Narrative and Evaluation Report - Blended Learning Innovation for IRCC Settlement Language Training (2016)

What is this research about?

This is the evaluation report on the LearnIT2teach project to 31 March 2016. It reflects the experience of the project to March 2016, and the central role that evaluation plays in guiding  development of the project’s products and assessing its impact on Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programs funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada  (IRCC) in Ontario and other Provinces.

What did the researchers find?

The evaluation demonstrates that teachers understand the benefits of implementing blended learning and the Edulinc.org LINC learner courseware.

Researchers found that teachers don’t lack motivation, but many experience barriers to implementation in their workplaces. Researchers suggest that the necessary pre-conditions for individual learning technology innovation are administrative support, technical support, and access to technology. They found that availability of these three conditions varied widely from service provider to service provider.

As well: "Teachers want encouragement for professional development in the form of release time for participation, and would be encouraged by higher compensation for those who complete PD stages, or implement innovative teaching techniques. Innovation with learning technology must be treated as important by managers if teachers are to buy in. In spite of challenges in their programs,  instructors are progressing through the LearnIT2teach training at a good pace, and with good uptake of the further training stages."