The use of technology is on the rise around the world; With technology becoming increasingly popular, there is no surprise that the use of technology in the classroom is also increasing around the world.

As the use of technology increase, there is more research available to determine which trends are effective when implementing blended learning.  I have researched a variety of trends to determine which strategies to use to make a blended learning initiative most successful.

Blended Learning: Today and Tomorrow

Check out my presentation which outline key research trends in Blended Learning.

 

Literature Review: Blended Learning: Today and Tomorrow 

My literature review is available to view in two different formats.

Click here to leave comments/ feedback on my literature review formatted as a Google Doc.

 

What I Have Learned and How it Will Affect my Blended Learning Plan

My innovation plan is continually changing and growing.  Originally, my plan was to implement an internet based program in place of tutorials; This plan was too specific and I decided to change my plan to implementing blended learning.  I began researching how blended learning was being implemented across the globe and looked for trends to determine the likelihood of success.  To summarize an array of research, blended learning can work.  Blended learning initiatives are crucial for districts in the digital age but in order for the plan to succeed, there must be a plan in place before the implementation and the plan should focus on the learning, not the technology.

Now that I have looked at implementing a blended learning initiative, I am ready to now consider blended learning on the classroom level.  I recently began researching actual strategies of implementing blended in a classroom to determine which strategies provide evidence of success.  There are several ways to implement a blended learning environment in the classroom.  “…Most blended courses fit somewhere within the broad parameters of four main models: Rotation, Flex, A La Carte, and Enriched Virtual. The Rotation model includes four sub-models: Station Rotation, Lab Rotation, Flipped Classroom, and Individual Rotation.”  (Horn & Staker, 2015, p. 37).  

In my personal classroom, I use the individual rotation models.  I frequently implement the individual rotation model; The class will do an activity together/ individually and then individually migrate to laptops at their own pace to work on activities geared toward their specific needs.  I also implement the station rotation model where students have different tasks at different stations and rotate through the stations. I would like to begin implementing flipped classroom videos. 

After researching blended learning implementation, I do not want to change any topics on my blended learning plan, instead, I want to add sub topics to my plan so that I am now researching blended learning on a variety of different levels.  I belive that looking at blended learning on a district scale in addition to on a classroom scale will help me to determine the best strategies to implement blended learning for both teachers and students.

 

Reference:

Horn, M. B., & Staker, H. (2015). Blended: Using disruptive innovation to improve schools. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.