December Newsletter

Blended Learning Department

In this issue:

Your Favorite Rides: Ownership/Agency
Did you Know? Flocabulary
What is Ownership/Agency? Blended Learning Best Practices
Monthly focus: Ownership/Agency (ideas and tips)
Monthly checklist (videos/instructions you may need now)

Ownership/Agency-Specific Resources
Monthly Digital Citizenship Focus
BL Resources
November newsletter challenge winner
Road Trip Challenge: Chance to win!

Your Favorite Rides

How would you feel if you arrived at an amusement park and someone told you which rides or attractions you had to do? Most of us would be unhappy with this scenario. The wonderful part about an amusement park is being able to choose and have some say over what rides or attractions we participate in, during our visit. A ride might be our favorite because of how fast (or slow) it goes, how far you fall, how many times you go around or upside down, how scenic it is, etc.

The classroom is no different. Students should have some choice and voice when it comes to how they learn. When students take ownership over their learning, engagement increases because they got to choose their path, and are therefore more invested in the outcome. While choice does not have to be an aspect of every assignment, strategically choosing opportunities for our students have some agency is a great way to increase learning in the classroom. In addition, allowing students to reflect on their choices and how they did as a learner through is another proven way for students to grow.

Did You Know?

Did you know you that Flocabulary is now a district-provided resources? You can access is through Clever using SSO credentials, which includes lessons, activities and videos. The Flocabulary video bundle can also be access through Nearpod. This user guide outlines the “ins and outs” of Flocabulary. Here is an example of an activity that users will find in Flocabulary.

Blended Learning Best Practices: Ownership and Agency

When ownership/agency are a part of the class students can be seen setting their own goals during student/teacher conferences. Setting obtainable goals allows students to focus and can help them prioritize their work. In addition, students would have some say as to how they want to learn and how they want to show what they have learned. This choice and voice often keeps students more engaged in the work. Finally, students would also reflect on their learning. Evaluation and reflection receives a .75 effect size in John Hattie's Visible Learning research, showing a high impact on student achievement. Allowing students to reflect on their thinking, what went well, where they may have gone wrong, and what they might do differently, is crucial to students understanding not only what they learned, but how they learned.

Blended Learning Focus: Ownership and Agency

Having choice in the activities we choose to participate in is what makes a person thrive. We always tend to choose the things we feel most comfortable with and enjoy the most. Just as at an amusement park we want to choose our own adventure or agenda, our students need to be able to take ownership of their learning adventure and master the content in the way that best fits their learning style and needs.

In the article "How to Build Student Agency in Your Classroom" Jacob Bruno states "Too often, we create situations where they (students) don't have enough options or choice in how their own educational journeys go, leaving them in learning traffic that doesn't let them move as fast." This is critical when building agency in the classroom. He goes on to state "Agency is partially about having choice, and partially about know what to with that choice." It is critical for students to have the choice and to have the knowledge as to which choice best fits their needs and learning style(s).

Here are a few things to consider as you look at building a classroom environment that promotes Ownership and Agency.

Monthly Checklist

Consider...

Using Google Sites to create student portfolios Examples
Using ePortfolios in Canvas for students to display and reflect on submitted work
Using OneNote notebooks for student portfolios
Creating a discussion post that allows students to pose questions to the class or add relevant resources in Canvas
Using Google forms for students to set goals and reflect on those goals.
Using a digital choice board (created in Google Slides) to give students options on how they learn and/or show what they know: example 1, example 2, example 3

Ownership and Agency-Specific Resources

(*While these resources are free, they are not district-supported).

Padlet: An extremely easy-to-use tool that allows learners to collaborate online by posting text, images, links, documents, videos and voice recordings. Teachers can use this as a "parking lot" for students to share their thoughts and ideas before, during, and after instruction.
FlipGrid now Flip: Teachers can create discussion topics and students can respond with video recordings. Their peers can respond to keep the discussion going. This tool helps students formulate their ideas in a pre-recorded setting, which means no one gets talked over or ignored by louder voices.
Khan Academy: Offers practice exercises, instructional videos, and a personalized learning dashboard that empower learners to study at their own pace in and outside of the classroom. It provides self-paced practice for students to fill in gaps in their understanding and then accelerating their learning.

Monthly Digital Citizenship Lessons

Short lessons and activities to teach digital citizenship are available again this year for all grade levels on the Guilford is Cyber Safe website. There are lessons on themed topics for each month, October through April. Please share these resources with staff members at your school.

Resources

BL Resource Website: Visit our website for all things blended learning. Locate your blended learning specialist, find out about our virtual course offerings,

District-Provided Tools Database: Want to know what digital resources we have for you? Check out the district's Air Table. You can filter to find the information you need.

Resources Document for Best Practices: If you like the Blended Learning Look-for document but feel like you need to know more, please check out our resource page that directly aligns with each of the blended learning focus areas.

Digital Learning Resources Canvas Page: Need help with one of our GCS district-provided resources? Visit our digital learning resource page to find video tutorials and instructional guides on anything from Swivl to Canvas.

Congratulations to Christa Carroll, from Northern Guilford Middle School for being selected as the November Challenge Winner. Mrs. Carroll, submitted a mastery path that she uses in Canvas to differentiate work for students.

Mrs. Carroll has won a $25 gift card to Dewey's bakery, a Simply Southern Tote, and Chick-fil-A entree card. We are grateful to our community partners. We could not offer such wonderful prizes without them:

Simply Southern- Friendly Center

Chick-fil-A - Battleground

Dewey's Bakery- Friendly Ave.

Ownership/Agency Challenge

How do you promote ownership and agency in your classroom?

Please submit a screenshot of one of the following to THIS LINK. Once you submit your screenshot, you will automatically be entered into a drawing for a prize.
- - - - Student portfolio using Google Sites
        ePortfolio in Canvas for students
        Student Portfolio using OneNote
        Discussion posts that allows students to pose questions and share resources with the class in Canvas
        Google Form for student goal setting and reflection

Last Day to submit your Ownership/Agency Challenge entry is Wednesday, January 3rd.

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