Blended Learning for Teacher Development: transforming Educational Practices by Harmonising Tradition and Innovation

This article examines the integration of blended learning models within teacher development programs, with a particular focus on the implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and the establishment of Communities of Practice (CoPs). Based on the analysis of faculty needs—emerging from the Faculty program, research conducted by TLC research fellows on virtual reality, and the findings from a small Community of Practice established in 2023, which focused for a year on UDL and highlighted the importance of technological innovation without losing the relational aspect—it was decided to design pilot blended faculty courses on UDL and teaching methodologies. These courses were developed with a specific focus on teaching methodologies, as it became evident that a foundational understanding of these is essential for effectively applying UDL principles. The frameworks and structure of these two pilot blended courses represent the first tangible outcome of previous data collection and literature analysis. These courses, set to begin in 2025, will be evaluated to measure their effectiveness in terms of impact on teaching practices and student learning outcomes. Should the results prove positive, the course catalog will be expanded to include additional topics, with adaptations for dissemination in secondary schools as well.