A Study On Deep Learning In A Blended Learning Environment

The rapid development of information technology triggers a new educational approach,MOOCs(Massive Open Online Courses).However,MOOCs faced criticism for several reasons such as high dropout rates and a lack of deep learning.In order to solve these problems,scholars started to combine MOOCs with the face-to-face classroom teaching on campus,which evoked a new wave of blended teaching based on MOOCs.Blended learning can help solve the problems of lacking deep learning capabilities usually connected with MOOCs to some extent,and it provides a new angle for English teaching.Culture and Music in English is one of the first MOOC-based blended teaching practices in S University.This study aims to investigate students' deep learning approaches in this course,and explore the influential factors of deep learning,in order to accumulate experience for further implementation and suggest propositions for how to evolve the field of blended teaching.The research questions are:1.How students' deep learning approaches are revealed in this blended learning environment?2.What factors are influential in the process of deep learning for students?This study chose 140 students as the research participants.Semi-structured interviews and observations were utilized to explore students' deep learning features in this course and dig into the influential factors of deep learning.The results indicate that under the blended learning environment,students showed deep learning features including critical thinking,connection and construction,and application of knowledge.However,individual differences in students' deep learning existed,while some students still showed the characteristics of surface learning.Influential factors in the students' deep learning process were identified.Possible factors that facilitate deep learning include positive perceptions to the learning environment,motivational teaching activities and collaborative learning as a community and the student-centeredness of the course.Factors discouraging deep learning include instability of the MOOC platform,perceived excessive workload,students' personal factors,and the assessment methods to be improved.To further promote deep learning,this study also proposes the following improvement measures: building learning resources to promote deep learning;further improving teaching design,and creating a learning environment that encourages deep learning for students to achieve better learning outcomes.At the same time,in the new learning environment,students should learn to self-regulate,develop effective learning strategies for online learning,actively participate in teaching activities,and focus on cultivating high-level thinking skills to achieve better outcomes of deep learning.