognitive presences as central to a successful online educational experience. This article presents the findings of a study conducted in Uruguay between 2007 and 2010. The research aimed to establish the role of cognitive, social and teaching presences in the professional development of 40 English language teachers on Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes delivered in blended learning settings. The findings suggest that teaching presence and cognitive presence have themselves 'become social'. The research points to social presence as a major lever for engagement, sense-making and peer support. Based on the patterns identified in the study, this article puts forward an adjustment to the Community of Inquiry framework, which shows social presence as more prominent within the teaching and cognitive constructs than the original version of the framework suggests

The Blended Learning Unit, University of Hertfordshire: A Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Evaluation Report for HEFCE

The University of Hertfordshire’s Blended Learning Unit (BLU) was one of the 74 Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs) funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) between 2005 and 2010. This evaluation report follows HEFCE’s template. The first section provides statistical information about the BLU’s activity. The second section is an evaluative reflection responding to 13 questions. As well as articulating some of our achievements and the challenges we have faced, it also sets out how the BLU’s activity will continue and make a significant contribution to delivery of the University of Hertfordshire’s 2010-2015 strategic plan and its aspirations for a more sustainable future. At the University of Hertfordshire, we view Blended Learning as the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to enhance the learning and learning experience of campus-based students. The University has an excellent learning technology infrastructure that includes its VLE, StudyNet. StudyNet gives students access to a range of tools, resources and support 24/7 from anywhere in the world and its robustness, flexibility and ease of use have been fundamental to the success of the Blended Learning agenda at Hertfordshire. The BLU has comprised a management team, expert teachers seconded from around the University, professional support and a Student Consultant. The secondment staffing model was essential to the success of the BLU. As well as enabling the BLU to become fully staffed within the first five months of the CETL initiative, it has facilitated access to an invaluable spectrum of Blended Learning, research and Change Management expertise to inform pedagogically sound developments and enable change to be embedded across the institution. The BLU used much of its capital funding to reduce barriers to the use of technology by, for example, providing laptop computers for all academic staff in the institution, enhancing classroom technology provision and wirelessly enabling all teaching accommodation. Its recurrent funding has supported development opportunities for its own staff and staff around the institution; supported evaluation activities relating to individual projects and of the BLU’s own impact; and supported a wide range of communication and dissemination activities internally and externally. The BLU has led the embedding a cultural change in relation to Blended Learning at the University of Hertfordshire and its impact will be sustained. The BLU has produced a rich legacy of resources for our own staff and for others in the sector. The University’s increased capacity in Blended Learning benefits all our students and provides a learning experience that is expected by the new generation of learners in the 21st century. The BLU’s staffing model and partnership ways of working have directly informed the structure and modus operandi of the University’s Learning and Teaching Institute (LTI). Indeed a BLU team will continue to operate within the LTI and help drive and support the implementation of the University’s 2010-2015 Strategic plan. The plan includes ambitions in relation to Distance Learning and Flexible learning and BLU will be working to enable greater engagement with students with less or no need to travel to the university. As well as opening new markets within the UK and overseas, even greater flexibility for students will also enable the University to reduce its carbon footprint and provide a multifaceted contribution to our sustainability agenda. We conclude this executive summary with a short paragraph, written by Eeva Leinonen, our former Deputy Vice-Chancellor, which reflects our aspiration to transform Learning and Teaching at the University of Hertfordshire and more widely in the sector. ‘As Deputy Vice Chancellor at Hertfordshire I had the privilege to experience closely the excellent work of the Blended Learning Unit, and was very proud of the enormous impact the CETL had not only across the University but also nationally and internationally. However, perhaps true impact is hard to judge at such close range, but now as Vice Principal (Education) at King's College London, I can unequivocally say that Hertfordshire is indeed considered as the leading Blended Learning university in the sector. My new colleagues at King's and other Russell Group Universities frequently seek my views on the 'Hertfordshire Blended Learning' experience and are keen to emulate the successes achieved at an institutional wide scale. The Hertfordshire CETL undoubtedly achieved not only what it set out to achieve, but much more in terms of scale and impact. All those involved in this success can be justifiably proud of their achievements.’ Professor Eeva Leinonen, Vice Principal (Education), King's College, Londo

Managing the quality of employability development in higher education through blended learning : a comparative study

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 LeadershipD. Ed. (Education Management

Technology enhanced learning in 21st century mass higher education. Aspects of design, practice and strategy for a necessary step change

Modern day mass higher education presents challenges for both learners and teachers. Whilst digital resources, Web 2.0 technologies and online connectivity can add significantly to the learning opportunities of 21st century students, many cross programme Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) provisions remain collections of somewhat disconnected and basic materials. In its early development, organised e-learning has generally been the province of specialist programmes and individuals championing the new technologies. However along with the adoption of technology enhanced learning, there is a growing need to develop, design and embed more fundamental and far reaching strategic approaches that embrace the core of traditional university learning and teaching programmes. This paper focuses upon a large undergraduate core module and discusses the implications of a practice based case study which explored how traditional campus based undergraduate learning and teaching could be redesigned and enhanced by the addition of online technology and e-pedagogy. It considers aspects of both pedagogical and technological design and examines how a VLE can support learners and teaching teams. Findings showed that students were extremely positive about the mix of onsite and online learning. They saw anytime, anywhere access as fundamental, and valued the flexible access and collaborative opportunities offered by Web 2.0 and mobile resources. Considerable operational benefits arose in supporting teaching teams and student marks increased. Drawing upon lessons learned from practice, and feedback gained from students and teachers, the paper examines how the approach may inform future curriculum delivery and programme specification. It considers the contribution that blended learning may make in addressing the needs of 21st century learners in mass higher education, and reflects on the implications of the case study in terms of aspects of design, practice and strategy

Teacher Perceptions of Blended Learning to Support 21st Century Learners

The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand teacher perceptions of blended learning as an instructional methodology for addressing the needs of diverse learners. The researcher explored the perceptions of teachers who were participating in an ongoing professional development program within their school district. This program focused on improving teaching and learning through the implementation of a blended learning approach. The researcher examined the experiences of teachers as they learned to adapt pedagogical practices to address the learning needs of 21st century students through blended learning. The researcher sought to gain a better understanding of how teachers perceived that utilizing a blended learning methodology impacted pedagogical beliefs, practices, and student learning. Based on the research questions guiding this study, data was collected from individual, in-depth interviews with fifteen educators. Twelve participants were classroom teachers and three participants were school administrators. The analysis of this data identified the following commonalities regarding teacher perceptions of blended learning as an instructional methodology for addressing the needs of diverse learners: knowledge and understanding of effective instructional practices, enhancing instruction with the strategic use of technology, personalizing learning, technology-enabled assessments to support instruction, engaging and empowering learners, and relevant professional development and support. These results can benefit educators in adapting effective instructional practices to reach all learners