This volume offers a comprehensive exploration of the challenges and expectations teachers and trainers face in practicing blended learning approaches. Authored by renowned international experts, it presents selected case studies that delve into the design, development, and delivery of exceptional blended courses. It covers the theoretical foundations and technological affordances of blended learning applied to specific higher education contexts. It includes various models and approaches prioritizing learner-centered blended learning and discussions around technological options for improving learner content, fostering effective learner-learner and learner-teacher interaction. It provides comprehensive learner support within blended learning environments. Each chapter concludes with reflective questions encouraging readers to reflect upon and apply the valuable insights and lessons shared throughout the book. Its multidimensional approach interests teachers, teacher educators, instructional designers and technologists, researchers, and managers of teaching and learning centers within higher education institutions.
Pradeep Kumar Misra is a Professor and Director of the Centre for Policy Research in Higher Education at the National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration, India. His research specializations are teacher education, educational technology, and vocational education. He has received several prestigious international research scholarships that include the Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellowship of the United States-India Educational Foundation; the Commonwealth Academic Fellowship of CSC, UK; Doctoral and Senior Researcher Scholarship of DAAD, Germany; Erasmus Mundus Visiting Scholar Scholarship of European Commission; National Scholarship of Slovak Republic; MASHAV Scholarship of Israel Government; and Research Exchange Scholarship of FMSH, France. He has been a member of the academic bodies of several institutions and organizations, visited many countries for different educational purposes, published widely nationally and internationally, completed research and development projects, and developed educational media programs. His recent books, Teaching Competencies for 21st Century Teachers: Practical Approaches to Learning (Routledge, 2024) and Learning and Teaching for Teachers (Springer, 2021), impact teachers' teaching practices globally.
Sanjaya Mishra is one of the leading scholars in open, distance, and online learning with extensive experience in teaching, staff development, research, policy development, innovation, and organisational development. With a multi-disciplinary background in education, information science, communication media, and learning and development, Dr. Mishra has been promoting the use of educational multimedia, eLearning, open educational resources (OER), and open access to scientific information to increase access to quality education and lifelong learning for all. He has designed and developed award-winning online courses and platforms, such as the Understanding Open Educational Resources, Commonwealth Digital Education Leadership Training in Action, and COLCommons. Currently, he serves as Education Specialist (Technology-Enabled Learning) at the Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, Canada
Santosh Panda is former Director of Staff Training and Research Institute, Indira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi. He has a PhD in Education (Kurukshetra), Fulbright Post-Doctoral (UNM, USA), Certificate in Education TV (BBC, UK), and Certificate in Online Teaching (Maryland, USA). He has been Chairperson of National Council of Teacher Education, Government of India; and Director of Policy and Research at Association of Indian Universities (AIU). He is a governing board member of the International Council for Educational Development/ UK, and president of its national forum Network for Staff & Educational Development/ India. Also, Dr Panda is the member of National Yoga Certification Board, TC, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India.
