Pedagogical Strategies in Rapid e-Learning: The Case of the University of the East (UE) Graduate School Blended Learning
Antonio E. Refre
Graduate School, University of the East, Philippines
The University of the East (UE) Graduate School has recently ventured into offering courses with mixed mode (traditional face-to-face blended with online) delivery or what is now commonly referred to worldwide as blended learning. An innovative approach was taken to establish this mode of delivery in a very short time. Considering budget constraints, the lack of faculty trained in online teaching and learning, and no readily available technical support group, the solution adopted was to have the faculty use ‘rapid e-learning’ in the development of online course materials. However, the adoption of this strategy poses a challenge to the faculty who are only computer-literate.
This paper demonstrates how the challenge can be met head-on by the faculty. A few faculty members with a strong IT background shared their expertise and know-how in rapid e-learning. Given the plethora of user-friendly educational technology tools nowadays, e-learning materials can be produced by the teachers themselves, with little assistance from IT personnel. Examples of the use of some of these tools are presented. The discussion focuses on how pedagogical strategies can be embedded in e-learning materials using instructional design principles.
Keywords: rapid e-learning, online learning, blended learning