Blended Learning

Blended learning is the combination of two classrooms, the physical one and virtual classroom.  This all depends on the comfort level and knowledge of technology of the teacher and of the students.  There are endless ways that blended learning is implemented in classrooms.  The teacher brings the classroom and learning to an online environment.

Here are some examples of blended learning in a primary, junior and intermediate classroom.

Primary

This activity is from the OERB website https://download.elearningontario.ca/repository/13/1301600000/4054v2.html

This activity that I thought was a good example in the primary division for blended learning.  This is an example from Grade 2 Data Management unit, specifically graphing.  This activity has audio and allows you to replay the audio (for those students that need directions repeated to them.  This lesson clearly outlines the glossary and provides words that will be used throughout the lesson, which is great for your ELL learners in your classroom.  This enhances the learning as there are also many visuals within this lesson, for visual learners in your class.  It is great that it guides students step by step on how to create a pictograph.  This would be an introductory lesson in order to enhance the teaching about pictographs that has already occurred.  Students also have to analyze the data and answer questions about the pictograph when they are finished.  These could be used as assessment questions.

Junior

This activity is from our Desire2Learn content area. 

This activity is from Grade 6--Flight (Flight and the impact of flight on society).  This is an inquiry based activity.  Students are given the opportunity to research an area of their choice and present it in a format that they choose.  Students are to first post three benefits and drawbacks related to aviation (thinking about airline companies, travelers, environmentalists, communities near the airport).  They would post these on a blog that would be set up by the teacher through D2L.  Students would then respond to at least 2 posts by responding to the following questions: Is there anything that you disagree with and why? Do you have any questions? Can you add anything?  Do you have any final comments?  Students will then complete an interactive session on the D2L where they follow an activity about air travel.  This has an audio option which reads the material to students or they have an option to have it reread to them.  This is great for students with learning disabilities that would require this or just the audio learners in your classroom.  This activity also has great visuals and diagrams. After completing this activity, students then complete the assignment which can be printed off for them to have a hardcopy or it can be saved for them to have a digital copy.  This assignment can be completed in pairs.  The assignment is research this guiding question—What can be done to lessen the negative environmental inpacts of air travel?  Students have the option of choosing one environmental impact that was reviewed or choosing one on their own.  The research guidelines are explained and the assessment rubric is provided.

This is a good example of blended learning because it combines many forms of media, videos, blogging, a digital assignment.  It also allows the teacher to see their understanding before the final assignment.  The teacher can review the blogs and responses on the blogs in order to see where students may be having difficulties and where they may have to provide assistance.  The blogging portion of this activity will allow ELL learners to see everyone else’s posts and to learn from others in the class.  This may help them to formulate what they want to write and make them feel more confident when blogging.

Intermediate

This activity is from the OERB website

https://download.elearningontario.ca/repository/14/1448940000/GRD7MTHPU01A02/assignment.html

This activity is from Grade 7 math and it is about unit rates.  I found this activity allows students to apply their math skills in a real life setting.  Students can see the value and importance in this math concept.  This activity provides many examples and explains them to the students.  Students are guided through an activity that shows them how to find a unit rate in order to determine the best deal (a virtual grocery store). There is a glossary provided with an interactive learning tool to review simple rates and ratios (great for students who are working at a different ability level or have a learning disability or ELL students).  Students then have the opportunity to practice this skill themselves.  First they practice by dragging the numbers into the appropriate equation, then they have to type them in themselves.  There is a gradual release of responsibility. Their final assignment is to find unit rates and the best deals in their community by looking through online flyers or flyers that are delivered to their home. They have to demonstrate comparison shopping (i.e., if they were deciding to buy juice they would have to use unit rates to find the best deal by comparing a minimum of 2 different types and sizes. This is a great real life application of this skill.

This is a good example of blended learning because students are able to watch a video and work through and activity online and can also demonstrate their learning with a pencil and paper activity. This is a great lesson for students with fine motor writing issues because they have the option of completing their work on the computer or paper.  There is also differentiation for students with learning needs.  Students are able to choose the products for their final assignments.  They can choose products that they are familiar with (for ELL students) and students that may be working at a lower level can choose products where the numbers may not be as challenging for them (i.e., where they may not have to use decimals).

In all, I believe these activities foster a blended learning approach to education.  I think that these activities are engaging for the students and allow them to apply their learning both through media and traditional paper and pencil activities.  I think that students would enjoy these activities and that these activities would allow for differentiation in the classroom.