The Laureate English Program Taking a Research Informed Approach to Blended Learning

Abstract

In 2007, the Laureate International Universities network first set out its vision for a world-wide, world-class blended learning English language program. In 2008, five universities took up the challenge with 6,000 participating students. Four years later, 35 institutions with over 60,000 students are following blended or online English language programs, and this figure is expected to reach 100,000 by the end of 2013. Hence, in this article we describe the original thinking behind the implementation of the Laureate English Program (LEP), the consequent decision to roll out blended learning across the network, and the Laureate-Cambridge University Press research partnership. We also identify the need for a research informed approach to the implementation of blended learning, given the significant undertaking and paradigm shift in thinking and approach to language teaching and learning in all aspects of course design and implementation it presents to institutions, their teachers, and their students. The article also describes and presents key lessons learned from a first study involving over 600 students worldwide, and drawing on these lessons learned, presents intended directions for future research.