Blended Learning: Tools for Teaching and Training

✍ Scribed by Barbara Allan

• Publisher: Facet Publishing
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 241
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

This essential guide should be on the desk of any library and information professional, records manager, archivist or knowledge manager involved in planning and introducing an ERM system, whether in a public or private sector organization. Information professionals currently face the challenge of providing end-user education and staff training to very large and diverse groups, whilst integrating the use of ICT into their teaching. But there seems to be a tendency within the literature to focus solely on face-to-face learning or on e-learning, and this is a lost opportunity.

This book offers a new blended learning approach, combining the two techniques to make best use of the advantages of each while minimizing the disadvantages. It provides information professionals with a practical guide to the design and delivery of such training programmes, illustrated with a range of library-based examples, checklists and case studies. Many organizations establish projects, sometimes using external funding, as a means of developing their education and training provision, and the book provides a practical overview of this subject in the context of blended learning. Key areas covered include:

technologies in the classroom

virtual communication tools

integrated learning environments

websites and web tools

models of teaching and learning

planning and designing learning activities

individual and group learning

coaching and mentoring

engaging with communities of interest and practice

managing learning and teaching projects.

Readership: This unique book will be of great value to any information professionals involved in establishing and delivering end-user education and staff development, whatever their previous experience. It will also benefit staff developers in school, college and higher education, library and information students, independent consultants and trainers, and information suppliers such as database providers.

✦ Table of Contents

Cover
Also by Barbara Allan
Title page
Copyright
Contents
List of figures
List of tables
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction
Teaching and training in the 21st century
What is blended learning?
Structure of the book
References
2 Tools and technologies
Introduction
Technologies in the classroom
Virtual communication tools
Social networking software
E-learning systems
Mobile learning or m-learning
Summary
References
3 Models of teaching and learning
Introduction
Context of learning
Learning styles
Approaches to learning
Learner-centred pedagogies
Specific approaches to teaching and learning
Summary
References
4 Planning and designing blended learning programmes
Introduction
Design and development cycle
Developing a blended learning experience
Technical issues
Copyright and other intellectual property issues
Delivery
Evaluation
Summary
References
5 Planning and designing learning activities
Introduction
Design principles
Learning activities
Summary
References
6 Working with groups
Introduction
Group learning activities
Group learning processes
Online groups
Working with diverse learning groups
Working with large groups
Working with challenging learners
Summary
References
7 Working as a tutor
Introduction
Principles of tutoring
E-tutoring
Presentation skills
Working with a co-tutor
Student helpers
Summary
References
8 Communities of practice
Introduction
Communities of practice and communities of interest
Developing a community of practice
Mentoring
Summary
References
9 Managing blended learning projects
Introduction
Principles of project management
The project cycle
The people side of project management
Working in collaborative and multi-professional teams
Obtaining financial support
Gaining accreditation for your learning programme
Summary
References
Index