Blended Learning Context Research Articles

Implicit to explicit: A Framework for Supporting Blended Design Education with Microlearning

Design is an iterative process involving cycles of divergent and convergent thinking. To navigate these cycles effectively, designers need a range of competencies. These include information gathering, sense-making, imagination, ideation, shape-giving, iterative reflection, critical evaluation, collaboration, and discipline-specific knowledge. To develop these competencies, design education typically occurs in a studio environment that follows a learning-by-doing approach, simulating industry practices. However, the tacit knowledge—unspoken insights and intuitions—that informs the application of domain knowledge is often not visible, making it difficult for students to connect theory with practice and potentially hindering their learning. The cognitive apprenticeship model is a pedagogical approach that enhances learning-by-doing by integrating theory and practice throughout the design process, making tacit knowledge explicit and accessible. Within the context of blended learning, where face-to-face classes are complemented by technology-enabled learning, microlearning emerges as an innovative teaching and learning approach that delivers activities in structured, bite-sized pieces. This method is designed to minimise cognitive load and to help students grasp complex implicit concepts. In this paper we explore how microlearning, an innovative teaching and learning approach, might be integrated into learning by doing approaches within blended learning settings in the design studio to make tacit knowledge explicit. The paper is the first part of a larger study exploring how microlearning activities might support learning-by-doing within blended learning environments during the various phases of the design process. An integrative review of literature on the design process and related design competencies, cognitive apprenticeship and microlearning, theoretically informed the development of a conceptual framework outlining the dynamics between learning-by-doing and microlearning activities to foster connections between theory and practice. The framework will be used in subsequent research to inform the design and trialling of microlearning activities to support learning-by-doing in practical design modules. This research contributes to existing understanding of educational approaches that support learning-by-doing in design education and lays the foundation for further research to inform the design of appropriate and meaningful microlearning activities.

Exploring the Relationship Between Learner Engagement and Language Achievement in Blended Learning Context

Engagement has been considered as an important construct which influences learner’s language learning. This study aims to assess EFL learners’ engagement level in the blended learning context and then to explore its relationship with language achievement. A quantitative research design was adopted with a survey approach. A total of 209 questionnaires were collected. Learners’ language achievement was measured through their end-of-term exams. Descriptive statistics and correlation were conducted for data analysis. The findings revealed that EFL learners’ total engagement level was high in the blended learning, and there was a significant positive correlation between learner engagement level and their language achievement. Moreover, learners’ behavioral engagement, cognitive engagement and emotional engagement were also found to be correlated with their language achievement. These findings not only provide empirical evidence on the pivotal role of learner engagement in language learning, but also have much implications for language teaching in blended context.

Predicting student burnout in blended environments: a complementary PLS-SEM and machine learning approach

ABSTRACT Despite student burnout has attracted the attention of researchers and practitioners in education and psychology, little is known about the factors that contribute to it in blended contexts. This research aims to formulate and verify a predictive model elucidating how social support and self-regulated learning predict student burnout within blended learning contexts. Utilizing data collected from a sample of 303 students, a complementary method that combines partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with machine learning (ML) algorithms was implemented. The favorable impact of perceived social support and self-regulated learning in mitigating burnout was demonstrated by the PLS results. Additionally, it was discovered that self-regulated learning fully mediates the correlation between offline social support students received and learning burnout. Furthermore, the employed ML algorithms achieved a prediction accuracy rate exceeding 70% in the majority of cases. Employing a complementary analytical method is believed to offer a substantial contribution to the current body of research on learning burnout generally and blended learning in particular.

Perception and Knowledge of Students on the Use of YouTube in Authentic Assessment

Literacy design by using digital learning resources in the instructional activities at school is presently inevitable. Besides providing learning materials, digital learning materials are also suitable for applying authentic assessment that can improve learners’ skills and competencies contextually. The study is intended to explore students’ perceptions on the use of the YouTube as materials for authentic assessment. The study was carried out through quantitative and qualitative surveys with 47 graduate students at Yogyakarta State University, 45 domestic and 2 overseas students. The study took place in a blended learning context. Students were asked to complete an on-line questionnaire, practice authentic assessment in class, and conduct observation activities. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and descriptive qualitative method. Findings show that students’ perceptions on the use of the YouTube channel and authentic assessment are generally positive. Almost all the students agree with the genre-based language learning and assessment of which one of the resources is the Internet and all its derivations; almost all of the students agree that the implementation of the YouTube-based instructional processes applies the authentic assessment model with the primary performances of speaking and writing using a rubric; practice of students’ performances in authentic competencies is scored and commented on by their peer.

Web-based Inquiry Physics Problems (WIPPer) for Enhancing Physics Learning in Blended Environments

Abstract Incorporating digital technologies is essential in blended learning contexts to enhance conventional instructional approaches. This study aims to develop a Web-based Inquiry Physics Problem (WIPPer) as an interactive learning medium in a blended environment for the physics learning process. This study employs research and development approaches, applying the ADDIE approach to the development stage. The initial research step analyzes the physics learning demands of the web using literature and field investigations. The last phase of the development process involves producing a WIPPer product prepared for evaluation by materials, media, and instructional design experts, together with two high school physics teachers who will act as practitioners. Expert and practitioner assessments employ tools that evaluate material, media, and learning design. Expert and practitioner evaluation data were analyzed using the Aiken V algorithm. WIPPer had an Aiken V score of 0.867 from material and learning design experts and 0.805 from experts in media, indicating that experts deemed it highly valid. The results emphasize the potential of WIPPer as a beneficial tool for instructors who want to enhance physics training in blended learning contexts. It promotes more profound knowledge and active engagement among students.

Academic buoyancy and learner interactions as mediators of deep learning in blended learning contexts: The role of teaching, social, and cognitive presence

Academic buoyancy and learner interactions as mediators of deep learning in blended learning contexts: The role of teaching, social, and cognitive presence

New challenges for higher education: self-regulated learning in blended learning contexts

IntroductionThe study on self-regulated learning in blended learning (BL) environments highlights its crucial relevance for both the academic development of students and the evolution of contemporary educational methods. This research focused on conceptualizing self-regulated learning in university contexts with a BL modality, using direct student perceptions.MethodsAn inductive qualitative approach with a phenomenological design was employed. Responses from 312 undergraduate students who had completed their first or second year were analyzed; 65 participated in 10 focus groups (two per area of knowledge according to OECD classification), and 247 participated through a survey. Descriptive analysis was used to obtain a range of content and meanings associated with students’ perceptions of SRL-BL.ResultsThe study conceptualized SRL-BL as a process where students structure, monitor, and evaluate their learning using self-reflection and digital technologies, with particular emphasis on planning. Significant differences were identified between SRL-BL and traditional SRL; in face-to-face education, teacher supervision is greater, while in SRL-BL, students take on more responsibility and autonomy, developing self-management skills. Although SRL-BL fosters autonomy and responsibility, students face obstacles such as distractions from social media and leisure technologies, which affect their concentration and study planning.DiscussionIt is essential to address the new challenges students face to maintain a high level of SRL in Blended Learning environments (SRL-BL) and the strategies they use to overcome them. The need to update the concept of self-regulated learning (SRL) in the current educational context, influenced by technological advances, is concluded.

Development and validation of a higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) scale for major students in the interior design discipline for blended learning

Assessing and cultivating students’ HOTS are crucial for interior design education in a blended learning environment. However, current research has focused primarily on the impact of blended learning instructional strategies, learning tasks, and activities on the development of HOTS, whereas few studies have specifically addressed the assessment of these skills through dedicated scales in the context of blended learning. This study aimed to develop a comprehensive scale for assessing HOTS in interior design major students within the context of blended learning. Employing a mixed methods design, the research involved in-depth interviews with 10 education stakeholders to gather qualitative data, which informed the development of a 66-item soft skills assessment scale. The scale was administered to a purposive sample of 359 undergraduate students enrolled in an interior design program at a university in China. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were also conducted to evaluate the underlying factor structure of the scale. The findings revealed a robust four-factor model encompassing critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, teamwork skills, and practical innovation skills. The scale demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.948–0.966) and satisfactory convergent and discriminant validity. This scale provides a valuable instrument for assessing and cultivating HOTS among interior design major students in blended learning environments. Future research can utilize a scale to examine the factors influencing the development of these skills and inform instructional practices in the field.

The Factors Inducing Undergraduate Entrepreneur Satisfaction Towards Blended Learning for Entrepreneurship Development in Sri Lanka: A Case Study at University of Colombo Institute for Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences

Blended learning has become increasingly important in higher education, especially in the context of entrepreneurship education in Sri Lanka. Despite its relative novelty in the country's higher education context, this study explores into its impact on undergraduate entrepreneurs' satisfaction with blended learning at the University of Colombo Institute for Agro-Technology and Rural Sciences. This research seeks to identify the key determinants of satisfaction and improve the quality of blended learning experiences for undergraduate entrepreneurs at the institute, contributing to the ongoing advancement of entrepreneurship education in Sri Lanka. The study covers the entire population (204) of undergraduate entrepreneurs pursuing bachelor’s degrees in Agro-Technology, ensuring a comprehensive perspective. To gather insights, a pre-tested questionnaire incorporating socio-economic information along with dimensions such as the learner, instructor, course, technology, design, environmental, and opportunity were used, and respondents were instructed to select the most an appropriate answer on the Likert scale, which ranges from strongly agree to strongly disagree, to express their views. The study's results showed that in the blended learning context, dimensions such as the instructor, course, design, environmental, and opportunity were positively and significantly correlated with the satisfaction levels of undergraduate entrepreneurs. In contrast, the learner and technology dimensions did not demonstrate a significant correlation with satisfaction. Policymakers should be aware of these features and prioritise the improvement of Sri Lanka's higher education system, with a particular emphasis on entrepreneurial development.

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES AS A MEANS OF FORMATION OF MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE OF FUTURE SPECIALISTS IN THE FIELD OF TOURISM IN THE CONDITIONS OF BLENDED LEARNING

The aim of the article is to investigate and theoretically substantiate the role of project-based technologies as a means of developing multicultural communicative competence in future tourism professionals within the context of blended learning. The effectiveness of tourism and hotel business depends on a set of factors. Among them is the professional competence of employees which reflects the ability and willingness of specialists to use their knowledge and practical skills in practice, and thus forming the model of a practitioner capable of solving problems in the chosen field of activity and demonstrating their high efficiency. In addition to professional competence, a future specialist in the field of tourism must have intercultural communication competence which reveals itself through the specific way of carrying out productive activity, and is formed during the period of training at higher education institution as a part of the process of project activity. It is assumed that project activity is treated as the goal and method of learning which creates conditions for the development of skills underlying the competence. Among the skills are: creative thinking, reflection, goal setting, forecasting, choosing effective solutions, creating working teams, achieving results and evaluation of their effectiveness. The article considers the project technology as a means of the formation of multicultural communicative competence of future specialists in the field of tourism. It is stated that expedient and properly organized work on the project during the study of language material will help to form and improve specific language skills, which will lead to the development of multicultural communicative competence. The article focuses on the implementation of principles of project technology into the process of teaching foreign languages to students of speciality 242 “Tourism and Recreation”. The paper presents the analysis of the main features of project-based learning as well as the stages of work project. It also reflects the experience of application of project method in the process of the formation of multicultural communicative competence of future specialists in the field of tourism. It is proved that the use of project method in foreign language classes in the sphere of professional communication contributes to the development of students’ competencies as a set of knowledge, skills and abilities that ensure their readiness to solve specific problems in a multicultural environment. The main advantages of implementation of project technology were defined based on the conceptual analysis of pedagogical literature, own pedagogical experience, systematization of theoretical approaches and methods existing in the educational environment of higher school. It is noted that properly organized work on the project at classes on professionally oriented foreign language not only forms multicultural communicative competence, but also allows forming professional, social competences in parallel. As a result, one more goal of training in higher education institution is achieved, namely the formation of students’ project competence. It has been concluded that project-based activities not only enable students to learn the language, thereby developing multicultural communicative competence, but also contribute to the acquisition of academic skills and the formation of integrative project-based experience in the process of studying a range of academic disciplines.

Perspectives of clinical nurse educators on competency-based nursing teaching in blended learning environments during nursing internship: A descriptive qualitative study

AimTo investigate the perspectives of clinical nurse educators regarding the challenges and essential elements of teaching competence in blended learning environments during nursing internships to inform the development of a competency-based teaching model. BackgroundCompetency-based teaching and blended learning play important roles in enhancing the learning experience of nursing internship trainees. Internship trainees refer to nursing students undergoing supervised practical training in ‎clinical settings.‎ However, clinical nurse educators frequently encounter challenges in acquiring the necessary competence for successful implementation of blended learning strategies. DesignA descriptive‎ qualitative study. MethodsThis study used semi-structured interviews with 11 certified nurse educators (CNEs) from diverse clinical disciplines in a tertiary hospital in China. Purposive sampling ensured diversity across key characteristics. Ethical approval was obtained and interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed and analyzed thematically. Theoretical saturation guided data collection, with precise measures taken to ensure confidentiality and anonymity. Thematic analysis, employing a constant comparison technique, systematically identified various themes related to blended teaching competence. This approach provided valuable insights into CNEs' perspectives and practices. The analysis involved theoretical sampling, line-by-line coding and comparative evaluation with supporting text materials. ResultsThe in-depth analysis of teaching competence among clinical nurse educators in blended learning settings during nurse internships revealed five key themes: professionalism, teaching literacy, subject expertise, information literacy and interpersonal communication. ConclusionThese themes recognized clinical nurse educators’ perspectives towards establishing a competency-based nursing teaching model for a blended learning environment for nurse internships. Moreover, these perspectives are also crucial in enhancing teaching literacy through effective instructional methods, engagement strategies and the promotion of critical thinking skills. Identifying these themes contributes to efforts to improve teaching effectiveness and enhance learning outcomes for internship trainees in a blended learning context.

Exploring the relationship between EFL students' writing performance and activity theory related influencing factors in the blended learning context.

With the rapid development of technologies, blended learning is widespread in English writing instruction. The effect of blended learning on EFL writing outcomes is affected by various factors. This study examines the relationship between EFL students' writing performance and influencing factors and the relationship between these factors in a blended learning context based on the Activity Theory. The study used a quantitative method: English argumentative writing tests and questionnaires with 33 undergraduates. The results reveal that EFL students' argumentative writing performance is significantly and positively correlated with five influencing factors, in descending order of correlation: subject, community, object, rules, and division of labor. Moreover, the findings suggest a significant positive relationship within each factor in the blended learning environment, except for no relationship between rules and division of labor. Furthermore, the research provides useful references and insights for further research and educational practice in blended writing instruction. Due to limitations such as the relatively small sample size, the focus on argumentative writing, and the reliance on quantitative data, this study gives the impression that the results only represent a portion of the population and situation. Therefore, future research could consider enlarging the sample size, adopting a more comprehensive range of writing genres, involving qualitative methods, or expanding the scope of research on the impact of BL on other disciplines.

Is the magic in the mix? The development and validation of the L2 teachers’ blended assessment literacy scale

Blended learning environments demand teachers possessing a high level of assessment literacy, as they play a crucial role in facilitating students' second language (L2) learning outcomes and overall well-being. However, a notable research gap exists in understanding L2 teacher assessment literacy within the blended learning context, further exacerbated by the scarcity of valid assessment instruments tailored specifically to investigate L2 teachers' assessment literacy for blended learning. To address this gap, the present study undertook the development and validation of the L2 Teachers' Blended Assessment Literacy Scale (L2TBALS). The study involved 614 L2 teachers from China, divided into two sub-samples. The first sample underwent exploratory factor analysis (EFA), which revealed a robust four-factor solution comprising Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and Socio-emotional management. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with the other sample of 307 L2 teachers confirmed the scale's structure and sub-scales, establishing the final 40-item L2TBALS as a psychometrically reliable and valid instrument for measuring self-reported L2 teachers' blended assessment literacy. These findings have practical implications for teachers and teacher education programs, as well as broader implications for assessment literacy research.

Self-Efficacy and Effect on Blended Learning in Moral Education Course Among Students

This study explored the impact of blended learning on self-efficacy in moral education among 414 university students in China. The respondents, mostly female, were primarily freshmen. They experienced blended learning as the dominant teaching format, with face-to-face and online formats also present. The analysis revealed no significant gender-based discrepancies in self-efficacy across most domains, except for notable differences in ICT skills and enlisting peer and social support, pointing to potential gender-specific areas for intervention. The study identified significant correlations between students' self-efficacy and the effectiveness of teaching moral education in blended learning environments. Higher self-efficacy among students was associated with better teaching outcomes in blended learning contexts. These findings highlight the importance of enhancing students' self-efficacy to improve the success of blended learning in moral education. The results suggest that educators could focus on building self-efficacy to optimize the effectiveness and impact of blended learning in moral education courses.

Annotating Throughout or Annotating Afterward: Preservice Teachers’ Experiences with the ANNOTO Hyper-Video in Blended Learning

This study aims to explore the perspectives of pre-service teachers (PSTs) regarding their experiences with the ANNOTO personal note feature within a blended learning (BL) context. Employing qualitative research methods, the analysis incorporates reflections from 45 PSTs, insights derived from two focus groups, and data gathered through semi-structured interviews. The objective is to comprehend how PSTs engaged with ANNOTO’s personal note during their learning experiences and how they perceived its role in shaping their professional development. The findings underscore a predominantly positive experience among PSTs, with their perceptions linked to heightened motivation and meaningful learning. Additionally, the study identified three distinct annotating styles—annotating throughout watching, annotating after watching, and a combination of both—each associated with enhanced concentration, memory prompting, and improved writing skills. Furthermore, PSTs articulated professional insights related to teacher and student agency, encompassing themes such as the use of video as a teaching tool, active learning, self-directed learning, scaffolding, critical thinking, and temporal considerations aligned with students’ needs. The principal implications center on the necessity of engaging in discussions with PSTs regarding the integration of hyper-video and the pedagogical approaches it may endorse.

PREVENTION OF PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT OF TEACHERS IN CONDITIONS OF MIXED LEARNING

PREVENTION OF PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT OF TEACHERS IN CONDITIONS OF MIXED LEARNING

Transitioning to blended learning during COVID‐19: Exploring instructors and adult learners' experiences in three Ghanaian universities

AbstractTeaching and learning in higher education have increasingly become digitalized and associated with innovative pedagogical methodologies over the past decades. Following the sudden onset of the pandemic in March 2020, several studies tended to focus on traditional students' experiences with emergency remote education while literature is scarce on non‐traditional students (or adult learners) pedagogical experiences in Distance Education contexts. Using a qualitative case study approach, this study explored how digital technologies mediated instructors' and adult learners' educational experiences during COVID‐19 and their first‐time experiences with blended learning. Between October 2021 and July 2022, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 40 adult learners and 20 instructors in three selected public higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ghana. Data analysis followed Braun and Clarke's (2012) thematic analysis approach. The results showed that the transition to blended learning was supported by the adoption and integration of varied virtual online technologies. The themes highlight the positive and negative impacts of technology in mediating the educational experiences of instructors and adult learners in blended learning environments. The themes which reflected both instructors' and adult learners' experiences were enhanced course delivery and pedagogy, competency development, technological issues and poor‐quality pedagogy. Blended learning facilitated by technology could be the ‘new normal learning’ post‐pandemic for adult learners pursuing Distance Education in Ghana. The study recommends the implementation of agile strategies and policies by HEIs to ensure sustainable quality education in distance learning. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic The COVID‐19 pandemic necessitated the adoption of innovative pedagogical approaches in higher education contexts. Technological transformations in information and communication technology (ICT) have enhanced remote teaching in higher education institutions globally. The educational experiences of educators and learners differ in blended learning contexts. What this paper adds Instructors and adult learners' positive experiences with navigating a variety of web‐based technologies during the educational process are negatively impacted by technological difficulties during online instruction. Participants' experiences of blended learning are mixed with a preference for face‐to‐face dimension of blended learning instead of the online dimension. The paper identifies four themes that characterize instructors and adult learners' experiences with technology‐enhanced learning including enhanced course delivery and pedagogy, competency development, technological issues and poor‐quality pedagogy. Implications for practice and/or policy The study provides evidence‐based information on the relevance of digitizing distance education for sustainable development and promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for distance education students. The research recommends that higher education institutions (HEIs) implement agile policies to facilitate a seamless shift to distance learning. HEIs may adopt open distance learning frameworks to streamline 21st century pedagogical and learning practices in distance‐blended learning environments for quality course instruction. The study highlights the potential distance learning modalities that HEIs can consider for Distance Education students to sustain effective quality teaching and learning.

Uncertainty Avoidance Moderates the Relationship between Time Management Monitoring and Learning Engagement in Blended Learning Contexts among University Students in Beijing

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between time management monitoring and learning engagement in a blended learning environment among university students, as well as the moderating effect of uncertainty avoidance on this relationship. The subjects were 548 undergraduates from 6 universities in Beijing, with 467 valid responses received. The data was collected using the Time Management Monitoring Scale, Learning Engagement Scale, and Uncertainty Avoidance Scale, with confirmatory factor analysis and reliability tests confirming their validity and reliability. This was a field study examining blended learning courses combining online and offline instruction at universities in Beijing. Structural equation modeling revealed that time management monitoring positively influenced learning engagement. Uncertainty avoidance also had a positive effect on learning engagement and moderated the relationship between time management monitoring and learning engagement. Students with higher uncertainty avoidance exhibited a more significant positive association between their time management abilities and engagement in blended learning contexts.

What are the roles of positive psychological construct in blended learning contexts? Integrating academic buoyancy into the Community of Inquiry framework.

In the post-epidemic era, blended learning has become a social trend for the future of higher education, and scholars have endeavored to understand the factors that influence student learning in these blended communities. Communities of Inquiry is a conceptual framework that describes the components of blended learning environments, indicating teaching presence, social presence, and cognitive presence. However, the framework fails to adequately explore how individual learning motivational factors influence student learning. Therefore, this study extends the Community of Inquiry framework by drawing on a positive psychological construct-academic buoyancy to reveal the relationship between academic buoyancy and the three presences through empirical research. The theoretical model was validated by SPSS 26.0 and smartPLS4.0. To evaluate the measurement and structural models, structural equation modeling (SEM) was carried out using the partial least squares (PLS) method. (a) Teaching presence positively predicts academic buoyancy, and academic buoyancy positively predicts social presence and cognitive presence; (b) academic buoyancy mediates teaching presence and social presence, as well as teaching presence and cognitive presence; and (c) academic buoyancy acts as a chain mediator between teaching presence and cognitive presence through social presence. The results of this study fill a gap in the multiple roles of individual positive psychological construct-academic buoyancy in blended learning communities, extend the Community of Inquiry theoretical framework, and provide empirical evidence for blended learning quality and practical improvement strategies.

Qualitative and Quantitative Study on Students’ Critical Thinking of Conceptual E-Scaffolding in Blended Learning Context

Critical thinking ability is one of the rational thinking capabilities that is highly required by students in solving problems or delivering an idea. In fact, however, students’ critical thinking skill is still categorized as low according to the previous studies. One feasible alternative to be done in developing students’ critical thinking ability is implementing electronic-based scaffolding. For that reason, there should be research to examine conceptual e-scaffolding in blended learning on Problem-Based Learning (PBL) model to observe the first semester students’ critical thinking ability at IKIP Budi Utomo Malang. This study employed mixed-methods with explanatory research design. The experimental group was given conceptual e-scaffolding treatment in blended learning on Problem-Based Learning model and the control group did not receive any additional treatment. For both experimental and control groups, the research subject was the students in the first semester at IKIP Budi Utomo Malang. As there were two research groups, 46 students belonged to the control group. The instruments utilized in this research were pre-test and post-test. The pre-test consisted of 18 multiple choice items with reliability coefficient of 0.735 and critical thinking post-test consisted of 14 essay question items with reliability coefficient of 0.762. In addition, semi-structured interview and think aloud guidelines were used. Quantitative data were obtained from the distribution of pre-test and post-test items. Meanwhile, qualitative data were retrieved from semi-structured interview and think aloud. The quantitative data were then analyzed using ANACOVA parametric analysis while the qualitative data were analyzed using path analysis model. The research findings indicated that: 1) the critical thinking ability of students who studied with conceptual e-scaffolding in blended learning on Problem-Based Learning was higher than those who studied with conventional method, 2) the implementation of conceptual e-scaffolding in the form of link map in Problem-Based Learning model influenced positively towards students’ critical thinking ability. This was reflected from the behavior and the way of thinking of students belonged to the experimental group indicating critical thinking ability development during the learning process. Furthermore, conceptual e-scaffolding in the form of link map helped the students to obtain information easily and utilized it in understanding concepts in geometrical optic material.