Analysis of blended learning training sessions for Taiwanese elementary school English teachers

ABSTRACT

A series of blended learning training sessions including two face-to-face and four online training sessions on professional identity were implemented among 19 elementary school English teachers in a northwest city in Taiwan. Data analysis of both qualitative and quantitative data was based on the conceptual framework on Neumeier [2005. “A Closer Look at Blended Learning—Parameters for Designing a Blended Learning Environment for Language Teaching and Learning.” ReCALL 17 (2): 163—178.] and Oliver and Stallings [2015. “Preparing Teachers for Emerging Blended Learning Environments.” Journal of Technology and Teacher Education 22 (1): 57–81.]. This study had the major findings. First, participants had a positive attitude toward the series of training sessions in terms of access to the materials, learning at their own pace, appropriate time on the sessions, amount of the workloads and assignments, and their expectations of the training. Second, participants’ status had a significant influence on their perspectives on the appropriate time that they spent on each online training session and the reasonability of the workloads and assignments. Six suggestions were discussed in order to design effective blended learning training sessions for English teachers.

KEYWORDS:

• Blended learning
• contextual design
• professional identity
• professional learning
• training sessions

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Ministry of Science and Technology: [Grant Number MOST106-2410-H-007-039].