This program is no longer active, but its resources are made available on this page.
Pilot a LaunchPad tool.
OUR TREAT.
About the Program
The Blended Learning Pilots were offered by the Language Flagship Technology Innovation Center from 2018 through 2025. This page preserves information about the program, the institutions that participated, and related resources developed through the Tech Center’s broader Blended Learning Initiative.
The Blended Learning Pilots gave language instructors, tutors, and programs an opportunity to explore emerging educational technologies in authentic instructional settings. The technologies were first identified through the Tech Center’s LaunchPad competition.
Participating instructors began by identifying an instructional challenge. With support from Tech Center faculty, they selected a technology, developed an implementation plan, incorporated the technology into a course or tutoring context, and collected feedback from instructors and learners. This process helped instructors make informed decisions about technology integration while providing developers with pedagogically grounded feedback about their products.
The first Blended Learning Pilots (aka Competitive Pilots) launched in late 2017. The first cohort implemented its projects in spring 2018. Over time, the program expanded beyond its original competitive model and offered individualized planning, implementation support, evaluation resources, and optional mentoring.
From 2018 through 2025, the Tech Center offered eight annual cycles. During this period, 35 instructors from 16 institutions participated in pilot planning, onboarding, or implementation. Some instructors participated in the program more than once. Assuming a conservative average of 10 learners per instructor and accounting for instructors who participated in more than one annual cycle, the program may have directly impacted approximately 400 students.
Participant Testimonials
Program Documents
These documents can be helpful to help you think about the design, implementation, and evaluation of the integration of a particular technology tool.
| Document | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Pilot Proposal Instructions and Evaluation Rubric | Guidance for identifying an instructional challenge, designing a technology-supported activity, planning evaluation, and assessing blended-learning potential. The rubric evaluates creativity and innovation, curriculum integration, evaluation methods, and changes to instructional practice. |
| Blended Learning Pilot Implementation Plan Template | A structured planning template covering course context, instructional challenge, technology selection and rationale, curricular adaptations, sample learning activities, evaluation, student feedback, and implementation schedule. |
| Sample Completed Implementation Plan | A completed example showing how an instructor connected an instructional problem, technology affordances, a language-learning activity, evaluation procedures, rubrics, and a seven-week schedule. |
| Student and Instructor Feedback Survey Templates | Reusable student and instructor exit-survey questions addressing learning, motivation, usability, changes in teaching practice, future technology use, and perceptions of the pilot experience. |
Program History
2018
Extempore, PlayPosit, and Ponddy Chinese
Participating institutions:
- Bryn Mawr College
- Indiana University Bloomington
- University of Minnesota
- University of North Georgia
2019
VEO
Participating institutions:
- University of Georgia
- University of North Georgia
2020
FilmDoo and Woodpecker
Participating institutions:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Georgia
2021
Extempore
Participating institutions:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- University of Georgia
2022
Charlala, JinbuPal, Worddio, Kialo Edu, Perusall, and Ponddy Chinese
Participating institutions:
- Arizona State University
- Indiana University
- University of North Georgia
2023
Eduling Speak, Lingostar, Mage Duel, and Pangea Chat
Participating institutions:
- Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center
- Defense Critical Language and Culture Program at the University of Montana
2024
Hallo and Roxxem
Participating institutions:
- Concordia Language Villages
- Defense Critical Language and Culture Program at the University of Montana
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Indiana University Bloomington
- San Diego State University
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
- University of Minnesota
- University of Mississippi
- University of Wisconsin–Madison
2025
Luduan, The Mimir, Voccent, and Pangea Chat
Participating institutions:
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Indiana University Bloomington
- University of Arizona
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
- University of Mississippi
Related Program Resources
Blended Learning Initiative
An overview of the Tech Center’s broader work in blended learning, including professional learning, mentoring, simulations, and model courses.
Blended Learning Essentials
A collection of professional-learning lessons addressing the design and implementation of blended language-learning experiences.
Mastering Mentorship
A series of conversations with experienced language educators addressing effective mentoring practices, professional relationships, and common mentoring challenges.