Pedagogical values directly affect student performance and, therefore, are essential to successful teaching practice. It is absolutely critical that post-secondary educators examine and reflect on their pedagogical values because these principles pave the path for student success. This chapter describes four pedagogical values that are critical to student success within the context of online and blended learning environments in higher education: 1) value of care; 2) value of diversity; 3) value of community; and 4) value of justice.

Many post-secondary institutions utilize learning management systems (LMSs) to deliver online, blended, and face-to-face courses. LMSs have a wide variety of built-in functionality that can be used to facilitate innovative teaching. This chapter provides useful information, critical thinking questions, and insights that instructors can use to expand their adoption, knowledge, and usage of LMS tools to build upon innovative teaching practices. Three instructional approaches are discussed: case-based learning (CBL), scenario-based learning (SBL), and gamified learning. Additionally, specific examples are provided to demonstrate how LMS tools can be used to support CBL, SBL, and gamified learning. This chapter invites instructors to critically reflect on how they use LMSs and other educational technologies to carry out ineffective instructional strategies. Furthermore, it provides concrete examples of how LMS tools can help instructors improve their teaching practice and adopt creative instructional approaches with thoughtful use of technology grounded in sound pedagogical practices.

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Students bring their own knowledge, experiences, and personal interests to brick-and-mortar and virtual classrooms. When instructional strategies and learning activities are developed based on prior knowledge, experiences, and personal interests, the instruction is a form of differentiation. This chapter discusses how Learning Management Systems (LMSs) can help teachers and instructors achieve differentiated instruction that meets individual needs. There are two important implications of differentiated instruction: (a) lessons are tailored to meet individual and diverse student needs, and (b) lessons cannot be planned without knowledge about who the learners are. When taking into consideration that teaching is tailored to meet individual needs, it becomes apparent that differentiated instruction means more work for the teacher or instructor. It also means the teacher or instructor has to continually change learning activities and is not able to use handy pre-designed ones because student progress or lack of progress informs teaching strategies. This chapter argues that differentiated instruction is worth the time and effort because it responds to individual needs, and responsive teaching maximizes each student's success.

Pedagogical values directly affect student performance and, therefore, are essential to successful teaching practice. It is absolutely critical that post-secondary educators examine and reflect on their pedagogical values because these principles pave the path for student success. This chapter describes four pedagogical values that are critical to student success within the context of online and blended learning environments in higher education: 1) value of care; 2) value of diversity; 3) value of community; and 4) value of justice.