EVERY SUMMER, I spend a few weeks trying to improve academic materials and make the following semesters glide into the frame with a clear set deliverables for students. Since we launched a new creative multimedia degree programme last term, I've lost some ground and feel as though I'm bogged down in the sand. This means the upcoming summer months will feature a lot of serious work, trying to weave the academic material into our virtual learning environment. That's somewhat tedious, but always worthwhile. At the same time, I'm trying to determine how much latitude we have to produce some of our learning materials in a blended mode (i.e., virtual learning with Moodle and intensive tutorial sessions, perhaps in four-hour blocks). I think the blended model would suit people who are between jobs or who want to upskill as part of an enrichment strategy.