Analyzing Applications and Problems of Blended Learning (BL) for Agricultural Students

Abstract

This study was an attempt to analyze the applications and problems of conducting blended learning (BL) in view point of the agricultural students from Bu-Ali Sina University. The study has employed a surveying methodology with interviewing and included a combination of descriptive and quantitative research methods. Statistical population of the study included 500 agricultural students from Bu-Ali Sina University in 2011 academic year. The factor analysis method was utilized in accordance with the KMO and Bartlett tests to assist in extracting the most important factors related to applications and problems of conducting blended learning. Findings of factor analysis indicated that blended learning applications fall into seven categories of components include: 1) attention to students' needs and individual differences, 2) flexibility in time and place, 3) active involvement and participation of the students in teaching and learning, 4) improvement the quality of education, 5) synchronization of using different educational contents and media, 6) access to up-to-date information and required contents, and 7) possibility of implementing different teaching strategies. The results showed also conducting the blended learning encountered 19 problems. The highest problems in rank were 1) lack of training course on blended learning, 2) lack of familiarity with multimedia teaching methods, 3) network disconnect problem, and 4) lack of students' knowledge toward blended learning. [Reza Movahedi. Analyzing Applications and Problems of Blended Learning (BL) for Agricultural Students. International Journal of Agricultural Science, Research and Technology, 2012; 2(3):149-155].