Defining Different Modes of Learning: Resolving Confusion and Contention Through Consensus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v26i3.3565Keywords:
definitions, online learning, hybrid learning, hyflex learning, teaching modesAbstract
There has been longstanding contention about how terms related to online and hybrid learning should be defined. In this study, we report survey findings on how administrators and faculty apply the following terms in practice: online learning, hybrid learning, hyflex learning, in-person learning, synchronous learning, and asynchronous learning. Drawing upon the literature, the research team developed survey definitions for each of these terms. The survey then asked participants to rate the extent to which they agreed with the survey definitions. A total of 987 faculty and 1,051 administrators participated in the study. Participants represented the full range of higher education institutions in the United States. The key finding from the study is that there was widespread agreement with the survey definitions, which is contrary to much of the literature that indicates confusion and contention about how online and hybrid learning terms should be defined. In light of the findings, we provide a framework for categorizing common learning modes and the variations that exist within these modes. This study provides a foundation for establishing common language and shared understandings as online and hybrid course offerings (and learning technologies, in general) continue to evolve.
References
Allen, I. E. & Seaman, J. (2003) Sizing the opportunity: The quality and extent of online education in the United States, 2002 and 2003. Bay View Analytics. https://www.bayviewanalytics.com/reports/sizing-the-opportunity.pdf
Allen, I. E. & Seaman, J. (2014) Grade change: Tracking online education in the United States. Bay View Analytics, https://www.bayviewanalytics.com/reports/gradechange.pdf
Beatty, B. J. (2019). Hybrid-flexible course design: Implementing student-directed hybrid classes (B. J. Beatty, Ed.), EdTech Books. https://edtechbooks.org/hyflex/book_intro
Garrison, D. R., & Vaughan, N. D. (2008). Blended learning in higher education: Framework, principles, and guidelines. John Wiley & Sons.
Hodges, C., Moore, S., Lockee, B., Trust, T., & Bond, A. (2020, March 27). The difference between emergency remote teaching and online learning. Educause Review. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2020/3/the-difference-between-emergency-remote-teaching-and-online-learning
Irvine, V. (2020, October 26). The landscape of merging modalities. Educause Review. https://er.educause.edu/articles/2020/10/the-landscape-of-merging-modalities
Irvine, V., Code, J., & Richards, L. (2013). Realigning higher education for the 21st-century learning through multi-access learning. Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 9(2), 172-186.
Johnson, N. (2021). Evolving definitions in digital learning: A national framework for categorizing commonly used terms. Canadian Digital Learning Research Association. http://www.cdlra-acrfl.ca/2021-cdlra-definitions-report/
Johnson, N., Veletsianos, G., & Seaman, J. (2020). US faculty and administrators’ experiences and approaches in the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic. Online Learning, 24(2), 6-21. https://olj.onlinelearningconsortium.org/index.php/olj/article/view/2285/930
Moore, J. L., Dickson-Deane, C., & Galyen, K. (2011). e-Learning, online learning, and distance learning environments: Are they the same? Internet and Higher Education, 14, 129-135. doi:10.1016/j.iheduc.2010.10.001
National Center for Education Statistics. (n.d.) Distance education in IPEDS. IPEDS: Integrated postsecondary education data system. https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/use-the-data/distance-education-in-ipeds
Saba, F. (2011). Distance education in the United States: Past, present, and future. Educational Technology, 11-18. https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.365.9558&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Seaman, J. & Johnson, N. (2021). Pandemic-era report card: Students, faculty, and administrators reflect upon the academic year. Bay View Analytics. https://www.bayviewanalytics.com/reports/pulse/pandemic-era-reportcard.pdf
Singh, V., & Thurman, A. (2019). How many ways can we define online learning? A systematic literature review of definitions of online learning (1988-2018). American Journal of Distance Education, 33(4), 289–306.
Smith, K., & Hill, J. (2019). Defining the nature of blended learning through its depiction in current research. Higher Education Research & Development, 38(2), 383-397. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2018.1517732
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
As a condition of publication, the author agrees to apply the Creative Commons – Attribution International 4.0 (CC-BY) License to OLJ articles. See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
This licence allows anyone to reproduce OLJ articles at no cost and without further permission as long as they attribute the author and the journal. This permission includes printing, sharing and other forms of distribution.
Author(s) hold copyright in their work, and retain publishing rights without restrictions
