Online and Hybrid Learning Trends and Technologies looks further into key aspects of designing and delivering online and hybrid learning environments. The contributors continue to focus on the instructional component of e-learning systems, looking at e-learning trends and technologies such as the management of large classes, podcasts, the educational uses of virtual worlds, and the development of virtual schools in North America and around the world.

Online and Hybrid Learning Trends and Technologies looks further into key aspects of designing and delivering online and hybrid learning environments. The contributors continue to focus on the instructional component of e-learning systems, looking at e-learning trends and technologies such as the management of large classes, podcasts, the educational uses of virtual worlds, and the development of virtual schools in North America and around the world.

A call for the extension of hybrid learning urges that it become not just a quick fix or a boon for the bottom line, but an educational mode that reenvisions quality teaching and learning for the 21st century. Hybrid Learning: The Perils and Promise of Blending Online and Face-to-Face Instruction in Higher Education is an in-depth exploration of a new learning mode that could radically change higher education, incorporating emerging trends in technology and multimedia use—including online gaming, social networking, and other Web 2.0 applications—to create engaging and dynamic learning environments. Laying out fundamental challenges facing higher education today, this book shows how hybrid instruction can be designed and implemented to deliver excellent educational value in flexible modes and at moderate costs well-suited to the circumstances of many students and institutions. The book lays out the characteristic profiles of students who are most likely to benefit from and perform well in a hybrid learning environment, as well as the features and practices of hybrid courses most likely to produce positive learning outcomes. It also specifies the obligations of faculty in designing and delivering best-practice hybrid courses and the support and policy obligations of institutions. Challenging prima-facie assumptions about hybrid learning, the author promotes it as nothing less than an opportunity to reenvision education for the 21st century.

A call for the extension of hybrid learning urges that it become not just a quick fix or a boon for the bottom line, but an educational mode that reenvisions quality teaching and learning for the 21st century. Hybrid Learning: The Perils and Promise of Blending Online and Face-to-Face Instruction in Higher Education is an in-depth exploration of a new learning mode that could radically change higher education, incorporating emerging trends in technology and multimedia use--including online gaming, social networking, and other Web 2.0 applications--to create engaging and dynamic learning environments. Laying out fundamental challenges facing higher education today, this book shows how hybrid instruction can be designed and implemented to deliver excellent educational value in flexible modes and at moderate costs well-suited to the circumstances of many students and institutions. The book lays out the characteristic profiles of students who are most likely to benefit from and perform well in a hybrid learning environment, as well as the features and practices of hybrid courses most likely to produce positive learning outcomes. It also specifies the obligations of faculty in designing and delivering best-practice hybrid courses and the support and policy obligations of institutions. Challenging prima-facie assumptions about hybrid learning, the author promotes it as nothing less than an opportunity to reenvision education for the 21st century.

Blended synchronous learning - where remote students participate in face-to-face classes by means of rich-media synchronous technologies such as video conferencing, web conferencing and virtual worlds - is an emerging phenomenon in education. More and more teachers are attempting to teach in this challenging mode, but without any systematic research evidence to help guide their blended synchronous learning practices. The Blended Synchronous Learning Handbook is a definitive resource that addresses this issue. It includes a Blended Synchronous Learning Design Framework that offers pedagogical, technological and logistical recommendations for teachers attempting to design and implement blended synchronous learning lessons. It also includes a Rich-Media Synchronous Technology Capabilities Framework to support the selection of technologies for different types of learning activities, as well as a review of relevant literature, a summary of the Blended Synchronous Learning Scoping Study, detailed reports of seven blended synchronous learning case studies, and an in-depth cross case analysis to underpin the recommendations that are drawn.

This book is to explores a variety of facets of online learning environments to understand how learning occurs and succeeds in digital contexts and what teaching strategies and technologies are most suited to this format. Business, health, government and education are some of the core sectors of society which have been experiencing deep transformations due to a generalized digitalization. While these changes are not novel, the swift progress of technology and the rising complexity of digital environments place a focus on the need for further research and novel strategies. In the context of education, the promise of increased flexibility and broader access to educational resources is impelling much of higher education’s course offerings to online environments. The 21st century learner requires an education that can be pursued anytime and anywhere and that is more aligned with the demands of a digital society. Online education not only assists students to success-fully integrate a workforce that is increasingly digital, but it helps them to become more comfortable with the use of technology in general and, hence, more prepared to be prolific digital citizens. The variety of settings portrayed in this volume attest to the unlimited opportunities afforded by online learning and serve as valuable evidence of its benefit for students’ educational experience. Moreover, these research efforts assist a more comprehensive reflection about the delivery of higher education in the context of online settings.

As more classes move to online instruction, there is a need for research that shows the effectiveness of synchronous learning. Educators must guide students on how to use these new learning tools and become aware of the research trends and opportunities within these developing online and hybrid courses. Educational Technology and Resources for Synchronous Learning in Higher Education provides evidence-based practice on incorporating synchronous teaching tools and practice within online courses to enhance content mastery and community development. Additionally, the book presents a strong theoretical overview of the topic and allows readers to develop a more nuanced understanding of the benefits and constraints of synchronous learning. Covering topics such as game learning, online communication, and professional development, it is designed for online instructors, instructional designers, administrators, students, and researchers and educators in higher education, as well as corporate, military, and government sectors.