Flex Model
What is the Flex Model?
Imagine you walk into a classroom for the first time, and most or all students have a computer. You notice that some students intently watch videos of their teacher explaining a math problem. One student rewinds the video by 30 seconds to rewatch a strategy she didn't understand at first.
Another student grabs an Exit Ticket off the wall to begin working on a set of problems. Students work at their own pace, although they are learning the same material. The teacher, you notice, is sitting at a back table with two students, and she is reviewing their Exit Tickets with them.
One student puts his headphones back on to rewatch a part of the preloaded instruction; you see the "light" come on, and he says, "Oh! I skipped that step!". There are many moving parts to this classroom; however, no one works at the same pace or level of information.
Edutopia [Video Image]. (2019). https://www.youtube.com/embed/zrR-KIoggf4?t=2s
Click on the image above to learn more about how educators at a Washington, DC, high school implemented a self-paced Blended Learning model.
Video Length - 5 minutes, 48 seconds
The Flex Model of blended learning is a popular mode of implementation that is defined by four characteristics:
1. The curriculum is delivered primarily online, with some offline activities included throughout lessons.
2. Students are given the flexibility to transition between learning modules as their learning progresses. Not all students will be ready to move to the next module simultaneously. Teacher support is given to students when they need it.
3. The teacher of record is face-to-face with the students as they receive online instruction at a brick-and-mortar site that is not home.
4. The teacher of record and possibly other adults provide students with face-to-face support that is flexible and adaptable to student needs (View Sonic, 2021).
The Flex Model can look different depending on the structures in place at a school.
Teacher-directed Learning Unit
Student-directed Learning Unit
Role of the Teachers:
Teachers are intentionally planning lessons and preparing lessons and materials.
Teachers facilitate learning as the students work through material and activities.
Differentiated support for students
Role of the Students:
Students are in charge of working through modules at their own pace.
Students collaborate with partners and/or in small groups.
Students are responsible for the transition between lessons as needed.
Benefits:
Student-paced and student-led instruction
Increased instructional time as well as more opportunities for immediate feedback and differentiation
Increased student engagement and empowerment
Challenges:
Often, the Flex Model works best with older students.
Technology issues can cause a breakdown in the flow of learning.
Some teachers feel that this model requires an extensive amount of work in preparation.
Considerations for preparing to implement the Flex Model:
Consider what online platform you will use. You may want to begin with a program your students are familiar with such as Canvas or Google Classroom.
Planning ahead is key to success- all materials need to be predetermined (online and offline).
Decide if the learning unit will be teacher-directed or student-directed.
Create defined workspaces. You will want to consider areas for collaborative work, self-study, small-group remediation, etc. (Blended Learning Model, 2022).
Now that you have learned about the Flex Model, complete the chart on your reflection sheet based on your understanding of the model.
Click the NEXT button to learn more about the A La Carte Model.
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