Self-study Discovery Guide

Blended Learning and Online Strategies for K-12

Course Introduction

Getting Started
Instructions
Now that you have reflected on your teaching experiences and your ideas of blended learning, it is time to set
your goals for this course. Review the questions below and begin your self-study.

 What do you hope to achieve in this online course?

 What type of course experience do you hope to create online with your students?
 Do you fear something will be lost by moving your course to an online environment? What?
 What challenges do you anticipate or expect?

Your Response
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Section 1: Introduction to Blended Teaching and

Online Learning

Your Role Self-study

Instructions
Using what you’ve learned regarding the four roles of a digital learning facilitator, reflect on how you will
fulfill your role and responsibilities as a teacher.

If you have taught online already, apply these questions to reflect on your previous experience and the changes
you would like to make in the future.

 What do you expect your first online teaching experience to be like for you, the teacher?
 What do you expect your students’ online experience to be like?

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  What support do you expect from curriculum consultants, IT staff, and other support individuals at your
school?
 In what ways do you anticipate interacting with your online students?

Your Response
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Section 2: Planning Your Online Classroom

Preparedness Self-study
Instructions
Now, dedicate time to reflect on the materials in this topic and evaluate how prepared you are to build a blended
learning or distance learning course, as well as how ready your content is for the online environment. Focus on
the current course you are preparing to move online or the next course you are getting ready to build. 

If you have taught online already, apply these questions to reflect on your previous experience and the changes
you would like to make in the future.

 What is the current state of your course content? What form is your content in?
 How do you think your current content will translate to the online environment?
 What type of work do you foresee?
 What content gaps do you have for moving your materials into the online environment and how will you
resolve them? 
 What is your learning platform and how familiar are you with using it? 
 Do you have any ideas about which instructional technologies you will use?

Your Response

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Section 3: Providing Content to Students

Content Analysis Self-study

Building a blended learning course requires access to resources that are in a digital format. Think about the
resources you are currently using and what additional materials you may need to create an online course.

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If you have taught online already, apply these questions to reflect on your previous experience and the changes
you would like to make in the future.

 What do you think will be your challenges when it comes to developing e-learning content?
 What resources do you currently have for curated content for use in your online courses?
 What assistance do you have at your institution for building online courses?
 What access do you have to graphics and media to use in building your online course?
 What LTI integrations do you have access to for building out your course materials?
 What online education resources (OER) do you plan to access to build your course content?

Your Response
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Content Selection Self-study

Instructions
Before students can submit assignments, take tests, or collaborate with each other, they must be presented with
meaningful, relevant content. Consider the materials you will use, or have used, in one of your courses, and
reflect on the following questions. In each case, be mindful of the fact that not only will you be using these
principles to gather, choose, and present content to your students, you will simultaneously be modeling best
practices for them to follow as they gather and evaluate their own materials.
 Where will you source materials?
 How will you determine the legitimacy of those sources? How will you establish and communicate that
legitimacy to your students?
 Rather than simply transferring found materials into your course, how will you transform and synthesize
them to give them relevance and usefulness to your students?
 What methods will you use to stimulate your students to perform their own critical analysis of the
material presented to them?

Your Response
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Section 4: Addressing the Needs of Diverse

Learners

Accessible Materials Self-study

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Instructions
Now that you’ve examined some of the potential issues that arise in making online learning available to
everyone, consider a course that you have taught or plan to teach in the future.
 Does your course present any barriers that are readily apparent to you?
 Do you use colored text in your course? If so, do the color contrast values pass the AA level of the
WebAIM contrast checker?
 Using the information, you used in this unit, examine your course for potential barriers to access by
students with disabilities in these areas:
o Visual
o Motor
o Hearing
o Cognitive

Your Response
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Personalizing Your Course Self-study

For teachers coming from a traditional lecture-based classroom environment, the concept of personalized
learning paths may be a relatively new one. Thinking about courses you will be involved in in the future—
whether they be new ones or new iterations of courses you’ve taught before—begin planning ways that you can
adapt them to be more individualized for your students.
 Do you have a way to pre-assess your students’ abilities and interests?
 Which of the four types of personalized learning—Personal Learning Paths, Learner Profiles, Flexible
Learning Environments, or Competency-Based Progression—will you choose?
 Will you combine or adapt one or more of them?
 What mechanisms are available to you in your LMS to implement your plans for personalization?

Your Response
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Section 5: Using Video to Teach

Web Conferencing Self-study

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Instructions
Incorporating web and video conferencing into your e-learning course promotes interaction that goes beyond
text-based knowledge sharing. Evaluate how you will include web and video conferencing your course.

If you have taught online already, apply these questions to reflect on your previous experience and the changes
you would like to make in the future.

 In what ways will you incorporate web and video conferencing into your course?
 If you will not be using web conferencing tools, consider a course where you have used it either as a
teacher or a student. Was the activity successful? What could have been done to create a more
collaborative environment?

Your Response
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Skills Gap Self-study

Instructions
An aspect of the flipped classroom that is explored in this module is the way it may result in a “skills gap” on
the part of the teacher. Thinking about the process of flipping one of your own classes, consider these questions:
 Will it be a challenge for you to develop in-class activities that stimulate higher order thinking skills in
your students?
 Are you comfortable working with media like video to present your course content, or will you need
time and training?
 Do you feel confident that you have the requisite pedagogical skills to convert to and work in a flipped
classroom model?

Your Response
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Section 6: Supporting Students and Communicating

with Them

Student Support Self-study

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Instructions
In the online class, student support is presented in different ways from those you would provide in a face-to-
face course. Think about how you will support your students in your e-learning course.

If you have taught online already, apply these questions to reflect on your previous experience and the changes
you would like to make in the future.

 What are your plans to support the online student in your course?
 Do you have any additional ways you plan to support the student?
 How will you support communication?
 What types of support materials will you provide?
 How will you design your course to support usability best practices and make it accessible for all
students?
 What resources does your institution offer for students, and how will you share that information with
them?

Your Response
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Final Self-study
Instructions
First, review your self-study findings from each section. Then, analyze and reflect how your conceptions of
blended learning and course design have evolved during this course. When you are finished, submit this self-
study document.
 What misconceptions did you have about creating online courses?
 How have your thoughts and visions of your course changed since beginning this course?
 What challenges have you identified and how will you resolve them?
 Are you struggling with finding solutions for any of the challenges?
 Do you have any remaining fears or questions about creating an online course?
 How have you altered your teaching approach since completing this course?

Your Response
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