Blending learning hits the SPOC: The development and implementation of small private online courses

Abstract

<p>Online courses have been created in many formats but perhaps work best when there is an element of blended learning, or the integration of digital media with traditional face-to-face instruction. One such offering that has been deployed in universities globally is the Small Private Online Course (SPOC), which, as the name suggests, has the advantage of fewer students but more directly addresses their needs. This chapter examines the conceptualisation of SPOCs at a Hong Kong tertiary-level language centre. It explores the motivation behind the decision to use them, factors that facilitated and hindered their development and implementation, and ways they can supplement students’ existing language classes and encourage their higher-order learning. It also discusses how SPOCs can be beneficial to teachers as they become more adept at handling technology-enhanced teaching and learning. As online platforms are such a fundamental part of university education, this chapter will be especially useful to teachers, instructional designers and education researchers who are interested in incorporating blended learning into their curriculum and giving students more ownership of their learning progress.<br></p>