The document discusses Active Blended Learning (ABL), an approach used at the University of Northampton where courses incorporate student-centered online and face-to-face learning activities. ABL courses develop skills like independent learning, digital fluency, and employability through preparatory work, sense-making activities, face-to-face sessions, and online consolidation. Quality contact in ABL includes structured, focused, personalized tutor guidance through both synchronous and asynchronous online and in-person interactions.

1. Why learning and
teaching at the
University of
Northampton is
different
Dr Rachel Maxwell
Head of Learning &
Teaching
Development
Tuesday 28th February 2017

2. @DrRachLTB
A course follows an ABL methodology if it:
• Is taught through student-centred activities to
develop knowledge and understanding,
independent learning & digital fluency.
• Has a core, collaborative face-to-face component,
explicitly linked to learning activity outside the
classroom, typically online.
• Helps to develop autonomy, Changemaker
attributes and employability skills.

3. @DrRachLTB
Active Blended Learning: The New Normal
Preparatory
work
Preparatory
sense-making
activities
F2F session
Consolidation
& follow-up
Online & F2F
Face-to-Face
Online &
F2F
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOwbqaoJUoc

4. @DrRachLTB
A course is not taught in ABL if:
• It makes regular use of non-interactive lectures, or
• NILE is primarily a content repository, or
• Online activity is merely an add-on to the face-to-
face sessions, or
• There is no evidence of systematic enhancement.

5. @DrRachLTB
What is ‘quality contact’?
• Tutor-mediated
• Teaching, guidance and feedback to students
• F2F and online
• Onsite and off-site
• Synchronous and asynchronous
• Personalised tutor presence and input within a specified
time-frame
• Structured
• Focused
• Purposeful
• Interactive
} = high quality

6. Explaining ABL to students