Blended Learning

Blended Learning is a combination of face-to-face instruction and online instruction. With the continuous support of a classroom teacher, blended Learning provides students with the opportunity to develop skills essential for success in the 21^st century. Blended learning in Ontario will look very different from classroom to classroom. It can be said that blended learning falls on a spectrum because of the many factors it depends on (e.g. access to and comfort with technology, professional development).

More information can be found here: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/elearning/pdf/TeachLearnOverview.pdf

Primary Education:

When I worked in a Kindergarten classroom, the students loved using the Explain Everything app. They loved using the app to create stories. As each student was developmentally at different stages, each story format was different (based on their comfort and abilities). Some of the Senior Kindergarten students would create their stories by taking pictures and writing/typing words, while others opted to record themselves telling the story. Either way they were creating “books”, and were very proud to share them with the class.

In her blog, Mrs. Wideen explains how she uses the Explain Everything app in her classroom. In her split grade 1/2 class students complete various tasks using the app.

1.    Students explain their thinking after completing pencil to paper work. They take a picture of what they completed and then record themselves explaining why they chose to complete it the way they did.

2.    During the procedural writing unit, students have the opportunity to take step by step pictures, create a video and record themselves discussing the procedures.

3.    Students have the opportunity to show their learning by creating videos as a culminating task. In Mrs. Wildeen’s class students created videos explaining the water cycle.

More information regarding Mrs. Wideen’s approach to using Explain Everything, including student videos can be found on:

http://www.mrswideen.com/2013/03/using-explain-everything-in-primary.html

Junior Education:

Sesame is an app that allows students to create online portfolios. Teachers and students are able to document observations, conversations and student products. Teachers provide ongoing feedback with anecdotal notes, rubrics, checklists, and rating scales. Sesame has Ontario’s curriculum embedded so it is very easy for teachers to create these assessment tools. The app is very simple to use and each student's portfolio updates instantly and can be shared with families.

Ms. Bullock, a fourth grade teacher in Waterloo, Ontario used Sesame to help make their project-based environment on ancient civilizations a success. Her students recorded video explanations of each feature on their landmark. They took pictures to show how they made it. “Sesame saved them time by automatically organizing everything into each student's portfolio”. Ms. Bullock was able to provide instant feedback to students using her phone (at school or home). Parents were invited to a museum presentation to see all of the final creations but they were also able to witness the learning that their child gained behind the scenes – “they were grateful for the opportunity to witness the progress as it happened”. 

More information about Ms. Bullocks story can be found here: https://sesamehq.com/stories/ancient-museum

Intermediate Education:

Blended learning is a core part of P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School in Florida. A math teacher in Florida creates math podcasts and lessons using the ShowMe app. She creates podcasts of her lesson and assigns questions for students to work on independently. Each student has access to his/her assignments online. The students have unlimited access to the podcasts, while one student might have to watch the video once to understand the content, another student might have to watch the same video five times. She often has students create their own podcasts to show and explain their thinking/learning. While students are working independently, the teacher has the opportunity to work with students in small groups or on one-one-one. The best part is that the teacher can differentiate instruction easily by assigning modified work or simplifying her podcasts/lessons.

More information can be found here:

http://www.edutopia.org/practice/blended-learning-making-it-work-your-classroom