ABSTRACT
The idea of blending different learning experiences has been in existence ever since humans started thinking about teaching (Williams, 2003). What has recently brought this term into the limelight is the infusion of Web-based technologies into the learning and teaching process (Clark, 2003). These technologies have created new opportunities for students to interact with their peers, faculty, and content in online courses and programs. This chapter describes: blended learning environments in higher education, the opportunities and challenges associated with these environments from the student, faculty, and administrative perspectives, and how the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework (Garrison, Anderson, & Archer, 2001) can be used to design online blended learning courses and programs.
