Session 7

Title: Blended Learning: The best of both worlds

Session Description:

In order to address the needs and expectations of the current post-secondary student population, teaching strategies must change. A blended learning approach is one solution.

What exactly is blended in ‘blended learning’? There is a wide range of interpretations of how to define blended learning, but the most common understanding is that blended learning blends different delivery modes and, in particular, online and face-to-face teaching.

According to Garrison & Vaughan (2008, p.5), “Blended learning is not an addition that simply builds another expensive educational layer. It represents a restructuring of class contact hours with the goal to enhance engagement and to extend access to Internet-based learning opportunities. Most important, blended learning is a fundamental redesign that transforms the structure of, and approach to, teaching and learning. Blended learning necessitates that educators question what is important and consider how much time should be spent in the classroom.”

This presentation will demonstrate the development and implementation of an effective blended learning approach. The emphasis is on taking the best of both worlds (online and face-to-face), and creating an improved learning experience for the learners. An existing blended nursing course will be used to illustrate that it is the nature of the problems faced by the learners that determines the nature of the ‘blended’ solution. The primary perspective is pedagogically driven.

Presenter: Nancy Ball

Nancy Ball is currently an instructor in the Faculty of Nursing at Red River College. Her current focus is on the development of online and blended nursing courses. In 2009, she was a recipient of the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program award for the blended course “Health Assessment in Nursing”.

Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lakehead University and a Master of Education from the University of Manitoba.