Week 4 - 16/10/20

Blended Learning Modules

What is the Blended Learning Consortium?

The Blended Learning Consortium (BLC) was set up by the Heart of Worcestershire College in 2015. They work with partner institutions (like us!) to create and develop online learning materials.

As you will know, complete online learning packages are either difficult to find or are extremely expensive to purchase. BLC have created online lessons/modules that are sector-based and designed specifically for FE teachers/learners. As a member college, we get access to THEM ALL.

Here is a video if you would like to learn more about the Blended Learning Consortium:

What are the BLC Modules?

Each BLC module is a ready-made, interactive online lesson. They take approximately 40-45 minutes to complete. Most have audio (therefore in some cases, students will need headphones) and all include some form of formative assessment (e.g. drag and drop, multiple choice questions, mini-quiz at the end).

The BLC modules could be extremely useful for:

Directed study / independent learning classes
Extension materials
Revision activities
Planning of isolating learners
Or even within a much larger, more complete, blended learning lesson
Other…?

How do I assign them to my students?

Please click on video to the right for an explanation of how to use the BLC module resources with your students --->

To browse the BLC resources by subject you can go directly to the BLC Moodle page and log in (if you don’t already have an account, you can self-register) However, you most probably won’t need this step, as you can preview each module in BLC G-Suite Edition before assigning to student, as explained below.

Assigning the modules to your students is extremely simple. To do this, you will need to access the modules via the BLC G-Suite Edition on the College Grid, (or this link).

From here, you can assign any module that you like to your Google Classroom. Simply click on the ‘share to classroom’ button. This is explained in the video to the right.

How can I use them with my students ?

There is no rule book. You are the expert! However, here is some initial advice:

As mentioned above, the modules are extremely useful for directed study classes, extension materials, revision activities, isolating learners, or even within a much larger, blended learning lesson. However, I would say be careful not to over use them. Be selective and use them wisely, else students could become very easily bored of the same method of delivery. These modules are one answer to setting remote learning, not THE answer.

Be sure to think about how you can use them effectively to maximise potential, rather than assigning them to simply ‘plug a gap’.

Be explicit in explaining to students WHY you have assigned this module and HOW you would like them to engage with the content. E.g. Do you want them to take notes? How will they take notes? What will they be expected to do with this knowledge? Will you quiz them on the material? Will they quiz each other on the material? If so, how? When?

Consider how you can use them most effectively with other resources. A complete blended learning experience can be built around them, for example, within one Google Classroom ‘assignment’ you could include/assign:

1. An introductory reading/video/webpage/podcast/image to ‘hook and engage’

2. Your own screencast video to explain the context & content*

3. A Blended Learning Consortium (BLC) Module (40-45 mins)

4. An ‘active learning’ task to apply knowledge taken from BLC module/starter activity. This could be an individual task or collaborative.

5. An AfL activity (e.g. Quiz, Form, Collaborative board, exit slips) to check learning

Here you are starting to build a more engaging, more purposeful online experience. (An experience that is not unlike what they might be experiencing face-to-face…?)

*Remember hearing your voice explain concepts helps with engagement and builds students trust and confidence in you, as opposed to over-using YouTube material.

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