How the CoI framework can humanize blended learning: Perspectives on learning collaboratively in a pandemic

Objectives of the workshop

The objectives of this workshop are:

• To introduce the participants to the Community of Inquiry framework, the concept of shared metacognition, and the seven principles of blended learning that can be used to humanize online learning
• To use the seven principles to discuss and share strategies that enable collaborative learning activities

Justification of the importance/currency/need for the proposed workshop

• The Community of Inquiry (CoI)  is the most widely cited educational research framework for online learning
• The CoI framework is based on a collaborative constructivist approach to learning.  With the Covid-19 pandemic, numerous higher education institutions are offering an increasing number of  their courses and programs in a blended format.  Students in these courses are indicating that they want to learn collaboratively with their peers - “the more technology around us, the more the need for the human touch”.

Format of the session (provisional agenda)

The proposed agenda for this 90 minute workshop is as follows

1. Introduction to the CoI framework (15 minutes)

• What does the term inquiry-based learning mean to you? (Chat discussion)
• The history and rationale for the CoI framework)

        2 .Introduction to the concept of Shared Metacognition (15 minutes)

• What does the term student engagement mean to you? (Chat discussion)
• How the concept of Shared Metacognition was derived from the CoI framework

         3. Discussion of the roles of a successful teacher (15 minutes)

• Breakout room activity to discuss the roles of a successful teacher
• Review of related research and the concept of teaching presence

         4. Seven principles of blended learning (45 minutes)

• Brief introduction to how the seven principles were derived from the CoI framework’s sphere of teaching presence
• Design & organization - Sharing strategies for designing & organizing online courses for collaboration in a Google Doc
• Facilitation - Sharing strategies for facilitating collaborative activities in online courses in a Google Doc
• Direct Instruction - sharing strategies for directing and leading collaborative activities in online courses in a Google Doc