Designing Better Online and Blended Learning in 2026 - On Campus Podcast

In this episode of On Campus, we explore what high-quality online and blended learning looks like today with Director of Instruction Design, Dr. Rhiannon Pollard, from the University of Central Florida’s Center for Distributed Learning. As colleges and universities continue to expand hybrid and digital offerings, Dr. Pollard shares practical insights on course design, student engagement, faculty support, and the evolving expectations of learners who are balancing school with work, family, and other responsibilities. We discuss what makes an online or blended course truly effective in 2026, how institutions can move beyond emergency remote teaching toward intentional design, and the role instructional designers play in helping faculty create meaningful, flexible learning experiences. Whether you’re a faculty member, administrator, or higher-ed professional thinking about the future of teaching and learning, this conversation offers actionable ideas and a look at where the digital classroom is headed next. Links: CITI Program’s Navigating Online and Hybrid Teaching course https://about.citiprogram.org/course/navigating-online-and-hybrid-teaching/ UCF’s Center for Distributed Learning https://cdl.ucf.edu/