Blended Learning – Our Journey from Online Education to Student Centred LearningSTUDENT ENGAGEMENT & 21ST CENTURY SKILLS CONFERENCESEPTEMBER 2015DARREN GASPERJADE BALLEK
Online Learning Background - Correspondence School - Saskatchewan Online Schools - Provincial Distance Learning Hub - Sun West Distance Learning Centre
DLC Mission Provide equitable and quality programming to students Core programming gaps in our rural schools Timetable conflicts, unique student needs, new students, transition students back into schools
Diverse range of electives to expand programming Dual credits with the U of S, Sask Polytechnic This experience with online learning led us to explore blended learning opportunities in areas we hadn't considered before - PAA Trades, Power Engineering
Evolution of Online Learning - From paper to digital - Instructional Videos - Increasing interactivity - Student Engagement with the Teacher - Communication, Teacher Visits, Intro Videos - Content Chunking - Shifting into Blended Learning
Supports for Student Success
- Learning Centres in each school - Support EA’s - Reducing Transactional Distance (Student-Teacher) - Course Flexibility – Cont. Intake, Timelines, Pacing - Communication Supports
DLC Programming K -12 Programming for students anywhere and anytime Agriculture - Cow/Calf, Field Crop or Equine Business Education, Financial Literacy, Astronomy, Paleontology, Forensic Science, Video Game Design Computer Drafting, Digital Photography, Graphic Arts Construction, Mechanics, Electrical, Welding, Autobody, Plumbing Class 4 Power Engineering, Leadership, Visual Art, Wellness Dual Credits – Intro to Business, Learning to Learn, Sask Poly Courses
Putting it into Practice Timetable Flexibility Unique Situations – Health, Hockey, New Students Credit Recovery Summer School Supporting multi-grades, multiple courses, staffing Supporting Teachers with Online Resources
Action Research – 2014-2015 SWISI Fund (Sun West Initiative for School Improvement)◦22 participants◦1 unit, 1 subject◦Grades 1- 12◦ELA, Math, Science, History◦4 questions
◦ Engagement, communication, comprehension, targeted instruction (differentiation)
Criteria for Blended Learningo formal education programo student learns at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from homeo student learns at least in part through online learningo some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace
Student Choice in Pace Pace - speed at which student moves through the learning Faster for some, slower for others
Student Choice in Path Path – ways in which students access the learning
Basic3
Comprehensive4
Thorough5
Essential to understanding the outcome
Highly desirable in understanding the outcome
Desirable in understanding the outcome
What all students need to know about the outcome
Application, synthesis, stretching your thinking
Top 3 Things We’ve Learned
1. The Power of Starting Small
2.
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3. Importance of Planning and Preparation
Enable Education
Classroom Culture
• Start with the “why”• Open up discussions• Digital citizenship skill development• Goal setting, tracking progress (self-
assessment)
http://goo.gl/pf2G8A
How might a blended model benefit your students?
Your school?http://www.phd2published.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/speech-bubble-faces.jpg
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