The Perceived Effectiveness of the Blended Team-based Learning (BTBL) Model on Promoting Intercultural Awareness in Hospitality Education

Abstract

ABSTRACT Due to the growing application of information and communication technology (ICT) in education, teachers are encouraged to choose on-line or hybrid teaching approaches to redesign and teach courses in order to promote learning outcomes. Our exploratory research demonstrates how the hospitality courses blended with the team-based learning approach and digital resources can facilitate learners’ learning enjoyment and increase their intercultural awareness (IA) in a Taiwan hospitality and tourism university. Our evidence confirms that knowledge sharing is a significant mediator connecting perceived enjoyment, team effectiveness and perceived individual learning in our blended team-based learning model; also, the learners’ IA is notably promoted. This can be attributed to the strong willingness to cooperate with peers from various learning experiences. Our study suggests that teachers, as activity directors, facilitators, monitors and evaluators in team-based learning situations provide learners opportunities and platforms to empower them to interact, cooperate and construct and share their knowledge.