The role of technology in higher education, particularly for distance learning, has long been a subject of significant discussion. Online learning and the potential of ‘blended learning’ models have been central to conversations about the future of higher education. Even before the pandemic, the increasing use of the internet and digital tools was reshaping the landscape of academic instruction.
The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst, dramatically accelerating the shift from traditional physical classrooms to online and remote learning environments. By March 2020, educational institutions around the world were thrust into a situation that required an immediate and comprehensive transition to online instruction. This rapid shift highlighted both the potential and limitations of digital learning platforms.
As the immediate effects of the pandemic begin to subside, educators and institutions are left to contemplate the long-term implications of this abrupt transformation. What elements of this pandemic-era shift will endure, and how will they shape the future of higher education? To explore these questions and more, Michael Carroll hosts Dr. Pankaj Mittal and Dr. Kelvin Thompson on the latest episode of “Picking Up Where We Left Off.” This episode delves into the evolving landscape of ‘hybrid’ and ‘blended’ learning, providing insights into how these models might continue to influence the future of higher education in a post-pandemic world.
Dr. Kelvin Thompson works on improving online and blended learning every day. He writes, speaks, and consults within the US higher education community. He has also created a number of resources at University of Central Florida for use by others, such as the Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository; the Faculty Seminars in Online Teaching; and the BlendKit Course. He co-hosts the popular “TOPcast: The Teaching Online Podcast.” In 2020, Kelvin was selected as a Fellow of the Online Learning Consortium. As executive director of UCF’s Center for Distributed Learning, he assures the successful operation and strategic goal meeting of this 100 member organization.
Dr. Pankaj Mittal is the secretary general of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and is the second female secretary general of the Association in its 94 years of existence. She has been serving the higher education sector for over three decades at the University Grants Commission of India. Dr. Mittal is a Fulbright Scholar and has a PhD in agricultural statistics from IARI, New Delhi. Dr. Mittal is the recipient of many awards and honors like the Fulbright Nehru Scholarship Grant for educational administrators, President of India Award in 2017 for Digital Initiatives in Higher Education, Honorary Doctorate from Karnataka State Women’s University, and numerous other awards for her contributions in societal development and community engagement.
