The Modern Classrooms Project defines blended instruction as teachers strategically leveraging technology to ensure that a class both runs efficiently and meets the needs of all students.  The central idea is that students access content through a BLEND of instructional materials: videos, readings, explorations, and the teacher him- or her-self. Because students are not dependent on a teacher to deliver content,

• • Students learn in the ways that work best for them, both in and out of class, and

  • Teachers spend class time as efficiently and effectively as possible.

By the end of this module, you will:

• 1. List the specific blended resources that your Modern Classrooms Unit will require,

  2. Create and upload your first instructional video, and

  3. Choose the Learning Management System that you will use to organize your course, and 

  4. Begin to build your first unit!

Start by watching the video below, which explains blended instruction and your goals for this module.

Blended Learning Guide

In order to deliver blended instruction in your classroom, you’ll need to: (1) create instructional videos, (2) deliver those videos online, and (3) organize your videos and other instructional materials using a Learning Management System.  Our Blended Learning Guide explains how to do those three things in greater detail.

Your Turn!

Module 2 is all about practice -- which you’ll need to create great blended instruction!  Once you’ve reviewed our guide, you’ll need to curate the online resources that you’ll will give your students to learn with, and then determine how you’ll actually deliver those resources to students.  We recommend that you find and or/create a reasonable number of these resources -- enough to give students plenty of opportunity to learn, but not so many as to overwhelm. Please note that, to complete this course, you’ll need to create at least one instructional video.

When you’re ready, go back to Module 1 of your Unit Planning Template and answer the reflection questions which appear there.  Fill in the template with your plan for blended instruction in your own Modern Classoom. 

Module 2 Self-Assessment

Finally, before moving on, take a few minutes to reflect on your learning about blended instruction, with the Module 2 Self-Assessment Survey.

It's time for Module 3: Self-Paced Structures.