Applying blended synchronous teaching and learning for flexible learning in higher education: an action research study at a university in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT

Due to the challenges of all-round development, higher-education students are increasingly demanding more flexible learning that goes beyond the on-campus/online dichotomy. However, university students miss learning opportunities because of the conflict of time and space. Blended learning is an effective way to create more learning opportunities and support university students’ flexible learning, but its implementation varies across contexts. This study proposed an alternative blended teaching and learning approach to solve practical problems defined in the context of a traditional classroom in a university in Hong Kong when students pursue flexible learning and global learning. A three-round action research approach was used to improve the effects of blended synchronous teaching and learning. Data collection and analysis in each round showed that the students positively rated the implementation of blended learning according to their needs, the quality of the technologies adopted, and the benefits gained. This blended synchronous teaching and learning mode was structured based on the implementation of different actions in three rounds, bridging the gap between research and practice in blended synchronous learning.

KEYWORDS:

• Blended synchronous learning
• flexible learning
• higher education; online learning; active research

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The provided dataset is the results of the questionnaire survey descripted in the manuscript.

The data that support the findings of this study are openly available

Data openly available in a public repository that issues datasets with DOIs: in10.6084/m9.figshare.11357012

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Xiuhan Li

Xiuhan Li, is a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong. Her research interests includes but are not limited to educational technology, distance education, and e-learning.

Yuqin Yang

Yuqin Yang, is an Associate Professor at the School of Educational Information Technology in Central China Normal University. She obtained her PhD degree from the University of Hong Kong. She has published many works regarding knowledge management and educational technology.

Samuel Kai Wah Chu

Samuel Kai Wah Chu, is an Associate Professor at the University of Hong Kong. He obtained two PhDs in Education: one focusing on e-Learning from the University College London, Institute of Education and another one focusing on Information and Library Science from the University of Hong KongHKU.

Zamzami Zainuddin

Zamzami Zainuddin is a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Hong Kong. His studies focus on gamified learning and flipped classroom.

Yin Zhang

Yin Zhang, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education at the Ocean University of China. She obtained her PhD degree from the University of Hong Kong.