www.inacol.org

A Roadmap for ImplementingBlended Learning

Dr. Allison PowellDr. Rob Darrow

iNACOLMarch 2014

iNACOL• iNACOL is the premier K-12 nonprofit in online learning• Provides leadership, advocacy, research, training, and networking with experts in K-12 online

learning.– 4400+ members in K-12 online and blended learning in over 50 countries– Annual conference – iNACOL Blended and Online Learning Symposium: Palm Springs, CA on

November 2 - 4, 2014• “Ensure every student has access a world class education” regardless of geography, income or

background. • Next Generation Learning Challenges – Gates Foundation• CompetencyWorks – Nellie Mae Education Foundation• Our strategic areas of focus in online and blended learning:

1. Policy2. Quality3. New Learning Models

Session Focus

• There are 6 Elements to Implementing and Maintaining a successful blended learning program

• Promising practices for each element that can be replicated

• Tools for blended learning• Observations from NY City Schools

My Belief: Tipping Point

• K-12 Online Learning already there (close)

• Every school will become a blended learning school to better personalize learning for all students

• Ultimate goal: College and career ready students and 100% graduation rate

This is a journey, not a destination.It takes time to

transform thinking and teaching.

Defining blended learning

Teaching and LearningWhat the student is doing and where the student is.

What the teacher is doing and where the teacher is.

What and where the content is.

Blended Learning Definition

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

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.

(Horn & Staker, 2013)

Tech-rich = blended

Not About the Technology

• Change in teaching• Change in learning• Change in pedagogy• Things should look different in a blended

learning environment, more student centric, more personalized learning

@MichaelbHorn Tweet

“If you cannot identify

the front of the room,

you are probably in a

disruptive / blended classroom”

– #inacol13, Oct. 2013

Mott Hall V, New York City7th Grade Science

One-to-One

Group Projects

Small Group

Instruction

Basis for Design Work

• Identified a need to work with experienced design partner and iLearnNYC implementation managers to develop and document effective and replicable blended learning models that leverage school-based knowledge and experience

• Identified a need to create a community of schools who can learn and share with one another to advance their blended learning strategies and models

iLearnNYC & iNACOL Partnership

• One year – 2012-13 School Year• Visitations, interactions, focus on 8 lab

schools– Weekly phone calls with district support staff– Conversations with administrators, teachers and

students

• End Product: Blended Learning Roadmap• Currently working on General Blended

Learning Roadmap

iNACOL’s Design StructureVisioning and Fact Finding Activities:

– Ongoing interviews and information gathering from lab schools and cohort schools in subsequent months

– Development of clear expectations and focus of each of the initial 8 lab schools– Identifying risks to implementation

Creation, and ongoing guidance in the development, of the Design Template Toolkit:– Recommended structures for implementation practices– A process by which the toolkit gets populated and utilized– Information and data to use in the Toolkit– Training in the use and population of the toolkit

Training, Dissemination and Implementation:– Work collaboratively with schools and support the necessary professional development

activities– Provide ongoing mentoring– Coach schools to "roll up their sleeves" and prepare for implementation of specific lab school

model

Key Learning

• Clear Goals need to be established, written and discussed in ongoing way

• Leadership determines sustainability and success (Administrators and Teachers)

• Collaborative leadership style is essential • School culture of support, innovation

(it is ok to try and fail)• Ongoing professional development

(formal and informal)

Six Elements Emerged

Result: A Roadmap for

Blended Learning

Implementation

Successful Blended Learning involves Six Elements

• Leadership• Professional Development• Teaching/Instructional Practice• Operations/Admin

Systems/Policy• Content• Technology

LeadershipSchool Implementation• Identified administrator/leader and teachers at each school• Ongoing interactions (one-on-one, formal and informal) and

meetings of those involved in iLearn• Administrators, teachers and administrators work together

towards the blended learning goals established in each school

Promising Practices• School culture of innovation and empowerment• Start small and build• Communication is strong and occurs between involved people

in a variety of ways (one-to-one, phone, email, chat, etc.)

School Example: Leadership

At Mott Hall V:• Daily walk-throughs at Mott Hall V by

principal and assistant principal• Weekly meeting time built into school work

day• Designated lead blended learning teacher

Professional DevelopmentSchool Implementation• Both formal and informal (Schedule trainings to one-on-one

customized PD)• Modeling, webinars, small conferences, workshops, cohort

meetings• Implementation Managers are key

Promising Practices• Scheduled Time• Teacher Resources• Professional Sharing• School Support

School Example: Professional Development

At Goddard HS:– IM has identified two teachers to work one-

on-one to push individual growth– Scheduled time to collaborate and share for

participating teachers– Leadership and IM communicate regularly

about PD needs, offerings and resources to meet these needs

Teaching/Instructional PracticesSchool Implementation• Created Resources

– Blended Learning Continuum, Interactive Applet, Blended Learning Rubric

• Support for new blended learning teachers – modeling and mentoring

• Analyzing real-time data to personalize learning for each student

Promising Practices• Classroom Setup• Data Analysis• Individualized Instruction• Student Engagement• Digital Content

School Example: Teaching/Instructional Practice

Olympus Academy has primarily implemented a flex model of blended learning in which content and instruction are delivered primarily by the Internet, students move on an individually customized schedule. A certified teacher along with instructional support assistants provide face-to-face support through as small-group instruction, group projects, and individual tutoring.

Operations/Management Systems/Policy

School Implementation• Restructuring of the traditional school class / school day• Emphasis on using real-time student performance data• Change in instructional delivery model

Promising Practices• Operational support• Policy development examples• Data-driven instruction

School Example: Operations/Management Systems/Policy

Because Olympus Academy specially targets students who are at least 16 year of age and are significantly behind in credit acquisition, school administration and teachers recognize that students need online content and instructional practices that is adaptive to their personal needs and allows for flexibility in pacing.

ContentSchool Implementation• Common platform • Content providers to choose from• Professional development and teacher sharing about content

provider and platform use

Promising Practices• Content Decision Making (purchase or build your own)• Customizable platform – many teachers using base curriculum

and supplemental based on student needs• Customizable for individual student needs

School Example: Content

• Expand foreign language options by offering online French offered by a teacher at another school (A la carte model)

• Expand AP options by developing AP Environmental Science (A la carte model)

TechnologySchool Implementation• School leadership ensures that technology needs of students

and teachers are addressed, and proper training provided.• Dedicated technical support for the blended learning

programs.• School leadership is visible in their own use of technology;

modeling expectations.

Promising Practices• Technology Training • Technology Support • Hardware and Software Needs

School Example: Technology

• Francis Lewis has dedicated tech support onsite to support administrators, teachers and implementation managers with the network and devices used in the school.

• Because Francis Lewis instructors involved in the blended learning program utilize a variety of both vendor content, Open Educational Resources (OER) materials, and teacher-created online courses, the implementation of common learning management system is very important

Implementation Plan for Roadmap

• Introduce to administrators and teacher leaders in day long visioning meeting

• 3-5 year implementation plan

• Ongoing meetings of implementation teams to share what is working / promising practices

Overview of Roadmap Resources

• Continuum from Textbook Enhanced to Online Teaching and Learning

• Implementation Timelines (Year 1 and 2-4)• iLearnNYC Observation Form • Rubric for Blended Learning

From Textbook to Online Teaching

Online Teaching

Textbook EnhancedTeaching

TechnologyEnhancedTeaching

Web / Online Enhanced Teaching

Blended Learning Rubric

1. Leadership2. New Staff Roles3. New Student Roles4. Personalized Learning Plans and

Progress5. Next Generation Curriculum and

Assessment6. Flexible and Real World Learning

Environments

4-Point Rubric

1. Under Developed2. Developing3. Proficient4. Well Developed

Blended Learning Preparation

iNACOL Resources

• iNACOL Blended Learning Roadmap (NYC)• Mean What You Say: Defining and

Integrating Personalized, Blended and Competency Education

• A Day in the Life of a Blended Learning Teacher Webinar -https://sas.elluminate.com/p.jnlp?psid=2013-11-21.1455.M.A4AD5CB70B5A4D831FFD0B6FB3AD9A.vcr&sid=253

www.inacol.org/resources

• Palm Springs, Ca – Nov. 4-7, 2014• RFP now available until March 26:

http://www.inacol.org/events/symposium/ • Registration available in April • Start planning now!

www.inacol.org

Thank you!

Questions & Comments

Contact information:Allison Powell – apowell@inacol.orgRob Darrow – rdarrow@inacol.org

All Resources and PPT can be downloaded at - http://aliooplv.pbworks.com/w/page/71411260/Presentations