title: Strengths weaknesses opportunities and threats of blended learning: students' perceptions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blended learning (BL) in a cell biology course of the premedical program at the Kasturba Medical College International Centre, Manipal, India, commenced in 2006. The program provides training in basic sciences to students, especially from the United States and Canada. The approach to the study was phenomenographic, with a qualitative study design using an open-ended questionnaire, focused interviews and empirical observations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) of BL in a premedical class.
  
  
  METHODS
  It was a cross-sectional study. Ninety six students in a premedical cell biology class participated in the study. SWOT analysis of students' perceptions was conducted manually. Statistical analysis included content analysis of qualitative data to classify data and aligning them into the SWOT analysis matrix.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The outcomes of the study revealed student perceptions in terms of SWOT of BL and the potential uses of this strategy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study provides background for educators and curriculum experts to plan their modules while incorporating a BL approach.
authors: Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Campus, Manipal, Karnataka, India.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Hande
keywords: Blended learning; Online learning; Opportunities and threats analysis; Premedical; Qualitative study; Strengths; Weaknesses