Blended what?
There is this term that people say, but have no clue what it means.
blended learning.
So what do people say? 'let's just blend it', 'it's the best of face to face and online: blended', or the chic and trendy 'let's flip it'. I hear all this, all the time, all day, every day. Its then followed up with, I don't need support with my learning and teaching, I can say the word blended.
what are you talking about?
Blended isn't a word that encapsulates modern learning practices unto itself. It's way more than that. It's built on the years and years of research. 'But I have a PhD, I'm pretty sure I know what teaching is.' Really? Honestly? If they don't learn it's because they're not motivated right?
Go to your classes and say, 'OK students, here are the readings. Now go home read them, stay off Facebook, don't socialise and write 3,000 word articles and i'll give you a mark with no real feedback...'
It'll fly real well...
And while you do that, you lose respect of your students, and that one brilliant student drops out becuase their learning is clearly not important to you.
The problem with higher education isn't higher education, it's academics who have egos that span size of the galaxy, and can't get to grips with the fact that the next Nobel prize will be won by one of their students.
drops mic
Actually, one more: there is a disconnect between how important your research isn't, to how much a student pays for your feedback. Feedback isn't just words at the end of an essay, it's also a geniune interest in their lives. Be involved.