Blended Learning at the Faculty of Business in Al-Balqa Applied University

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore student and lecturer views of blended learning which is based upon an undergraduate courses offered at the faculty of business at Al-Balqa Applied University, which applied the blended learning approach based on the use of face to face F2F, and e-learning. The study is based on the exploratory qualitative research approach, specifically designed to identify students and lecturers' perceptions towards blended learning process, content, and ease of use. The case study data were collected through structured interviews with 40 undergraduate students who were enrolled in different courses and from 10 lecturers from the faculty of business at Al-Balqa Applied University. In comparison to the traditional face-to-face (F2F) approach, both students and lecturers found the blended learning method more flexible and preferred it over F2F in many instances. The study concludes that in general, the lectures/students’ attitudes towards BL were positive in terms of the domain process, and content. Moreover, they believe that blended learning applications are, hardly, challenging to be applied sometimes. The study also presents that, in order for graduates to meet the challenges of entering the workforce of the 21st century, blended learning should be used as a new learning strategy. Findings of this study will be beneficial for policy makers to formulate appropriate and effective policy to assist the higher education institutions. Also this study is important for university students and lecturers, as it makes them very aware of the significance of blended learning and transferable skills in the workplace. This study provides fresh insights into the context of the benefits of blended learning in Middle East, particularly in Jordan. Moreover, the higher learning institution will be capable to determine the blended learning satisfaction level amongst students and lecturers.