Critical Factors for Implementing Blended Learning in Higher Education

Abstract

The use of blended learning environments in higher education has rapidly increased in the 21st century. Tools and techniques that initially were used in experimental distance education courses are today part of mainstream education with blended learning as a continuum between traditional face-to-face teaching and pure online courses. In this wide variety of course design there are success stories, but at the same time examples with low pass rates and poor learning outcomes. The research question for the study is: Which aspects have to be considered in the design and implementation of blended learning in higher education? To answer this question, 15 selected publications were analysed in a literature review with the aim to identify important and critical factors when implementing blended learning in higher education. As a result of the inductive analysis around 50 found factors have been grouped into 10 Categories of critical factors and 4 Blended learning perspectives in a strive to identify critical aspects of contemporary blended learning in a comprehensive structure. One conclusion is that blended learning today can be seen as a mature educational concept still in need of redesign. Problems that were reported two decades ago are now combined with other more recently identified critical factors. The presented categories and perspectives might be valuable as a checklist for implementations of blended learning and hopefully a useful base for further research in the field of blended learning.

Full text

 
 ILlrE


 



     

    

The use of blended learning environments in higher education has rapidly increased in the 21st centu. Tools and
techniques that initially were used in experimental distance education courses are today part of mainstream
education with blended learning as a continuum between traditional face-to-face teaching and pure online courses.
In this wide variety of course design there are success stories, but at the same time examples with low pass rates
and poor learning outcomes.
The research question for the study is: Which aspects have to be considered in the design and implementation of
blended learning in higher education? To answer this question, 15 selected publications were analysed in a I iterature
review with the aim to identify important and critical factors when implementing blended learning in higher education.
As a result of the inductive analysis around 50 found factors have been grouped into 10 Categories of critical factors
and  Blended learning perspectives in a strive to identify critical aspects of contemporary blended learning in a
comprehensive structure. One conclusion is that blended learning today can be seen as a mature educational
concept still in need of redesign. Problems that were reported two decades ago are now combined with other more
recently identified critical factors. The presented categories and perspectives might be valuable as a checklist for
implementations of blended learning and hopefully a useful base for further research in the field of blended learning.

   
 
             
  
          
        
    
       
  
 

     
            
    
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

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     



    

        
               

 


  
 
 
 
 
 
          
  

 
     


  
   
          
              

 
              
              

  
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

   
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
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


 




  







  
 
  
   

 
•   
•       

•        
      

•    

 
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
      
      
               
 

 
      

          
  
             

 
         
     
 
             
  
       
                
      
        
                
         

 
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 
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 
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
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
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    
 



 

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


 
 
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  
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
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Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
       
 
         
   



       
 
        
   
        
        
  
 

       
 
      
  
 

       • 

      
  

      
  
 

              
           
     

 
             



   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
 
      
            

    
         
       
        
          


     
             
      
            
             

 
 
                
  

                
           

 
        

                 


            

    
      
           
              
        

   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
-   
             
   
          
      
                  
   
       
   
            
           
           
            
 
          

   
           
   
   
     
   
          
     
         
   
           
               
             
   
          
        
 

  
          
         
            
      
   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
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    

            

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         
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           


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       
 

  
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            
   

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            

            
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            

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      
 


   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
   
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 
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              
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 
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   

         
             


      
   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
            

  
           



 
 
       
  


            
   


              
   
    
 
  

 
                
   
 

                
    
    

      

              

 
 

   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
        





        
 
             

 
 
 
 
 
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       
        

   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

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


 
             



 
        


   




 


 
            
             
          
  

   

             


           
        
             

   
   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
        
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     
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  
  

 
   

 
  


 
 
    
   
  
   
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 

   
 
 
 
 
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 
  
  
 
  

 
  
  
   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
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
     
  
 
 
  
 
  
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    

   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM

  
 
 
 
 

  
   
   

 
  

  
 
 
  

    
   
Unauthenticated
Download Date | 7/4/17 11:48 PM