BlendKit 2017: Becoming a Blended Learning Designer MOOC

Blended learning (the strategic combination of face-to-face and online learning experiences) is growing in popularity within higher education and K-12 settings around the world. The goal of the BlendKit: Becoming a Blended Learning Designer MOOC is to provide facilitated assistance to faculty members and instructional designers in developing and designing blended courses through (1) a consideration of key issues related to blended learning and (2) practical step-by-step guidance in producing materials for a blended course (e.g., developing design documents, creating content pages, and receiving peer review feedback at one's own institution).

The next offering of the free MOOC, BlendKit 2017: Becoming a Blended Learning Designer, begins February 27, 2017, and lasts five weeks. The open course will be offered at no cost.

Course Details

 

History

A Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) grant in 2011 leveraged the University of Central Florida’s expertise to create the Blended Learning Toolkit as a free, open resource for educational institutions interested in developing or expanding their blended learning initiatives. The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), UCF’s grant partner, agreed to use its membership to distribute the toolkit and support new course models. The BlendKit course emerged from the grant to assist educators in designing blended courses and has supported three open, online cohorts since 2012.

Certificate of Accomplishment and Digital Badge

Registered participants may also choose to pursue an official “UCF/EDUCAUSE Certified Blended Learning Designer” certificate of accomplishment. Those who choose this more rigorous option will submit the materials they develop as part of the free MOOC for a portfolio review. This portfolio review is available for an $89 fee. Details regarding the portfolio requirements and a link to the payment form can be found within the course.

Those who meet the portfolio review expectations will earn a certificate of accomplishment from EDUCAUSE and the University of Central Florida, along with a digital badge that can be linked to the participant’s EDUCAUSE profile and displayed on professional and social networks.

This five-week course involves

  • Readings from scholarly works pertaining to blended learning
  • Document templates and practical step-by-step “how to” guides
  • Weekly webinars with guest presenters
  • Blogging/social networking interaction opportunities
  • Regular interactions with facilitators and students
  • Expert and peer assessment and critique on design work