05

Blended and distance teaching and learning

Abstract

At the University of the Western Cape (UWC), the Centre for Innovative Education & Communication Technologies (CIECT) is responsible for driving emergent technologies and innovative collaborative projects, to support teaching and learning in Higher Education.  CIECT promotes the importance of the creation of well-designed environments to strengthen partnerships, and an effective learning pathway for student development.

In a model by Jarche, Jarche explores what is means to be socially connected in a techno-social world. In higher education, digitally enabled connections are crucial for student resilience - as genuine relationships are formed, based on how ICTs have revolutionised social and academic life. Digital connections, through hyper-personal relationships (Walther, 1997) and face-to-face engagement are critical in blended and online learning environments to fulfil a wide range of student and lecturer needs, gratifications and desires to meet the outcomes of modular content and institutionally-based, skills-driven interventions.  

This presentation aims to highlight the importance of the creation of a conducive environment for innovative collaborative projects, and the implementation of interactive online spaces. Moreover, this presentation is structured to emphasise the importance of a professional support structure to build networks and relationships and to enhance student resilience in a complex higher education setting.