Introduction to Online and Blended Teaching

In this course, you will explore several key issues that educators need to understand about teaching and learning in the digital age. We will look at how online learning is different from traditional methods of learning, examine how the digital practices of young people are continually changing, and explore some key considerations that need to be addressed while designing learning environments that are engaging and student-centered. We will investigate the ways in which education is evolving and, in turn, how the roles of teachers are changing in the digital world. We will review the history of online learning, and some key characteristics of successful online learning spaces. We will learn about digital literacies and how online reading and writing is different from paper-based reading and writing, and what implications this has for schooling. Finally, we will look at some key design considerations that educators need to be mindful of while working toward deeper engagement and meaningful learning experiences. This course is part of the Virtual Online Teaching (VOLT) program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education. The VOLT program seeks to equip educators with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the needs of the 21st century learner. 38

• How teaching and learning are changing in the digital world
• Best practices in online teaching and learning
• Definitions for digital literacies
• How to thoughtfully utilize technologies to support deeper learning