مژگان حیدری

The purpose of the present research was to conduct a meta-analysis of Iranian studies on blended learning and academic achievement. As the third generation of distance education, blended learning integrates the strengths of face-to-face and online approaches. The methodology involved estimating the effect size for the relationship between blended learning and academic achievement. Out of 231 studies conducted between 2010 and 2017, 20experimental and quasi-experimental studies were selected as the sample using purposive sampling based on 9eligibility criteria. Data were analyzed using structured meta-analysis and were interpreted using Cohen’s for gauging small, medium, and large effect sizes. The results showed that the relationship between blended learning and academic achievement is significant, as the effect size for this relationship was 0.591, which is above medium in Cohen’s approach. Overall, the findings suggest the real positive effects of blended learning on learning outcome.

The present study was based on research findings designed to identify the characteristics of an independent learner in a distance education system and to develop a standardized test to measure the characteristics and skills of an independent learner in a distance education system with e- learning. Based on the theoretical foundations of the research and the background of previous studies, while identifying the characteristics of an independent learner, a tool was developed under the name of “Independent Learner’s Characteristics Test (ILCT) in the distance education system with e-learning”, and the reliability of the factors of each item in the tool was measured and standardized using the exploratory factor analysis method. The present study, also, discussed and scrutinized the development and standardization of ILCT. The present study is an applied research which uses both field and documentary methods. It was carried out with a mixed method with quantitative and qualitative strategies. In order to develop and standardize ILCT, the characteristics of motivation, intelligence, and emotional intelligence were selected and evaluated as necessary characteristics of a learner from among other characteristics using the Delphi method according to the views of experts and professionals of educational and cognitive psychology sciences. Data on each characteristic was collected using available standardized questionnaires2. The questionnaires were prepared electronically in the form of a “temporary website of the questionnaire” and the website URL was provided to the virtual students of the Payame Noor University. A total of 452 postgraduate e-students studying at Payame Noor University of Iran answered the questions. The results were analyzed using SPSS (21.0), STATISTICA (8.0) and LISREL (8.7) softwares using an appropriate statistical method. In the end, the final test based on extracted results and standardization of the items was introduced under the name of “Independent Learner’s Characteristics Test (ILCT) in the distance education system with e-learning” for use by learners, teachers, planning authorities, content producers, etc. in distance education systems