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Regulation: blended and hybrid learning

In this article, Professor Hughes discusses the regulatory environment for blended learning in the UK.
Signpost set against a cloudy blue sky saying regulation.
© Regulation by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images
In the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic, The Office for Students (OFS) has published blended learning guidelines for English universities. In Blended Learning and OFS Regulation, the OFS identifies 21 practices that would cause compliance concerns relating to the quality of students’ academic experience. Examples of these include:

  • uses lecture recordings that are no longer up-to-date when re-used, or are not appropriately informed by subject matter developments, research, industrial and professional developments, or developments in teaching and learning
  • does not facilitate feedback for students that is appropriate to the content of their course, such as where dialogue and immediate feedback is required for course content to be effectively delivered
  • does not foster collaborative learning among students registered on a course, which may indicate the course is not being effectively delivered.

Th OFS has also published a guide and the Youtube video below explaining to students what they can expect from their universities and the steps they can take if they have concerns about their student experience.

This is an additional video, hosted on YouTube.

  • For a full list of non-compliant approaches, see pp. 3-5 of Blended Learning and OFS Regulation.

© University of Nottingham
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Blended and Hybrid Learning Design in Higher Education

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