blended learning implementation

www.inacol.org

Planning, Implementing and Sustaining a

Blended Learning Program

Dr. Allison PowellVice President, State and District Services

Dr. Rob DarrowPresident, Online Learning Visions

June 2014

Contact Information and Workshop Documents

• Allison – [email protected]• Rob – [email protected]• Documents (Friday) - http://bit.ly/fridaybl • Documents (Sat) - http://bit.ly/saturdaybl

– Virtual parking lot – any other questions, comments, etc.

– Handout– Resources– Presentation Slides

Introductions

• Around the room– Position, location– Stage of blended learning implementation– What you hope to gain from this workshop

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

Blended Learning

The Definition

Blended Learning: What does “it” look like?

Yes, No, Maybe?

Tech-rich = blended

Teaching and Learning• What the student is

doing and where the student is.

What the teacher is doing and where the teacher is.

What and where the content is.

Blended learning definition

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

andat least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home and the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience.

Horn & Staker, 2013

Defining Terms

• What makes something:

– Blended Learning

– Online Learning

– Competency-based Learning

– Personalized Learning• How do these work together?

There are blended learning Models

Emerging blended-learning models

Horn & Staker, 2012

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

The models are good, but…

@MichaelbHorn Tweet

“If you cannot identify the front of the room, you are probably in a

disruptive / blended classroom”

– #inacol13, Oct. 2013

There is some blended learning Research

Research Perspective: Can’t study it if it doesn’t exist

• 1994 – First K-12 online schools• 2001 – First K-12 online schools report• 2004 – First report about “blended learning” –

college• K-12 Online Learning: About 20 years old• K-12 Blended Learning: About 15 years old

What does the research say?

• Very little because:

–Takes time to study an innovation

–Case Studies – always begins the research

Implementing blended learning (or any innovation)

Everett Rogers. Diffusion of Innovations

(1963)

• “One cannot seek knowledge about an innovation until he or she knows it exists.”

Rogers: Adopter CategoriesInnovators – Early Adopters – Early Majority – Late Majority - Laggards

In every study…(Rogers, 2003)

• Role of “change agent” or champion • Common adoption characteristics from

innovator to laggard• Common way innovation reaches “critical mass”

or “tipping point”• Common communication methods that

influence earlier adoption• S-shaped curve of adoption over time

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

From Textbook to Online Teaching

Online Teaching

Textbook EnhancedTeaching

TechnologyEnhancedTeaching

Web / Online Enhanced Teaching

…And pedagogical shifts take time

Not About the Technology

• Change in teaching

• Change in learning

• Change in pedagogy

• Change in class organization

• Things should look different in a blended learning environment, more student centric, more personalized learning

Blended Learning is About…

• Rethinking how class is structured• How time is used• How resources are allocated• Personalizing the learning for all students –

better learning engagement• Student centric learning• Teachers using data daily to customize

learning for students

Group Work (30 Minutes)

• Documents (Friday) - http://bit.ly/fridaybl • Documents (Sat) - http://bit.ly/saturdaybl • Introductions (position, etc. stage of blended learning)• 20 Minutes Group Work by Case Study

– Learn about School (reading, videos, etc.)– How has teaching/learning changed?– What is different about this school? (class, time, resources,

students, teachers)– How are teachers using data on a daily basis to customize

learning?– How is learning more student centric?

Discuss with table• 10 Minutes Report Out

Implementation:iNACOL’s

Blended LearningRoadmap

Six Elements Emerged

Result: A Roadmap for

Blended Learning

Implementation

Successful Blended Learning involves Six Elements

• Leadership

• Professional Development

• Teaching/Instructional Practice

• Operations/Admin Systems/Policy

• Content

• Technology

Components within each of the six elements

• Evaluation

• Quality

• Funding

Key Learning

• Clear Goals need to be established, written and discussed in ongoing way

• Leadership determines sustainability and success (Administrators and Teachers)

• Collaborative leadership style is essential • School culture of support, innovation

(it is ok to try and fail)• Ongoing professional development

(formal and informal)

LeadershipSchool Implementation•Identified administrator/leader and teachers at each school•Ongoing interactions (one-on-one, formal and informal) and meetings of those involved in iLearn•Administrators, teachers and administrators work together towards the blended learning goals established in each school

Promising Practices•School culture of innovation and empowerment•Start small and build•Communication is strong and occurs between involved people in a variety of ways (one-to-one, phone, email, chat, etc.)

Professional DevelopmentSchool Implementation•Both formal and informal (Schedule trainings to one-on-one customized PD)•Modeling, webinars, small conferences, workshops, cohort meetings•Implementation Managers are key

Promising Practices•Scheduled Time•Teacher Resources•Professional Sharing•School Support

Teaching/Instructional PracticesSchool Implementation•Created Resources

– Blended Learning Continuum, Interactive Applet, Blended Learning Rubric

•Support for new blended learning teachers – modeling and mentoring•Analyzing real-time data to personalize learning for each student

Promising Practices•Classroom Setup•Data Analysis•Individualized Instruction•Student Engagement•Digital Content

Operations/Management Systems/Policy

School Implementation•Restructuring of the traditional school class / school day•Emphasis on using real-time student performance data•Change in instructional delivery model

Promising Practices•Operational support•Policy development examples•Data-driven instruction

ContentSchool Implementation•Common platform •Content providers to choose from•Professional development and teacher sharing about content provider and platform use

Promising Practices•Content Decision Making (purchase or build your own)•Customizable platform – many teachers using base curriculum and supplemental based on student needs•Customizable for individual student needs

TechnologySchool Implementation•School leadership ensures that technology needs of students and teachers are addressed, and proper training provided.•Dedicated technical support for the blended learning programs.•School leadership is visible in their own use of technology; modeling expectations.

Promising Practices•Technology Training •Technology Support •Hardware and Software Needs

Implementation Plan for Roadmap

• Introduce to administrators and teacher leaders in day long visioning meeting

• 3-5 year implementation plan

• Ongoing meetings of implementation teams to share what is working / promising practices

Group Work (30 Minutes Each Round)

• 20 Minutes Group Work by Element– Designate facilitator and note taker– Key questions and some solutions– How are you going ensure quality?– What metrics to measure progress?

• Report Information on Google Doc• Documents (Friday) - http://bit.ly/fridaybl • Documents (Sat) - http://bit.ly/saturdaybl

• 10 Minutes Report Out

Round 1

• Technology

• Teaching Practices

• Leadership

Round 2

• Technology

• Teaching Practices

• Professional Development

• Leadership

• Operations, Systems, Policies

• Content

Join 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.– 4000+ members in K-12 online and blended learning in over 50 countries– Annual conference – iNACOL Blended and Online Learning Symposium: Palm Springs, CA on

November 2 - 4, 2014• “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

www.blendedteachernetwork.org

Join Today – It’s Free!

Whip Around

• One thought, comment, key point shared by everyone in the room.

Contact Information and Workshop Documents

• Allison – [email protected]

• Rob – [email protected]

• Documents (Friday) - http://bit.ly/fridaybl

• Documents (Sat) - http://bit.ly/saturdaybl – Virtual parking lot – Handout– Resources– Presentation Ppt

Case Studies, See Resource Page

Documents (Friday) - http://bit.ly/fridaybl

Documents (Sat) - http://bit.ly/saturdaybl •Christensen Institute Blended Learning Universe: http://www.christenseninstitute.org/blended-learning-universe/ •Donnell-Kay Foundation: http://dkfoundation.org/our-work/blended-learning-resources •Dell Foundation: http://www.msdf.org/programs/urban-education/initiatives/united-states/blended-learning/