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Response to Intervention in the Blended Learning Environment
A Guide to Common Core
Three Strategies for Consistently Engaging Learners
The importance of cultivating a growth mindset with students
Becoming a reflective educator
Developing prosocial behaviors and interactions within the classroom experience
Identifying at-risk learners. Two critical components
Three key factors in igniting the fire in learners
Memories of school veterans. Thank you
Keeping early course finishers engaged
The right curriculum for blended learning
Blended Learning Technology. Selection Process
Students who finish early. Four ways to keep grads-to-be engaged
Generation DIY. Benefits of blended learning that transcend instruction
Generation DIY. Benefits from the Blended Learning homefront
Top 6 Lessons from Madness. NCAA March Madness
Preventing the Dreaded: "Why Do We Need to Learn This?"
8 Blended Learning Space Considerations
5 Favorite Practices for Effective Communication
Second-Order Change: The Blended Learning Mandate
6 Ways to Match Blended Learning Models
Using the SAMR Model in Blended Learning
Planning for 1 to 1 Learning: Making the Blended Learning Model Local
Eight Elite Questions to Ask When Selecting Online Content Providers
Five Tips to Overcome the "January Syndrome" in Professional Development
Blended education: Student-led discussions
Next Generation Learning Spaces eBook offer and conference information
Learning from Reality TV. Five Important Presentation Lessons for Teachers
Six steps to great technology training
Why I’m "Bullish" on Blended Learning
Lessons from the One-Room Schoolhouse
6 Keys to Deliberate Practice in Blended Learning
Top Fifteen Skills Students Need for College and Career Readiness
6 Ways Google Drive Docs Rocks in Blended Education
Effective Instructional Probing Questions
6 Career Types for Personalizing Learning
Back to school thoughts
Using data to inform instruction. Rigor, Relevance, and Results
Teaching to Learn
Social and Emotional learning matters
Infographic: 7 Blended Activities to Start the New Year
Tips for electrifying instruction (even when the lights go out)
Lansing's Woodcreek Achievement Center: Blended Learning ideas to improve reading comprehension
Top Five Blended Learning Tweets (of the summer so far)
Infographic: 8 key points to include in digital citizenship
Deliberate practice makes remember-able perfect
The 'One Minute Manager's' advice to teachers and students
Ways to Get the Most from ISTE 2014
Educators advocate for new programs, more technology, increased funding. 3 simple steps.
7 Favorite Ways Students Like to Learn
Adapting Teacher Observations to Blended Learning Environments
Celebrating Successes. Student Learning in a Blended, Personalized Environment
Teaching in a Blended Environment: 12 Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Great ways to support teachers in blended, personalized, and online learning classrooms
Engagement doesn't necessarily equal buy-in. Working through pushback in Blended Learning environments
Connecting Classroom Instruction to Online Content
Blended Learning Classrooms Start with Blended Learning Professional Development
Top 3 Ways Blended Learning Really Works in Professional Development
Must Follow Organizations Supporting Blended, Personalized Learning
Great Probes for Blended, Personalized, Online Teaching
Four Key Considerations for Selecting Blended, Personalized, and Online Learning Tools
Four Creative Ways to Share the Vision for Blended, Personalized, Online Learning
Series: Planning for Blended and Personalized Learning: Blended Learning Goals
Planning for Blended and Personalized Learning Series: Crafting a Vision
News from the Field: eLearn Magazine – Call for K12 Blended Learning Articles
Does Big Bird "Tweet"? Teaching Generation Z
Five Characteristics of Great Blended Learning Teachers
Empowering Students with the Top Four Blended Learning Models
Three Interrelated Parts of Real Blended Learning
For over fifteen years, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to really dig deep down in the trenches of blended learning, even before we called it by that name. Along the way, the more I learned, the more I asked questions – hard questions about teaching new generations that are as used to connectivity and technology as they are to breathing. I’m constantly looking for ways we can help these new “natives” to be educationally empowered, and yet, I’m constantly baffled at how few people, even experts, use the whole definition of Blended Learning as published by the Clayton Christensen Institute and reposted throughout the online/digital learning world. To develop a true blended learning experience that works for all students, takes intentional, mindful use of all three parts of the definition: delivery, location, and connected instruction.
To develop a true blended learning experience that works for all students, takes intentional, mindful use of all three parts of the definition: delivery, location, and connected instruction.
Delivery
"A formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through online learning with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace;"
First, notice that part of the students’ learning happens online. Second, the students make choices about when they will learn online, where they’ll access online learning, how fast they’ll work through the required materials, and, in some cases, the path of activities that they select.
Location
"At least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home;"
This simple, straightforward statement starts to confuse or muddle some of the terminology and definitions. The key here is that part of the instruction happens away from home. An online course done all at home or out from under direct teacher supervision doesn't count as blended learning. Online learning – yes; blended learning – no.
Connected Instruction
Critical to the success of all blended learning implementations, the third part of the definition is the hardest to do, and do right.
"And, the modalities along each student’s learning path within a course or subject are connected provide an integrated learning experience."
Too often, vendors, consultants, presentations, and professional development sessions overlook or totally leave off this important part of the definition. Arguably, it needs the most attention. As educators, we need to make sure that online learning components directly connect and work with, not just adjacent to, the other types of instruction. We never get to real blended learning if we forget or omit this step. We have to stay mindful of the definition and work ardently on all three parts.
In this blog, I’ll continue to ask hard questions and to share what’s new and noteworthy about blended learning research, tools, learning paths, and common sense approaches.
Let’s start now.
Today’s Challenge:
Think closely about blended learning at your location. Would your definition-in-action match all three parts of the Clayton Christensen Institute’s definition? Where do you see gaps? Not sure where to go or how to move beyond those gaps, feel free to send me questions or comments. I’d love to hear from you and continue this important conversation.
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