blended learning: how do you know it when you see it?

www.inacol.org

Blended Learning: How Do You Know It When You See It?

Dr. Allison PowellVice President, State and District Services

Dr. Rob DarrowDirector of Member Services

International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL)

• iNACOL is the premier K-12 nonprofit in online learning• Provides leadership, advocacy, research, training, and networking with experts in K-12 online learning.

– 4400+ members in K-12 online and blended learning in over 50 countries– Annual conference – iNACOL Blended and Online Learning Symposium: Orlando, FL in October

28-30, 2013• “Ensure every student has access a world class education” regardless of geography, income or

background. • Next Generation Learning Challenges – Gates Foundation• CompetencyWorks – Nellie Mae Education Foundation• Our strategic areas of focus in online and blended learning:

1. Policy2. Quality3. New Learning Models

http://youtu.be/_LyuLJSByvI

How well is our current K-12 system functioning?

The critical question is whether we are preparing our students for the knowledge workforce; the globally competitive workforce.

Currently – national high school graduation rate of 68%80% of jobs are requiring a post-secondary degree or certification

Depends on who you ask

Online and Blended Learning as a catalyst for change

Defining blended learning?

Blended Learning: What does “it” look like?

Yes, No, Maybe?

Yes, No, Maybe?

Yes, No, Maybe?

Yes, No, Maybe?

Tech-rich = blended

There are many blended learning Definitions

Definitions, Part 1• Two definitions:

– Blended learning should be viewed as a pedagogical approach that combines the effectiveness and socialization opportunities of the classroom with the technologically enhanced active learning possibilities of the online environment,

• Dziuban, Hartman and Moskal (2004)

– Blended learning “combines face-to-face learning with computer mediated learning.”  (Bonk and Graham, 2006.  Handbook of blended learning: Global perspectives, local designs. http://www.publicationshare.com/).

Allen, I. E., Seaman, J., & Garrett, R. (2007). Blending in: The extent and promise of blended education in the United States. Newburyport, MA: The Sloan Consortium. http://www.sloan-c.org/publications/survey/blended06

Blended learning

A formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through online delivery of instruction and content, with some element of student control over time, place, path and/or pace

and

at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home.

There are many blended learning Models

Emerging blended-learning models

Rotation Flex Self-Blend Enriched Virtual

• Station rotation• Lab rotation• Flipped Classroom• Individual rotation

Online platform with F2F support and fluid schedules

Students attend physical school & take 1 or more courses online

Students learn sometimes at a physical school, other times remotely

Emerging models of blended learning

Blended learning is not like a

light switch you turn on

one day

…And pedagogical shifts take time

Think in terms of 3-5 years from now (not just

today).

Think about what can be, not what is.

This is a journey, not a destination.

We are pretty clear

Face-to-Face Teaching

• Students in classroom• Teacher in classroom• Interaction face-to-face,

mostly verbal, some visual

• Fixed schedule of classes to attend

• Prescribed curriculum based on standards / use of textbooks

Online Teaching

• Students online• Teacher online (minimal

face-to-face interaction)• Interaction online video

conferencing, email – more visual, less verbal

• Flexible schedule for work completion

• Prescribed curriculum based on standards / text

But what does Blended Learning

really look like for a teacher?

Or an administrator?

www.inacol.org

Source: Susan Patrick, iNACOL

Teaching and Learning• What is the student

doing and where is the student?

What is the teacher doing and where is the teacher?

What and where is the content?

From Textbook to Online Teaching

Online Teaching

Textbook EnhancedTeaching

TechnologyEnhancedTeaching

Web / Online Enhanced Teaching

What does “it” look like? Where do you fit?

* See handout • Textbook enhanced teaching and

learning

• Technology enhanced (not online)

• Web/online enhanced

• Blended

• Online

What does “it” look like?*Teacher-centric vs. Student-centric

• Textbook enhanced teaching and learning

• Technology enhanced (not online)

• Web/online enhanced

• Blended

• Online

More teacher centric

Combination

More student centric

What does “it” look like?*Teacher vs. student control of

teaching and learning

• Textbook enhanced teaching and learning

• Technology enhanced (not online)

• Web/online enhanced

• Blended

• Online

More teacher control

Shared control

More student control

What does “it” look like?*Control of time and pace

• Textbook enhanced teaching and learning

• Technology enhanced (not online)

• Web/online enhanced

• Blended

• Online

Set time structure

Some Flexibility

Flexible

What does “it” look like?*Blended Learning Models continuum

• Textbook enhanced teaching and learning

• Technology enhanced (not online)

• Web/online enhanced

• Blended

• Online

Rotation

Self Blend

Enriched Virtual

Flex

People/Pedagogy/PD

• People – Administrators, Teachers, and Students– Must support each other

• Pedagogy– Role of Teacher changes in this environment

• Professional Development– What skills does an online/blended teacher need– What skills do an administrator need to support his/her teachers– Current Trends in PD

Role of Online/Blended Teacher• Facilitate and build an online and F2F community of learners• Engage learners in a variety of online and F2F environments

through reflective and hands-on activities• Analyze data to assist in individualizing instruction• Personalize the learning through online discussion and group

projects• Differentiate instruction (i.e. learning styles, adaptive/assistive

technologies, pacing, supplemental activities and remediation.)

• Develop and deliver asynchronous and synchronous lessons that use appropriate and effective multimedia design elements

• Student academic integrity issues (plagiarism and the safe and legal use of online resources) 

Administrator Role

• Need to know what to look for in evaluating teachers

• Need to understand how technology works to get into the courses

• How to support online/blended teachers• Requires administrators and policy makers that

can make wise decisions about resources• Allocation and to gather and analyze data that

cross traditional categories and sectors.• Lack of PD for administrators

What should an administrator look for while observing a

blended learning environment?(see handout)

Student and Parent Role

• Student is responsible for their learning

• Requires Motivation and Flexibility

• Personalized and Individualized Instruction– Any time, any place, any path, any pace!!! (FLVS)

• Parent is a partner with student and teacher– Provide support and resources at home

What does blended learning

look like?

Rocketship

• http://vimeo.com/30557533

iNACOL National Standards for Quality

School of One

• http://schoolofone.org/concept_introvideos.html?playVideo• (more in depth video) - http://vimeo.com/7964251

Carpe Diem Collegiate High School

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-s_O65rWV10

New Line Learning Models

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnPLrK1USMA

How Students Learn

Questions

• Dr. Allison Powell, VP State and District Services, apowell@inacol.org

• Dr. Rob Darrow, Director of Member Services – rdarrow@inacol.org

• (Presentation: http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com

http://www.inacol.org

http://onlineprogramhowto.org

Why join iNACOL? www.inacol.org

• Passion for online and blended learning

• Receive daily news and research updates about online and blended learning

• Contribute to the online and blended learning voice and conversation

• Participate in regional and standing committees

Why join iNACOL? www.inacol.org

• Participate in webinars and related activities (access to Archives)

• Reduced cost for attending yearly iNACOL Symposium (Oct. 27-30, 2013, Orlando, FL)

• Membership: $60 for educators – Other memberships: School, institution,

companies, etc.