11 aventalearning.com1800.594.5504 Blending Traditional and Online Learning: Best Practices to Get Your School Started

11aventalearning.com 1 800.594.5504

Blending Traditional and Online Learning: Best Practices to Get Your School Started


Blended Learning 101: Best Practices

• Your guides for this session• Establishing a common language – what is blended learning?• Why now? Meet the iGeneration!• Continuum of implementation models

– Case studies from our panelists• Spotsylvania • Chicago Public Schools• SCCOE• Forsyth County, GA

• Tools to help schools get started and engage the iGeneration in blended learning


Your guides for this session

Jan Streich, Spotsylvania County SchoolsDirector of Instructional Technology

Robin Gonzales, Chicago Public Schoolsformer Director of Distance Education

Kelly Schwirzke, SCCOEInstructional Technology Coordinator

Lissa Pijanowski, Forsyth County SchoolsAssistant Superintendent

Gregg Levin, Aventa LearningVP School Solutions


Our definition for today’s session:

“The blended approach combines the best

elements of online and face-to-face

learning. It is likely to emerge as the

predominant model of the future – and to

become far more common than either one

alone.”

Blended Learning: The Convergence of Online and Face-to-Face

Education by John Watson, published by the North American

Council for Online Learning (NACOL), 2009


Blended Learning = Online Learning + Face-to-Face

• Individualized – self-paced content built for all kinds of learners

• Flexibility – allows for alternative schedules, use of computer labs, access from home

• Engaging – multimedia components in content including videos, virtual labs, avatars

• One-on-one support – from state-certified teachers through email, phone or online collaboration tools

• Group instruction – opportunity for labs, lectures and/or small group projects

• Positive environment with mentoring, socialization and other support services

• Opportunity for one-on-one or small group remediation and enrichment support

Blended environments combine the best elements of online learning with the best elements of

face-to-face learning. While the implementation models vary, the benefits are clear.

Best practices are, indeed, blended


Why now? Meet the iGeneration• Who are these people?

– Born in the mid-1990s– “i” stands for “individualized” – music, TV shows, etc. are customized by them, in

their own time– Internet / on-demand content is time-shifted to their schedules– Accustomed to immediate feedback and crowdsourcing– Über-connected: have never known a world without the web

• What are they saying? – 50% prefer to engage with their senses, to “see” and “do”

rather than just listen – in order to learn– 42% experience boredom– 55% say bullying is a problem– 48% are distracted by other kids– 88% want more electives, online classes and flexible schedules– Only 18% get the help and attention they need from teachers all the time– 33% have to ask for challenges if they’re doing well


A continuum of implementation models

FULLY ONLINE Examples of K12 and Aventa Partners

Fully online curriculum with all learning done online and at a distance and no face-to-face component East Valley

Gresham Barlow

21st Century Cyber

Charter

Ohio Virtual

Academy

Fully online curriculum with options for face-to-face instruction, but not required

Agora Cyber Charter School

California Virtual

Academies

Arizona Virtual

Academy

Mostly or fully online curriculum with select days required in classroom or computer lab Graham

DigitalHoosier

Academies

Chicago Virtual Charter School

Bend La Pine

Hawaii Tech. Academy

Mostly or fully online curriculum in computer lab or classroom where students meet every day

San Francisco

Flex Academy

Chicago Public

Schools

YCCS Virtual High

School

Evergreen School District

Classroom instruction with significant, required online components that extend learning beyond the classroom and beyond the school day

NYC Blended Learning Pilot

Classroom instruction integrating online resources, but limited or no requirements for students to be online

Traditional face-to-face setting with few or no online resources or communication

TRADITIONAL FACE-TO-FACE


A continuum of implementation models


Blended Learning Case Study #1: Spotsylvania County Schools

• Educational Need – Alternative Education, On-time Graduation, Drop Out Prevention– Over 23,000 students– 5 High Schools– 34% at poverty level*– 32% minority*– 3.5 % ELL*

• Blended Learning Solution– 2008: Alternative online school, evening credit recovery programs began– 2009-2010: Pilot in two high schools, expanded to five high schools in 2010-2011

• Results– 91% pass rate in alternative program– 89% pass rate in two pilots – Every child has access to a high quality, flexible learning option that meets his or

her needs* Numbers are approximate, due to recent state realignment requirements, and based on the 2009-10 school year


Blended Learning Case Study #2:Chicago Public Schools

• Educational Need – Credit Recovery– Over 400,000 students– 137 High Schools– 85% at poverty level– 87% minority– 14.4% ELL– High drop out rates; low graduation rates

• Blended Learning Solution– 2008 online credit recovery pilot– Today, online credit recovery and core curriculum offered at >90% CPS schools

• Results– 1,000 at-risk students graduated in 2010 after taking credit recovery classes– 4,000 high school students enrolled in virtual high school– Every child has access to a high quality, flexible learning option that meets

his or her needs


Blended Learning Case Study #3: SCCOE

• Educational Need – provide opportunities and access to all SCCOE students in diverse school settings

– Deliver standards-based, quality learning experiencesto students in their home districts

– Transform school culture and perceptions around online and blended learning to enable 21st century learning

• Blended Learning Solution– O.zone e.class project supported by Aventa’s content, hosting, training, instructors– Collaboration with districts (providing planning and support) to develop customized

implementations of online and blended learning• Results

– More than 1500 students served– More than 150 teachers and mentors trained– 9 counties have joined a new CA consortium– New districts starting weekly


Blended Learning Case Study #4: Forsyth County School District

• iAchieve Virtual Academy– Over 135 students– 24 Students with Disabilities– 1 English Language Learner– 4 McKinney Vento Students– 21 Gifted– 11.85% Minority

• Online Learning Solution– Serving grades 6-12– Resident and non-resident students

• Results– “You and your staff are prepared for the future generations to come and have made

High School possible for students who learn best this way. You are well poised for our internet savvy universe. Thank you.” ~ iAchieve Parent

– “I am so thankful to all of my iAchieve teachers for their support and encouragement. I am learning so much and will be prepared for whatever next year may bring.” ~iAchieve 8th grader

“I feel so lucky to be a student in the

Forsyth County School System while

pursing my dream of becoming a

professional ballet dancer.”


Why does blended learning make sense?• Good for students – the iGeneration

– Offers true differentiated learning and supports student achievement for everyone from struggling learners to advanced students, in a medium they gravitate toward

– Enables students to follow a pace chart and stay on pace – Offers state-certified curriculum with small group instruction and 1:1 support from

experienced teachers

• Good for all kinds of learners– Advanced Placement® courses– Credit recovery

• ELL supports for credit recovery– Auditory– Visual

Good for schools and institutions – Delivers equity of access– Expands educational opportunities regardless of resources, space or budget – Great option for small, rural and urban schools facing resource squeeze


Aventa: meeting district & student needs• Flexible blended learning solutions – just like the iGeneration

– Scalable virtual learning solutions can be a tool for your teachers• More than 140 courses

– Award-winning, rigorous curriculum and courseware• You teach or we teach

– Support for your teachers, supplementing your staff • Supports major LMS platforms

– Learning Management System agnostic • Viable solution to overcrowding


Thank you! Q&A

See Gregg to get a copy of our Blended Learning

White Paper, Administrator, Mentor and Student

Toolkits

Documents

11 aventalearning.com1800.594.5504 Blending Traditional and Online Learning: Best Practices to Get Your School Started