Author(s): Sunetra Maitra Paul, Pinaki Ranjan Bhattacharyya and Gautam Surendra Bapat
Purpose - The idea of blended learning which originated in post-independence India to supplement traditional “gurukul system” used for face-to-face instruction experienced a challenge during Covid 19 since March 2020. Blended learning, though an old adage, has gained relevance in this fast-changing environment. This pedagogy has become a prominent alternative for all levels of higher education across the globe. As a result, it has become an obvious choice not only for the academicians, but all stakeholders involved in the teaching-learning process. The same concept has been promulgated in National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) in India, as an alternative educational practice combining digital learning tools with traditional classroom teaching. The new NEP 2020 has stressed on student centric policy providing the students an opportunity to pursue their career in their area of interest. Blended learning programmes are meant for supporting social issue, economic viability and different formats of environmental dimension leading to a sustainable learning ecosystem, thus preserving environmental resources in the global arena. However, the efficacy of the blended mode and its effectiveness for Gen Z is yet to be ascertained and measured.
Design/methodology/ research - This study has attempted to explore the perceived changes in accepting opportunities and challenges encountered by student communities to adopt this blended learning approach using convenience sampling method of 102 respondents across India.
Findings- The observation in adapting to existing teaching practices and curriculum involvement in integrating two different structures into a seamless transformation has been explored. The other important issue that has created impediment – time, content, and pedagogy in this transformation process has also been explored. The researchers also tried to find out the relationship of blended learning in connection with sustainable developmental process using multilayer perceptron method
Originality /value of research –The paper has tried to detect the characteristics of blended mode of learning among Gen Z students. It has also tried to explore the opportunities of blended mode of learning among its stakeholders, the acceptability rate and the extent of benefits to the future Gen Z students and stakeholders comprising educational institutes, society and government.
Limitations – The paper has tried to understand and predict the model which may be useful for future research. However, the data collected may not reflect the true picture if applied outside India since the respondents have been considered from India only.
Practical implications - The results are expected to explain the accessibility of the blended learning mode by Gen Z students’ depending on the pedagogical acceptability and its benefits in different streams or courses. This study addresses the related findings of Gen Z students regarding blended learning mode.
Social implications –The blended learning mode has become imperative in the present pandemic situation. Almost all the governments are exploring opportunities to equilibrate a balance position while adapting to blended mode of teaching. However, the societal impact and its fallouts is still to be validated. This paper has attempted to reach a balance and explore prominent factors which may be considered for future sustainable research.