Blending online and on-site spaces and communities: Developing effective practices
Abstract: A panel of speakers who have been developing and researching best practices in online teaching and learning and the development of innovative teaching spaces on campus that blend with flexible learning opportunities in other places including homes, distant schools and our regional campus. We also draw on evidence from our students who have developed online learning and teaching in K-12 schools and polytechnics within New Zealand and the USA. Blends that will be illustrated to provoke discussion include: (1) Blending physical, and virtual space with web 2.0 social space for beginning teachers; (2) Blending teachers’ online learning communities with their local communities of colleagues, friends and family; (3) Developing best practices that blend online teaching and learning for school students and their teachers.