2010 Blended Plenary Speakers

 


Opening Plenary Speaker

Joel Hartman
Closing Plenary Speaker

Veronica Diaz
Dr. Joel Hartman
Vice Provost for Information Technologies & Resources University of Central Florida

"The Promise and Practice of Blended Learning"

Although blended learning is, by definition, a joining of two well-established and well-understood instructional modalities, the combination appears to be particularly challenging for some institutions. Lured by the promise that blended learning can benefit the majority of the institution’s students and faculty while achieving efficiencies in resource utilization, we confront the question of what constitutes effective practices. What works and why? What is required to make blended learning truly the “best of both worlds?

This presentation will summarize the potential of blended learning to successfully achieve all five of the Sloan-C pillars (the promise), and review the lessons learned over 13 years of experience developing and delivering a large-scale blended learning initiative (the practice) at the University of Central Florida.
 Veronica Diaz
Associate Director, EDUCAUSE
Learning Initiative, EDUCAUSE

“Hybrid Learning meets Web 2.0: (re) designing a Hybrid Course with Emerging Technologies for the Net Generation Learner”

This session will provide resources and program materials for an 18-hour faculty development program that supports hybrid course redesign and is infused with web 2.0 tools, strategies, and examples for implementation. We’ll also discuss hybrid learning faculty development, guidelines and best practices for institutional implementation, and a ready-to-use faculty development hybrid course (re)design model.

 
 
 
 
As blended learning matures and develops into a powerful teaching and learning practice, it becomes clear that blended is not just a variation of on-line or classroom based learning.  Blended learning is the artful design of a teaching and learning experience that leverages instruction, technology, administrative and support services, into a seamless experience for learner and teacher.   Blended learning provides unique opportunities and challenges in that it affords many more modalities of delivery than either classroom or fully on-line can offer.  Blended learning can result in either a disjointed sometimes confusing learning and teaching experience or can be one of the most rewarding environments in which to teach and learn.


In this session the panel will explore what it takes to build a blended learning ecosystem tailored to supporting world-class teaching and learning experiences.  We will explore this ecosystem question from a pedagogical, institutional and support perspective.  We will discuss what is meant by a blended learning ecosystem and focus on critical elements that if thoughtfully implemented help you to build a sustainable and quality-driven blended learning offering.  The panel will help you to sharpen your own thinking on building out a blended offering and arm you with insights and ideas to take back to your campus and your blended community.