Teaching in Blended Learning Environments: Creating and Sustaining Communities of Inquiry
Abstract: According to a survey conducted over ten years ago, more than 80% of higher education institutions in the United States offer courses in a blended format (Arabasz, Boggs & Baker, 2003). In the words of Gladwell (2000), we have gone over the "tipping point"; blended learning has become an educational epidemic. The three societal forces that have converged (the perfect wave) to drive this epidemic are technology, financial constraints, and quality concerns. The blended approaches to learning that have arisen to address these forces have lead to three major non-contradictory affordances – effectiveness, efficiency, and convenience. The result is an era of engagement and sustainable communities of inquiry. This session will provide participants with an opportunity to share and discuss strategies for designing, facilitating, and leading blended learning courses and programs. Objectives: The session will provide participants with the opportunity to share and discuss strategies for: Designing and organizing a blended course Facilitating and moderating a blended course Directing and leading a blended course Summary statement: Blended learning has become an educational epidemic in higher education and this session will provide participants with an opportunity to share and discuss strategies for designing, facilitating, and leading blended learning courses and programs.