When designing for online and blended learning, it’s very important to consider WHO you are designing for and what their MOTIVATION for learning is.

The CoI model is a very useful tool for understanding the learner.  Once you can fully grasp the social and cognitive presence, the teaching  – and therefore the designing – becomes easier.  It will be vital when designing content and encouraging discourse.

The Teaching Experience is not just one-dimensional.  Therefore, your design should take into account various ways of imparting the knowledge.  You should not assume that all students are the same and that they understand concepts in the same way.  You must consider their different contexts and design your content based on how best they will LEARN.

Thought should also be given to the access they have to the various online tools you are going to use and their ability to use these tools.

When using a blended approach, it could also be a good idea to incorporate online training on the different tools as part of the in person orientation (induction) process.

Both the online and in person interactions must be integrated.  They cannot be seen as two separate elements in the learning process.  There should be “cross-pollination” of information and activities to ensure that students see the process as a complete learning experience.  The in person sessions should refer to and discuss the online components and vice versa.

The digital learning journey should be supported by direct contact with the campus-based lecturers until the students are ready to go online without assistance.

Much as a learner-driver must be accompanied in the car by a qualified driver, so too the students need to be guided on this journey until they become digitally literate and can embark on their online journey with confidence.