1. Excerpts from Blended Learning Data Accumulation Report By Marina Ballantyne Walne, Ph.D. with support from Heather Staker and Mukta Pandit Presented July 2013
“In a new World of Learning, education centers on the
needs of learners, not those of institutions.
Teaching is tailored to an individual student’s needs and abilities.”
“2020 Forecast,” KnowledgeWorks

2. Key Findings
Blended learning is early stage; roughly 3.5 million students take part, and 4 overarching models are emerging.
Most key design and implementation factors are the same for any good school; however, a good learning management system is essential.
There is early evidence of cost savings.
Student gains are promising but results are inconclusive.
Blended learning may change teachers roles and help attract, retain, and leverage the best, but it may also reduce the number of teachers needed in a school.
Get into blended learning for the right reasons.

3. Key Findings
Blended learning is early stage; roughly 3.5 million students take part, and 4 overarching models are emerging.
Most key design and implementation factors are the same for any good school; however, a good learning management system is essential.
There is early evidence of cost savings.
Student gains are promising but results are inconclusive.
Blended learning may change teachers roles and help attract, retain, and leverage the best, but it may also reduce the number of teachers needed in a school.
Get into blended learning for the right reasons.

4. Definition of Blended Learning
A formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through online delivery of content and instruction, 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.
and
the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience ( Clayton Christensen Institute)
Source: Heather Staker and Michael B. Horn, “Classifying K-12 blended learning,” Innosight Institute, May 2012

5. Blended Learning is NOT …
The traditional “factory” model
50 million in monolithic, one-size-fits-all batches
Full-time online learning
Only about 250,000 U.S. students are full timers
The “tech-rich” traditional model
Over $60 billion spent on computers in classrooms

6. Emerging Blended Learning Models
Source: Heather Staker and Michael B. Horn, “Classifying K-12 blended learning,” Innosight Institute, May 2012

7. Definitions of the Big Four
Rotation
Flex
Self-Blend
Enriched Virtual
Students rotate on a fixed schedule or at the teacher’s discretion between learning modalities, at least one of which is online learning
Students move on an individually customized, fluid schedule among modalities, and the teacher-of-record is on-site
Students attend physical school plus take 1 or more courses online with off-site teacher of record
Students divide their time between attending a physical campus and learning remotely using online delivery
Source: Heather Staker and Michael B. Horn, “Classifying K-12 blended learning,” Innosight Institute, May 2012

8. Station-Rotation Model: KIPP LA, Empower Academy
Teacher-led Instruction
Collaborative Activities & Stations
Individualized Online Instruction T
Source: Heather Staker and Michael B. Horn, “Classifying K-12 blended learning,” Innosight Institute, May 2012

9. Budget and Teacher Shortages are Driving Growth of Blended Learning
Opportunity
Example
Expert teachers can reach more students
Miami-Dade Public Schools uses Florida Virtual School (FLVS) online teachers to deliver courses where local content experts are unavailable. Local teachers provide support.
classroom
classroom
classroom
classroom
teacher
Class sizes can increase at the same time that teachers get more small-group time
KIPP Empower Academy increased class size from 20:1 to 28:1 but offers more small-group instruction
Station 1
Station 2
Students can get more guided practice and tutoring without extra cost
Hundreds of students get Khan online instruction at night and then face-to-face help at school
Online instruction at home
Face-to-face guided practice

10. Key Findings
Blended learning is early stage; roughly 3.5 million students take part, and 4 overarching models are emerging.
Most key design and implementation factors are the same for any good school; however, a good learning management system is essential.
There is early evidence of cost savings.
Student gains are promising but results are inconclusive.
Blended learning may change teachers roles and help attract, retain, and leverage the best, but it may also reduce the number of teachers needed in a school.
Get into blended learning for the right reasons.

11. Key Factors Data analysis to differentiate instruction School culture
Leadership
Learning Management System (LMS)
Clear instructional design and plan
Advocates from within
Quality teachers and Professional Development (PD)
Engaging digital content for multiple ages
Technology infrastructure
Most success factors are the same for blended and traditional schools
A majority of respondents (58%) cited data analysis and the ability to use data to differentiate instruction as the most important design principle for blended schools.
Source: Based on open ended interviews with 12 leaders in the field.

12. What is a Learning Management System (LMS)?
A Learning Management System is a technology toolkit that can enable more effective teaching and learning.
One of the critical issues with a learning management system is relying on the quality of information from the courseware vendor. The vendor’s assessment of mastery may not match the level of rigor set by a school. Therefore, the teachers do not trust the data coming from the system.
--- Marcia Aaron, KIPP Empower
Some LMS providers integrate all three elements into one package (e.g. Blackboard). The alternative is to build an LMS using open source platforms like Moodle and various available online tools.
Source: Safal Partners

13. How does an LMS Enable Blended Learning?
TEACHERS
Create, maintain, share and manage the learning experience through one easy-to-use website
Easily integrate the online and offline learning experience
Use online collaboration tools to create a virtual classroom
Track student performance and deliver targeted feedback and content
Manage administrative tasks like putting up grades, distributing materials etc. easily
Get feedback and data on student performance, allowing data-driven modifications to curriculum
STUDENTS
Access content anytime and anywhere
Learn collaboratively by creating online study groups
Access content tailored to preferred mode of learning
Source: Safal Partners

14. Adaptive Learning through an LMS
CONTENT
ADAPTIVE LEARNING
Process managed by the LMS
Adaptive and interactive curricula and assessments (mapped to standards)
Initial diagnostics
Content delivery based on diagnostic results
Progress monitoring assessments to assess learning
Content delivery based on assessment
Outcome assessments
Source: Safal Partners

15. Key Findings
Blended learning is early stage; roughly 3.5 million students take part, and 4 overarching models are emerging.
Most key design and implementation factors are the same for any good school; however, a good learning management system is essential.
There is early evidence of cost savings.
Student gains are promising but results are inconclusive.
Blended learning may change teachers roles and help attract, retain, and leverage the best, but it may also reduce the number of teachers needed in a school.
Get into blended learning for the right reasons.

16. Comparison of Per-pupil Expenditures by School Type
On average, a blended model costs roughly $1.1K less per student than a traditional model, but the variance is wide
Source: Parthenon

17. Cost Savings Examples School Cost Savings Carpe Diem
Cost is $5,300 per student for operations; $6,000 per student including mortgage for facilities
Alliance
Each blended school saves about $1 million over a 4-year period of implementation with the 48 to 1 teacher student ratio.
Rocketship
Each school saves about $500,000 per year. This is redeployed in the following manner: $200,000 to higher teacher salaries ( 20% more); $100,000 for academic dean; $200,000 management fee for Rocketship to cover leadership development, general growth, and facility improvements. Their buildings have 5,000 square feet less than a traditional school due to fewer classrooms, which also represents a savings. All Rocketship schools operate within ADA.
“Carpe Diem is operating as low as $6,000 per pupil including facilities. You could open 10,000 Carpe Diems in rural America at that price point.”
- Alex Hernandez, Charter School Growth Fund

18. Key Findings
Blended learning is early stage; roughly 3.5 million students take part, and 4 overarching models are emerging.
Most key design and implementation factors are the same for any good school; however, a good learning management system is essential.
There is early evidence of cost savings.
Student gains are promising but results are inconclusive.
Blended learning may change teachers roles and help attract, retain, and leverage the best, but it may also reduce the number of teachers needed in a school.
Get into blended learning for the right reasons.

19. Summary of Data from National Study of Online Learning
Meta-analysis of 176 experimental or quasi-experimental studies found that, on average, students in online learning performed modestly better that those receiving face-to-face instruction.
Differences were larger in those studies that blended online with face-to-face versus online alone.
Only 7 studies involved K-12 students; number of studies was too small to warrant much confidence in the mean effects.
Sources: Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning, U.S. DOE

20. 2012 or 2013 Sample Results
In 2012, 82% of Rocketship students scored proficient or advanced in math, on par with affluent districts at 87%
Summit Prep is ranked 36th for AP results among the 23,000 public high schools in the U.S.
In 2013, second grade students at KIPP Empower, LA, scored 991 out of a possible 1,000 points on the CA Academic Performance Index (API). Only 9% of these students were developmentally ready on a literacy screen in grade K.
Carpe Diem’s middle school students in Indiana showed an average of 3 years of academic growth in

21. *Nearby districts include aggregate average of elementary schools in
2011 Rocketship Results
CA API Results
Put the source below like the other slides
Overall
Low-Income
English Learners
*Nearby districts include aggregate average of elementary schools in
Alum Rock Unified, San Jose Unified and Franklin –McKinley school districts..
Source: Rocketship Presentation

22. 2011 Carpe Diem, AZ Results % Economically Disadvantaged Proficient
Advanced
Reading
Math
Carpe Diem
55%
93%
87%
24%
48%
Comparison
~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~
Region
68%
54%
36% 3% 9%
State
51%
57%
32% 6%
11%
Yuma HS
66%
40% 4% 5%
Crane MS
70%
76%
62%
10%
Source: Arizona State Accountability

23. Student Outcomes: Non-Academic
The attitude of the kids is different. They say that the school day flies by. In their previous schools, sitting in a class for an hour was painful.
-- Frank Baxter, Alliance Schools
Increased student engagement
Increased motivation
Decrease in behavioral issues because students feel trusted
No significant differences in student social skills and interactions
With our digital content, each kid knows what he or she needs to do to complete the agenda. They average 90 minutes of self-imposed homework a day.
-- Mickie Tubbs, ATAMS
Sources: Interviews with school operators

24. Key Findings
Blended learning is early stage; roughly 3.5 million students take part, and 4 overarching models are emerging.
Most key design and implementation factors are the same for any good school; however, a good learning management system is essential.
There is early evidence of cost savings.
Student gains are promising but results are inconclusive.
Blended learning may change teachers roles and help attract, retain, and leverage the best, but it may also reduce the number of teachers needed in a school.
Get into blended learning for the right reasons.

25. Potential Impact on Teachers
Attract, retain and leverage the best: potentially higher salaries; reduction in menial tasks; better student achievement results; best teachers leveraged to “boundless classrooms” and can become specialized experts.
Boost average teacher’s effectiveness: smart-ware delivers much of instruction, allowing more time for teachers’ strategic intervention; can get real time data and lesson planning advice.
Higher student-teacher ratios may decrease the number of classroom teachers needed.
Diversify instructional delivery by adding new professional roles: technology experts, lab facilitators, interventionists, tutors, etc.
“ Teachers should not be grading worksheets. In a hospital, you don’t have the person who is operating on someone then go in and change their linens and file insurance papers. If it takes 180 hours to practice math concepts to achieve mastery, the most efficient path is a learning lab with an aide to supervise kids. “
– Rebecca Tomassi, Alvo Institute

26. Teacher Satisfaction KIPP Empower Matchbook Learning
Matchbook Learning surveyed its teachers at L.A. Holmes in Detroit and 100% said they would not go back to the time before the school was blended. This was a turnaround school that retained all of its existing teachers.
KIPP Foundation conducts a national survey and the KIPP Empower School received the second highest teacher satisfaction rating among 102 schools in the KIPP network.

27. Teacher and Leadership Training
School Developed Leadership Training
(Rocketship)
School Developed Teacher Training
(Alliance, Rocketship)
Content and LMS Vendor Training
Consultant created Professional Development on Blended Learning
(Alvo Institute)
University Training –
Emerging Partnerships
Try not to cram all PD into the school opening – make it iterative. - Anthony Kim

28. Key Findings
Blended learning is early stage; roughly 3 million students take part, and 4 overarching models are emerging.
Most key design and implementation factors are the same for any good school; however, a good learning management system is essential.
There is early evidence of cost savings.
Student gains are promising but results are inconclusive.
Blended learning may change teachers roles and help attract, retain, and leverage the best, but it may also reduce the number of teachers needed in a school.
Get into blended learning for the right reasons.

29. Key Takeaways from Vendors, Funders and Board Members
Funder or Vendor
Key Lessons Learned
Alex Hernandez, Charter School Fund
“We need to realize that technology won’t make up for poor human capital – that is still an essential part of the equation.”
Rebecca Tomassi, Alvo Institute
“We are big believers that attitudes and perceptions around technology and data tools are very important – we are looking for a collective, collaborative approach to instruction.”
Anthony Kim, Ed Elements
“Leadership is important – but it is critical in any school. Leaders need to realize that what you are doing in a conversion to blended learning is change management.”
Frank Baxter, Chair of Alliance
“I came to the realization that although we were quite successful as a CMO, what we were doing was neither scalable nor could lead to rapid growth. We went to blended learning for the economics – more productivity; for the principle that you never want a person to do a job a machine can do; and to reach our goal of every student in the nation having a great education.”
Source: Interviews vendors, board members, and funders

30. Lessons Learned from Current Blended Learning Operators
Blended Learning School
Key Lessons Learned
KIPP Empower
“Our biggest “Aha” was about the program – we did not think about the back end (data aggregation piece) – we thought about the front end – curricula and programs.”
Carpe Diem
“Culture, culture, culture is the key to success.”
Alliance ATAMS
“You need to believe that this is the best thing for kids and keep the core values and mastery learning as a focus.”
A. L. Holmes School, Matchbox
“We are using technology to help mediocre teachers become high performing. That’s our fundamental thesis.”
Rocketship
“Some people when they get into this space just focus on technology. This is a big mistake. Blended learning is about taking kids from where they are and figuring out what they need to do to learn. Technology is an efficient way to do that.”
Source: Interviews school operators

31. The Power of Learning Lab5 1
In class, teachers focus on critical skills
In class, teachers introduce new topics and conduct guided discussions
Introduce Concepts
Extend
Guided Practice
Individualized
Learning
Intervene
Independent Practice 2 4
In Learning Lab, students strengthen basic skills via computer programs
Response to Intervention RTI: tutors provide intensive, focused remedial work with students
Assess 3
Frequent assessments give early, actionable insights into students’ strengths & weaknesses
Source: Rocketship Education

32. The Big Aha Blended Learning is PROMISING because it can
Deliver CONSISTENT, ENGAGING quality digital content through the learning management system
Completely INDIVIDUALIZE a student’s instructional experience in a way one teacher with 25 to 30 students never could
And if teachers are paid 20% more due to cost savings and relieved of burdensome tasks, it has the potential to
Attract, retain and leverage the best and brightest teachers