Note: This course series was updated this year to reflect the most recent research-based practices in use during the pandemic.
Are you starting up or refining a distance education program, or looking for ways to add structure to your distance teaching and learning process? Would you like to know more about best practices for developing distance or blended education at your program but aren’t quite sure where to begin or what the differences are between these two models?
This third module in the Expanding Access through Distance and Blended Education series (based on the IDEAL Consortium’s IDEAL 101 course) explains how to select online instructional products; where to find the list of state-funded online instructional product licenses, approaches and materials for offline study and supplemental resources to extend learning; and how to organize them. Options for staying in communication with learners are discussed. It also covers types of assessment, how they support instruction and learning as well as retention, and ways to carry them out in the distance learning environment.
This course includes a discussion forum and webinar to share ideas with colleagues and a facilitator.
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Administrators and instructors who are implementing formal distance or blended learning for the first time this year, or who want to transition their remote teaching and learning to a more structured, evidence-based model
- Those who have experience but have not had previous training, or who want to update their knowledge and skills relevant to serving students during the pandemic
This professional development activity/course is designed for:
The total time for this PD activity is approximately 5.5 hours, depending on your pace and style of learning. We estimate the time as follows:
- 4 hours: The online course will run between January 12 and February 9, 2021.
- 1.5 hours: An end-of-course webinar for sharing and review will be held on February 9 from 10:00-11:30 a.m. for those new to distance or blended education this year, from 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. for those with more experience, and from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. for anyone who prefers to attend in the evening. These webinars are a required part of the course. If the appropriate webinar does not work with your schedule, once enrolled please contact the facilitator. You will not register separately; by registering for the course you will automatically be registered for the final webinar and we will send you the information for how to log on.
NOTE: Modules 1 (Setting the Stage: Planning for a Strong Foundation) and 2 (Opening Your Doors: Recruitment, Screening, and Orientation) were offered in the fall are complementary to this module. Those registering for all three in the series will be given preference. We also suggest considering enrollment in Introduction to Blended Learning for a more in-depth look at models and examples. (See below.)
This course presents foundational information about blended learning, including definitions, strategies, examples, and reflective activities primarily presented in multimedia format. The goal of the course is for teachers and administrators to have a basic understanding of the different forms of blended learning and how they might integrate them into courses they provide to student populations they currently serve as well as those they would like to begin serving.
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Describe reasons and options for communicating with learners
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Use considerations for selecting online instructional products and supplemental resources
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Track learner progress
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Stay informed of technology innovations
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Determine how to use various types of assessment by understanding how they support instruction, learning, and retention, and ways to carry out assessments in the distance and blended learning environments
Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:
Online
United States
