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iNACOL developed six key elements for implementing and maintaining a blended learning program. Rob Darrow's presentation outlines the six elements and promising practices.
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www.inacol.org
Key Elements for Blended Learning Planning and
ImplementationDr. Rob Darrow
Director of Member Services, iNACOLeLearning Strategies Symposium
December 2013
Rob’s Wiki: http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com
Introductions• A little about you:
– Teachers– Administrators– Other– K-6; 7-8; 9-12; college
• Me– Lifelong Californian – Educated in Ca public schools
PreSchool-doctorate – Online charter school principal, school librarian and
teacher (Taught K-8)– Full time with iNACOL, Director of Member Services
International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL)
• iNACOL is the premier K-12 nonprofit in blended and online learning. Membership Organization.
• 4100+ members in K-12 virtual schools and online learning representing over 50 countries
• Provides leadership, advocacy, research, training, and networking with experts in K-12 online learning.
• “Ensure all students have access to a world-class education and quality blended and online learning opportunities that prepare them for a lifetime of success.”
Blended and Online Learning Symposium
November 4-7, 2014
Palm Springs, Ca• Over 2000 experts, educators,
administrators, companies and thought leaders
iNACOL Supporting Documentswww.inacol.org/resources
• iNACOL Blended Learning Roadmap (NYC)
• Mean What You Say: Defining and Integrating Personalized, Blended and Competency Education
• Transforming K-12 Rural Education through Blended Learning: Barriers and Promising Practices
Rob’s Wiki: http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com
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• 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.
Activity Where do you fit?
Where does your school fit?
• Continuum: From Textbook Enhanced to Online Teaching and Learning
From Textbook to Online Teaching
Online Teaching
Textbook EnhancedTeaching
TechnologyEnhancedTeaching
Web / Online Enhanced Teaching
Defining blended learning
Teaching and Learning• What 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 delivery of content and instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace and at least in part at a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home…” - (Horn and Staker, 2013)
Tech-rich = blended
Generally Defining Terms• Traditional = the way it has always been
done – (e.g. teacher lecture, quarterly benchmark
testing, if students don’t get it, the teacher moves on, limited use of technology)
• Blended = use of technology, course management system and data to personalize learning for students; student centric classroom
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 (see handout)
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
Six Elements for Planning and Implementation
• Leadership• Professional Development• Teaching/Instructional Practice• Operations/Admin
Systems/Policy• Content• Technology
1. Leadership
School 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
School Example: Leadership
At Seth Low MS:• Planning started the year before with the
principal designating an assistant principal to take the leadership
• Identified teachers in 6th and 8th grade in variety of subjects
• Technology tools and support in place (even the security guard helps)
• Resourceful in use of available resources
2. Professional Development
School Implementation• Both formal and informal (Schedule ongoing group and
individual support – online and face-to-face)• Modeling, webinars, small conferences, workshops, cohort
meetings• Support teacher / school librarian / implementation managers
are key
Promising Practices• Scheduled Time (within work week)• Participating Teachers as Resources• Professional Sharing / Professional Learning Community• 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
3. Teaching/Instructional Practices
School Implementation• Common Vocabulary / Resources
– Blended Learning Continuum, Blended Learning Rubric, Observation Form
• 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.
4. 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• Removal of institutional barriers / policies• Operational support• Policy development examples• Data-driven instruction
School Examples: 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.
School Examples: Operations/Management Systems/Policy
HSEF
• Online French Course to offer more course offerings for students
• AP Environmental Science for more AP Offerings – teacher developed
• PM School – math coursesPrincipal: “When you walk into the blended learning classrooms, you notice how teachers are facilitators that are constantly moving around the room, and you can immediately see how much more students are engaged in their learning.”
5. Content
School Implementation• Common course management system• Content providers to choose• Professional development and teacher sharing about content
provider and platform use
Promising Practices• Content Decision Making (purchase or build your own)• Customizable platform – teachers use base curriculum and
customize based on student needs• Customizable for individual students
School Examples: Content
• Balancing the strengths of teachers between content creation and utilization of pre-set online courses.
• Use of OER materials to supplement online courseware
School Examples: 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)
6. Technology
School 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 – Technician on site • Hardware and Software in place to use
School Examples: 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
School Examples: Technology
• Full-time dedicated technical support• One LMS, will be helpful as teachers begin
to develop own content. Currently using vendor developed and OER
• Laptop carts, interactive white boards, projectors in participating classrooms
Blended Learning Quiz: What does “it” look like?
Yes, No, Maybe?
Yes, No, Maybe?
Yes, No, Maybe?
Yes, No, Maybe?
The Tools
• Continuum from Textbook Enhanced to Online Teaching and Learning
• Rubric for Blended Learning• Observation Form• Suggested Timeline
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
Handouts - Use and Improve
• Links / Documents• Resources
– Continuum from Textbook Enhanced to Online Teaching and Learning
– Rubric– iLearnNYC Observation Form
Questions?Comments?
