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Teachers can be highly successful in a blended environment when they make time for thinking ahead and planning how their classroom will look, feel, and sound in a technology-rich environment.
1. Define Blended Learning in Your Classroom
1. Define Blended Learning in Your Classroom
The term "blended learning" is extremely broad by definition and leads some to believe that it hasn't dramatically changed previous definitions of teaching and learning. Refine that definition by asking yourself:
- What will the infusion of technology look like in my classroom on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis?
- Will student opportunities for collaboration increase or decrease due to the amount of time that devices are used?
- Based on the technology tool that I have, what is its optimal use?
- What does assessment look like?
- How do I know if students are learning?
2. Research and Examine
2. Research and Examine
If you don't already have a defined personalized learning network (PLN), get started with one now. Joining Twitter and following educators and education organizations is an ideal starting point. Twitter is full of great resources and you can try a hashtag search for #BlendedLearning.
Examine free resources and tools that are available that will help support a blended learning environment.
3. Design and Implement
3. Design and Implement
In a blended learning environment, the need to plan and develop thoughtful units of instruction has emerged as one of the most critical factors in creating a successful instructional program.
When creating units of instruction, focus on larger themes and big-picture concepts. Too much emphasis on small skills and minutiae will have you feeling like you are drowning in apps, digital content, and 25 individual student learning paths and lesson plans. Reflect on your blended learning philosophy and evaluate its presence in your unit design. If you find you're not using the tool in the manner that you initially intended, make adjustments.
4. It's not failing, It's Learning
4. It's not failing, It's Learning
Be prepared for potential setbacks or bumps in the road on the blended learning path. Don't be discouraged. Keep working on refining your process.
Ken Robinson said it best: "If you're not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original."
At P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School, integrating digital content with face-to-face learning has led to impressive gains in student achievement.
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