Blended Learning: Concept, Emerging Practices and Future Prospects

The general aim of this paper is to review scholarship on blended learning (BL) as theory and practice and to critically examine directions, perspectives and results in programme implementation and research. The paper starts with an exploration of BL as a concept, reasons for adopting it and then presents an overview of implementation attempts and research studies in this emerging but expanding field. The issues arising from the overview are discussed to highlight emerging trends, models, and common practices in the hope of promoting a better understanding of BL. As an expanding approach to programmed instruction that mixes face-to-face (FtF) and online modes of delivery, it is important to discern the possible (inter) connections between learning aims, teaching goals, the deployment of technology and human interaction that make up the "right blend". The discussion leads to the assertion that BL has the potential of changing the face of e-learning on condition future BL programmes are informed by data-driven practice and pedagogically-oriented research which focuses on exploring the learning opportunities resulting from the specific BL activities, the technologies utilized and explaining how these choices impinge upon the evolving learning experiences in BL hybrid environments (Saltan, 2017). The paper ends with a discussion of possible research avenues likely to help build the necessary knowledge base for prospective researchers, educational leaders and practitioners.