10 tips for blended learning
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Blended learning is a familiar concept in the AO, used for example in faculty development and residents' programs for many years, with a mix of online and face-to-face components. As clinical courses are increasingly delivered in this way, we are pleased to share some top tips to enhance your blended events.
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1. Plan with your learning objectives in mind. Select the technology to serve the outcome you want your education to achieve.
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2. Think about why you are using blended learning. Eg, is it to reach a wider audience or an audience with differing levels of experience? Plan your content accordingly.
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3. Align the online experience with the face-to-face experience. Do the resources you provide link to the live event with the same learning objectives?
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4. Address your learners' preferences and context. What sort of resources do they respond to eg, short readings, videos? Consider how to create a social element in the online parts.
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5. Avoid the temptation to take a pre-existing course and “blend” it.
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6. Consider the roles of your faculty and communicate expectations, eg, facilitator, moderator, coach.
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7. Promote collaborative learning. Build in options for this (eg, forums, group work).
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8. Respect the online portion of the course. If you don’t believe it is educationally sound, neither will your learners.
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9. Pilot new courses, getting feedback from participants and faculty, and build on what you have learned.
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10. Manage expectations. Prepare your learners and faculty: They need to be aware of what is needed/expected of them and what they will get out of the experience.
Acknowledgement
Adapted from: https://theelearningcoach.com/elearning2-0/best-practices-in-blended-learning/