The Future of Education

Edition 14

Accepted Abstracts

Staff and Student Perspectives of Blended Learning Experiences within a Level 7 Degree Programme

Deirdre Breatnach, Mary Immaculate College - University of Limerick (Ireland)

Abstract

Blended learning offers students opportunities for learning in a flexible format. It integral to how instruction is developed in colleges and universities. It is widely adopted across higher education with some scholars referring to it as the new ‘normal’ (Dzubian et al., 2018). Providing meaningful learning through an online format involves engaging appropriately with relevant technological tools to support student learning outcomes (Dabbagh, Marra and Howland, 2018). The Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Practice (BA ECP) is a blended (80% online) Level 7 degree programme. The BA ECP is delivered jointly by two Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick and the Institute of Technology, Tralee. The overall aim of this inter-institutional BA ECP is to respond to demands for accessible graduate pathways in the field of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Ireland. To date, two cohorts of BA ECP students have completed their studies on this degree. This paper outlines the learning experiences of this course from the viewpoint of the staff involved in the design and delivery of this degree as well as exploring the perspectives of two cohorts of students who have completed this blended programme. Data for this research project was collected through the use of an on-line survey which provided quantitative data and some qualitative commentary on engagement with the various aspects of this programme. The findings outline the views of staff and students on how theoretical concepts and practice-based knowledge are developed within a blended learning format. It also presents discussion and recommendations on future revisions and amendments to this particular programme and to other blended programmes within HEIs.

Keywords: Blended learning, e-learning, education and new technologies, inter-institutional collaboration, accessible pathways in higher education;

References:
[1] Dabbagh, N, Marra R. N. and Howland J.L., (2018) Meaningful Online Learning: Integrating Strategies, Activities, and Learning Technologies for Effective Designs New York: Routledge
[2] Dziuban, C., Graham, C. R., Moskal, P (2018) Blended learning: the new normal and emerging technologies International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education 201815:3 https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-017-0087-5

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