Project Investigator(s): Siobhán McPhee, Senior Instructor, Department of Geography
Project Description
Blended Practice is argued to empower students providing a strong basis for active learning, task-based learning and engaged learning. This project analyses the experience for first year students of using a blended practice approach to their learning through online case studies and by doing a field trip assignment using an app for their mobile devices.
Research Questions
How does the use of a blended practice approach enhance student-learning outcomes?
Impact on teaching and learning at UBC
The feedback from the students will provide invaluable knowledge on what aspects of a blended practice approach is working and which aspects can be improved. The success of this research project is in the fact that it will allow me to acquire this rich empirical data from students on their experience of the course design. There is often an assumption that students want more technology based learning given that so much of their everyday lives are linked to the use of technology, but this research will provide concrete data on if and how students are engaging with the technology components of the assessment and learning. Results from the research will directly inform my own courses and allow for modifications as necessary in the use of blended practice. I also plan to publish the empirical findings to follow on from my theoretical paper on blended practice.