Crossing the Online Border: Designing an Asian Humanities Course for Different Learning Modalities

• In Event: Online Teaching in Asian Humanities - Opportunities and Challenges

Abstract

There is a growing interest in utilizing online and blended learning to maximize value for schools and flexibility for students. However, there are many different types of online and blended learning courses, each with its own strengths and limitations. In order to reach the most students, Brigham Young University has created pilot programs for synchronous online semester-based classes as well as blended learning classes to go along with its existing asynchronous independent study program. Our goal has been to redesign the current face-to-face version of the "Introduction to the Humanities of Asia" course as an independent study course, a synchronous online semester-length course, and a blended learning course. This redesign will allow the course to reach the most students in the format that will best suit their needs. Although this requires a significant amount of time and effort on the part of the entire design team, the investment is maximized by designing all three versions with as much overlap as possible. This presentation tracks our efforts in redesigning the course, beginning with the independent study version and ending with our vision for the blended learning course. I will address (1) the vision and the foundational theories influencing the design, (2) the organizational issues of the design process, and (3) the challenges for the instructor in redesigning an existing on-site course.

Author

• Adam C. Lloyd, Brigham Young University