Blended Learning

There are so many possibilities; do I have to do it all?
Good practice in blended learning (and operating in “Mode 2”), doesn’t necessarily mean adopting a wide
range of technologies for a particular course. It can mean simply using a few tools, but in effective ways in
order to achieve quality in teaching, learning and/or course management.
For example, a teacher may upload lecture notes (and perhaps lecture recordings) on their course site,
regularly use the announcement and email functions, and include other information and resources on their
course site. This would be considered more like Mode 1 blended learning. However, the teacher may also
integrate the use of a discussion board in their course design, including a number of different forums such as
a Question and Answer forum between teacher and students, an informal ‘students only’ forum, as well as a
number of topic forums relating to different components of the course where students are required to post
comments that form part of the assessment task/s. This would be considered a Mode 2 example of blended
learning.
Section 1:
Blended Learning at Griffith University
Where to next?
As with the design of any aspect of curriculum, starting first with the course aims and learning objectives and
considering how to best support students in achieving quality learning is crucial. In the following sections, we
provide guidance in the planning, designing and developing, implementing and evaluating of blended learning
approaches.
Endnotes
1 Blended Learning Strategy (2009) – http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/197143/
BlendedLearningStrategy.pdf
2 Blended Learning Implementation Plan (2009) – http://www.griffith.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/180879/
Blended-Learning-Imp-Plan-FINAL_May09.pdf
3 Policy Library – http://www62.gu.edu.au/policylibrary.nsf
4 GIHE professional development – http://www.griffith.edu.au/gihe/professional-development-programs
5 Resources, Case Studies and Issues Papers – http://www.griffith.edu.au/gihe/teaching-learning-curriculum/blendedlearning
6 Blended Learning Support site – https://intranet.secure.griffith.edu.au/computing/blended-learning-support
7 INS (L&T) http://www.griffith.edu.au/elements/information-services
Section 1: Blended Learning at Griffith University
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