Blended learning courses in higher education are common but implementation varies. The document discusses: 1) Concepts of blended learning combining online and in-person learning. 2) Most institutions offer some blended courses but less than 20% of courses on average. 3) Blended learning could provide more effective pedagogy, convenience, and lower costs if online and in-person components are well integrated. 4) Challenges include balancing innovation/production, adapting to learner roles/digital divides. Effective design is key to progress blended learning.

1. Blended learning courses in
higher education: state of play
Stijn Van Laer
Centre for Instructional Psychology and Technology, KU Leuven
EADTU-ENQA Peer Learning Activity
Quality Assurance of blended and online programmes

2. Outline
• Three premises about media and technology in education;
• Conceptualization of BL;
• Current BL landscape;
• Operationalization of BL;
• Possible affordances and current constraints of BL;
• Potential future of BL practise.

3. Premise 1: Media
“The use of media does make a difference. Showing images
and text ensures that learners learn more and other things.”
Mayer, R. E. (2008). Applying the science of learning: Evidence-based principles for the design of multimedia
instruction. American psychologist, 63(8), 760.

4. Premise 2: Technology
“As to the learning effect, we know that when, for example,
pictures are shown, it does not make any difference if they
are displayed on a computer screen or on paper.”
Clark, R. E. (1994). Media will never influence learning. Educational technology research and development, 42(2),
21-29.

5. Premise 3: Technology in education
“Selection of the technology used is based on its ability to
support essential instructional components, which in turn
support essential cognitive activities.”
Sugrue, B., & Clark, R. E. (2000). Media selection for training. Training and retraining: A handbook for business,
industry, government, and the military, 208-234.

6. Blended learning

7. Blended learning
Conceptualizations
• Blend of instructional methods;
• Blend in modalities or delivery media;
• Blend of face-to-face and computer-mediated instruction.
“…is learning that happens in an instructional context which is
characterized by a deliberate combination of online and
classroom-based interventions to instigate and support learning.”
(Boelens, Van Laer, De Wever, & Elen, 2015)
Boelens, R., Van Laer, S., De Wever, B., & Elen, J. (2015). Blended learning in adult education: towards a definition
of blended learning. (see also: Bliuc, Goodyear, & Ellis, 2007; Driscoll, 2002; Graham, Allen, & Ure, 2005)

8. Blended learning landscape
The majority of higher-ed institutions have established
blended learning courses. More than half of the institutions
applied it in ‘some’ faculties or by ‘individual teachers’.
EUA studies identified that even within frontrunner institutions
only 20% or less of the courses are blended.
Gaebel, M., Kupriyanova, V., Morais, R., & Colucci, E. (2014). E-Learning in European Higher Education Institutions:
Results of a Mapping Survey Conducted in October-December 2013. European University Association. (see also: Sursock, 2015)
… no clear directions and mainly depending on local initiatives …

9. Blended learning
Operationalization
“The challenge is the effective integration of the two main
components in such a way that it is not just adding on to the
existing dominant approach or method.”
(Garrison, & Kanuka, 2004)
Garrison, D. R., & Kanuka, H. (2004). Blended learning: Uncovering its transformative potential in higher education.
Internet and Higher Education, 7 (2), 95–105.

10. Depending on this operationalization…

11. Possible affordances
“best of both worlds”
(Morgan, 2002; Young, 2002)
(1) more effective pedagogy;
(2) increased convenience and access;
(3) increased cost effectiveness.
Graham, C. R., Allen, S., & Ure, D. (2005). Benefits and challenges of blended learning environments. In
Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, First Edition (pp. 253-259). IGI Global.

12. Possible affordances
“best of both worlds”
(Morgan, 2002; Young, 2002)
(1) more effective pedagogy;
(2) increased convenience and access;
(3) increased cost effectiveness.
Graham, C. R., Allen, S., & Ure, D. (2005). Benefits and challenges of blended learning environments. In
Encyclopedia of Information Science and Technology, First Edition (pp. 253-259). IGI Global.

13. More effective pedagogy
Mean, B., Toyama, Y., Murphy, R. F., & Baki, M. (2013). The effectiveness of online and blended learning:
A meta-analysis of the empirical literature. Teachers College Record, 115 (3)
“Studies on blended instruction found larger advantages relative to
face-to-face and purely online instruction, suggesting that these
blended learning settings tended to involve more learning time,
additional resources, and course elements that encourage interactions
among learners.”
(Mean, Toyama, Murphy, & Baki, 2013)
Face-to-face Online
Real-life interaction / discussion / field work / …
Direct feedback / asynchronous collaboration / simulations / …

14. Increased convenience and access
• Appreciated by:
Undergraduates and graduates; homebound and disabled learners;
working professionals and nontraditional students.
• Appreciated because of:
Balance between family, work, and school; modification of course to
specific needs; only possibility for obtaining a degree.
Watts, J. (2017). Beyond Flexibility and Convenience. Journal of Business and Technical Communication.
(see also: Irvine, Code, & Richards, 2013)
“Universities’ choices on how to change are better informed by the
students entering them, moving these universities towards more
learner-centered models.”
(Irvine, Code, & Richards, 2013)

15. Constraints to current practise
“Blended learning a dangerous idea?”
(Moskal, Dziuban, & Hartman, 2012)
(1) balance between innovation and production;
(2) role of the learner;
(3) cultural adaptation and digital divide.
Khan, A. I., Shaik, M. S., Ali, A. M., & Bebi, C. V. (2012). Study of blended learning process in education
context. International Journal of Modern Education and Computer Science, 4(9), 23.

16. Constraints to current practise
“Blended learning a dangerous idea?”
(Moskal, Dziuban, & Hartman, 2012)
(1) balance between innovation and production;
(2) role of the learner;
(3) cultural adaptation and digital divide.
Khan, A. I., Shaik, M. S., Ali, A. M., & Bebi, C. V. (2012). Study of blended learning process in education
context. International Journal of Modern Education and Computer Science, 4(9), 23.

17. Innovation and product
• Hard technology – devices, media, and software;
o Moore's law
o Hype curve
• Soft technology – methods and techniques.
Van Merriënboer, J. J. G., & Kanselaar, G. (2006). Waar staan we na 25 jaar onderwijstechnologie in
Vlaanderen, Nederland en de rest van de wereld?. Pedagogische Studiën, 83(4), 278. (see also: Jonassen, 2004)
“Research aimed at developing digital didactics should not be driven by
technological innovations, but directed by a vision on education
and learning that stimulates the integration of new technologies
insofar as they indicate an added value.”
(Van Merriënboer, & Kanselaar, 2006)

18. Role of the learners
Drachsler, H., & Kirschner, P. A. (2012). Learner Characteristics. In Encyclopedia of the Sciences of
Learning (pp. 1743-1745). Springer US. (see also: Lynch, & Dembo, 2004)
?? Blame it on the learner ??
“Optimal learning is the result of the instruction being perfectly matched
to the learners’ characteristics and abilities.”
(Drachsler, & Kirschner, 2012)

19. In summary
• Blended learning is around and likely to stay;
• Potential affordances:
o more effective pedagogy
o increased convenience and access
• Constraints to current practices:
o balance between innovation and production
o role of the learner
Next steps for blended learning practise

20. effective integration
more effective pedagogy
innovation and production
role of the learner
DESIGN as KEY
to progress

21. Designing blended learning

22. Designing blended learning

23. Designing blended learning

24. Example: Design vs learner behaviour

25. Products and processes of learning

26. Questions?
Stijn Van Laer
E-mail: stijn.vanlaer@kuleuven.be