BlendKit

This definition says that blended learning is about combining online learning with traditional schools to create an integrated learning experience, with some students' control over the time, place, path, and/or pace of their learning.

"School districts are flipping education on its head with mobile and online teaching tools" by WYLIE WONG

"This study will provide novel evidence on the effectiveness of blended learning in teaching evidence based practice (EBP) to a cohort of undergraduate and graduate-entry medical students."

This link is from the Chapter 05 reading and I thought it was the best for a focus on course design issues of what to place online v. classroom in a blended course.

In support of my blog post at http://learning-technologically.blogspot.com/2014/05/consistency-for-blended-learning-but.html

EDpuzzle provides a very helpful video curation service. You can source videos from 10 online sources (e.g. TED, YouTube, TeacherTube, etc.). The videos can be edited and questions added. What I find most helpful is the learner tracking features, you can actually see what your learners actually do.

"End of Semester Evaluation Form Student Survey of Teachers Teacher Assessment Survey Teacher Feedback Form Course Evaluation Form Evaluation of Teacher Use of Technology Form Daily Feedback Form"

"How Sedaris Writes Great First Sentences I don't know David personally, so the following tricks are pure speculation. But I have no doubt he would agree-or at least say I was close. 1. Find the hook. What draws people? Sex. Violence. Strange circumstances. Bizarre people. Surprising statements. Controversial positions. Of course you won't know the hook until you've written the first draft, which brings me to the next point. 2. Get rid of the first paragraph. Or two. Often, just to get started, we will throw everything on the table in the first couple of sentences. This is a tendency from school to explain what you are about to tell the reader. Break this habit if you want to seduce a reader with a first sentence. 3. Read lots of Sedaris. Or Truman Capote. Hemingway. Any great writer of fiction or non-fiction. 4. Type out a list of great first lines. Make this a long list. This will get you to concentrate and absorb the elements of the sentence. But it will do something else. See next point. 5. Review your list every time you write a first sentence. Need I say more? Your Turn"

Working on the DIY task on formulating assignments, I was looking for some writing tips that could be helpful for students. Here are four from Hemingway.

Onother list from content marketing... Ask yourself 5 questions when you create valuable content: : Is it ... - Findable - Readable - Understandable - Actionable - Shareable Link the checklist (pdf-file): http://www.contentmarketinginstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/leibtag_content_checklist.pdf

Another great post by Jackie Gerstein on what it really means to design tasks that really engage with the three Cs of Education 3.0-  connectors, creators, constructivists. 

Excellent summary of some of the online commentary and a great synthesis model for activity design that goes beyond simple lecture flipping

Very comprehensive overview of current blended learning best practices - Practical Applications and Experiences in K-20 Blended Learning Environments compiles pedagogical strategies and technologies and their outcomes that have been successfully applied in blended instruction. Highlighting best practices as elementary, secondary, and tertiary educational levels; this book is a vital tool for educators who teach or plan to teach in blended learning environments and for researchers interested in the area of blended education knowledge.

Great resources for assessment strategies in a variety of formats.

Very useful tools, indeed. Thanks for finding this Dean.

Since I hadn't taken time to actually figure out how Diigo works and how it might be useful, I figured now was the time. I found this site that that helps get you started. I found the two videos posted in the Resources at the bottom of the page quite useful.

A good simple approach. A three staged process for blended learning design: Absorb - Do - Connect

"The process model consists of three stages: Absorb-During this stage, students are gaining basic knowledge. This can include reading a chapter in the textbook. Do-Students then engage in an activity such as a discussion before the face-to-face session (in the case of a blended course) or a synchronous online session in the case of a totally online course. Connect-Students apply knowledge to real-world situations."

I've helped faculty implement this model in online courses and think it has been very successful. While a model like ADDIE provides a structured approach to designing an entire course, this Absorb, Do, Connect model, along with models like Gagne's 9 events of instruction provide us with models for how to structure individual lessons and keep them consistent.

" ...a number of educators living in the world of online learning who took some time out to share these thoughts on practices and challenges associated with creating and conducting compelling online courses and course content."

Even though this MOOC is based on Hybrid/ Blended courses, it is still important that the instructor/teacher engage in the learning in and out of the classroom. Here is some ways to do this...

Contact North began as a public funded educational support service to aid colleges and universities in northern Ontario leverage technology to enhance learning. They have evolved over time and provide innovative leadership and training across Ontario. Their "Pockets of Innovation" provides case studies on a range of initiatives, including blended learning.