Planning for Blended Learning

Start with the end in mind. This is the first stage of the design process for effective blended learning.

Questions to ask include:

• At the end of my lesson what are the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that learners should achieve?

• What blended learning and teaching activities would best support the learners’ learning?

• How do I want to balance synchronous and asynchronous activities?

• How might the learners demonstrate their learning and achievements?

• What facilities/ equipment is available to support blended learning?

• Do I need to upskill myself in any areas to facilitate the approach to blended learning my school wishes to adopt?

Three distinct design approaches for developing blended learning lessons could be considered (Alammary et al., 2014). Each approach outlined below takes consideration of time, staff experience and knowledge.

Introductory approach: adding online activities to an existing lesson.

Intermediate approach: designing an online activity to replace an existing activity.

Advanced approach: developing a blended lesson from the outset or redesigning a face-to-face lesson as a blended learning lesson.

To explore activities associated with each approach above, and to access materials with which you can upskill in this area, please see the following PDST resources: The PDST Distance Learning Webpage, PDST Digital Technologies Team YouTube channel, teacherCPD.ie short courses, Scoilnet to source content mapped to the Irish curriculum, Webwise for online safety supports, PDST Good Practice Videos to see how Irish primary schools are embedding digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment, the Dlplanning.ie website to access supportive materials and aid you/ the digital learning team in linking blended learning to the school's current digital learning plan.

Start by considering the points below when planning for effective blended learning in your school context.

Questions to ask include:

• What expertise is present on the staff already that could be shared? Perhaps some staff members have been engaging with blended learning approaches to date (especially with regards to distance learning during Covid 19 school closure) and could share their experience in this regard?

• What facilities and equipment is available in the school to support blended learning?

• Is there potential to include approaches to blended learning as part of the school's Digital Learning Plan this coming year?

• What level of access to devices do learners have at home? Can we establish the level of access of each student? How can we best do this as a school community?

• If the level of access is determined to be low in places: Who are the 'at risk' students who may need support in accessing devices? Who is best positioned to support these students? Would community engagement be possible here? (eg. donations from local business, parents association fundraising events, 'device drives', etc).

• Learners with SEN: Who are the students who may require additional support when accessing materials? Who is best positioned to provide this?

Once you have ascertained what current knowledge base and equipment is present in the school, a realistic whole school approach should be agreed upon in relation to blended learning so that all staff are employing consistent practices (eg. all using the same online platform).

Access to supportive materials can be shared with staff to aid with upskilling in this area. PDST school support can also be accessed for this purpose. Useful online resources that can be shared with all staff members include: The PDST Distance Learning Webpage, PDST Digital Technologies Team YouTube channel, teacherCPD.ie short courses, Scoilnet to source content mapped to the Irish curriculum, Webwise for online safety supports, PDST Good Practice Videos to see how Irish primary schools are embedding digital technologies in teaching, learning and assessment, the Dlplanning.ie website to access supportive materials and aid teachers/ the digital learning team in linking blended learning to the school's current digital learning plan.

Step 3: Blended teaching and learning activities are designed and planned for in order to support the learning outcomes and assessment tasks. Digital technologies used are school consistent and accessible at home. Self- reflective teaching is encouraged.