About this project

What is Blend-XL? 

This is a three-year EU funded project in the Minerva programme. ‘Blend’ in the title is a reference to the development of blended learning and teaching. This ‘blending’ is done on a variety of dimensions such as pedagogy, design, delivery, technology.

The Blend-XL project defines blended learning as the effective, efficient and creative combination of modified face-to-face instruction and online, networked learning supported by pedagogically sound uses of technologies, tools and media.

The project work is aimed at the improvement of the overall learning and teaching practice within specific, locally defined problem areas such as student motivation and active forms of learning.

An added element to this definition is a focus on the implications for learning and teaching in extra large student groups. 'XL' in the project name refers to this focus.

What is the main goal?

The project focuses on the development of an integrated approach to designing and creating blended learning programmes. This approach (or model) in its current version has three key characteristics:

• it is situated
• it is research-driven
• it is generic

Situated

The starting-point is the local teaching and learning situation which is always unique as far as people’s needs, perceptions, aspirations and possibilities are concerned.

Research-driven

The process is driven, monitored and evaluated by action research methodology. This type of research does two things at the same time: knowledge building and improvement. It is done in cycles with increasing refinement of the research questions and widening of the research scope.

Generic

The approach is generic to ensure its adoption in other contexts.

Why is this significant? 

Teaching (extra) large groups of students is an increasingly common phenomenon in higher education. Especially in the first year of study, many students follow introductory courses or core modules.

These courses are often taught in large groups in big lecture theatres. This arrangement is often found de-motivating and impersonal by students and teachers. A general lack of communication is one perceived problem but there are more. 

As a result, success rates on the exams are usually low as well as student retention rates. In engineering studies, for instance, high drop-out rates have been leading to a serious shortage of engineers at a European level.

The Blend-XL project addresses these challenges and problem areas. The idea behind the project is that large-scale education can indeed be made more motivating and more personal through the effective use of technologies, media and tools.

Who are the target groups? 

• Students, university staff and management who participate in the project
• Teachers in Europe interested in blended learning for large student groups
• The academic field of educational design

What are the outputs?

• Educational design model
• Centre of expertise
• Handbook for teachers
• Toolkit
• Blended courses
• Scenarios and cases
• Publications