"Blended" Learning--the combination of traditional face-to-face learning classroom experience with new, innovative learning technologies that have the power to democratize learning. Jessie Woolley-Wilson, an eLearner leader, is a firm believer in an adaptive learning technology where the student learns from the program, as the program learns from the student. She gives a motivating example where a student shares the correct response to a mathematics problem--counting manipulatives to 48. The child counts to 48 by 1's, which is correct, but the program may enhance learning by teaching a mini lesson on how to count to 48 faster with 5's and 10's. The program truly learns from the student! It is amazing to hear about such an advancement in technology for the classroom. I am excited to explore more into these programs, and how beneficial they are to our students' learning.
Would you consider the use of "Blended" learning in your classroom? Do you already implement "blended" learning in the classroom?
"If students cannot learn the way we teach, we must then teach they way they learn." --Margaret Mead
I think many teachers are already implementing blended learning and probably don't even realize it! Whether it is through class websites and blogs or supplemental web based activities, many teachers have been doing this since technology became available to them. I do feel that my students are mostly engaged when participating in any type of web-based activity or lesson. So I'm all for it!
ReplyDeleteSpecifically in my Science and Social Studies programs I use these strategies by posing questions as important 'need to know'. We journey through problem and solution projects, critical thinking activities, and leveled interactive technologies. Our goals are reaching answers and explanations of all types. These strategies have the potential to reach across all subjects! From year to year I love implementing new activities that further stretch the the process of whole brain learning!
ReplyDeleteWe are starting to use an adaptable type reading assessment this week in place of our old Degrees of Reading Power tests. The test takes information from the students' response and then decides which question the student should get next. I am interested to see the information we are going to be able to gather from this type of adaptable assessment.
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