Vista Ridge Blended Learning Team

The Blended Learning concept evolved from our online learning concept. In the 2013-2014 school year, VRHS added online courses in the media center as a way to accommodate more students and allow teachers to regain their second planning period.

The online concept assumed students would be self-directed learners and could successfully navigate themselves through the curriculum with minimal supervision. We found this was not the case. High school students need direct contact with a teacher when in class. So the Blended Learning concept came to fruition.

In this model, up to 90 students attend class in one of the big areas - Black Box, Cafeteria, or Media Center. Those areas are then divided up into small learning environments where 20 - 30 students interact with either a teacher or a mentor through direct instruction, hands-on activities, or online activities. Initially the model was for each class to have two content teachers, a special education teacher, and one or two mentors.

The Blended Learning program started in the fall of the 2016-2017 school year in the following courses:

• American Literature

• Applied Math

• Beginning Algebra

• Business Math

• Digital Photography

• Geography

• Physical Science

Lessons learned from the first semester:

• Students should not have more than one core (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) course in a blended environment

• Sufficient planning time for teachers and mentors to meet is a must

• Teachers in the blended learning courses needed to be passionate and enthusiastic about Blended Learning

As a result, changes were made for the second semester. Student surveys were conducted for first semester and will again be accomplished following second semester to see if the changes were indeed improvements.

Student feedback from a survey question that asked what they like about blended learning:

"I really don't like much, I like Ms. Jurek though."