Seeking the optimal SPOC-based blended learning approach to enhance deep learning from the community of inquiry perspective

To equip students with 21<sup>st</sup> century skills to be competent global citizens and succeed academically and professionally, information and communication technology tools are being utilized to facilitate deep learning in higher education. This study integrated a small private online course (SPOC) with face-to-face (F2F) classroom learning to design and implement a blended English as a foreign language (EFL) course for deep learning. A mixed-method design was employed to investigate the learning experiences and perceptions of EFL students in the SPOC-based blended learning (BL) environment. The primary objective was to examine whether and how the teaching, social and cognitive presences were established from the perspective of the community of inquiry (CoI) model. Participants were 60 students enrolled in an eight-week English communicative course in a Chinese college. Quantitative data was obtained from the CoI and BL surveys, while qualitative data was gathered through individual interviews with 10 students. The results showed that a CoI was established, and deep learning happened in both SPOC and F2F learning areas with a more salient teaching presence in the SPOC area, a stronger social presence and a higher frequency of resolution phase reached in the F2F area. Furthermore, learners expressed satisfaction with the BL course, perceiving it as effective for English language acquisition. Pedagogical implications were offered to assist educators and institutions in optimizing the use of SPOC-based BL to enhance deep learning.