Online and Blended Learning Adrian Ramirez MED 5303

Introduction More and more, schools, universities, and professional employers are utilizing some form of online learning to educate their students and employees. � Online courses provide better access, convenience, and flexibility to learn materials. � Distance learning (physical separation between instructor and student) requires different roles for both the instructor and the student and adds another dimension to education. �

Objectives � During this presentation, the goal will be to present educators with a better understanding of distance learning, its meaning, and the different options for its delivery. � After covering distance learning in a broad sense, this presentation will focus on blended learning and its pros, existing history, uses and applications, and possible future uses in a secondary education environment.

Options for Distance Learning Educators must realize that distance learning has different options for reaching students. Different styles of online education may reach different types of learners who have different preferences when it comes to their education. � 3 main options for reaching students through distance learning are: � › Asynchronous Delivery › Synchronous Delivery › *Blended Learning � Each will be explained before focusing on our main focus, blended learning.

Asynchronous Delivery � � � In asynchronous delivery, courses are setup online for students to complete at their own pace. Same information taught at different times. Student-centered teaching method that uses online learning resources to facilitate information sharing outside the restraints of time and place. Based on constructivist theory. Combines self-study with peer-to-peer interactions through online formats to promote learning. Drawback- A low level of social presence may negatively affect learning.

Synchronous Delivery Synchronous delivery refers to students participating in live presentations online at scheduled times. Everyone takes part at the same time. � Sessions involving a simultaneous video may help students develop an emotional connection to their instructor. � Allows student participation which enables students to have visual images of their classmates. A social presence is established. � Synchronous learning helps students maintain a schedule. �

*Blended Learning Blended learning is a formal education program in which students learn through both online formats as well as face-to-face interactions. � Students maintain control over time, place, path, and pace of their online learning while still experiencing face -to-face instruction in a classroom setting. � Blended learning is able to maximize the best elements of online and face-to-face learning. � Classroom time is able to be used more efficiently while online dynamics work to keep students engaged. �

Pros � Each benefit to blended learning will be analyzed in greater detail. › › › Helpful for the schedule of a busy student Maintains an engaging atmosphere Supports recent technology initiatives at campuses Assists teachers Promotes collaboration between teachers and other educators Prepares students for college atmosphere and facilitates higher level, critical thinking

The Busy Student � Question- How many of your students are involved in 2 or more extracurricular activities? How many of you are involved in multiple committees? Blended learning better aids those students who maintain very busy schedules. Students take on more activities in order to better their resumes for college admissions. � Blended learning also aids teachers who also only have so many hours in the day. Extra duties take time and energy. Blended learning allows teachers to facilitate on particular days in order to enhance learning for all involved. �

Applications � Make later deadlines › Give students a deadline of midnight on Sundays in order to give busy students the weekend to work. � Keep online communication › How many of your students email you for help even when you ask them to? Set up a creative method for students to communicate with you online so that all parties feel comfortable. � Keep parents/guardians involved and informed › Give parents information about their student’s work and deadlines so that they can assist you in keeping him/her on track. All parties should be working together.

An Engaging Atmosphere � Question- How many of your students would say your class is fun, interesting, worthwhile, and enjoyable to attend? Of course, not all students will always enjoy coming to class, but engaging students is becoming a focal point for many educators. � Creating a positive, engaging atmosphere is now crucial for student success. � Blended learning attracts learners not only to their education, but also to the classroom itself. �

Information � � � A recent Blackbaud- sponsored OESIS survey revealed that 70% of students feel positive/very positive about blended learning. Research shows that far more students arrive at school and then skip certain (or all) classes during the day. This has been termed in-school truancy. Research indicates the main reasons for in-school truancy are poor, unengaging academic curricula and a negative classroom environment. In-school truancy is now seen as a rational decision that spreads across sexes, ages, races, and ethnic groups. 62% to 71% of students are truant at some point in their lives.

Applications � Engage students › Create exciting lessons through the use of technology › Utilize games for review sessions online instead of paper handouts. � Student rapport › Use blended learning as a way to promote trust and respect in your classroom. › Initiating a new concept such as blended learning puts both teachers and students at the same level. Use this experience as a way to improve classroom climate.

Technology Initiatives � Question- How many of you are at campuses or school districts who have recently started technology initiatives where students are given devices? Obviously, blended learning supports technology initiatives and will impress and please administration; however, it also allows teachers to maintain control in the classroom; not the devices. � Some school districts, including Hays ISD in Texas, have employed digital learning coaches. �

Examples � Temple ISD, TX› Google Chromebooks given to Temple HS students on a 1: 1 ratio and throughout other schools at different ratios. › Technology Specialists on campus � Hays ISD, TX› Digital learning coach- Able to focus on developing personalized learning plans for each student. Aids in creating a dynamic and engaging curriculum. › Alternative high school- Live Oak Academy � Chicago, IL› Intrinsic Schools- Charter schools developed around the concept of blended learning. › http: //intrinsicschools. org/

Assisting Teachers � Questions› How many of you have researched a topic online before teaching it? › How many of you have looked for ways to enhance a topic you’ve just taught? › How many of you teach classes of 28+? › How many of you have sat through boring professional developments?

Help with Content Blended learning allows teachers to pair their personalized instruction with useful online aides. � Teachers maintain control without being the only “voice” in the classroom. � Aides� › Edgeunity provides engaging online and blended learning services, products, and solutions. All courses available are aligned to Common Core. › For Spanish and other LOTE teachers- Edgeunity Power Speak can be used to work on proficiency skills. › http: //www. edgenuity. com/ › http: //powerspeak. com/

Additional Aid Fuel Education has partnered with many school districts in an effort to lend its services to educators. � It is their mission to partner with school districts to fuel personalized learning and transform the education experience. � They claim to have the industry’s largest catalogue of online curricula that can be used across each unique type of program. � http: //www. getfueled. com/ �

Help with Class Size Blended learning is especially effective in large-enrolled classes due to its simultaneous interaction. � Through blended learning, your focus as a teacher is not as divided as compared to general instruction. � One of the foundational principles in Fuel Education is student engagement and personalization � One of the biggest challenges in traditional instruction is meeting the needs to students with varying mastery levels. Blended learning helps to prevent “teaching to the middle”. �

Professional Development Research is still being conducted to determine whether blended or online learning can be effective in administering professional development. � Can you imagine attending a professional development in which you were responsible for half of it and at your own pace? Wouldn’t it make sense to train in the same manner in which we are looking to teach our students? �

Collaboration � Question- How many of you believe collaborating and sharing materials with other teachers across the state, country, and world, would benefit you and your students? Blended learning allows teachers to share effective lessons with each other � Blended learning may also allow for lessons developed around state and federal standards to be shared directly to a local classroom. � Collaboration can be used to facilitate mentorship programs between teachers from different schools. �

Share materials and ideas A Met. Life study in 2012 indicated that less than 50% of teachers had one hour or more per week to collaborate about instruction with their colleagues. � Numbers significantly dropped when looking at time teachers have to collaborate with professionals from other local, state, and national schools. � Blended learning makes sharing effective lessons from a Physics teacher in Austin to another one in Dallas much easier. Teachers maintain ability to teach in their own style while possessing a lesson that has worked for other students in the same content area. �

Global collaboration When discussing the state of U. S. education, many argue that the U. S. should look at what other countries are doing in the classroom. � The Common Core has been developed to help American students compete with their international peers, but lists of standards alone aren’t enough. � “It’s so important to be connected to other teachers, educators, and professionals from all over the world. ” � “The United States’ literacy curriculum, CCSS influenced and otherwise, will likely continue to draw from—and even rely on —educators around the world, and may even encourage teachers to work together more collaboratively to determine if students are meeting benchmarks. ” �

Mentorships Surely all of us have undergone some type of first-year or mentorship program when we began our first teaching job. Was it effective? Do you wish you had another voice? � Some schools simply do not have a master teacher in all departments that are willing and able to mentor a new teacher. � Blended learning will allow young teachers to receive guidance and, sometimes more importantly, materials, from master teachers around a school district. �

Study The U. S. Department of Education has financed a program titled the Talent Transfer Initiative where top teachers in a school district move to lower-achieving schools in exchange for a stipend. � Even with a stipend of $20, 000, many teachers did not make the transfer due to a desire not to move to the lower-achieving school. � Blended learning can allow top teachers from one school to educate students at another school without making the commitment of leaving the school they’re more comfortable at. �

Higher education � Question: How many of you are at campuses where college readiness and preparation are being stressed? How many of you have been asked to promote critical thinking among your students during an evaluation? Preparing students for postsecondary education is now a focus for many secondary schools. � Our students are now being asked to perform higher level skills in the classroom and on standardized tests. �

Background Combining Internet with classroom learning, blended learning is receiving growing popularity among tertiary students and lecturers. � Many universities now use online components besides classroom lecturing. � “The rapid growth of integration of classroom learning with online learning demonstrated the advantage of this blended mode to cut down educational costs and meet students’ demand for flexibility and convenience. ” �

Secondary schools Through blended learning, students in a secondary environment not only get to practice higher level skills, but they also receive experience learning in a college level atmosphere. � Libraries in secondary schools are beginning to accommodate a wider variety of needs and now possess a greater supply of resources. �

Applications � Utilize flexibility › If you teach a mix of classes, try blended learning with your more advanced groups first. See what will transfer to your other classes. � Try online writing activities to promote critical thinking and a better understanding of your material › Forums › Blogs › Wikis

Review 65% of independent schools are planning to use blended learning as a means of personalizing student instruction. � Blended learning is more than just putting technology in the classroom or simply giving students i. Pads or Chromebooks. � Blended learning is different than technology-rich education. It uses data from the technology to inform and personalize instruction. � Blended learning is not a technology plan; it’s an instructional strategy that helps teachers reach kids on a personal level and help them achieve their maximum potential. �

References � How to create a winning blended school model: instructing students both online and in a brick-and-mortar environment effectively can lead to real learning growth. (2015, January). District Administration, 51(1), 34+. Retrieved from http: //go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7 CA 397579323&v=2. 1&u=j 0 14909&it=r&p=PROF&sw=w&asid=c 7 df 4 fd 9 f 00 bdfa 995 bc 365456471 c 7 e � Making the transition to blended learning: the right planning, resources and professional development will ensure a successful blended program. (2015, May). District Administration, 51(5), 50+. Retrieved from http: //go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7 CA 414958564&v=2. 1&u=j 0 14909&it=r&p=PROF&sw=w&asid=bd 5 a 232541 a 793212045 b 176 db 52 da 4 d � Report reveals blended learning trends for U. S. independent schools. (2015, February). Technology & Learning, 35(7), 8. Retrieved from http: //go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7 CA 412411011&v=2. 1&u=j 0 14909&it=r&p=PROF&sw=w&asid=c 742771463 e 57 b 23029033199 e 74 ddfa

References � Centner, T. J. (2014). Structuring a distance education program to attain student engagement. NACTA Journal, 58(3), 230+. Retrieved from http: //go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7 CA 386918828&v=2. 1&u=j 0 14909&it=r&p=PROF&sw=w&asid=06347 a 8 bf 346 c 69594782 a 2 f 548 d 2243 � Hernandez, L. (2015, May 28). Adding more chrome. Temple Daily Telegram, pp. 1 A, 5 A. � Nelson, J. L. (2014). Common core, global influences: The standards may be in place in the United States, but they draw on powerful influences from around the world. Reading Today, 32(3), 16+. Retrieved from http: //go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7 CA 392999666&v=2. 1&u=j 0 14909&it=r&p=PROF&sw=w&asid=e 9 e 5740 b 9719 ca 4 c 01198 cca 44 b 839 f 8 � Ornstein, A. C. , & Hunkins, F. P. (2013) Curriculum: Foundations, principles, and issues. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education.

References � Sawchuk, S. (2013). Moving top teachers to struggling schools has benefits; Study probes moving talent to low-performing schools. Education Week, 33(12), 1. Retrieved from http: //go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7 CA 349447907&v=2. 1&u=j 0 14909&it=r&p=PROF&sw=w&asid=49337 a 1 bcd 1 eb 9 dd 5 d 0 b 62 aef 418 fd 2 c � Shute, J. W. , & Cooper, B. S. (2015). Understanding in-school truancy: it may not be the student--but the curriculum, teacher, and pedagogy that is perpetuating truancy. Phi Delta Kappan, 96(6), 65. Retrieved from http: //go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7 CA 405925467&v=2. 1&u=j 0 14909&it=r&p=PROF&sw=w&asid=3 bdfb 616 c 6 c 65 cb 8 db 45249 ea 191 a 88 3 � Toporek, B. (2015). Chicago school designed with blended learning in mind. Education Week, 34(27), s 20. Retrieved from http: //go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7 CA 411209547&v=2. 1&u=j 0 14909&it=r&p=PROF&sw=w&asid=97 db 5 f 7 c 74 f 718 cb 010 f 72 e 704 ca 4522

References � Zhonggen, Y. (2015). Blended learning over two decades. International Journal of Information and Communication Technology Education, 11(3), 1+. Retrieved from http: //go. galegroup. com/ps/i. do? id=GALE%7 CA 416537827&v=2. 1&u=j 0 14909&it=r&p=PROF&sw=w&asid=aaab 7 f 199 e 96 b 5 dd 6 e 14 d 63 b 27 ce 32 b 4