Volume : 6, Issue : 10, OCT 2020

CHALLENGES IN IMPLEMENTING BLENDED LEARNING IN THE POST-GRADUATION CLASSROOM IN NEPAL: UNIVERSITY TEACHERS’ EXPERIENCES

DR. RAJENDRA KUMAR SHAH

Abstract

Context of the study: With the advent of the digital age, traditional didactic teaching and online learning have been modified and gradually replaced by BL. One of the most effective patterns of modern University Education is blended learning (BL) that combine traditional classroom activities with elements of e-learning, and makes a wide use of modern information and communication technology. Thus, it calls for further detailed study of issues and challenges of BL.

Objective of the study: The major objective of this article is to find out the issues and challenges in the implementation of BL in the Post-graduation classroom.

Research Design: This study is based on qualitative research tradition. Narrative inquiry methods have been utilized in the present study. For in-depth interview, three university teachers of ED. 511 were selected on the basis of purposive sampling. The data have been analyzed by transcribing, coding, categorizing and thematizing and conclusion was drawn.

Results: Results of the present study indicated that issues and challenges related to BL can be divided into four categories such as universities, teachers, students and technical aspects. Among these issues, institutional culture is one of the most prominent challenge. Similarly, the teachers have to deal with several other issues like increased workload, increased time devotion, lack of skills to conduct BL and difficulty in finding the right blend for their curriculum. Students are not skilled in ICT technology and they had divers background. Technological barriers are also creating problem in BL.

Suggestions: The present study lead to the conclusion that BL could be used in the post-graduation classrooms. But there should be clear vision, policy and plan on BL. Accordingly, training should be provided to the teachers and students on various aspects of Information, communication and technology. At the same time, there urgent need of cheapest internet service for students and teachers.

Keywords

BLENDED LEARNING, TRADITIONAL APPROACH, ONLINE LEARNING, E-LEARNING, FACE-TO-FACE MODES, TEACHERS, STUDENTS.

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