Tertiary teaching in New Zealand/Blended learning/Why blended learning?/Summary

Summary [[Image:800px-IDGC2010 4small.jpg|right]]
In Topic 7 we have looked at the advantages and possible pitfalls of blended learning. In our excitement about "the new" it is sometimes easy to forget the value of "the old". It is important to remember that a blend is just that - a blend of the old and the new. We must not forget that the basis of good teaching is relationship, and if we are going to design and use digital teaching methods we must keep in mind the value of social presence.We will examine this concept in more detail later in the course - but first we need to look at some of the tools that you will learn to use in later courses in the Graduate Diploma in Tertiary Education. Let's start with Topic 8.