blending middle school: a powerful time for math education
DESCRIPTION
Middle school is a time of development, discovery and transition for students - but also an exciting and powerful time for math education. Tom Vander Ark of Getting Smart will share his research and findings around successful implementations of blended learning in middle schools across the nation, as well as lessons learned. Elementary math often provides a level of instant gratification—you see the problem, you know the answer. In middle school, the math starts to get more complex, building connections among content. We need to help students practice patience, use a variety of solving techniques to attack problems, and learn from their mistakes in order to persist through difficult math situations rather than simply giving up. Attend this web seminar to learn how to motivate students to succeed with competency-based learning, build persistence through learning that is student-driven, and equip schools for learning that happens anytime, anywhere.TRANSCRIPT
BLENDING MIDDLE SCHOOLA POWERFUL TIME FOR MATH EDUCATION
Tom Vander Ark, Getting Smart CEO
With support from DreamBox Learning
Today’s Webinar
Overview of Blended Learning Why Blended Models Work in the Middle
Grades 10 Lessons Learned from Middle Grade
Math BlendsSchool Wide Data
Alignment Management
Motivation Support
Tech Support Start Whole Group
Portfolio Blend Flexibility
What is Blended Learning?
Christensen: Students learn at least in part through online delivery of content and instruction with some element of control over time, place, path, and/or pace.Getting Smart: A shift to an online delivery for a portion of the day to make students, teachers and schools more productive.
Middle School Landscape
What we know about middle school students: Encountering physical
and emotional changes
Experiencing more complex mathematics
Increased social awareness
Desire for independence
Middle School Landscape
What we know about middle grade math Indicator of success
in more advanced math
Shift from learning the number system to a thoughtful use of that system
Connections and conversations are key
Why Blended Works for Middle School
• Meets the unique needs of learners and creats independent opportunities for success and growth
Its Personalized
• Increases student confidence and independence by focusing on growth mindset and allowing individual progression based solely on competency
Its Competency-Based
• Offers opportunities for students to learn through productive failure and at their own pace
It Builds Persistence
• Allows for flexible learning environments that open the door for peer tutoring and whole class conversation
It Can Be Social
Lessons Learned from Middle Math Blends
SCHOOL WIDE– blended learning is a team sport and requires a shared vision KIPP: suggests
leaders start school wide conversations around instructional design and school model design
Lessons Learned from Middle Math Blends
DATA – blended learning provides a wealth of information for both teachers and students Teachers: benefit
from synthesized, actionable data
Students: benefit from direct feedback and vision of growth
Lessons Learned from Middle Math Blends
ALIGNMENT – aligned programs seek to calibrate difficulty – between frustration and boredom. What Tim Hudson of DreamBox Learning calls “appropriate scaffolding – strategic social interactions, learning experiences, and instruction based on a students past performance, intuition, and current thinking – that guide effective learning and development.”
Blended Learning Implementation Guide 2.0 from Digital Learning Now
Lessons Learned from Middle Math Blends
MANAGEMENT – determine a plan for what will be needed in order to manage the new classroom structure KIPP Chicago: strong
classroom procedures and management
Alliance: digital learning agendas
Lessons Learned from Middle Math Blends
MOTIVATION – support the development and realization of goals as well as the need to solve difficult problems Firstline Schools:
Goal setting Khan: goals,
reflection, accountability
Lessons Learned from Middle Math Blends
SUPPORT – teachers should be sufficiently trained on acting on data from programs and on creating systems/processes required for streamlined procurement and data integration
Lessons Learned from Middle Math Blends
TECH SUPPORT – be aware that with any technology you will encounter difficulties. It is important to good tech support and a classroom culture of support and collaboration around trouble shooting
Lessons Learned from Middle Math Blends
START WHOLE GROUP – it can be difficult for students to learn a new program and new content at the same time. Beginning with all
group instruction Initial practice with
content that has been previously mastered
Lessons Learned from Middle Math Blends
PORTFOLIO BLEND –develop a portfolio approach to content that allows student input into what helps them succeed and why
Lessons Learned from Middle Math Blends
BE FLEXIBLE – take an iterative approach: develop and test hypothesis on short cycles Seek inspiration
NGLC Blended Learning
Universe Sweat the culture as
much as the design Be good to each other
Q & A
Continue the conversation: GettingSmart.com
@Getting_Smart @Tvanderark
DreamBox Learning K-8 Math
Intelligent Adaptive Learning™ Engine• Millions of personalized learning
paths• Tailored to a student’s unique needs
Motivating Learning Environments• Student Directed,
Empowering• Leverages Gaming Protocols
Rigorous Mathematics Curriculum• Reporting Aligned to CCSS,
Texas TEKS, Virginia SOL, Canada WNCP, & Canada Ontario Curriculum Reports
• Standards for Mathematical Practice
Seeing is believing! dreambox.com/request-a-demo
DreamBox Lessons & Virtual Manipulatives
Intelligently adapt & individualize to:
• Students’ own intuitive strategies
• Kinds of mistakes
• Efficiency of strategy
• Scaffolding needed
• Response time
Seeing is believing! dreambox.com/request-a-demo
Robust Reporting
Seeing is believing! dreambox.com/request-a-demo
Strong Support for Differentiation
Seeing is believing! dreambox.com/request-a-demo
FREE Interactive Whiteboard Lessons
DreamBox supports small group and whole class instructional resources.
www.dreambox.com/teachertools
Seeing is believing! dreambox.com/request-a-demo
Seeing is believing!
www.dreambox.com/request-a-demo