Creating communities with blended learning

Linlin Pei, together with her supervisors Cindy Poortman, Kim Schildkamp and Nieck Benes studied three blended learning courses at the University of Twente to find the main factors that contribute to or limit the sense of community in a group. The researchers published their findings in the scientific journal Education and Information Technologies. -Students and teachers from our university were able to raise their voices. Blended learning is one of the fastest-growing trends in higher education. -It is more than making a video; it's not the same as hybrid learning where a teacher livestreams its classroom to students who watch online-, explains Linlin Pei, corresponding author. During the pandemic, many universities gained a renewed interest in blended learning. It has potential for flexible and personalised learning.