Blended Learning Essentials: Getting Started

What topics will you cover?

• Definitions of blended learning.
• The impact of digital technology on teachers and learners.
• Pedagogical theories and teaching approaches that underpin blended learning, including constructivism, social constructivism, and problem-based learning.
• Digital technologies available to support blended learning in formal and informal learning scenarios.
• The role of Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs) and how to use them effectively for blended learning.
• The role of open tools in blended learning.
• Open educational resources (OERs): what they are, how they can be used, and where to find them.
• Processes for blended learning design, including curriculum and instructional design. The role of the DADDIE model in planning and evaluating blended learning. Story-telling and story-boarding techniques for developing digital learning.
• The role of assessment in the curriculum design process. Different approaches for using technology to support assessment and feedback.
• The benefits and challenges of ‘flipped’ learning. Approaches to designing a flipped lesson.
• Collaboration in blended learning, including the use of discussion forums, synchronous collaboration, and social media.
• How to design and review a blended learning activity.
• The digital skills learners need to equip them for the modern workplace, and how learners can be supported in developing these skills.
• The importance of inclusive teaching practices. The value of making education and training more accessible for learners.
• The demand for flexible learning, and the role of digital technology in making teaching and learning more flexible.