Keynote

=//** e-Learning, Problem-based Learning, Learning Communities: Is there a middle ground? **//= Keynote Presenter: M. David Merrill The goal of this presentation is to describe a learning model that incorporates the best of different approaches to instruction and combines them into an integrated approach to effective instruction.

There is a large variety of different approaches to instructional design. Each of these various approaches claim advantages to their particular approach. What is different for each of these approaches? What are the advantages of each approach? What do they have in common? What is the role of instructional design in each of these approaches? How can the best features of each approach be combined into an integrated learning model?

This presentation describes a combination of problem-based learning, learning communities, and e-learning that attempts to capitalize on the best features of each and combines them into an effective learning model for classroom and online learning environments. This model guides the development of online curriculum at Brigham Young University – Hawaii. This presentation will illustrate the model with some of the successes and challenges we have encountered. One of the major challenges is our Pacific Rim target population which consists of the Polynesian Islands, developed Asia and developing Asia. Most of our student populations are not native speakers of English adding to our challenges.

As we anticipate the future of our field we need to find ways to bring together the wide variety of approaches that have been developed into effective, efficient and engaging learning environments that incorporate the best instructional design principles with more effective use of technology all integrated in a seamless model for learning.