Episode #76. Saturday September 25, 2021, 5:30 pm EDT
Episode Description. Given the events of the past 20 months, it is time to plan for the blended learning future. Of course, this should be obvious by now. Nicole Weber and Tanya Joosten will do just that in this session. This episode of Silver Lining for Learning will focus on the recent blended learning report Planning for a Blended Future: A Research-Driven Guide for Educators. This report evolved from the collaborative efforts between Every Learner Everywhere, The National Research Center for Distance Education and Technological Advancements (DETA), and the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). Specifically, Joosten and Weber will discuss different models of blended learning that have recently emerged as well as traditional ones, changes and new considerations in blended learning course design, and new resources to help one grasp the possibilities of blended learning. Impressively, Nicole Weber and Tanya Joosten are also about to launch a follow-up report on blended learning geared toward administrators, deans, directors, and other educational leaders. They will provide some insights into that report as well. Given these two reports, this session will entail cutting edge thinking and vital research related to blended forms of learning. Perhaps it is time for you to download Planning for a Blended Future report:
https://www.everylearnereverywhere.org/resources/planning-for-a-blended-future/
More on your guests below the video
Tanya Joosten, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist, the Director of Digital Learning Research and Development, and co-PI and co-Director of the National Research Center for Distance Education and Technological Advancements (DETA) at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is nationally recognized in her work in blended and online learning as an Online Learning Consortium (OLC) Fellow and works to guide strategic digital learning efforts on campus, across the UW System, and nationally as an advisor to the Provost, a member of the University of Wisconsin System Learning Technology Executive Council, and a member of several national boards and committees.
Currently, Dr. Joosten leads a national research initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Education working to provide access to research models and methods, facilitating innovate processes of data collection, and encouraging the replication of research across institutions through the DETA Research Toolkit to identify key instructional and institutional factors that influence student success with particular attention to underrepresented students.
Dr. Joosten has a background in the social sciences hailing from the field of communication. Her notable keynotes include eLearning Asia, ITC eLearning Conference, and SACS COC President’s event, and her ideas have been highlighted on plenary panels at the UW-Madison Annual Distance Teaching and Learning conference and the OLC International Conference for Online Learning. You can find her ideas and work cited in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Forbes, U.S. News World and Report, and more. Recent interviews with Dr. Joosten are available on ResearchInAction and TOPcast available on iTunes. Her book on social media is available from Wiley Publishing, she has authored numerous articles, chapters, and encyclopedia entries on human and social interactions and digital learning, and she often writes invited blog posts and magazine articles for organizations, such as EDUCAUSE, WCET, Inside Higher Ed, and Pearson.
Dr. Joosten previously worked as the Director of the Learning Technology Center leading faculty development and engagement initiatives, pedagogical and technological innovation projects, core learning technology oversight, and blended and online program development. Her homepage is at: http://tanyajoosten.com/ and she can be contacted at tjoosten@uwm.edu
Dr. Nicole Weber is the Associate Vice President (AVP) of Learning at the Online Learning Consortium (OLC). In this role she works closely with OLC staff and global partners to advance professional development opportunities, continuous improvement efforts, and research in support of quality digital, blended, and online learning. Before joining OLC, she served as the Director of Learning Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where she led online and blended faculty development efforts, technology training for the digital learning ecosystem, and emerging learning technology exploration and evaluation, collaborating across the institution to support student learning and success. Nicole received her PhD in Urban Education specializing in Social Foundations of Education with an emphasis on designing engaging learning environments in 2012. She may be contacted at nicole.weber@onlinelearning-c.org