Dear Colleagues,

Blended learning has been particularly appealing to an increasing number of higher education institutions in recent years, but 2020 especially is the year of blended learning, as blended learning has become one of the more promising approaches to teaching and learning. The blended learning system has several perks over conventional education, which makes it an interesting option for Higher Education: unlimited access, personalized attention, peer collaboration, affordable, improved efficiency, and remote access. It is currently postulated as the preferred educational model for Higher Education after the pandemic. Blended learning has in fact become the “new normal” for universities and students due to the greater flexibility it offers. We are calling for papers that address the implementation of b-learning in Higher Education. We are particularly interested in experiential case studies, systematic literature reviews, surveys, and evaluations addressing, though not limited to, the topics listed below:

• The future hold for blended learning post-COVID-19;
• Quality in blended learning;
• New organizational models in Higher Education: the balance between synchronous and asynchronous teaching;
• Inclusion into the delivery of blended learning;
• New approaches to assessment of blended learning;
• Pedagogical models for blended learning;
• Autonomous student learning in blended learning;
• Curriculum design in blended

References:

A list of ‘reference papers’ that are relevant for the SI topic from other authors/publishers.

Anthony, B., Jr., Kamaludin, A., Romli, A., Raffei, A. F. M., Phon, D. N. A. L. E., Abdullah, A., & Ming, G. L. (2020). Blended Learning Adoption and Implementation in Higher Education: A Theoretical and Systematic Review. Technology, Knowledge and Learning. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1007/s10758-020-09477-z

Boelens, R., De Wever, B., & Voet, M. (2017). Four key challenges to the design of blended learning: A systematic literature review. Educational Research Review, 22, 1-18. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1016/j.edurev.2017.06.001

Galvis, Á. H. (2018). Supporting decision-making processes on blended learning in higher education: Literature and good practices review. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 15(1). https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/s41239-018-0106-1

Law, K. M. Y., Geng, S., & Li, T. (2019). Student enrollment, motivation and learning performance in a blended learning environment: The mediating effects of social, teaching, and cognitive presence. Computers & Education, 136, 1-12. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.02.021

Li, C., He, J., Yuan, C., Chen, B., & Sun, Z. (2019). The effects of blended learning on knowledge, skills, and satisfaction in nursing students: A meta-analysis. Nurse Education Today, 82, 51-57. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.08.004

Ożadowicz, A. (2020). Modified blended learning in engineering higher education during the COVID-19 lockdown-building automation courses case study. Education Sciences, 10(10), 1-20. Scopus. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/educsci10100292

Rasheed, R. A., Kamsin, A., & Abdullah, N. A. (2019). Challenges in the online component of blended learning: A systematic review. Computers & Education. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103701

Valverde-Berrocoso, J., & Fernández-Sánchez, M. R. (2020). Instructional design in blended learning: Theoretical foundations and guidelines for practice. En A. V. Martín-García (Ed.), Blended Learning: Convergence between Technology and Pedagogy (Vol. 126, pp. 113-140). Springer International Publishing. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1007/978-3-030-45781-5

Vo, H. M., Zhu, C., & Diep, N. A. (2017). The effect of blended learning on student performance at course-level in higher education: A meta-analysis. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 53, 17-28. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1016/j.stueduc.2017.01.002

Dr. Jesús Valverde-Berrocoso
Dr. María Rosa Fernández-Sánchez
Guest Editors

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• computer-assisted instruction
• computer uses in education
• distance education
• educational strategies
• educational technology
• eLearning
• experimental teaching
• instructional innovation
• integrated activities
• online courses
• technology integration
• training methods
• videoconferencing
• virtual universities
• web-based instruction