We've created the Digital Pedagogy and Teaching Skills Framework (DPTSF) to ensure everyone in our community feels confident, creative, and supported when using digital tools and pedagogies. Whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your teaching practice, the DPTSF offers clear expectations, essential skills, and aspirational goals across eight key areas of Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL).
We’ve already explored the first two focus areas: exploring digital pedagogy, and building virtual learning environments. Now we’re turning to focus three: blended learning.
Focus three is all about using blended learning in your teaching practice to encourage students' confidence
Blended learning brings together the best of face‑to‑face and online teaching to create a flexible, well‑structured learning experience. When used effectively, it helps students arrive prepared, confident, and ready to take an active role in their learning.
Pre‑class tasks, short quizzes, and reflective activities give students space to explore key ideas at their own pace before coming together for deeper discussion and collaboration. This approach supports active engagement, strengthens understanding, and creates a clearer, more intentional learning journey.
The DPTSF encourages colleagues to take a consistent, inclusive approach to blended learning. By making purposeful use of TEL tools, we can design accessible, engaging materials that meet diverse learner needs and enrich the overall student experience, ultimately strengthening the quality and impact of our teaching across the community.
What we expect from all colleagues who teach and support learning
To embed effective blended learning, we ask colleagues to:
- Develop multimedia content and/or pre‑class activities that offer students meaningful asynchronous preparation.
- Set clear expectations for how students participate in different teaching approaches, including flipped and online learning.
- Emphasise active learning, using discussion, problem‑solving, and collaborative tasks to deepen engagement.
How to put this into practice
This can be achieved by:
- Designing continuous learning experiences for flipped, synchronous, and asynchronous delivery.
- Sequencing digital activities logically so that students move through their learning with clarity and direction.
- Creating a collaborative and respectful learning environment where every student feels confident to participate.
