Enhancing students’ soft skills via blended learning methods

Yuliia Zubtsova; Natalia Derstuganova; Vita Butenko; Natalia Ponomarenko; Oleksandr Gura

doi:10.31893/multirev.2024spe073

Keywords:

cognitive abilities

interactive platforms

activity-based approach

interactive learning

generic competences

doctor of philosophy degree students

Abstract

The peculiarities of developing students' soft skills in the context of blended learning format development are relevant in the modern educational sphere due to rapid digitalisation and changes in the labour market. The study focuses on analysing the effectiveness of blended learning as a method of developing critical skills. In this study, open qualitative data were collected on the experiences of students and teachers with online tools. These data helped reveal the perceptions and impact of blended learning methods on the development of students’ soft skills, providing deeper insights into both the benefits and challenges of this approach. The study aims to identify the main areas and methods that contribute to improving students' soft skills by integrating online and offline learning components. The methodology includes the analysis of modern scientific sources, using content analysis of educational platforms, and evaluating statistical data on the success of blended learning. The study results show that blended learning significantly increases student engagement, promotes individualisation of the educational process and provides flexibility in learning materials. The study highlights the importance of continuously improving teaching methods to integrate digital technologies into the educational process effectively. The recommendations aim to optimise blended learning to develop soft skills that will help prepare students for the dynamic conditions of the modern labour market. The conclusions emphasise the importance of integrating European practices and innovative technologies into the educational process, improving education quality and preparing students for the current challenges of the globalised labour market. The main prospects for developing blended learning are described, and recommendations for its optimal use in educational institutions are proposed.
References
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26. Tong, D. H., Uyen, B. P., & Quoc, N. V. A. (2021). The improvement of 10th students' mathematical communication skills through learning ellipse topics. Heliyon, 7(11). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08282
27. Virtanen, A., & Tynjälä, P. (2022). Pedagogical practices predicting perceived learning of social skills among university students. International Journal of Educational Research, 111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2021.101895
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Zubtsova, Y., Derstuganova, N., Butenko, V., Ponomarenko, N., & Gura, O. (2024). Enhancing students’ soft skills via blended learning methods. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 7, 2024spe073. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2024spe073

[1] Alharbi, B. A., Ibrahem, U. M., Moussa, M. A., Alrashidy, M. A., & Saleh, S. F. (2023). Parents' digital skills and their development in the context of the Corona pandemic. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-01556-7

[2] Amhar, A., Sabrina, R., Sulasmi, E., & Saragih, M. (2022). Student critical thinking skills and student writing ability: The role of teachers' intellectual skills and student learning. Cypriot Journal of Educational Sciences, 17(7), 2493-2510. https://doi.org/10.18844/cjes.v17i7.7683

[3] Austin-Egole, I. S., Iheanacho, J. I., & Kpanah, P. I. (2023). Flexible Working Arrangements and Human Capital Development in Organisations: Key Issues. European Journal of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, 1(6), 166-174. https://doi.org/10.59324/ejtas.2023.1(6).17

[4] Bilan, Y., Mishchuk, H., & Samoliuk, N. (2023). Digital Skills of Civil Servants: Assessing Readiness for Successful Interaction in e-society. Acta Polytechnica Hungarica, 20(3), 155-174. https://doi.org/10.12700/APH.20.3.2023.3.10

[5] Dilekçi, A., & Karatay, H. (2023). The effects of the 21st century skills curriculum on the development of students' creative thinking skills. Thinking Skills and Creativity, 47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsc.2022.101229

[6] Elo, T., Pätäri, S., Sjögrén, H., & Mättö, M. (2024). Transformation of skills in the accounting field: the expectation-performance gap perceived by accounting students. Accounting Education, 33(3), 237-273. https://doi.org/10.1080/09639284.2023.2191289

[7] Hongsa, N., Wathawatthana, P., & Yonwilad, W. (2023). The Effects of TikTok Application on the Improvement of EFL Students' English-Speaking Skills. World Journal of English Language, 13(7), 77-88. https://doi.org/10.5430/wjel.v13n7p77

[8] Kubitskyi, S., Saienko, V., Demianiuk, V., & Mykhasiuk, K. (2022). Management of pedagogical and sports educational institutions in Ukraine. SPORT TK-Revista EuroAmericana de Ciencias del Deporte, 11(Sup3), 19. https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.538991

[9] Liu, X., Zhang, X., Dang, Y., & Gao, W. (2023). Career Education Skills and Career Adaptability among College Students in China: The Mediating Role of Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy. Behavioural Sciences, 13(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/bs13090780

[10] Mainga, W., Daniel, R. M., & Alamil, L. (2022). Perceptions of Employability Skills of Undergraduate Business Students in a Developing Country: An Exploratory Study. Higher Learning Research Communications, 12(1), 28-63. https://doi.org/10.18870/hlrc.2022.v12i1.1257

[11] Malkawi, N., Rababah, M., Al Dalaeen, I., Ta'amneh, I., El Omari, A., Alkhaldi, A. A., & Rabab'ah, K. (2023). Impediments of Using E-Learning Platforms for Teaching English: A Case Study in Jordan. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning, 18(5), 95-113. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v18i05.36727

[12] McGuire, D., McVicar, O., & Tariq, U. E. H. (2023). Skills audits: an integrative literature review. Industrial and Commercial Training, 55(1), 34-46. https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-06-2021-0042

[13] Meng, N., Dong, Y., Roehrs, D., & Luan, L. (2023). Tackle implementation challenges in project-based learning: a survey study of PBL e-learning platforms. Educational Technology Research and Development, 71(3), 1179-1207. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-023-10202-7

[14] Mononen, M., Havu-Nuutinen, S., & Haring, M. (2023). Student teachers' experiences in teaching practice using team teaching in flexible learning space. Teaching and Teacher Education, 125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2023.104069

[15] Murthi, K., & Patten, K. (2023). Improving Executive Functions Using the Engineering Design Process: A Peer-Mediated Problem-Solving Approach for Autistic Adolescents. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(2). https://doi.org/10.5014/AJOT.2023.050166

[16] Oluwagbohunmi, M. F., & Alonge, R. A. (2023). 21st Century Skills and Its Applicability to Social Studies. Asian Journal of Education and Social Studies, 41(3), 37-43. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajess/2023/v41i3896

[17] Oroh, R. R., Attaufiq, M. M., Daud, M., & Roring, R. F. (2023). Analysis of Vocational Student Performance Criteria on Work Skills Based on Industry Needs: An Analysis for Students' Skill Test Instruments. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(10), 174-189. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.10.10

[18] Radix. (2024). eLearning Statistics, Facts, Trends, and More. URL: https://radixweb.com/blog/top-elearning-statistics. Accessed on August 22, 2024.

[19] Russo, A., Warren, L., Neri, L., Herdan, A., & Brickman, K. (2022). Enhancing accounting and finance students' awareness of transferable skills in an integrated blended learning environment. Accounting Education, 31(1), 67-91. https://doi.org/10.1080/09639284.2021.1961087

[20] Sancho-Cantus, D., Cubero-Plazas, L., Botella Navas, M., Castellano-Rioja, E., & Cañabate Ros, M. (2023, March 10). Importance of Soft Skills in Health Sciences Students and Their Repercussion after the COVID-19 Epidemic: A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. NLM (Medline). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20064901

[21] Sanjaya, B., & Hidayat, W. (2022). Student speaking skill assessment: Techniques and results. International Journal of Evaluation and Research in Education, 11(4), 1741-1748. https://doi.org/10.11591/ijere.v11i4.22782

[22] Sekano, G., Laubscher, D., & Bailey, R. (2023). Challenging Traditional Teacher Professional Development by Implementing Technology-Supported Cooperative Learning. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 22(3), 524-543. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.22.3.31

[23] Songkram, N., Chootongchai, S., Osuwan, H., Chuppunnarat, Y., & Songkram, N. (2023). Students' adoption towards behavioural intention of digital learning platform. Education and Information Technologies, 28(9), 11655-11677. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11637-4

[24] Statista (2024). Online Learning Platforms - Worldwide. URL: https://www.statista.com/outlook/emo/online-education/online-learning-platforms/worldwide. Accessed on August 22, 2024.

[25] Tachie-Donkor, G., & Ezema, I. J. (2023). The effect of information literacy skills on university students' information seeking behaviour and lifelong learning. Heliyon, 9(8). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18427

[26] Tong, D. H., Uyen, B. P., & Quoc, N. V. A. (2021). The improvement of 10th students' mathematical communication skills through learning ellipse topics. Heliyon, 7(11). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08282

[27] Virtanen, A., & Tynjälä, P. (2022). Pedagogical practices predicting perceived learning of social skills among university students. International Journal of Educational Research, 111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2021.101895

[28] Yoel, S. R., Akiri, E., & Dori, Y. J. (2023). Fostering Graduate Students' Interpersonal Communication Skills through Online Group Interactions. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 32(6), 931-950. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-022-09998-5

[29] Yoshida, Y., Uno, T., Tanaka, H., Hakosaki, I., Shigeta, K., & Yano, R. (2022). Cognitive changes with psychomotor skill acquisition through blended learning among nursing students: A qualitative study. Nurse Education in Practice, 65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nepr.2022.103486

[30] Zulaiha, D., & Triana, Y. (2023). Students' Perception Toward the Use of Open Educational Resources to Improve Writing Skills. Studies in English Language and Education, 10(1), 176-196. https://doi.org/10.24815/siele.v10i1.25797

Abstract

References

How to cite