Blended Learning in English Language Teaching: Course Design and Implementation
Blended Learning in English Language Teaching: Course Design and Implementation
Blended Learning in English Language Teaching: Course Design and Implementation
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
It was frustrat<strong>in</strong>g a couple of times when I had to do pair work with someone<br />
who communicated late or not at all.<br />
Pair work was sometimes tricky, due to geographical/time differences,<br />
e.g. my contact Switzerl<strong>and</strong>-S<strong>in</strong>gapore.<br />
The lesson here is that onl<strong>in</strong>e pair <strong>and</strong> group work needs to be carefully designed<br />
<strong>and</strong> judiciously applied, with clear guidel<strong>in</strong>es for how to carry it out (for example,<br />
what participants should do if they don’t hear from a task partner).<br />
It is <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g to note that we have never received feedback from a fully onl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
participant regrett<strong>in</strong>g that they did not take the blended version. Of course,<br />
frequently the blended version is simply not an option for an onl<strong>in</strong>e participant,<br />
due to location.<br />
In addition, when compar<strong>in</strong>g the results of the blended versus onl<strong>in</strong>e versions of<br />
the Cert ICT, they are very similar. The dropout rate on both versions is extremely<br />
low (one per cent – two per cent), <strong>and</strong> frequently due to similar causes – typically<br />
an excessive workload at school mak<strong>in</strong>g it difficult to keep up with course work.<br />
The pass rate is also similar across the two modes, with a low rate of referrals (around<br />
two per cent), <strong>and</strong> a similar percentage of dist<strong>in</strong>ctions (20 per cent – 25 per cent).<br />
Summary <strong>and</strong> recommendations<br />
Clearly, hav<strong>in</strong>g identified a need for a blended version of the course, it was then<br />
a question of decid<strong>in</strong>g what percentage to blend, <strong>and</strong> which activities <strong>and</strong> content<br />
to timetable <strong>in</strong>to each part of the blend. Ensur<strong>in</strong>g that participants are comfortable<br />
with embedded technologies is a key factor <strong>in</strong> the success of a course like this,<br />
so the <strong>in</strong>itial face-to-face component not only ensures that group bond<strong>in</strong>g takes<br />
place, but also <strong>in</strong>troduces all the technologies that will be used <strong>in</strong> the onl<strong>in</strong>e part.<br />
Maximis<strong>in</strong>g the potential of the different delivery modes is also key. Us<strong>in</strong>g faceto-face<br />
time for confidence build<strong>in</strong>g, socialis<strong>in</strong>g, group activities <strong>and</strong> critical <strong>in</strong>put<br />
sessions makes efficient use of group communication opportunities, whilst research,<br />
discussion, reflection <strong>and</strong> project work can more productively be done onl<strong>in</strong>e,<br />
at a distance.<br />
In many ways it is still not clear to us why some participants choose the fully onl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
version, <strong>and</strong> some the blended one. Clearly external factors play a large part <strong>in</strong> the<br />
decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g process: timetables, travel restrictions, home <strong>and</strong> family life <strong>and</strong><br />
a whole slew of parameters <strong>in</strong>fluence the f<strong>in</strong>al decision, though it is worth not<strong>in</strong>g<br />
that the majority of those who choose the blended model are perhaps less familiar<br />
with technologies before they come to the course, <strong>and</strong> need more support <strong>and</strong><br />
encouragement at the start of their tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g journey. After four years of runn<strong>in</strong>g both<br />
options, the fully onl<strong>in</strong>e course is still by far the most popular choice, <strong>and</strong> we feel that<br />
more research will be needed <strong>in</strong> order to fully identify success factors <strong>and</strong> decision<br />
criteria for both models.<br />
Revers<strong>in</strong>g the blend: From onl<strong>in</strong>e to blended | 81