This case study set out to discover how the provision of blended learning focussing on course essential vocabulary, affected students in a module of Diploma of Beauty and Spa Therapies at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) in Hamilton New Zealand. The results were surprising.

The module chosen for this study, Electrolysis and Electrical Therapies is one of the most complex, vocabulary rich modules in the diploma. The program manager described students who choose to study beauty therapy as practically minded. She explained that these students often struggle with the complicated physical and chemical theory they are required to understand. I designed and developed an online course specifically aimed at supporting the learning of technical vocabulary and complex concepts. This online course ran alongside the face-to-face lessons from a specialist beauty therapist, work experience placements and practical sessions where students perform treatments on paying clients. The response from students, the tutor and program manager in interviews showed that the tools created were appreciated because they allowed more flexibility and highlighted the connections between the various components of the course. However, there were also some puzzling results. Does providing resources, online, in print and in practical lessons actually mean students will use these resources and learn from them? This paper will give a brief
outline of the study, and then describe the effect the blended course designed for this study had on beauty therapy students.