Construction and Evaluation of a Blended Learning Platform for

Higher Education

Lisa Beutelspacher, Wolfgang G. Stock

Department of Information ScienceHeinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany

2011 International Conference on ICT in Teaching and Learning (15th HK Web Symposium)

11-13 July, 2011 Hong Kong SAR

Content• Learning with Electronic Resources• Didactic Theories• The Learning Platform „InfoCenter“• Evaluation• Further Work

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Learning with electronic resources

E-Learning• Advantages

o Using multimedia contento Time and place independenceo Self-paced learningo Easy update of content

• Disadvantageso Lack of social interactiono Some content not suitable for virtual presentation

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Blended Learning

Traditional Learning

E-LearningBlendedLearning

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Didactic Theories

Behaviorism• The Theory

o Conditioning leads to designated reflexo Learning through reward (and punishment)

• Implementationo Mediating and testing factual informationo Direct feedbacko Reward system

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Cognitivism• The Theory

o Learner is an individualo Comprehensive problem-solving ability

• Implementationo Encourage capacity to develop solution strategies o Learners need to choose their own learning path

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Constructivism• The Theory

o Learning is an individual processo Learning is most effectively in groupso Learning must take place in authentic situations

• Implementationo Supporting group learningo Content must be presented from different perspectiveso Teacher encourages individual learning processes (not control them!)

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The InfoCenter

InfoCenter• Blended learning platform for higher

educationo Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Germany; Dept. of Information

Science

• Subject: Information Scienceo Information retrievalo Knowledge representation

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InfoCenter - ContentMultimedia Mediation

•Lecture slides•Interactive video lectures•Video glossaries•Text books

Web 2.0 Tools

•Wiki•Weblog•Social bookmarking•Social networking

Learning Management

System

•Learning units•Tests

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Multimedia MediationLecture Slides

Behaviorism

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Multimedia MediationInteractive Video

Lectures

Behaviorism +

Cognitivism

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Multimedia MediationVideo Glossaries

Behaviorism +

Constructivism

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Web 2.0 ToolsWiki

Constructivism

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Web 2.0 ToolsWeblog

Constructivism

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Web 2.0 ToolsSocial

Bookmarking

Cognitivism

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Web 2.0 ToolsSocial

Networking

Constructivism

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Learning Management System

Learning Units

Behaviorism

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Tests

Behaviorism

Learning Management System

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Evaluation

Evaluation• SERVQUAL

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1 2 3 4 6 7

Bad Rating Good Rating

Expectation Experience

How usefull is the use of Social Network platforms for your

studies

How useful is the Facebook Profile

„Information Science“ for your

studies

Evaluation

High acceptance• Interactive Video Lectures• Tests

Lower acceptance• Wiki• Social Bookmarking• Social Networking

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Evaluation• Possible reasons for the low acceptance of Social

Media

o Uncertainty about how to integrate Social Media in the learning process

o Additional Effort for Students

o Students are used to classroom teaching

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Further work

• Integrate more lectures and seminars

• Better combination of the different media

• Find out how to motivate students to use Social Media for learning

• Implement mobile learning

Further work

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Thank you very much for your attention

Contact:lisa.beutelspacher@uni-

duesseldorf.destock@phil.hhu.de