SCHOOLS DIVISION OF TANAUAN CITY UPSKILLING BLENDED LEARNING STRATEGIES IN THE NEW NORMAL Dr. Victoria B. Burgos Education Program Supervisor I At the end of the session, the participants should be able to: Enabling objectives: • know some background on blended learning and instructional media, and some variables for consideration when developing a blended learning strategy in the new normal setting • articulate on the concepts of synchronicity (the integration of learning environments) and elasticity (the integration of instructional media with appropriate instructional strategies) Blended Learning…. • So, how do we really create the blend, the true hybrid approach to learning that enriches the learner experience with the right mix of traditional and online learning? • Add to mix the right blend of experiential, informal, and formal learning (i.e. the 70/20/10 model). • Blended learning is a cocktail of all of these things and it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. • There’s no one prescription for what will work for your learners. You will likely discover different mixes depending on role and other factors. One thing is certain though. When you realize the right blend(s), there’s a wealth of benefits to your learners. What is Blended Learning? an education strategy that features multiple teaching methods to help students learn more effectively than one method on its own. In most cases, combines a mix of traditional classroom instruction and digital learning. In a blended approach, traditional instruction is used to introduce or reinforce concepts, focus on hands-on skills practice, and provide opportunities for collaborative work. Blended Online Learning • The blended online learning strategy is deemed to be the most practical method to adapt as this combines the advantages of synchronous and asynchronous strategies. • The main motivation in choosing the blended strategy is to increase the student’s participation in their own learning process rather than quietly sitting during a synchronous discussion. • The basis of this approach is the cognitive load theory, on the basis that novice learners are immediately overwhelmed by a large amount of new ideas and terminologies, and resort to surface learning Blended Learning Definition A Holistic Perspective • There is no universally accepted definition of blended • • • • • learning. The delivery of instruction using multiple media Includes the integration of instructional media into a traditional classroom or into a distance learning environment. Includes any combination of media that supports instruction, regardless of the mix of synchronous or asynchronous media. A combination of synchronous and asynchronous experiences. For clarification, blended learning is also applied to mixed online and face-to-face training, and more generally to approaches to course design and delivery that combine different modalities Advantages Provides for a dialectic learning environment with a high level of interactivity The Synchronous Learning Environment Encourages spontaneity of oral responses Immediate reinforcement of ideas Supports activation learning strategies such as idea generation (brainstorming) Provides for peer support (social learning theory) Allows for peer-to-peer interaction Structured learning environment The Synchronous Learning Environment Disadvantages • Limited to same time Required dedicated instructor • Does not provide for self-pacing • May be limited to same place(albeit at a distance) • High cognitive load The Asynchronous Learning Environment Different Time Different/Same Place Advantages Provides for more opportunity of reflective thought Not constrained by time Delayed reinforcement of ideas Provides for flexibility in delivery of content Less structured learning environment Provides for flexibility in location (home, office, etc.) Disadvantages The Asynchronous Learning Environment Different Time Different/Same Place No live interaction Longer completion times“Just-intime” = “do-it-on-yourown-time” Higher non-completion rates— pacing not optimized Blended Learning • • • • blended learning approach is a mixture of e-learning and traditional learning which is increasingly being adopted by educational institutes. This approach helps cater to the individual learning styles and needs. Blended learning brings together the best of both worlds - online study and face-to- face learning helping students stay motivated and engaged. where two or more alternative learning delivery modalities are “blended” together, is among the options offered by the Department of Education in an effort to ensure education continuity amid the pandemic this school year. Blended Learning is the ‘New Normal’ When Covid-19 first began to spread, all colleges, institutes, schools were caught completely off guard and rushed to find adhoc solutions as they pivoted to fully remote teaching and learning. Before the Covid Era, for the School Year 2020 teaching and learning was all in person, all the time. Before Covid Era BCE Of course, some universities like DLSU, ADMU, among others were actively offering online learning opportunities for on-campus students, but they were the rare exception, and in person and on campus was universally the model. Covid Era CE As the pandemic took hold and schools, universities, colleges were forced to shut down, we pivoted to fully remote teaching and learning, going from zero to one hundred percent online in a matter of days, and this trend continued through the end of calendar 2020 for some private schools. Faculty used Zoom, Google Hangouts, Google Meet, Messenger Room, Skype or other means to give their hour-long lectures remotely, an activity is better termed “Remote Teaching,” since it was not clear how much learning was actually happening. DepEd Learning Delivery Modalities for School Year 2020-2021 DepEd Learning Delivery Modalities for School Year 20202021 Blended Learning • combines face-to-face with any or a mix of online distance learning, • modular distance learning, and TV/Radio-based Instruction. Suggested Platforms/Resources/Mechanisms: • The use of print/non-print learning materials such as but not limited to the following: • Modules • Worksheets • Activity Sheets • The use of gadgets for K to 3 SpEd learners Which Blended Learning Strategies are Right for You? • At the end of the day, choosing the right blended learning strategies depends on your needs and the time you have available for implementation. • Choosing the right strategy all depends on what will provide the right amount of balance for you while also helping your students learn better. • Despite the challenges, the current situation is an opportunity for education providers to fully embrace modern best practices and new technologies, even if this means breaking out of the comfort zone. Canvas, Typical LMS’s that schools use include Schoology, Blackboard, Google Classroom. If you’re looking for an LMS that can support gamification, check out Classcraft. To avoid the typical pitfalls when implementing blended learning, the following five aspects are worth considering: 1. Get buy-in from the top and bottom 2. Orientations matter 3. Pre-session activities and postsession reflection are essential 4. Adapt face-toface for a virtual world 5. Keep it simple ADVANTAGES OF BLENDED LEARNING: The blended learning system has several perks over conventional education which makes it a preferred option for many. • Unlimited access: Instead of having to wait to get the course materials, students can enjoy easy and complete access to all relevant modules at the click of a button. Students can go through the work at their preferred pace and can gain a thorough understanding of each topic. Personalized attention: Blended classrooms suit everyone’s level of understanding and allow the teacher to pay individual attention to students. This way, teachers are able to connect and keep track of all questions and problems. ADVANTAGES OF BLENDED LEARNING: Peer collaboration: Among the many top blended learning benefits is the ability to be able to collaborate and engage in discussions with peers. You get to work with course participants, share feedback and enjoy an improved way of studying. Improved efficiency: Using technology to learn things on your own makes one self-reliant. While students are guided, they have the independence to utilize study materials multiple times to build upon their knowledge. Remote access: Blended learning allows students to study according to their own schedule and also offers in-class sessions. This makes learning both impactful and practical for all. Seven Blended Learning strategies you can implement! 1. Use Multiple Types of Instructional Materials While it may be tempting to stick to your main textbook, you’ll need more than that to truly provide a blended experience! • By using several resources, blended learning will come naturally and easily. • Along with your textbook, try supplementing your lessons with free resources from the Internet, online discussion groups, your homegrown teaching resources, and test prep materials. 2. Incorporate Technology for Reinforcement • Some topics can best be taught by showing a video, such as how blood travels through the body. After that, you could instruct your health class to discuss the video online through social media or a digital teaching tool you have. • You could also try using a mobile app or interactive game if one fits your courses. Quizlet and Kahoot! are two popular options many teachers are embracing. • However you decide to include technology, keep in mind that it should have an applicable purpose to help increase your students’ understanding and retention of information. • Don’t add technology just to check the box! 3. Try New Teaching Techniques • If you’re new to blended learning, you have a golden opportunity to use different teaching techniques to help your students. You may be surprised to see your students’ reactions to a new technique! • One approach to try is differentiating your lessons. Differentiated instruction is a more specific technique of varying your instruction to meet the needs of your individual students. With differentiation, you could have three versions of a lesson based on students’ performance in the classroom. • Another great teaching technique is flipping the classroom. In essence, flipped learning means students do typical classroom work at home. This leaves class time open for teacher-led discussions, projects, and hands-on skill work. • While trying a new method like flipped learning can be intimidating, many teachers have great success with it! You can too — all you have to do is start! 4. Keep Your Traditional Teaching Methods • While new techniques are an important blended learning strategy, don’t dump your old ones! • Traditional lectures still have a place in a blended classroom. A lecture with an accompanying PowerPoint presentation is a great way to introduce a new concept before you try branching out into your other blended strategies. • Also, a good classroom discussion is an irreplaceable part of an effective classroom. Your students can explore a topic more in-depth with a discussion that you facilitate. • Student-centered techniques are a must, but your role as a facilitator is still just as important even when adding blended learning strategies to your classes. 5. Vary Your Assessments • While it’s not exactly a teaching strategy, varied assessments are crucial to successful blended learning. • If you plan to mix up your instructional materials and teaching style, it’s only natural to mix up how you measure student comprehension. So how can you add more variety to your assessments? • Here are a few ideas to get you started: Keep some traditional, paper-based assessments • Add digital quizzes throughout the course • Include essays as end-of-course assignments • Assign presentations for unit wrap-up • Use self-assessed or peer-assessed assignments • By varying your formative and summative assessment styles, you’re not only including a new technique for blended instruction. • • You’re also providing your students with more opportunities to showcase their knowledge in ways that better fit their strengths, rather than always using traditional paper-based exams. 6. Mix Up Group Work Styles • Another blended learning strategy to explore is mixing up how group work is done in (and out) of the classroom. • If your students are working on a group project, it’s natural to have them do all of the work in class. • However, with blended learning you may consider having students connect digitally outside of class time. • By including online collaboration for group work and discussions, you provide a different way for students to interact with each other. • Plus, online collaboration is an important skill they will need once they are out in the working world. 7. Try Digital Curriculum • A digital curriculum is a great way to implement blended learning. • Digital curriculum systems often include a variety of teaching materials, such as digital lessons, hands-on activities, guided notes, teacher presentations, and group projects. • You’ll likely also find different types of formative and summative assessments within a digital curriculum that measure your students' knowledge and understanding in a variety of ways. Assignment: Develop your Blended Learning Activity Plan for this school year using the provided template.