Piedmont College.
Research Tools. Piedmont College Course Management System. Piedmont College Libraries. Athens Cohort Wiki. Blended Bridge Wiki. My Dissertation. This dissertation explores the lived experiences of educators who teach in flex model blended learning settings using online, vendor-provided courseware. The tradition of hermeneutic phenomenology grounds this inquiry (Heidegger, 1927/2008). Phenomenological research activities designed by van Manen (1990, 2002) provide the methodological framework for this study, the purpose of which was to uncover the essence of blended learning from the educator perspective that it might inform policy and practice to better serve the needs of all students as this form of education becomes increasingly popular. The study included in-depth interviews with seven blended educators across five different blended programs using three distinct courseware products in the state of Georgia.
Three primary themes emerged: 1) Professional Preparedness, 2) Flexible Facilitation, and 3) Intentional Proximity.