Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Teaching in Different Environments

As we near the end of the semester, let us look back at the series of blog articles on teaching in different environments. A brief introductory paragraph is provided for each article. Click the title to read the full article.

Teaching in the Online Synchronous Environment

Are you going to teach online? Will you teach synchronously, asynchronously, or a mixture of both? Learning and teaching occur differently in the online environment. However, synchronous offers the closest experience to a face-to-face environment. Students interact through a Web-based format, which operates like a traditional class, in real-time. As such, this article provides strategies and tools for teaching synchronous online courses.

Related article: Intentionally Designing, Developing, and Delivering Online Courses

Teaching in the Online Asynchronous Environment

Most online courses are asynchronous and provide greater flexibility than traditional, face-to-face courses. In the asynchronous environment, the instructor and students are not required to be online at the same time. Teaching and learning do not happen in real-time. Typically, instructors prepare the course ahead of time with students being required to meet deadlines using a learning management system (LMS). In this article, we will explore some strategies for teaching asynchronous online courses.

Related article: Intentionally Designing, Developing, and Delivering Online Courses

Teaching in the Hybrid Environment

Unlike the asynchronous and synchronous environments, the hybrid environment combines face-to-face course delivery with online delivery. Learning takes place in the classroom and online with online learning replacing some face-to-face instruction. For example, if a class meets in person three days a week, the instructor might replace one day with an online assignment. The key to teaching in the hybrid environment is making connections between in-class and online instructional content, activities, and assessments. Here are some strategies for teaching in the hybrid environment.

Teaching in the Active Blended Learning Environment

 Typically, blended courses or technology-enhanced courses have a technology component, but the face-to-face classes meet according to the traditional schedule without reducing time in the classroom. Technology is used to complement traditional classroom learning. On the other hand, an active blended learning environment supports the “development of subject knowledge and understanding, independent learning, and digital fluency (Power & Cole, 2017, p.668). In this article, I discuss two uses of active blended learning, a student-centered approach to teaching and learning.

Teaching in the Traditional Face-to-Face Environment

The face-to-face environment is the most traditional instructional method where (in which) course content, learning materials, and assessments happen in-person with both the instructor and students present at the same time. However, the pandemic changed teaching and learning with the learning management system (LMS) as a critical platform for continuity in education. What does that mean for the future of the face-to-face environment? This article explores the LMS as a keeper for enhancing communication, instruction, and engagement in the traditional face-to-face environment.

Teaching in the HyFlex Learning Environment

One lesson learned from the pandemic involves offering students the maximum amount of choice possible to engage in high-quality educational experiences from anywhere, at any time, and through a variety of delivery modes. As more educational institutions offer online, distributed learning opportunities, students are no longer constrained by geographical location. However, a HyFlex (hybrid-flexible) learning environment expands learning opportunities by offering different ways for students to participate in the course. This article provides examples of HyFlex learning environments.

Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to read these blog articles. If you have suggestions for future blog articles, please feel free to contact me.

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Cite this blog: Washington, G. (2021, November 30). Teaching in Different Environments [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://pedagogybeforetechnology.blogspot.com/