Podcast: How Indiana University Is Preparing Classrooms for Blended Learning

Campus Technology Insider Podcast

The Campus Technology Insider podcast explores current trends and issues impacting technology leaders in higher education. Listen in as Executive Editor Rhea Kelly chats with ed tech experts and practitioners about their work, ideas and experiences.

How Indiana University Is Preparing Classrooms for Blended Learning

Over the summer, more and more institutions have been making announcements about their plans for the fall semester. Some are aiming for a full return to on-campus instruction. Some are opting to go 100 percent online (Harvard being a notable recent example there). And some are planning for a mix of on-campus and online. But all are likely making contingency plans involving some online learning component.

Right now — at the time of this recording — Indiana University is embracing the blended approach. In a statement this past May, President Michael McRobbie said, "We plan to welcome students back to all our campuses, where instruction will be a blend of in-person and online. It will make extensive use of technology while preserving as far as possible the most important elements of the in-person experience."

Julie Johnston

Julie Johnston

That could certainly change, but no matter which way things go I think it's still worth exploring the logistics of what the blended approach means for classrooms at IU. My guest, Julie Johnston, is director of learning spaces for the university, so she has been working hard to make classrooms safe for students and faculty. We talked about how the new reality is impacting IU's campuses, the challenges of preparing classrooms for the fall, and technology's role in ensuring a successful teaching and learning experience.

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About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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