By Linda S. Futch (Department Head, Center for Distributed Learning, University of Central Florida)

The next offering of BlendKit 2015:  Becoming a Blended Learning Designer begins on Februrary 23, 2015, with a 30-minute orientation session at 2:00 p.m. (US EDT; -4 UTC) and lasts five weeks.  The open course will be offered at no cost.  Enroll at https://www.canvas.net/courses/becoming-a-blended-learning-designer-1

Blended learning (the strategic combination of face-to-face and online learning experiences) is growing in popularity within higher education and K-12 settings around the world. The goal of the BlendKit: Becoming a Blended Learning Designer is to provide facilitated assistance to faculty members and instructional designers in developing and designing blended courses through (1) a consideration of key issues related to blended learning and (2) practical step-by-step guidance in producing materials for a blended course (e.g., developing design documents, creating content pages, and receiving peer review feedback at one’s own institution).

This five-week course includes:

  • Expert and peer assessment and critique on design work
  • Regular interactions with facilitators and students
  • Blogging/social networking interaction opportunities
  • Weekly webinars with guest presenters
  • Document templates and practical step-by-step “how to” guides
  • Readings from scholarly works pertaining to blended learning

Certification

Registered participants may also choose to pursue an official “UCF/EDUCAUSE Certified Blended Learning Designer” credential. Those who choose this more rigorous option will submit the materials they develop as part of the free MOOC for a portfolio review. This portfolio review is available for an $89 fee. Details regarding the portfolio requirements and a link to the payment form can be found within the course.

Those who meet the portfolio review expectations will earn a certificate from EDUCAUSE and the University of Central Florida, along with a digital badge that can be linked to the participant’s EDUCAUSE profile and displayed on professional and social networks.