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Blended Learning: How to Do It Right

Because technology plays such a powerful role in the life of today’s students, brick-and-mortar schools are finding that they can no longer meet their needs through classroom-based instruction alone. Enter blended learning--thisincreasingly popular method of combining face-to-face and online instruction is helping schools boost student achievement and maximize limited resources.


What are the benefits of blended learning?

Many educators recognize the value of the blended approach. In addition to reaching more students, it engages young people, putting them in control of their own learning and allowing them to learn at their own pace. Blended learning can extend classroom instruction beyond the school day, support credit recovery programs, or provide enrichment for accelerated students.

The North American Council for Online Learning reported that students achieve as well or better in an online learning environment compared to a face-to-face classroom. Teachers have found that online learning even improves face-to-face instruction. Further, Digital Learning Now suggested that "Blended learning environments can create more and better opportunities for teacher collaboration, enable differentiated staffing and boost meaningful professional development opportunities. Truly understanding the potential of blended learning leads to the realization that teachers become even more important in a personalized learning environment."

It’s no surprise, then, that blended learning models are experiencing explosive growth: 75% of U.S. school districts had one or more students enrolled in a blended learning course in 2010 (International Association for K-12 Online Learning). In Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns, the authors project that by 2019, 50 percent of all high school courses will be delivered online.


What models of blended learning are schools using?

  • In the flex model, teachers instruct mostly via an online platform, providing additional support as needed.
  • With the rotation method, students in the classroom or lab can rotate across different stations varying from small-group instruction and collaborative work to independent practice and self-directed, online activities.
  • With the enriched virtual approach, students use the online platform to supplement teacher-delivered curricula.
  • A self-blend model involves students taking online courses that supplement in-person courses. 
     

What are some best practices for implementing blended learning?

Aspire Public Schools' Blended Learning Handbook not only provides useful practices and tips, but also suggests online resources including:

Web sites such as Getting Smart and Lectora also provide best practices for educators using blended learning. Below are some suggestions from those sources. 

Getting Smart:

  1. Put the teacher at the center.  A great teacher is critical for any learning model. First, it’s important to automate the workflow for teachers, which will free up time for them to work with students. Second, you need to help educators make the shift from being the "sage on a stage" to taking more of a coaching role.
  2. Ongoing PD builds a shared culture.  Peer observations can get staff speaking the same language and strengthen the group's shared vision. Strive to provide real-time help and support resources such as YouTube videos and professional learning communities.
  3. Ease of use is essential.  Create a simplified user experience, making all data just one click away so that implementation can happen immediately and without frustration. Get rid of the systems that are too complex for teachers and administrators to learn and manage.
  4. Track student progress and data.  Assessment tools should offer robust reporting and effective data visualization so that teachers are able to quickly identify which student needs help. Teachers should also be able to build their own assessments. 
  5. Use a rigorous and engaging curriculum.  Students need access to coursework (e.g., AP classes) they would not get in a traditional brick-and-mortar setting.

Lectora:

  1. Keep your eye on the target
.  Before you develop a blended learning course, define your intended learning outcomes. Then brainstorm online and in-class activities that support those goals. Remember, all activities should be able to be assessed for knowledge acquisition at the end of the course. Develop a plan to blend your online and in-class learning activities together cohesively. 
  2. Deliver engaging content.  Online content needs to be more than a recorded lecture or PowerPoint presentation available for download. It needs to be engaging, interactive and complement in-class learning. Consistency is crucial when blending different types of learning. Set guidelines to encourage interaction, such as requiring learners to reply to at least three discussion posts.
  3. Practice and application are key.  When taking courses online, people need the opportunity to come together and practice the skills they’re learning, as well as receive feedback from others. For instance, have students watch a video online before class and then focus the in-class discussion on the video. Another method would be using online discussions to spark in-class conversation.
  4. Maintain communication.  Keep an open dialogue with learners. Get their feedback on aspects of the course they like, and be prepared to adjust if certain elements aren’t working. In addition, make sure to have administration communicate their support of the blended learning format. Students will be more engaged if there's high-level support for the courses they’re taking.
  5. Be prepared for complexity.  Developing a successful blended learning program isn’t always a piece of cake. Factors that you’ll need to address include technology requirements, tracking, deciding which content to deliver, promoting learner buy-in and other issues. It requires the right tools for course development and collaboration, as well as careful planning. If possible, test your blended learning course on a small group of users before rolling it out to your entire school.


Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor
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