What have I learned? Reading Review Assignment C

After exploring the blended learning resources which I noted as potentially useful in my previous post, I found myself avoiding the larger, more academic pieces and gravitating towards a number of different blogs. It's clear that in the resource bank there are a lot of broad, theoretical articles intended to justify the blended learning approach; as I am already a convert to the cause, I'm more interested in finding some practical applications of the process. In contrast then, the blogs were interesting, succinct and current, and provided plenty of information to pique my interest.

The key learning I have taken away from my explorations are:

• Blended learning is a hot topic in education
• The flipped classroom model is one I would like to implement in my classroom
• There are many resources available to help me get started in this process
• Deciding which technologies I want to use will take further inquiry
• I still find myself wanting to incorporate technology into my existing classroom framework. What would a 21^st century classroom with budget constraints and technology limitations look like at this point?
• The first step for me will be learning how to use some of the social media networks that are so readily available to us. Do I use the one provided by the school district or do I try out “edmodo”?
• I am struggling to deal with the “abundance” of information available to me when I research a topic.

With regard to specific information from specific sources, I found the website edutopia.com particularly useful. It contains a variety of links to other resources put together by educators that already believe in the merits of blended learning. They outline ways for teachers to get started with blended learning and provide links to useful websites such as the Khan Academy.

Many of the articles suggest that integrating technology into educational processes comes with an underlying challenge – how to ensure the glitz and glamour of technology does not overshadow its potential to actually make educational improvements. Research suggests that test scores remained stagnant despite the investment of millions of dollars’ worth of technology. So how then, to ensure that learning improves and we don't simply make it more entertaining? Does standardized testing need to go? Do we need new standards for success? Should we be ensuring students are more techno-savvy before inundating them with every technological advance that's been made?

Sources
Richardson, Will. (2012). Why School? TED Conferences.
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blended-learning-getting-started-lisa-dabbs 
http://www.msdf.org/blog/2012/09/judy-burton-all-teachers-new-teachers-blended-learning-2/
http://catlintucker.com/2012/01/top-10-reasons-that-blended-learning-is-worth-the-hype/
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blended-learning-effectiveness-bob-lenz
https://larrycuban.wordpress.com/2011/10/07/denying-the-facts-investing-in-computers-and-higher-test-scores/
http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/five-ways-to-flip-your-classroom-with-the-new-york-times/?_r=0

Useful Resources on Blended Learning - Reading Review Assignment B

After spending some time searching, it wasn't hard to find some resources that I could use to explore my topic of "Blended Learning".  The wealth of current information on this topic is overwhelming.  My search started with the suggested readings and then broadened to include the UBC library, the internet and resources suggested by one of my colleagues.  Here are my top picks:

1. "Decoding Education: the Proof, Promise and Potential of Digital Education" (89 pages) http://www.nesta.org.uk/publications/decoding-learning

The discussion for this article revolves around the premise that technology in and of itself is not inherently useful in the classroom. Rather, how the technology is implemented into the learning environment  makes the difference as to whether it helps students to learn 21st Century skills.  

2. "NMC Horizon Report: K-12 Edition" (55 pages)
http://www.nmc.org/publication/nmc-horizon-report-2014-k-12-edition/¹

The synopsis for this article says that it "examines emerging technologies for their potential impact on and use in teaching, learning and creative inquiry in schools". ¹  What grabbed my interest in this article was the thorough list of suggested readings at the end of each section- many of which focus on the topic of blended learning.   

3.  "Digital Literacy Standards" (BC Ministry of Education)
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/dist_learning/dig_lit_standards.htm#draft

A draft copy from the BC Ministry of Education outlining the "profile for digitally literate students" at each grade level.  It outlines suggested activities students can engage in and the digital literacy characteristics they would be demonstrating as a result.  The links on this page also outline digital literacy characteristics and a digital literacy framework that outlines specific learning objectives.  The 21st Century Skills deemed important by the ministry of education are clearly outlined in this document.

4.  "Blended Learning Resources for Middle Grade Teachers"
http://www.ncte.org.ezproxy.library.ubc.ca/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/Journals/VM/0222-dec2014/VM0222Blended.pdf²

As described in the preamble to the journal, the focus is "on online resources for teachers appropriate to blended learning environments of any type."²  The online video libraries suggested in the article such as  "100+ Video Sites Every Educator Should Bookmark  (updated for 2012)", will definitely be used in my classroom.  
   

5.  Tweeting Kindergarteners? Periodical

By: KENNEDY, CHRIS. School Administrator , Aug2014, Vol. 71 Issue 7, p13-13, 3/4p

This resource was more inspiring than informative.  The idea that Kindergarten is where students are starting to learn digital literacy and the brilliance of integrating digital citizenship into students' everyday vocabulary spoke volumes to me.  This article praises the "classroom teacher for taking a risk and being a learner herself."  Ultimately, I would like to be that teacher!

6.  "Blended Learning: We Are All New Teachers"  Edutopia, January 19, 2015
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/blended-learning-getting-started-lisa-dabbs³

This very recent blog is a part of a series on blended learning. It includes links to useful resources such as books, blogs, video resources and articles to "support to learn about, identify different models of and seek to begin to utilize blended learning in their practice."³  This blog focuses less on the research into digital literacy and more on how a teacher can get started adapting their classroom to the blended learning model.    

Other links I have found this week:
http://www.edudemic.com/guides/guide-to-twitter/   - A teacher's guide to using twitter.

http://www.wimp.com/educational/teacherflipping/ - A great video documenting the success one school has experienced using the flipped classroom model.  

My First Ever Blog- Reading Review A

Aaron Mueller has sent me down the proverbial rabbit hole, posing some questions in his opening reading review assignment that have me considering a number of possibilities for educational reform within my own practice.  Specifically though, as I connect the dots from the brainstorming, I've found myself beginning to focus more closely on the concept of blended learning -- looking to expand digital options which complement the physical classroom.  

The school I work at is not a particularly digitally-savvy school.  Actually, the district I work in is struggling to implement a technology plan in general.  We've been left behind in terms of keeping up with trends and technological advances while funding went elsewhere, and it's very discouraging to see what we could be doing, and how far behind we have gotten.

Thankfully, our district is also aware of our deficiencies, and they're trying to rectify things.  There's been a major overhaul of the technology infrastructure in the schools, and there is definitely potential in the system now in place.  Getting teachers the professional development necessary to maximize that potential is now key to generating some success.

The blended learning model has particular appeal for me because it suggests that rather than a wholesale switch to online, digital learning, schools might consider classes where the digital learning opportunities act as a supplement, or foil to the learning undertaken in the physical classroom.  Our district runs a number of classes which take place wholly online; the reviews have been very mixed, with a significant portion of the students finding themselves overwhelmed and without proper support.  The blended learning model allows for a combination of face-to-face and online learning, which seems a much more rational approach.  As well, I would like to explore the use of social media as a learning tool and how I can make use of my students' obsession with being connected.