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© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved. Colleen Worrell Virtual High School www.goVHS.org Blended Learning: Strategies for Success

Colleen Worrell Virtual High School Blended Learning: Strategies for Success

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Colleen WorrellVirtual High School

www.goVHS.org

Blended Learning: Strategies for Success

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Today’s Presentation

Why blended learning? Who are we? What is blended learning? How do I create a successful blended

classroom? Show & Tell – blended learning initiatives Q&A

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Why go blended?

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sammy0716/3005591006/

What are your

reasons?

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Here are some we thought of…

“Best of both worlds" Creates effective, technology-rich learning

environments Flexibility – promotes differentiated learning Builds 21st-century competencies Student-centered Extends school day, classroom walls Engaging content & delivery Opportunities for authentic learning & assessment

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Who are we?

Virtual High School is a non-profit, global consortium of nearly 700 member schools offering innovative online courses

Currently in 14th year of operation and 13th year of online course delivery

Originally funded by the Federal DOE through a 7.8M technology grant – five years of research & development

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

We reach students in 32 states...

and 40+ countries!

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

VHS Mission

to develop and deliver standards-based, student-centered online courses, to expand students’ educational opportunities and 21st century skills, and to offer professional development to teachers to expand the scope and depth of their instructional skills.

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

in student centered,

cohort-based online courses educational opportunities

should not be limited by barriers of time, space, or lack of

qualified instructors

online teaching should supplement, not supplant,

traditional education

that a collaborative model allows for sharing of resources to improve the

quality of education for all students in the schools, not just VHS

studentsVHS believes…

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

How Do I Get Started?

Strategies for Success

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45699481@N04/4664596482/sizes/z/in/photostream/

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Administrative Considerations

Funding

Timing

Technology

Organization

DeliveryPhoto credit: www.flickr.com/photos/14752079@N00/1718468702/

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Strategies for Teachers

4 C’s of Blended Learning:

Contemplate

Customize

Communicate

Cultivate

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/langwitches/3557894144/

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Start with thoughtful planning

Contemplate

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/37531816/

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Think about Design not Technology

Design should determine your use of technology, not the other way around

Focus on course goals & learning objectives

Plan ahead and start early

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Blended Learning is a Process

Start small and build your blended course one step at

a time

Rely on student/peer feedback and self-

reflection to constantly improve

your course

Be flexible – learn as you go!

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbot45/2539810093/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Customize

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

•Incorporate a variety of media and voices into your approach (e.g., text, video, podcasts, websites, discussion forums, wikis/blogs, journals, slideshows, etc.)

Diversify your approach

•Use Open Educational Resources to integrate quality content, create engaging learning experiences, and take students beyond the classroom

Move beyond the

textbook

•Rethink how to measure student progress and mastery in a blended environment

Realign assessment

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_virginia/2898490491/sizes/z/in/photostream

Communicate

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Establish clear

expectations,

directions, and lines

of communic

ation

Use multiple modes and voices (syllabus,

announcements, email, blog, podcasts, etc. )

Provide timely feedback as often as possible to

your students

Be present online:

students need to

know you are there

Communicate

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/globetrotter1937/2692008540/sizes/z/in/photostream/

Cultivate

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Collaboration & community for your students

Professional community of peers for yourself

Knowledge: seek opportunities to build upon your own content

knowledge and technical competencies

Photo credit social networking: http://www.flickr.com/photos/intersectionconsulting/4126503365/sizes/m/in/photostream/Photo credit stack of books :http://www.flickr.com/photos/katerha/5021019816/sizes/z/in/photostream/

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.Photo credit: http://breadofmany.blogspot.com/2010/08/show-tell-pseudo-adventures-in.html

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

NYCOOL (NYC Opportunities in Online Learning)

ICT literacy

At-risk students

Professional Development for teachers

Problem solving and critical thinking

2008-2009 and 2009-2010 academic years Students from 11 NYC high schools Student course entitled “Digital Literacy for a

Digital Age” Teachers enrolled in VHS PD courses to

improve skills with Web 2.0 tools and took skills back to other faculty

Student course delivered in conjunction with classroom teacher – combined mastery of ICT skills and classroom content

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.http://nycool.wikispaces.com

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Wiki on British Imperialism in Africa from an Honors Global History course

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Blog from a Chemistry Class

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Photostories & Videos

Social Bookmarking

Podcasts

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Project ABLE (Achieving Blended Learning Environments)

Ten participating school districts

Targeted PD for grant teachers

Emphasis on 4 C’s

Train the trainer

Focus on using OERs

Two-year professional development grant initiative

Funded through MA DESE Promotes development of blended

classes in STEM Teachers trained in course

development and facilitation Professional Learning Communities

for ongoing support and mentoring

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Professional Development Module from Project ABLE

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Moodle site created by a Project ABLE teacher for a

blended Digital Photography

course

Schedule for F2F vs. online class meetings set by

school administration

Authentic assessment

Student blogs, wikis, forums

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

hhspress is a student run news site produced by Hopkinton High School students (Hopkinton, MA)

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.Blog from blended Digital Photography course

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

Professional Development at VHS

Six-week, cohort-based course

Rich facilitator-led discussions

Step-by-step development of a blended module

www.goVHS.org

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.Image credit: Filomena Scalise / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

© 2010 Virtual High School. All rights reserved.

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THIS SESSION!

Colleen [email protected]