What differences? Thematic analyses of blended learning researches in Iran

ABSTRACT

In the present era, blended learning (BL) is one of the most frequently used concepts related to integrating Information and Communications Technology (ICT) with the curriculum. Numerous research is conducted annually in the field of blended learning in different regions of the world. The purpose of the present research is to determine the status of blended learning researches in Iran. For this, 60 articles were selected, using systematic review and observing inclusion and exclusion criteria, and analysed based on six themes including terminology, methodology, topic, blending level, context and technology. The results revealed that the researches on blended learning in Iran are similar to international studies in some themes such as terminology, context and blending level and different in other themes including topic, methodology and terminology. Based on the findings, suggestions are made for international and Iranian blended learning researchers.

KEYWORDS:

• Blended learning
• themes
• Iranian researches
• hybrid learning
• research trends

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Farhad Seraji

Farhad Seraji is a PhD in curriculum and instruction in Bu – Ali Sina university. He has been working in the field of e-learning and digital curriculum design since 2003. He has published three books and several scholarly articles in Persian and English in these fields. Through an interdisciplinary approach, his work is structured around several axes: (i) design and implementation of e-learning environment, (ii) cultural dimensions of online learning, (iii) evaluating the digital instructional content, (iv) blended learning and serious games, (v) learners’ characteristics tailored to multimedia and interactive contents.