ERIC Number: ED649621
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 349
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3575-7111-3
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
How College Faculty Experience Designing Blended Courses They Teach
Judy F. Bauer Puritt
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, Walden University
Blended learning has been growing and evolving in higher education since the early 2000s. Despite extensive quantitative research examining blended course use and exploration of how students experience blended-courses, more situated, local research about faculty members' experiences was needed. The purpose of this qualitative study was to develop a deeper understanding of faculty members' experiences during the decision-making process in designing blended courses they teach. The conceptual framework was grounded in Engestrom's activity theory to allow an exploration of individual agency within a specific community setting. Faculty members' decision-making experiences and perceptions were explored using an interpretive description methodology. A diverse group of 12 faculty members was purposefully selected from a single public college in Ontario, Canada to participate in semistructured individual interviews. The data were collected and analyzed using a two-cycle coding plan that revealed three key themes and two subthemes. The five findings showed (a) a common understanding that blended courses include a dominant face-to-face and passive online part, (b) design decisions occur on a student-self and value-cost continuum, (c) course ownership is central to agency, (d) the myth of experience exists, and (e) a major disruption causes reassessment of decision-making influencers. As a result of this exploration, positive social change is possible in that institutions may recognize that faculty members need more time and quality professional development to design and teach rich blended courses for learning, while faculty members may gain understanding of how to enhance learner engagement and success through blended-course design. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Blended Learning, College Faculty, Teacher Participation, Decision Making, Teacher Attitudes, Participative Decision Making, Foreign Countries, Program Design
ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Tel: 800-521-0600; Web site: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml
Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

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