Book End Blended eLearning and Conferences

As I was reading this week's class article, I learned about the various combinations that could be used to employ blended eLearning. One of the methods the author mentioned was the "Book End" model, where the instruction begins with some web-based discussion or activity, is followed by a real-time actual convergence, and last involves some type of web-based follow up after the actual real time convergence.

This made me think of all of the media conferences I've attended throughout the country with my previous work, and how the Book Ends blended learning model could really be helpful. For example, the Allied Media Conference based in Detroit, MI invites media activists throughout the country to converge for one jam-packed weekend to share their projects and brainstorm new collaborations. It's an amazing experience, but I've often felt a bit overwhelmed with the amount of material and information made available.

If eLearning was introduced into the conference planning, the Book End blended eLearning model could help to make the convergence portion of the Allied Media Project far more effective than it already is. By having virtual discussions or activities prior to the actual convergence, and follow up contacts after the convergence, more knowledge may be retained. Further, people could make the most efficient use of the time they meet with each other at the the actual conference.