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Presenters:  Sandy Johnson and Susie Bussmann 

Objectives

• Define what blended learning is
• Explain how blended learning can be used to meet instructional goals
• Identify technology resources that can be utilized to blend learning

Introduction:  Blended Learning is to combine or mix modes of Web-based technology such as live virtual classroom, self-paced instruction, collaborative learning, streaming video, audio, and text to accomplish an educational goal.  Open Educational Resources are freely accessible, openly licensed documents and media that are useful for teaching, learning, educational, assessment and research purposes.  This presentation will share open educational resources for classroom teachers that can be used in a blended format for teaching and learning.

Before you begin to attempt to "blend" your instruction, you should stop and think----why do you want to "blend" your instruction?  If you haven’t determined why you are blending or cannot justify the value in blending your instruction, your attempts will be unfocused and confusing for students. Before you attempt to blend your instruction, one should consider the instructional goals.  How will the use of technology help "blend" a lesson and meet instructional goals? 

To begin, think of the action verbs that should be noted in learning objectives such as "connect", "network", "collaborate", "cooperate", or "create".  Then think of the technology resources available. You can then "blend" your instructional objective with an available tool to meet your instructional goal.

Blended Learning

The definition of blended learning is a formal education program in which a student learns:

(1) at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace;

(2) at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home;

(3) and the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience.

Open Educational Resources for Blending Instruction