Creating Safe Spaces for Engagement in Blended Classrooms Using Interactive Technologies

The COVID-19 pandemic led instructors to consider new approaches to encourage student engagement, both in virtual and physical spaces. This chapter describes how the interactive digital technologies I used during the pandemic inspired me to develop a blended model that I currently use in an Organization and Delivery of Health Care course at an urban community college. In this model, the content is delivered asynchronously using VoiceThread, a web-based application that allows participants to interact with the content in a variety of ways. The subsequent in-person portion comprises both technological tools (such as PollEverywhere) and face-to-face approaches. This setup is intended to provide flexibility for the students, enhance how students engage with the material and instructors, and build community in classrooms.