عاطفه غفرانی

Blended learning approach uses a face-to-face learning environment with the capacities of an electronic environment. This approach has attracted the attention of researchers for more than 15 years due to the significant advantages it brings by compensating for the disadvantages of both face-to-face and e-learning environments. However, today, after the spread of the epidemic of Covid-19 in the world, it has become a necessary choice not only for researchers but also for managers and business owners, including educational systems. Therefore, researchers worldwide are increasingly trying to provide the best ways to benefit from the advantages of face-to-face and e-learning approaches in the form of blended learning models for the educational system, including universities. Therefore, the current research was conducted to explain the dimensions and components of the model of the blended teaching-learning system in the university.

The qualitative research method was grounded theory and of emergent type. The research field included 15 university instructors selected through purposeful sampling based on predetermined criteria. The selection criteria of experts included "member of e-learning association and more than five years of active presence in this field" and "authors of outstanding scientific works and operational experience in e-learning". In order to collect the findings, a semi-structured interview was used and continued until theoretical saturation. Then, the findings were analyzed using the content analysis method in three stages open, axial and selective coding. Finally, the validity of the research findings was evaluated using Lincoln and Guba's four criteria, including credibility, confirmability, transferability, and reliability; its reliability was checked by re-coding and two coders.

The results of the analysis of the findings led to the identification of 219 key phrases, then in the form of 29 principal components including change management, support from senior management, strategic plan, action plan, attracting, developing, retaining, technical resources, financial and physical resources, information and knowledge resources, teaching strategies and scenario writing, interaction, educational package, evaluation of students, required beliefs and attitudes for stakeholders, required skills for stakeholders, required knowledge for stakeholders, common attitudes, shared values, common meanings and concepts, psychological support, process and pedagogical support, technical support , intra-university communication, extra-university communication, evaluation, monitoring, protection of intellectual property, respect for privacy were categorized and finally 11 factors including transformational leadership, planning, human capital management, resource provision, teaching-learning process management, required competencies stakeholders, culture-building regarding new approaches, support system for main and internal stakeholders, internal and external university communication, university assessment and quality assurance system, and ethical considerations were obtained in order to implement a blended approach in the university.

The results of this research can be a practical guide for senior managers of universities and higher education institutions in order to implement the blended learning approach in the said institutions, especially first-level universities; in this way, they can keep themselves aligned with the latest changes, especially the new developments in the approaches of the teaching-learning system, and have an effective performance in the direction of educating students with the qualifications and competencies required for the society, and turn the threat of using the electronic environment into an opportunity to transform educational approaches and establish a blended learning system using the online environment.

The purpose of this research is to investigate researches relatedto the blended teaching-learning approach in Iranian universities. The research method is applied, and data collection was conducted using a qualitative approach through a systematic review method. For this purpose, resources were searched from databases(sid, noormags, magiran, civilica, ganj.irandoc) by using related keywords.Then the found documens were analyzed based on Sandlowski and Barroso seven-step model.Based on a comprehensive and systematic view, the research results indicate that the previous researches on the subject of the blended teaching-learning system in Iranian universities have examined the three dimensions of the input(competencies related to students with 5 subdimensions, competencies related to instructors with 2subdimensions), the process(teaching-learning process with 3subdimensions) and the ouput(student-related output with 3subdimensions, instructor-related output with 2subdimensions) as the main dimensions of this approach.Based on the findings, the role of university management and leadership has been neglecte in the studied researches,while it is one of the main dimentions of the teaching-learning system.The results of the present research can be a model for university managers and instructors to effectively implement a blended approach in the teaching-learning system,and a guide for researchers to conduct further research in order to eliminate research deficiencies in this field.

This study aims to identify the psychological components related to student success in a blended learning environment. The research method is applied , and data collection was conducted using a qualitative approach through a systematic review method. To achieve the goal of the study, a systematic and comprehensive review of the research background was conducted based on Sandlowski and Barroso's (2006) seven-step model. For this purpose, resources from databases (Elsevier, Scopus, ProQuest, Eric, Emerald, Springer) and related keywords were searched. After reviewing 480 papers from theoretical and scientific sources related to the research topic based on specific criteria and removing unrelated papers, a full review of the remaining 58 studies was performed. The systematic review of the research background resulted in the identification of 5 components, 9 concepts, and 75 codes. The results of the meta-synthesis indicate that the psychological components of students who want to succeed in the blended learning environment at the university include the following: emotional strategies and components (positive emotions and motivational beliefs), communication (connection resources, communication skills), cognitive (high-level thinking and academic engagement), metacognitive (self-management in learning and self-perception of learning), and personality.Among these, the role of emotional and metacognitive strategies and components is more important than others. Therefore, they have a greater impact on the success of blended learning.

The purpose of this study was to assess digital competence of student-teachers on the the digital transformation in teaching-learning-process by descriptive-quantitative method. statistical population consisted of all 1870 student-teachers of University of Student-Teachers in Qom in the academic year of2019-2020.Sample size was 318students based on Morgan table and stratified random sampling was proportional to size. Data were collected using a questionnaire that was adjusted based on Bond et al. (2018) research. Data analysis was performed with the descriptive statistics (mean and standard-deviation)for the main purpose of the study(Digital-Competency of Student-teachers) and in order to obtain more accurate information at the end, with the effect of gender on digital competence was investigated by inferential statistics(Mann-Whitney U Test).The research results showed that from the students' point of view, computers and search engines are the most useful and moocs and resource management software are the least useful in the teaching-learning process. A significant number of teachers are not familiar with some of the tools in question. Students have reported the highest level of skills in the use of chat applications and social networks and the least skills in the application of statistical software and resource management software. At the end, solutions were proposed to enhance the digital competency of future teachers.

 The importance of schooling in shaping the future of the society requires continuous evaluation/surveys and identification of shortcomings, especially in the newly invented smart schools. To engage in such a pathology the Techno-Social Model, wherein not only the structures are considered, but socio-cultural dimensions are also reviewed, was deemed appropriate. From among 210 teachers working in smart elementary schools for girls in Qom, a categorical sample of 132 teachers was selected from all districts. A questionnaire of acceptable validity with the internal consistency of 0.98 was constructed and used to collect data. Data analyses revealed that in the respondents’ opinion, the techno-structural aspects of smart schools in Qom score below average, while the cultural-administrative dimensions score at the average level showing defect in all five constituents. According to the participating teachers, there is a significant gap between the current state and the desired one, in regard to this type of school. Increasing and updating instructional tools, as well as the awareness of both teachers and parents in this regard are recommended.