The fourth topic concerned how to set up a blended learning environment and foster a community of inquiry. Blended learning, i.e. the mix of online and in-class activities, offers opportunities as well as challenges. Creating a sense of community in an online environment is complicated. In our PBL group we discussed three  models around blended learning, namely the five-stage model (http://www.gillysalmon.com/five-stage-model.html), the community of learning (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ymBm6SMsTmBR5WrLKAQBgzxDtIn-BFBe/view), and the ABC learning design (https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/abc-ld/). All interesting, but perhaps more suited to topics where there is room for more discussion. I teach mostly basic courses in e.g. human physiology or systematics. Sure, there are issues to discuss within topics, or there certainly is, but at the level where I teach, there is no time for such nuances. 

Nevertheless, the ABC model I did find quite useful, and I was pleasntly surprised to see that my university had a whole section on the homepage dedicated to this. 

basically, make sure that everyone is on board. Technically, as well as mentally. Create a welcoming environment, be early for any off-topic discussions, stay afterwards for any that may have arisen. Make use of all online tools available, gamify the learning experience, and online teaching can be as rewarding, if not even more so, than in person classes.

I found this week’s topic somewhat overlapping with the previous one, in essesence we discussed the same things. 

In the end, we made a neat Miro table, a tool I have come to really like! One can see how everyone is busily adding and moving things around. Like an ant nest! 🙂 

https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_ldwqE2k=/