Developing Learning Environments for Blended and Online Learning

Developing online and blended learning programs at a university requires the selection of an appropriate framework which addresses the criteria of effective pedagogy. This paper aims to determine a framework for developing and evaluating online and blended learning environments within university educational contexts. The paper is based on the experience of developing blended and online teacher training programs in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages at Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia. First, the paper outlines the methodology of the project. Then, it explores various concepts and theoretical models of learning environments. The next part of the paper examines students’ perspective of the elements of the learning environment as defined by the framework of choice. The paper concludes with a comparative overview of the theoretical framework and its application within the Bond University context.