Blended Learning, Our reasons for why, how, and what.

 

If we want to make an impactful change in education and want others to follow, we can not simply present them with more information and data to spark interest. According to Sinek (2009), others will not buy what I do but they will buy WHY I do it.  Kotter (2013), mentions I must win over the hearts and minds of our teachers and administration to inspire change. I believe blended learning will provide students with the best-personalized education due to the loss of learning we are seeing since their return from remote learning. We need to motivate students and engage their minds and hearts too with the help of blended learning. 

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 We believe students should have equitable access to education in order to create meaningful learning paths tailored to their needs. Students learning loss is significant since schools were forced to close due to the pandemic. Now that our students have returned to in-person learning, we need the opportunity to close those learning gaps at their pace. We can not expect to set them up for success without the proper learning and guidance blended learning provides. As our students begin to see their progress it will reignite their motivation.

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Students will flourish in a Blended Learning classroom, which will allow them choice, ownership, and voice through authentic (COVA) learning opportunities which will increase motivation. In order to provide all students equitable access to education, we need to create a different experience and challenge the way traditional classrooms look when learning is taking place. The time to disrupt traditional learning is now. Of course, we are not the only educators who are qualified or understand the needs of our students, but we do understand the opportunity. Students will choose when, where, what, and the pace at which they are learning. They have the power to pause, rewind, or fast-forward instruction based on their unique needs. Blended learning offers the best of both worlds, allowing schools to integrate 21st-century instructional models, such as time and space, flexibility, self-pacing, digital content, and increased personalization into an adult-supportive environment (McLester, 2011).

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Students will become critical thinkers and problem solvers while embracing love for lifelong learning. Isn't this our ultimate goal, to provide students with a chance to thrive in life?​

 

References:

Harapnuik, D., Thibodeaux, T., Cummings, C. (2018). Choice, ownership, and voice through authentic learning [eBook]. Creative Commons

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     License. http://tilisathibodeaux.com/wordpress/wpcontent/uploads/2019/04/COVA_eBook_Jan_2018.pdf 

Kotter, J. (2011, March 23). John Kotter - The heart of change [Video].YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watchv=1NKti9MyAAw&feature=youtu.be

Kotter, J. (2013, August 15). Leading change: establish a sense of urgency [Video]. YouTube.

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     https://www.youtube.com/watch      v=2Yfrj2Y9IlI&feature=youtu.be​

McLester, S. (2011, October). Building a blended learning program. District Administration, v47 n9,  p40-42, 44, 46–48, 53 Oct 2011.

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      https://eric.ed.gov/q=Building+a+Blended+Learning+Program+McLester%2c+Susan&id=EJ962531 

Sinek, S. [TEDx Talks]. (2009, September 29). Start with why how great leaders inspire action. Simon Sinek TEDxPugetSound [Video] YouTube 

 

     https://www.youtube.com/watchv=u4ZoJKF_VuA&list=RDLVu4ZoJKF_VuA

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