Evolution of Online & Blended Learning

Introduction

In today's ever-changing world of technology, knowledge base, and overall culture, education itself looks towards shifting from the standardized classroom setting of an only "Brick and Mortar" environment, to a structure that includes multiple elements that include online components and personalized pedagogical practices. Understanding the key differences between Online Learning, Blended Learning, and Face to Face Learning is important then to determine which approach best fits the needs of the students and educators. Through the use of appropriate technology, the educational experience can be truly tailored to each individual's needs.

A Comparison of 21st Century Learning

Using https://www.canva.com/ I analyzed three main teaching pedagogies within the 21st century of learning. If we are looking at the future of education, we see that there is a greater establishment now for online and blended learning approaches in order to best fit the needs of all students. However, we see that the teacher as a facilitator, mentor, and coach also has a very vital role in classroom learning. It mainly comes down to what are the needs of the students, what are the resources at hand, and what is the overall educational establishment's vision of education that then takes these three different yet related teaching styles.

Reflection

Original Blog Post

https://chyartblog.wordpress.com/2019/02/16/methodologies-of-a-blended-learning-instructor/

When I reflect on my teaching practices and develop my future learning experiences, I constantly try to evolve my strategies. With technology as being my main tool of learning, I try and create scenarios that my students need to either critically think, collaborate or creatively move through. Ultimately, I try and make their learning relevant to what they may encounter later on in life, within the "Real World". In order for that to take place, I take pride in establishing educational units that incorporate standards-based mastery, personalized routes to proficiency, and ultimately the support of any tech-based tool that will enhance students' current abilities.

Blended learning approaches that I currently engage in are:

Station Rotations

13 Colonies Station Rotations

Personalized Learning Plans

Personalized English Language Arts Plan

Flipped Classroom

Standard Algorithm Flipped Lesson

The fact that these approaches do follow the Blended Learning Model - I still have the issue with the concept of students controlling the "time, place, path or pace". They, of course, are able to individualize their learning through the holistic approach of learning modalities (making decisions of what to complete during their learning time and modifying the content or product of learning when presented to me). However, the school year still follows pacing guides and deadlines of summative assessments, therefore students still aren't completely in control of their progress and mastery.

Until the public education system can start to create disruptive structures of learning modalities to support all students' abilities and talents - the true essence of Blended Learning will not completely take shape.

Some of the areas needed to also be developed as an educator within the blended environment can be seen as:

Constant learning, adapting and modifying the technological components to the learning environment. Stay up to date on the newest pedagogies, devices, programs, etc. that will help develop and support your current students' potential.
Seek out a PLN "Professional Learning Network. Using Twitter and other social media platforms to be inspired by and share common goals with fellow educators.
Attend conferences and or courses that will best develop your skills of teaching based on the Blended Learning environment. Immerse yourself in the work of Blended Learning. Read books, watch Webinars, and develop the craft over time.
Take a chance and dive right in. Change one activity or part of your day to include a blended approach. Record a lesson and send it out to your students. Work with your teachers to develop a set of stations for an entire unit. Don't be afraid to try something new!

Reflecting on the skills addressed and strengthened during the Leading Edge Certification reflection based on the

Blended Learning Teacher Competencies

The following standards connect to my own development as an educator:

Competency 2: Instructional Strategies:

Standard C: Create customized learning pathways with students, where learning goals and objectives are linked to explicit and diverse learning experiences, matched to the individual student’s learning performance level and preferences

Competency 3: Management of Blended Learning Experience

Standard A: Understand and manage the face-to-face and online components of lesson planning and organization within a blended course.
Standard B: Provide balanced opportunities for students to participate in asynchronous and synchronous modalities.

With continued ongoing education and with the drive to establish Blended Learning approaches in classrooms that I teach and influence, my current mindset is helping shift the standard concept of generalized education and help support a disruptive model that truly helps students succeed within their own terms and means.

Works Cited

National Standards for Quality Online Teaching. INACOL, Oct. 2011, www.inacol.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/national-standards-for-quality-online-teaching-v2.pdf.