The Blended Learning Initiative

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Blended Learning		Blended Learning is a form of e-learning that “blends” face-to-face teaching with online delivery. The Teaching/Learning Center assists faculty members in incorporating new technologies into courses wherever appropriate.

Technology-Enhanced Courses		In general, Otis faculty have embraced OSpace. LAS has the highest usage with 73% of the faculty actively posting in the CMS. All LAS faculty require students to post reflections in the Learning e-Portfolios. Many studio faculty are also requiring students to post. There are many instances where the use of appropriate technology in courses is beneficial to both faculty and students. In addition to OSpace and email, technologies used may include blogs, the DID, wikis, learning objects, video projects, Tumblr, etc. This use of technology is overwhelmingly appreciated by students, 96% of whom have reported on surveys for several years that they like the use of appropriate technology in their courses.

Complete Online Learning Courses		For the past four years a few online courses have been offered in the LAS Department during the summer. Assessments show that the quality of learning and student satisfaction is very good. These courses are great for students who need to return home for the summer, but still complete their degree.

True Blended Online Learning offerings are courses in which 30 - 50% of the content and instruction is delivered online. Such courses also meet, as traditional courses do, yet students and faculty members are required to spend less “seat time” in the studio or classroom. In developing such courses, Otis has successfully engaged numerous faculty members in online pedagogy orientation, training, and course preparation through a curricular innovation grant program.

At Otis, 48 faculty have completed the Bricks & Clicks course!

By Fall 2013, Otis will have offered 71 e-Learning classes!

Faculty Teaching
Blended/Online Classes:
Adam Overton; Heather Joseph-Witham; Karri Paul; Jean-Marie Venturini; Maggie Light; Marsha Hopkins; Michael Albright; Parme Giuntini; Siel Ju; Crossman Wilkins; Yael Samuel; Candace Lavin; Patty Kovic; Sung Ju Ahn; Chris Wilder; Kristiana Willsey; Mikhail Morozov

Faculty Apply for Grant:
If you wish to consider planning a blended course, for a limited time, there are faculty innovation grants to help you prepare including participating in the online pedgagogy seminar course Bricks & Clicks.