Join Dr Cheryl Brown as she unpacks some of the contradictions and complexities in the way engagement is conceptualised by students in an online and blended learning context.
In this FLANZ Conversation webinar, Dr Cheryl Brown, Associate Professor of e-Learning & co-Director e-Learning Lab at the University of Canterbury, reports on a research project conducted in the College of Education, Health and Human Development at the UC’s College of Education exploring undergraduate distance students’ experiences of engagement in a context that is blended with on-campus peers and incorporates work-based learning. Drawing on a survey and focus groups with students Cheryl explores some of the contradictions and complexities in the way engagement is conceptualised by students in this online and blended learning context. Findings suggest that for students, flexibility is paramount and that digital tools did support students’ engagement through helping develop understanding, independence of learning and enjoyment. Students also emphasised other less visible engagement strategies and the importance of peer support outside of the classroom. There was also a link between students’ sense of wellbeing, inclusion and/or belonging (related to their feelings and emotions) and digital tools.
About Dr Brown
Dr Cheryl Brown is Associate Professor of e-Learning & co-Director e-Learning Lab. School of Educational Studies and Leadership (EDSL), (Te) Kura Mātauranga me te Rangatiratanga. The College of Education, Health and Human Development, Te Rāngai Ako me te Hauora.
Background reading
Those wishing to read more of the background to this presentation might refer to the recent ASCILITE paper:
Brown, C., Davis, N., Sotardi, V. & Vidal, W. (2018). Towards understanding of student engagement in blended learning: A conceptualization of learning without borders. Open Oceans: Learning without borders. Proceedings ASCILITE 2018 Geelong (pp. 318-323). Available from http://ascilite.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ASCILITE-2018-Proceedings.pdf