Asynchronous Online Role-Plays Using a Blended Learning Design - Information Communication Technologies for Human Services Education and Delivery - page 70

compromising standards. However, there needs
to be widespread familiarity with relevant soft-
ware, theories and models before higher educa-
tion can take full advantage of the e-learning
potential. This growth of online technology in
higher education has arguably opened up a host
of opportunities for innovative approaches for
teaching in human services. Even a minimal us-
age of online technology provides a convenient
way to make information and materials available
to students thereby overcoming restrictions of
geographic location or scheduled office hours and
class times. With students today having grown up
with interactive technology an online environ-
ment can be a very familiar one for them to use
in acquiring knowledge, much more so than the
traditional face-to-face lecture format which is
arguably becoming increasingly outdated. Online
role-plays in a blended learning environment have
the potential to assist human services students to
integrate theory and practice and develop into
reflexive practitioners. Blended learning offers the
opportunity for engaging with both face-to-face
and online options in role-plays to better prepare
human services students for practice.

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