Teaching and learning of advanced statistical hydrology using a blended learning approach : a case study in Western Sydney University

This paper presents delivery of Advanced Statistical Hydrology unit by the blended learning approach in Western Sydney University (WSU) as a part of the Master of Engineering degree. It has been found that blended learning is quite effective in delivering the contents of the Advanced Statistical Hydrology unit to Masters students. The unit consisted of two face-to-face workshops (total 5-hour duration) and eleven pre-recorded tutorial sessions (placed on the online system of WSU known as vUWS). The recorded tutorial sessions were found to be the most useful element of this unit as these allowed a student to listen to the recorded materials as many times as needed, and at the time when it is convenient to him/her. The preparation of a critical literature review was found to be the most difficult task for the students. It has been found that two workshops are insufficient to deliver the unit contents effectively to students, and hence it is proposed that a 2-hour workshop be delivered every fortnight to answer students' queries and facilitate face-to-face engagement among the students themselves and between the students and lecturer to enhance learning of this unit more effectively. This will make the blended learning approach more effective to the students for Advanced Statistical Hydrology unit in WSU in future years.