Let's get this started...

Welcome to my new blog which will focus on ‘blended learning’! Some of you reading may know I have been involved in education and training, and more specifically distance education for over 20 years now.  Over the past few years I have been reading and thinking and learning about blended learning, however I haven’t had the opportunity (until now) to delve further into it as it relates directly to my current role. Over the last few months, and weeks, I’ve been hearing the word used almost daily and I’m excited to be part of this increased level of interest at College of the North Atlantic (CNA) where I currently am the Chair, Office of Distributed Learning (DL).

When I was thinking about a title for this blog, and thinking about technology and teaching combinations, the word “concoction” kept coming to mind. (It was often followed by me humming the tune of Margaritaville ‘Nibbin’ on sponge cake, watchin’ the sun bake…’ but I digress).

So what is blended learning?

It is a technology and teaching concoction!

What then is a concoction?

According to Merriam-Webster to 'concoct' is to prepare by combining raw materials. The Online Free Dictionary defines a 'concoction' as the act of creating something by compounding or mixing a variety of components. On Wikipedia it states the term concoction is sometimes loosely used metaphorically in order to describe a cocktail or a motley assemblage of things, persons or ideas.

So, if you combine all the technology tools we currently have available at CNA, add in a sprinkling of some very innovative and skilled instructors and administrators, a dash of creativity and strain through a strategy shaker, you will have a fabulous teaching and technology concoction, known as blended learning.

There are many definitions and descriptions in the academic literature on blended learning which I'll focus more on in upcoming posts.  One I commonly reference is: "Blended courses integrate online with face-to-face instruction in a planned, pedagogically valuable manner, and do not just combine but trade-off face-to-face time with online activity, or vice versa . (Implementing Blended Learning: Policy Implications for Universities, Lori Wallace & Jon Young,  University of Manitoba).

Stay tuned over the next few months as I plan use this forum to share ideas.  Even more importantly, I also want to hear from you - your perspectives, experiences, research, thoughts, advice and suggestions. (Guest bloggers welcome).

Blended learning isn’t new, using technology to enhance teaching and learning isn’t new, but the development and implementation of a strategy to capitalize on the potential of blended learning at CNA is!

Theresa (theresa.pittman@cna.nl.ca)