Blended-Learning Workshop

If you intend to submit a proposal under the President's Technology Initiative, plan to register for and attend a blended workshop beginning March 1, 2013 and ending April 5, 2013. The workshop

  • Gives you experience as a student in a blended instruction environment
  • Models good practices in blended learning
  • Provides examples of blended learning designs from various disciplines
  • Steps you through the thinking and activities necessary for you to write a solid proposal and create a module of your redesigned blended-learning course in Blackboard Learn

The workshop consists of three in-person meetings on March 1, March 8, and April 5 in Cline Library, Room 200; see times below) combined with a variety of online activities. By the end of the workshop you will be able to create a blended course module built out in Blackboard Learn, and you will have a plan for finishing your course redesign proposal.

Your final proposal is due at 5 p.m. on April 12, 2013 after the workshop ends.

Workshop Prerequisites

Because this workshop focuses on how to design and teach a blended course as well as how to prepare a course redesign proposal, it does not provide extensive hands-on training in how to use Blackboard Learn and other instructional technologies. However, one of the final outcomes of the workshop is a completed course module built in Blackboard Learn, so prior to the start of Unit 4 of the workshop (which begins March 25) you need to be familiar with how to accomplish these tasks in Blackboard learn:

  • Organizing content
  • Developing learning activities
  • Communicating with students
  • Grading student work

The e-Learning Center's Blackboard Learn training covers these topics and is available through in-person workshops and online, self-paced training.

Blackboard also offers a series of video tutorials on these topics and others.

Workshop Details

Register for the workshop through the e-Learning Center's training site.

Unit 1: What is blended learning?

In person, March 1, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.,Cline 200

You will

  • Review current research and literature on blended learning, examine how it might be implemented at NAU, and discuss its potential for student learning
  • Begin the backward design process by identifying some intended learning outcomes for your course
  • Align assessments and learning activities with your intended learning outcomes

Unit 2: How do I mesh online and face-to-face learning activities?

In person, March 8, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m.,Cline 200

You will

  • Examine various blended learning techniques
  • Consider examples of blended learning and begin to identify which kinds of learning activities and assessments are best delivered before, during, or after class
  • Begin to develop an integrated approach to in-class and out-of-class activities

Unit 3: What blended learning techniques can I use?

Online, March 9-15

You will

  • Explore resources to assist you in "flipping" your classroom
  • Identify ways to cover content outside of class so you can use class time to focus on problems, concepts, collaboration, and experiential learning
  • Read about the replacement model of blended learning and discuss how this approach can help you save time and improve cost efficiency without sacrificing quality

Unit 4: How do I build my sample module?

Online, March 25-30

You will

  • Deconstruct a blended learning module, examining the instructor's intent in developing before-, during-, and after-class activities
  • Begin to map your own sample blended learning course module, documenting your ideas as you go in Blackboard Learn

Unit 5: How do I make this work in Blackboard Learn?

Online, March 31-April 4

You will

  • Explore the tools in Blackboard Learn to determine which are best suited for your learning activities
  • Begin building your sample course module in a Blackboard Learn shell
  • Explore the Institutional Review Board (IRB) process at NAU so that you can later use student data when reporting on the results of your blended course redesign
  • Identify how best to assess student learning and engagement in your course

Unit 6: How did I do and what do I do next?

In person, April 5, 1:30 to 3:00 p.m., Cline 200

In this last face-to-face meeting, you will

  • Describe what you did in your sample blended learning module
  • Examine your sample module using the evaluation criteria for the President's Technology Initiative
  • Get feedback from your faculty colleagues in preparation for drafting your proposal
  • Explore the communities and support available to sustain your blended learning efforts at NAU