In its basic and simplest definition, blended learning is an instructional methodology that combines face-to-face classroom methods with computer mediated activities to deliver instruction.
The strengths of this instructional approach is its "blending" of both face to face and online teaching methods into one integrated instructional approach.
When beginning to blend your classroom, it is always important to first identify why you are blending. If you don’t, you can quickly fall into the hole of using technology for the sake of using technology instead of truly leveraging the technology to address an instructional challenge you have in your classroom.
Every classroom will look a little different. We will explore useful tools for teachers who want to use this instructional strategy.
The strengths of this instructional approach is its "blending" of both face to face and online teaching methods into one integrated instructional approach.
When beginning to blend your classroom, it is always important to first identify why you are blending. If you don’t, you can quickly fall into the hole of using technology for the sake of using technology instead of truly leveraging the technology to address an instructional challenge you have in your classroom.
Every classroom will look a little different. We will explore useful tools for teachers who want to use this instructional strategy.
|
|
|
|
Why blended learning?
|
The best choice for your course?
Key Factors:
|
How do you incorporate blended learning in your course?
|
What are some considerations when using blended learning?
|
Blended Learning Models
- Rotation (Station or Lab) a course or subject in which students rotate on a fixed schedule between learning modalities, at least one of which is online learning. Other modalities might include activities such as small-group or full-class instruction, group projects, individual tutoring, and pencil-and-paper assignments.
- Flipped Classroom a course or subject in which students participate in online learning off-site in place of traditional homework and then attend the brick-and-mortar school for face-to-face, teacher-guided practice or projects. The primary delivery of content and instruction is online.
- Flexed a course or subject in which online learning is the backbone of student learning. Students move on an individually customized, fluid schedule among learning modalities. The teacher of record is on-site, providing support on as as need basis (small-group instruction, group projects, and individual tutoring).
- A La Carte a course that a student takes entirely online to accompany other experiences that the student is having at a brick-and-mortar school or learning center. The teacher of record for the A La Carte course is the online teacher. Students may take the A La Carte course either on the brick-and-mortar campus or off-site.
Each recipe includes three ingredients:
- A tablespoon of teacher take: Hear from teachers and students currently using the model and get insights into implementation
- A cup of set-up and strategy: Learn about ways to set up the different recipes, example schedules and lesson plan templates, and even concrete strategies that can be implemented immediately
- A dash of research and resources: Explore articles and videos to learn more about each model
Creating Your Own Video Lessons
Three Questions You Must Decide:
1. What do I use to Create my content? - (Educreations, Camtasia, Screencastomatic or my favorite OfficeMix)
Screencast-o-Matic is totally web-based, and easy to use. It works with both PC and Mac computers. It was used to record the screen for the Presentation Tools demonstration. Screencastomatic limits you to 15 minutes (paid version allows you to edit which may be bad…too much time spent editing to try and make it perfect). Research shows that it is better with the teacher in the video. Standard is the video should be the number of minutes in comparison to the students age you are creating it for. (Pro Version is $15 per year)
OfficeMix allows you to create a screencast or screen recording and is a free add-on if you already own Powerpoint. This is my favorite way to record a lesson as it does not put in a watermark like Screencastomatic. Here is a pdf document on OfficeMix with the steps on screen recording. (Flipping Your Classroom with OfficeMix)
2. Where do I Store my content? – School website, Moodle or Sophia
(What is Sophia video)
3. How do I Deliver my content? – Twitter, Email, Website
1. What do I use to Create my content? - (Educreations, Camtasia, Screencastomatic or my favorite OfficeMix)
Screencast-o-Matic is totally web-based, and easy to use. It works with both PC and Mac computers. It was used to record the screen for the Presentation Tools demonstration. Screencastomatic limits you to 15 minutes (paid version allows you to edit which may be bad…too much time spent editing to try and make it perfect). Research shows that it is better with the teacher in the video. Standard is the video should be the number of minutes in comparison to the students age you are creating it for. (Pro Version is $15 per year)
OfficeMix allows you to create a screencast or screen recording and is a free add-on if you already own Powerpoint. This is my favorite way to record a lesson as it does not put in a watermark like Screencastomatic. Here is a pdf document on OfficeMix with the steps on screen recording. (Flipping Your Classroom with OfficeMix)
2. Where do I Store my content? – School website, Moodle or Sophia
(What is Sophia video)
3. How do I Deliver my content? – Twitter, Email, Website
Pre-recording tips:
*Does it explain or teach what was planned?
*Is there a summary at the end?
*Is the audio clear
Have a friend or colleague watch it and see if they also answer those questions with a yes.
This link will take you to additional demo and how-to videos. Watch the video below created by Carolyn McCarthy to learn how to use the resource (direct link to the video).
Note: In order to use Screencast-o-Matic your internet browser must have have the most up-to-date version of Java. Follow the prompts when you open Screencast-o-Matic and install Java.
- Decide what one or two things you want your audience to learn (keep it simple).
- Create a storyboard or outline of the content and write a script before you begin recording. (Storyboard_template.doc)
- Practice what you will say and show several times until it is smooth
- Make a trial recording and play it back. Are the answers to these questions yes
*Does it explain or teach what was planned?
*Is there a summary at the end?
*Is the audio clear
Have a friend or colleague watch it and see if they also answer those questions with a yes.
This link will take you to additional demo and how-to videos. Watch the video below created by Carolyn McCarthy to learn how to use the resource (direct link to the video).
Note: In order to use Screencast-o-Matic your internet browser must have have the most up-to-date version of Java. Follow the prompts when you open Screencast-o-Matic and install Java.
Free Tools for Blended Learning
Blendspace is an excellent free tool to create flipped lessons for your class. It is an easy to use platform for creating multimedia lessons that students can access online. Using a drag-and-drop interface, you can organize videos, text, links, images, and quizzes into cubes, then organize them to create lessons, or "canvases, " for your students to complete independently.You can create a class on Blendspace and invite up to 35 students to join it. The maximum number of active lessons you can have for free is 100. Besides sharing lessons with the class, you can also use it to collect web sources in a single place that you can share with students with just one link.
ThingLink is an interactive media platform for creating interactive images and videos for web, social, advertising, and educational channels. Make your images come alive with video, text, images, music and more! With ThingLink you create interactive images with notes and rich media links.
- Introduction
- Tutorial
- Example - Digital Citizenship
EDpuzzle is a is a site that allows users to select a video and customize it by editing, cropping, recording audio, and adding questions to make an engaging presentation or lesson. Take already existing videos from Youtube, Khan Academy, Crash Course, etc. or upload your own. Enable self-paced learning with interactive lessons, add your voice and questions along the video. Know if your students are watching your videos, how many times and see the answers they give. In EDpuzzle you create a class which gives you a code for students to join.
- Introduction
- Tutorial
- Business Cycle Example - You will need to sign up for a student account and then enter the code: mekabme
Teachem is a free web service that allows teachers to create lessons around YouTube videos. They can also interact with videos through adding comments, questions and notes in the form of flashcards that can be pinned to videos. It is a uniquely powerful tool for delivering flipped course content.
Educanon (playposit) is another powerful tool that teachers can use to design lessons based on videos from both YouTube and Vimeo. And like Teachem, teachers can generate questions on the content of videos and share it together with videos in a single lesson.
Vizia is a web tool that allows you to create interactive and engaging videos. You can ask questions, multi-choice quizzes, and collect feedback through your videos.You can also use it to insert polls, and short answer questions into your videos with a ground-breaking new interface. Videos created via Vizia are embeddable anywhere online.
Formative Assessment |
Vialogue (Video + Dialogue ) is an online video with a group discussion feature. Vialogue allows users to interact with videos by adding time stamped comments to them. This can be a great tool for teachers to use with their students to get them engaged in video prompted discussions.To get started, upload a video, grab one from YouTube, or choose one from the growing collection on our site. Once you’ve created a vialogue, you can encourage thoughtful conversations by posing questions, adding polls, and replying to comments. You can even embed a vialogue into your website, LMS, or blog!
Others tools to consider:
Complete Course Sites
Edmodo
Edmodo is one the popular website for the educators where they can share ideas and resources with their students. It is a free and safe social learning environment where educators can deliver best teaching strategies. There are three different ways you can sign-up with Edmodo; as a teacher, parents and students. Why Edmodo for Blended Learning? Edmodo is a very useful tool for blended learning. It can be used to framework assignments and resources for the classroom.
GoClass GoClass is another tool used for blended learning. This tool will assist educators in enhancing student’s engagement and classroom management. GoClass offers features that are divided into four categories Teaching Functionality, Administrative Functionality, Student Functionality, GoClass+ Features. There are lot of sub features available under these main features like: Broadcast: Using this feature, you can send media and content, assessments, videos and much more directly to the student’s device. Create Activity Feature: The Create Activity feature enables users to easily create multiple choice and polls or short answer assessment questions. Bookmark: Students can easily bookmark content for later review. Likewise this, there are more other features available on this platform. LessonPaths Formerly known as MentorMob, LessonPaths enables its users to create learning playlists to blend and flip classroom and learn at their own pace. With this platform, you can curate videos, websites, blogs and more into learning playlist. Users can browse as well as create playlist. |
|
Resources
- This is Blended Learning - BlendedLearningNow is an aggregator of the leading blogs, news, research, case studies and videos about blended learning, with the most recent entries on the home page and entries organized by type under Resources.
- Blended Learning Resource Roundup - A collection of resources from Edutopia and the web to help you navigate the possibilities of blended learning, an approach that combines face-to-face instruction with technology-mediated learning.
- 16 of the Best Blended Learning Resources - In February 2014, Edreform.com published a paper on digital and blended learning that points out over “68 percent of parents support digital learning” and “digital learning has tri-partisan support, with 61 percent of Republicans, 65 percent of Independents, and 67 percent of Democrats in favor.” Such strong support may make blended learning the future standard for education. How can you make blended learning a success in your school or classroom? The following resources explore the topic from various angles.