Amalgamation of Bricks and Clicks A Study in the Effectiveness of Blended Learning for Developing Communication Skills in English of the U G Engineering Learners in Gujarat Challenges and Recommendation

Abstract

Higher education is facing paradigm shift to adopt international standards in newlinepedagogy, specifically in student-centered learning models. As part of these newlinedevelopment programs, the internet is being introduced to add course flexibility for newlineuniversity instructors and their students. newlineBlended Learning, which is a mix of online and face-to-face learning, can combine newlinethe benefits of both, traditional classroom learning and online-learning environments. newlineThe aim of this thesis was to study the effectiveness of Blended Learning to enhance newlinecommunication skills of undergraduate students of Engineering Discipline. A newlinesuccessful learning environment should consider each student s learning preferences, newlinesince the reality is that different students learn in different ways, and Blended newlineLearning environment considers such differences by providing the best mix of newlinedifferent learning strategies, which makes it more effective and successful than other newlinelearning environments. A Moodle was integrated in the traditional classroom newlineenvironment to create a blended learning context. The data collection procedures newlineincluded Pre-Test, Post-Test, questionnaire and Self- evaluation Checklist newlineadministered to 49 students of Under Graduate Engineering discipline at Hansaba newlineCollege of Engineering and Technology, Sidhpur, Gujarat. In addition, Student newlineinterviews were held. newlineThe results revealed that the blended learning program helped to foster newlineCommunication Skills of under graduate students of Engineering at Gujarat. Blended newlinelearning is useful to increase communication and interaction between students and newlineinstructors, which in turn would result in better learning experiences. A major newlineconclusion is that the implementation of blended learning at Gujarat, India requires a newlineradical shift in the educational system, including changes to policy, curriculum, newlineinfrastructure, and university culture. The development should involve instructors, newlinestudents, and administrators. The conclusion of this thesis includes that applying newlineBlended Learning program at under gradu