The Effect of the Online and Offline Blended Teaching Mode on English as a Foreign Language Learners' Listening Performance in a Chinese Context

Influence of online versus traditional learning on EFL listening skills: A blended mode classroom perspective

Online learning is becoming more and more popular than traditional learning, and the need to investigate its influence within the framework of instruction and learning domains is - in today's emerging, cutting-edge technology world - an academic trend. The current study's problem intends to explore the impact of virtual versus traditional learning on the academic achievement of EFL students, a subject that has garnered substantial attention from English Language Teaching (ELT) researchers. This study aims to clarify if EFL students' academic progress in a listening skills classroom is influenced by traditional or online learning. The present research compiled information on how EFL students performed when English language teaching took place online as opposed to in a traditional classroom environment. This study, using an experimental research design with (N = 30) pairs of students (both male and female), was held at Najran University, KSA, in the academic year 2022-2023 b y using probability (random sampling). This study used pre-and post-tests to gather data from the subjects of the study, bifurcated into controlled and experimental groups employing the two modes of teaching, viz., online and traditional. The findings of the investigation proved that the experimental group achieved better performance compared to the control group in terms of results and scores. There are no significant differences based on gender. In addition, (N = 20) teachers teaching listening skills to EFL learners participated in semi-structured interviews. The qualitative analysis enlisted flexibility, accessibility, effective communication, collaboration, monitoring of student progress, and the use of a blackboard as constructive elements, followed by maintenance costs, wastage of available resources, long-term engagement, limited face-to-face interaction, and demotivation as critical perspectives. According to the findings of this research, the author recommends further studies with more variables.

The impact of self-directed learning experience and course experience on learning satisfaction of university students in blended learning environments: the mediating role of deep and surface learning approach

Introduction

With the rapid development of technology and the evolution of educational ideas, the blended learning model has become the new norm in higher education. Therefore, based on Biggs' learning process theory, this study aims to investigate the relationships between learning experience, learning approaches, and learning satisfaction of university students within the Chinese blended learning context to explore the dynamic process and mechanism of blended learning.

Methods

The Chinese modified versions of the Self-Rating Scale of Self-Directed Learning, the Course Experience Questionnaire, and the Revised Study Process Questionnaire were administered to 939 Chinese university first-grade students (444 men, 495 women). The data were analyzed by using the covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) technique.

Results

The results demonstrated that, among Chinese university students, there were significant correlations between the self-directed learning experience, the course experience, the deep learning approach, the surface learning approach, and learning satisfaction. Additionally, the learning approaches mediated the association between the self-directed learning experience and learning satisfaction and between the course experience and learning satisfaction.

Conclusion

This study provides insight into the facilitative effect of university students' self-directed learning experience and course experience on their learning satisfaction and how this effect is triggered through the mediating role of different learning approaches with the blended learning context. This study shows the learning behaviors and psychology in a blended learning environment, thus revealing the new learning characteristics of university students by integrating the self-learning characteristics of blended learning into the framework of learning process theory. The findings contribute to assisting blended learning providers in delivering targeted interventions to enhance students' learning satisfaction.

Challenges of fully online learning for dermatology education: a retrospective study

Background

Blended learning has proven to be an effective teaching strategy. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, educational institutions worldwide switched to online learning. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of blended learning and fully online learning. This study aims to evaluate and compare whether pure online learning is as effective as traditional blended learning by taking the example of dermatology education.

Methods

The researchers compared traditional blended learning and fully online learning by evaluating the achievement scores of undergraduate students in a dermatology course in the academic years 2019 and 2020, respectively, at the Shandong First Medical University, China. In 2019, students undertook small private online courses (SPOCs) combined with face-to-face teacher-led learning. In 2020, live teacher-led learning replaced face-to-face teacher-led learning. The researchers also conducted a questionnaire survey in 2020.

Results

The scores of students in 2019 were significantly higher than in 2020 (p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the distribution of achievement variance in the scores between the two academic years. In the questionnaire survey, the majority of the students rated highly the fully online education mode and responded that pure online learning enhanced their self-study ability.

Conclusion

The present study shows that fully online learning currently does not perform as well as traditional blended learning in terms of examination scores due to some limitations. However, pure online education has several advantages over traditional blended education. Online courses should be improved to ignite students' interest and increase their learning efficiency.

The relationship between Chinese university students' learning preparation and learning achievement within the EFL blended teaching context in COVID-19 post-epidemic era: The mediating effect of learning methods

The effectiveness of the blended teaching model in improving university students' English learning achievement has been frequently reported in China in the post-pandemic era. However, such research has seldom explored the students' entire EFL (English as a foreign language) learning process and mechanism from the perspective of learners within this model. This study therefore used the 3P (presage, process and product) teaching and learning theory to explore the mediating role of learning methods (i.e., learning engagement and academic procrastination) in the relationship between learning preparation (i.e., academic self-concept and course experience) and learning achievement within the Chinese EFL blended teaching context from the perspective of learners. In this study, 942 Chinese university students (male: N = 447; female: N = 495) participated in a survey and completed electronic questionnaires on EFL-related academic self-concept, learning engagement, academic procrastination, and learning achievement. The data were analyzed using AMOS software and a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. The results showed that both students' academic self-concept and course experience directly and positively predicted their English learning achievement. Moreover, students' academic self-concept of learning achievement was partially mediated by learning engagement and academic procrastination, whereas the effect of course experience on learning achievement was fully mediated by learning engagement and academic procrastination. After discussing these findings, suggestions as well as limitations for future studies will be given.

Effect of a Nursing Comprehensive Skill Training Course (NCST-C) on Nursing Students' Metacognitive Awareness: A Quasi-experimental Study

PURPOSE

This study explored the effect of a nursing comprehensive skill training course (NCST-C) on the metacognitive awareness of nursing students to provide a scientific foundation for improving metacognitive awareness.

METHODS

This study used a quasi-experimental two-group matched pretest, post-test, and follow-up test. Ninety-six junior nursing students were recruited using convenience sampling and assigned to two groups by drawing lots with odd and even numbers in a nursing school at Huzhou University. The control group received a traditional skill-training course. The intervention group received NCST-C. Nursing students' metacognitive awareness inventory (MAI) was evaluated at the baseline, 16-week, and 20-week follow-up points. A repeated-measures analysis of variance and a simple effect test was used to compare each outcome measure of the two groups three times.

RESULTS

The NCST-C resulted in greater benefits for nursing students' metacognitive awareness as well as various dimensions (knowledge of cognition and regulation of cognition) in the intervention group. Combined with a simple effects test, the MAI and dimension scores of those in the intervention group significantly improved at 16 weeks after the baseline (F = 9.78-44.03; all ps < .01). The sustainable effect of NCST-C lasted 1 month after the intervention (F = 14.24-62.36; ps < .01), reaching statistical significance (p < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The NCST-C effectively developed metacognitive awareness among nursing students. Its design provides a new type of experimental course for improving metacognitive awareness.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

chictr.org.cn: ChiCTR2200057910. First registration date: 1/11/2020.