University of Illinois CITL: Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning
Transitioning to Blended Instruction
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Additional Resources

Whether you’re an experienced online and blended instructor or new to the hybrid classroom, the following resources can help you prepare your summer and fall courses. Still stuck? Reach out to our experts for assistance.

Student Engagement

Teaching a blended course offers unique opportunities to strategically integrate live online sessions, asynchronous online activities and in-class active learning strategies. You should consider what portions of the course are best accomplished individually by students in the online environment and what activities would benefit from a live online session, or in class with other students.

 

How-to Guide
Student Engagement
Building Student Engagement Online
Discover how to build and maintain student engagement throughout your online course.
Webinar Recording
Student Engagement
Hands-On Activities
Creative ways to generate alternative activities to achieve your student learning objectives.
Webinar Recording
Student Engagement
Student Engagement in Online Courses
Learn techniques and tips for fostering student engagement.

Assessment Strategies

Teaching in the online environment allows you to think beyond the usual assessment options and consider other ways students can demonstrate their understanding. Ask yourself how you will know if a student has learned a concept or skill? What authentic task could they complete to demonstrate this understanding? Whatever the assessment method you choose, you'll want to use a grading rubric to tell them how, or how well, they need to complete each task and offer examples of exceptional work when possible.
How-to Guide
Assessment Strategies
Assessing Student Learning
Assessments are activities designed to test students' competence in the learning objectives of a module or course. Learn more about assessing student learning with these best practices.
Best Practice
Assessment Strategies
Online Assessment Strategies Toolbox
Discover the various assessment tools and determine which would work best for your course.

Online Platforms

Campus offers a variety of online learning platforms that can be combined and integrated allowing faculty the flexibility to deliver their course in the manner that best suites their discipline and needs of their students. These tools can help you communicate effectively with your students, create and distribute course content, connect and collaborate in live online sessions and much more. These resources will help you determine the best tool to meet your needs.
HOW-TO GUIDE
Platforms
Illinois Compass 2G
Compass is the campus-wide learning management system powered by Blackboard Learn.
HOW-TO GUIDE
PLATFORMS
eText@Illinois
Accessible, Affordable Course Material
HOW-TO GUIDE
Platforms
Mediaspace
Quick tips on Mediaspace: when and how to use it.
HOW-TO GUIDE
Platforms
Zoom
Quick tips on Zoom: when and how to use it.

Course Materials & Production

Planning a course or altering an existing one allows faculty to revisit their course content, or learning goals. It can be helpful to think ‘backwards’ by asking yourself precisely what you want the students to know or do by the end of the term.  It's best NOT to approach the development of a blended course by transitioning what you've always done in class, into the online environment. Take time to brainstorm new and creative ways to accomplish your goals. What might you do differently now than you did before?
How-to Guide
Content & Production
Platforms to Move Your Course Online
4 campus-supported tools to meet your learning objectives
Video
Content & Production
Leveraging Free Online Resources
Discover the various free online resources you can use to create an online course.
Best Practice
Content & Production
Outlining Your Course Content
Best practices for outlining your course content to to create a consistent structure.
How-to Guide
Content & Production
Developing Media for Your Course
Need to develop media for your course? Follow this DIY guide on how to create media for your course.
Video
Content & Production
Record a Voice Over Presentation
A step-by-step guide to record a voice over PowerPoint lecture or screen capture video.
Video
Content & Production
Record a Talking Hands Video
Discover how to use Kaltura's in-Browser Express Capture video recording tool.

Compliance Concerns

Moving any portion of your course to the online environment brings new legal challenges and obligations. Be sure to familiarize yourself with your responsibilities for protecting student privacy, developing accessible content and following copyright best practices.
Best Practice
Compliance
Accessibility Resources
Make sure you are meeting accessibility standards
Best Practice
Compliance
Enhancing Course Accessibility
Review principles to enhance your course accessibility and quality
Best Practice
Compliance
Addressing Student Privacy: FERPA Tips
Understand FERPA laws and policies protecting a student's right to privacy
Best Practice
Compliance
Copyright Best Practices
Considerations for copyright and fair use in online instruction

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