Redesigning curricula using blended learning: a development-based research approach

Abstract

Universities in the 21st century need to be responsive to the changing needs of societies by providing accessible and equitable learning and teaching options. This may mean that Universities need to provide authentic and flexible approaches in order to cater for learners in regional as well as urban environments. Distance education universities, in particular, have traditionally been sensitive to providing equitable options for their diverse range of students spanning the rural, urban and global educational community. To effectively fulfil this mission a university needs to be continually evaluating and transforming teaching and learning and undertaking curriculum renewal on a regular basis in order to provide accessible and equitable learning opportunities. In order to achieve these goals, traditional distance education universities are diversifying the range of teaching and learning options by utilising online teaching and learning and blended learning options in an attempt to extend their educational reach and be responsive to the needs of students. Because 'the centrepiece of any organization is the curriculum it offers its students' (Tierney, 1999, p. 41), the design of curricula needs to be carefully considered to embrace the needs of students, and provide equitable teaching and learning options for the university community.