| Chapter 1: | Introduction |
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terms indicate sets of interrelated and integrated prescriptive instructional strategies: instructional model, instructional theory, and instructional design theory. Again, each of these terms does have a technical meaning, but for the purposes of this study, they are sufficiently similar to merit use so as to avoid redundancy in the text.
Institutional Separation of Distance and Traditional Learning Environments
As was mentioned previously, blended learning is an outgrowth of the distance education movement. For many years, there was a sort of institutional dichotomy between distance education programs and traditional formats. Seldom were efforts made to bring these two approaches to learning together. For example, in 2000 Indiana University (IU) pioneered a wholly online master’s degree program in instructional systems technology (1ST) in addition to the traditional residential program it already administered. Potential students of the master’s degree in 1ST had to decide before applying whether they wished to complete the program residentially or at a distance. The delivery format of the program did not allow for crossover; that is to say, the distance program was taught entirely through distance technologies and methodologies. There were no face-to-face pedagogical components, except for the opening on-campus orientation and a final on-campus capstone project review. Hence, students could receive the very same master’s degree in 1ST from IU, but through distinct and unblended formats. A student either participated in the residential program or in the at-a-distance program.
Blended Learning Bridges Distance and Traditional Learning
In recent years, the “wall of separation” between distance and traditional learning formats has significantly diminished, allowing for the rise of blended learning, as computers, multimedia technologies, and powerful communication devices have become ubiquitous. No longer are distance educators the only ones tinkering with new devices. The low cost and accessibility of these hard technology items have attracted