Blended Learning
Posted by Madalaine Pugliese
This semester I've been working on a s-l-o-w implementation of the skills learned during last summer's Institute on Blended Learning sponsored by the PTRC. What a whirlwind 3 days! I knew that the Institute was designed to "practice what we preach" because the face-to-face meetings were paired (blended) with online activities. This was all crafted to lead participants toward understanding about instructional design in a blended format. What was exciting about the Institute is that it wasn't about blended learning tools. Instead it was about how to design instruction for blended learning interactions. In other words, how to ensure the integrity of a course; how to build a course in a blended format so that it is stronger - a better learning experience for students.
I must admit that I came through the door on the first day a bit skeptical. The course that I selected to "blend" was an assistive techology course. How could such a hands-on course be blended and still preserve the healthy, empowering learning environment that has typically been built face-to-face? I had my doubts! But I also had an open mind.
Now I'll fast forward to the results of my first semester teaching the course that was redesigned because of the Summer Institute. WOW! Never did I anticipate such powerful impact and meaningful outcomes!
The students tell me that the face-to-face meetings are more significant and that the blended format makes them feel closer to their peers. The blended format results in hearing from everyone, thus, everyone is enriched by each other. This is something that doesn't happen as deliberately when in a traditional format.
The assignments are authentic. By this I mean that the online investigations are designed so that my grad students can "meet" real assistive device users as they tell their own stories. Hearing these voices prior to learning about assistive technologies face-to-face means that the real time experience has so much more depth. Sure, I can make devices work technically. But hearing the authentic rationale prior to attending class brings an important perspective to our hands-on labs.
Now that I have one semester experience to draw upon, I can't wait to "tweak" the course, make it stronger, and consider which course to storyboard next!
I love blended learning. I never thought I would, but now I can't imagine teaching without it.
Who'da thunk it? Not me!
Posted: December 3, 2007 5:19 pm | 0 comments
Tags: blended, eLearning, hybrid, online, WebCT
