EducateAZ.org

Home Examples of Blended Learning Events & Conferences AZ Senate Education AZ House Education Contact	Blended Learning Is Not The Future, It Is Here Today May 8, 2012 By Joe Veres As education transcends traditional, outdated barriers, a new atmosphere of the learning organization is rapidly surfacing across the country. Blended learning has created this transformation. The organic experience of blended learning provides unparalleled engagement by two important factors, the use of technology and the creation of profound teacher student relationships. Without experiencing blended learning first-hand, those in opposition fear the unknown. In comparison to traditional models of schooling, blended learning is vastly different in all aspects of education. The environment promotes collaboration and problem solving through the way it's designed. Students have the ability to work in a chair, on a couch, or at a table with teachers circulating the large open room while offering immediate assistance. Say goodbye to the cumbersome rows of desks. Due to the online curriculum, students are engaged with 21st century technology, which provides instantaneous feedback to them and their teachers. With built-in flexibility and self-management, their personalized schedule directs their day rather than the traditional bell signaling a change. Their schedule assists them to pace their lessons, eat lunch, participate in an elective, or meet with other students to collaborate on projects. When do the teachers intervene? When needed. With immediate access to students and their data, teachers are able to monitor progress and schedule times to meet with students individually, in a small group, or in a whole class setting throughout the day. When a student is in need of remedial or enrichment work, the teacher plans and schedules a face-to-face session in an adjoining classroom where material is presented in relevant and motivating ways. This allows teachers to maximize their expertise in creative and appropriate lessons through quick and efficient targeting. The idea is to build each student for absolute success by removing the barriers and obstacles traditional school settings foster. Blended learning is education at its finest. It is customizable, rigorous, and most importantly, exciting for the students. Beyond the students, with detailed student data, parents and guardians are provided with a plethora of information on how their student is growing and achieving on a day-to-day basis. Education no longer is about what everyone else is doing; it is about what you are doing in your education. Blended learning is not the future of education; it is a welcomed reality of our students' needs in today's learning organizations. Joe Veres is principal at Desert Wind Middle School and spearheads Maricopa Unified School District's blended-learning program Read More... Algebra 1 - An Open Course April 30, 2012 By Rich Crandall The National Repository of Online Classes (NROC) has created a web-based, media rich math course designed primarily for first time algebra and/or 8th grade students. With Algebra 1 - An Open Course, students are able to work through activities at their own speed allowing them to leverage their learning strategies. According to the NROC this two-semester course integrates a broad range of pedagogical approaches designed to open the door to mathematics concepts and procedures by focusing on reasoning and critical thinking. Watch the demo here. The architecture of Algebra 1 - An Open Course allows institutions and instructors to adapt the content to meet the needs of their school. Teachers in brick and mortar classrooms are finding that the addition of this digital curriculum has expanded their students understanding as well as strengthened their classroom environment. Funding from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation makes this high-quality curriculum design by the NROC possible. Read More... Technology Transforms Learning in Paradise Valley as Harvard Awaits Lesson April 20, 2012 By Kate Ali'varius Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) is the fourth-largest school district in Arizona, as determined by sheer number of schools (51) and the seventh-largest in terms of student population (34,000; 2010). According to Jeff Billings, Director of IT, "students must be prepared for the worldwide transitions taking place in communication, technology, and culture." PVUSD relies on the Cisco TelePresence™ solution in allowing teachers and their charges to interact using shared video and interactive systems to enhance digital, face-to-face learning. Billings, who once served as the IT Policy Advisor to the AZ State Superintendent of Public Instruction, believes TelePresence has empowered PVUSD to be a national trendsetter: "Connecting with the best minds and global institutions is in and of itself an invaluable asset, but when that communication includes body language, tone, humor, gestures, facial expressions, and more, the communication becomes substantially more vibrant and enriching." For more information, visit: www.pvschools.net. PVUSD is participating in global exchanges of information to truly transform the dynamics of learning, but PVUSD students are also mastering the use of videoconference tools to fuel the success of programs much closer to home. Tutoring, for example, in PVUSD uses both screen-shared and collaboration technology tools, as well as audio and video (ex. WebEx) through computers on the Internet, to reach students in need of support from one another. Now, elementary, middle, and high school students in PVUSD can connect - without leaving their homes - to challenge each other in STEM topics, help tutor, and even break-out for purposes of chat and instructional brainstorming sessions. PVUSD has been selected to present at the National School Board Association (NSBA) Conference this month (at Harvard) to demonstrate how technology transforms learning. The focus of PVUSD's presentation will be on how the district uses synchronous, immersive TelePresence to bring value to pvONLINE (PVUSD's online education portal) as well as how educators integrate real-time video tools (YouTube, Skype, TelePresence and Google+) among primary grades.PVUSD will also be showcasing the use of WebEx (online collaborative suite of tools) where National Honor Society students are able to tutor other K-12 students remotely. Congratulations to Dr. Jim Lee, Superintendent of PVUSD and Jeff Billings for their devotion to cultivate, lead, and inspire world-class, innovative thinkers and expert communicators, as denoted by their presence in Boston on April 21 and, appreciably, by the accelerated skills and love of learning enjoyed by PV students year-round. Read More... A Successful Technology and Learning Visit April 12, 2012 By Dr. Gail Pletnick, Superintendent, Dysart Unified School District The National School Boards Association Technology and Learning Site Visit to Dysart Unified School District was a great success. Over 75 attendees toured Dysart schools and visited various departments to gain information on how Dysart utilizes technology to extend learning opportunities; to close the achievement gap; to innovate and create relevant learning experiences; and to support the systems that support excellence in our classrooms. Technology is helping Dysart Unified School District reshape instruction and instructional experiences for our students. It was exciting to have the opportunity to share our efforts and accomplishments and engage in a dialogue about technology and learning with educational leaders from Arizona and from across our country. Having the support and interest of our government leaders, including Senator Rich Crandall, and city officials from El Mirage and Surprise sent a message that we do have leaders at the state and local levels who understand how critical it is to educate students prepared for the opportunities and the challenges of this 21st century. Read More... More Articles...	Innovative Products in Blended Learning Rosetta Stone Recently I sat down for a small group dinner with Tom Adams, the young, energetic CEO of Rosetta Stone to discuss the role of technology in K-12 education. Tom talked about what Rosetta Stone is doing across the world to bring language development to the masses, even when a qualified teacher is not available. Click on the link above to see for yourself the amazing things Rosetta Stone is doing with blended learning.
Copyright © 2012 EducateAZ.org - All Rights Reserved.