The Blended Learning

What is Blended Learning? Blended learning is a term increasingly used to describe the way e-learning is being combined with traditional classroom methods and independent study to create a new, hybrid teaching methodology.  A mix of face-to-face and online learning Lessons set to own pace Increased opportunities to differentiate

What is Blended Learning? Currently, no universal definition exists for blended learning. Most agree that it involves some combination of online and face to face instruction. Blended learning does not occur simply by adding a few online strategies to a traditional classroom. Successful blended learning requires an intentional and integrated approach (Zenger and Uehlein, 2001). The blend of methods should depend upon the needs of the students and the school.

Face-to-Face Learning Experiences Online Learning Experiences Integration Vaughan, N. (2010). Designing for a blended community of inquiry. In Blended learning in Finland. Retreived from : http://www.helsinki.fi/valtiotieteellinen/julkaisut/blended_learning_Finland.pdf

BLENDED LEARNING MODELS

BLENDED LEARNING MODELS Face-to-face driver – where the teacher drives the instruction and augments with digital tools. Rotation – students cycle through a schedule of independent online study and face-to-face classroom time. Flex – Most of the curriculum is delivered via a digital platform and teachers are available for face-to-face consultation and support.

BLENDED LEARNING MODELS Labs – All of the curriculum is delivered via a digital platform but in a consistent physical location. Students usually take traditional classes in this model as well. Self-blend – Students choose to augment their traditional learning with online course work. Online driver – Students complete an entire course through an online platform with possible teacher check-ins. All curriculum and teaching is delivered via a digital platform and face-to-face meetings are scheduled or made available if necessary.

Why Blended Learning? Blended learning allows teachers and schools to address a variety of learning  styles with a variation of instructional methods (Wiffin, 2002). Blended learning practices in the K-12 environment increase student motivation (Berson, 1996;Lipscomb, 2003; Pye & Sullivan, 2001; Scheidet, 2003; Wellman & Flores, 2002;). Blended learning allows for more personalized instruction.

Why Blended Learning? Blended learning provides opportunities for teachers to use online curriculum for basic information and for extensions/review and class time for higher order thinking activities. Blended learning frequently provides a higher level of interaction  than commonly experienced in face to face courses. (Dziuban, Hartman, &  Moskal, 2004; Waddoups & Howell, 2002; Wingard, 2004).

Why Blended Learning?

Tips to Use Blended Learning According to Carol Tucker Start Small There are tons of technologies and tools Choose one digital tool or technology to try when starting Become comfortable with one before going onto another Mistakes Happen That is how you learn so don’t give up Ask students for help with technology-they have grown up with it!

Tips to Use Blended Learning According to Carol Tucker Use Technology To Make Life Easier Don’t just use it to use it Replace something with technology to make things easier, like a PowerPoint or EduCreations video for a lecture, or a wikipage for a class discussion Truly Blend Technology Use it inside and outside the classroom Online Discussions-continue discussions on topics on sites like Uclass Expert Group Investigations-students in small groups research a topic online and present using digital tools

Tips to Use Blended Learning According to Carol Tucker Everyone Can Get Online Even if they don’t have internet at home, there is access in the community Town libraries, school libraries, computer labs Internet is important and part of Common Core-students need to have access Explain to parents at Back to School Night the importance In class, work in groups or rotate if not enough computers/tablets

How Do I Blend My Learning? Blogs, Wikis and online Discussion Formats Students can post and answer questions on these platforms to expand on topics in class Uclass.org Educational Wikispaces Webquests Guide students through a research project Many pre-made webquests online One I made on New Jersey Collection of webquests by Kathi Mitchell

How Do I Blend My Learning? Digital Storytelling Using PhotoStory3 for PC or iMovie on the iPad An example using the iPad for Cyberbullying An example with PhotoStory3 Flipped Classrooms Students complete the learning/lecture part outside the classroom and apply the knowledge in the classroom Video on Flipped Learning Here is an example with Geometry-Educreations on the iPad was used to create the video

How Do I Blend My Learning Models: Simulations and Mind tools Simulations are interactive technologies where students can move and change components without risk of messing something up or getting hurt Mind tools allow students to show concepts they learn Here is an example lesson using both Additional simulations for the classroom

Is That All? NO WAY! There are so many ways to use technology in the classroom to expand students’ learning. They love technology and it really differentiates learning. “Blended learning offers improved pedagogy, increased access to knowledge, and fostered social interaction between learners. Easy use of multiple modalities in blended learning approach provides better support for different learning styles among students” (Ayala 2009; Osguthorpe and Graham, 2003, as cited by Uzun & Senturk, 2010).

Our students are our future Our students are our future. We need to prepare them to adapt and apply the skills they are learning to the tools they will be using.

References Abud, G. G. [Blended Learning Infographic]. Retrieved from http://abud.me/does-blended-learning- have-a-place-in-the-classroom-infographic/ Appelo, J. (2013). [YouTube Logo]. Retrieved from http://www.noop.nl/ Carly (2013, February 21). Infographic: How to implement bended learning [Inforgraphic]. Retrieved from http://blogs.terrapinn.com/total-learning/2013/02/21/infographic-implement-blended- learning/ Cobb, K. (2013, January 29). What is blended learning? [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOUrWn8GSvw Cooper, A. (2013, July 27). [Blended Learning Image]. Retrieved from http://freshmancomp.com/category/blended-learning/ The Learning Accelerator (2013, August 14). [Learners Today Graphic]. Retrieved from http://learningaccelerator.org/blog/2013/8/announcing-first-district-wide-blended-learning- partnership-with-reynoldsburg-city-schools Nesbitt, B. (2007, November 28). A Vision of K-12 Students Today [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8&feature=youtu.be Tucker, C. (2013, March). The basics of blended instruction. Educational Leadership, 57-60. Uzun, A., & Senturk, A. (2010). Blending makes the difference: Comparison of blended and traditional instruction on students' performance and attitudes in computer literacy. Contemporary Educational Technology, 1(3), 196-207. Wolpert-Gawron, H. (2011, April 28). Blended Learning: Combining Face-to-Face and Online Education | Edutopia. Retrieved November 15, 2013, from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blended-online-learning- heather-wolpert-gawron

MASSIVELY OPEN ONLINE COURSES MOOCs

What is MOOCs? A Massive Open Online Course (MOOC /muːk/) is an online course aimed at unlimited participation and open access via the web.  In addition to traditional course materials such as filmed lectures, readings, and problem sets, many MOOCs provide interactive user forums to support community interactions among students, professors, and teaching assistants (TAs). MOOCs are a recent and widely researched development in distance education which were first introduced in 2008 and emerged as a popular mode of learning in 2012.

What is MOOCs? Is the Web-based distance learning or online-based learning, and it does not have limitation in terms of participants. In Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) there is creativity and the openness and it allow the participants to share readings, videos and activities.

How to use MOOCs? Since MOOCs does not have curriculum, it can be a self-directed. It does not limit the number of participants The number of teachers or instructors can also participate because the main aim is to gain knowledge or to attain the certain goal. MOOCs can also be created by students discussing the certain content or the chapter of the subject in order to improve their learning

TYPES OF MOOCS xMOOC. Is the type of the learning where by the learners share the ideas and there is only one instructor on the discussion cMOOC. Hear the learners control their own learning, and they create their own goal. The learners are not assessed or tested weather they have met the outcomes that they where aiming at.