www.inacol.org Tools for Administrators to Support Blended Learning Teachers Rob Darrow, Director of Member Services, iNACOL eLearning Strategies Symposium December 2013
Nov 11, 2014
www.inacol.org
Tools for Administrators to Support
Blended Learning Teachers
Rob Darrow, Director of Member Services, iNACOLeLearning Strategies Symposium
December 2013
Introductions• A little about you:
– Teachers– Administrators– Other– K-6; 7-8; 9-12; college
• Me– Lifelong Californian – Educated in Ca public schools
PreSchool-doctorate – Online charter school principal, school librarian and
teacher (Taught K-8)– Full time with iNACOL, Director of Member Services
International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL)
• iNACOL is the premier K-12 nonprofit membership organization for blended and online learning.
• 4100+ members in K-12 virtual schools and online learning representing over 50 countries
• Provides leadership, advocacy, research, training, and networking with experts in K-12 online learning.
• “Ensure all students have access to a world-class education and quality blended and online learning opportunities that prepare them for a lifetime of success.”
Blended and Online Learning Symposium
November 4-7, 2014
Palm Springs, Ca• Over 2000 experts, educators,
administrators, companies and thought leaders sharing and networking
iNACOL Supporting Documentswww.inacol.org/resources
• iNACOL Blended Learning Roadmap (NYC)
• Mean What You Say: Defining and Integrating Personalized, Blended and Competency Education
• Transforming K-12 Rural Education through Blended Learning: Barriers and Promising Practices
Rob’s Wiki: http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com
Session Focus• Administrative support for blended learning teachers • Tools to assist in blended learning teachers • An Evolving Field
– Online Learning is just 14 years old– Blended Learning about 7 years old
• Research is emerging – there is evidence of effective online and blended teaching
• (Not about merits of blended or online learning, accessibility, cheating online, or intellectual property)
Not About the Technology
• Change in teaching• Change in learning• Change in pedagogy• Things should look different in a blended
learning environment, more student centric, more personalized learning
But…
• Effective and efficient personalized learning cannot exist without the use of technology
• A change in teaching, learning, and pedagogy cannot occur without the use of technology
• The classroom cannot be more student centric without the use of technology
The Ultimate Goal
• College and career ready students and 100% graduation rate
• [Current graduation rate: 70% among white students, and 50% among Latino and African American males)
My Belief: Tipping Point
• K-12 Online Learning already there• Every school will become a blended
learning school to better personalize learning for all students
• Ultimate goal: College and career ready students and 100% graduation rate
This is a journey, not a destination.It takes time to
transform thinking and teaching.
What do you do to measure teacher effectiveness?
What do you do to measure or observe teacher effectiveness?
• Lesson observation• Walk-throughs• Talk with teacher• Lesson plan observation• Ongoing benchmark data• End of year achievement tests
Online Teacher Observation
• Instructional design• Student satisfaction surveys• Teacher record keeping• View course management system data• Observe an online class session• Communication / response time to email
A Story from New York City• New Principal and Quality Assurance
Officer observe a teacher in the classroom
Defining blended learning.
What does it look like?
Tech-rich = blended
Blended Learning Definition
• “a formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through online delivery of content and instruction with some element of student control over time, place, path, and/or pace and at least in part at a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home…” - (Horn and Staker, 2013)
Teaching and Learning• What the student is
doing and where the student is.
What the teacher is doing and where the teacher is.
What and where the content is.
Michael Horn Tweet
Questions?Comments?
The Tools(handout)
• Continuum from Textbook Enhanced to Online Teaching and Learning
• Rubric for Blended Learning– Develop walk-through tool with rubric
• Observation Form
Continuum (see handout)Where do you fit? Where does your school fit?
• Textbook enhanced teaching and learning
• Technology enhanced (not online)• Web/online enhanced• Blended• Online
From Textbook to Online Teaching
Online Teaching
Textbook EnhancedTeaching
TechnologyEnhancedTeaching
Web / Online Enhanced Teaching
Remember:This is a journey, not a destination.It takes time to
transform thinking and teaching.
The Rubric1. Leadership
2. New Staff Roles
3. New Student Roles
4. Personalized Learning Plans and Progress
5. Next Generation Curriculum and Assessment
6. Flexible and Real World Learning Environments
4-Point Rubric
1. Under Developed
2. Developing
3. Proficient
4. Well Developed
Indicator: Leadership
• 1.1 Measurable goals have been written and communicated with all staff.
Well Developed
Ongoing progress towards each goal is being collected and tracked by teachers and administrators.
Indicator: New Staff Roles
2.1 Teacher as facilitator/coach
Well Developed• Teachers regularly circulate around the room meeting with
small groups and individuals identifying progress toward learning goals.
• Teachers regularly document student progress daily through some digital record keeping system.
• Student data is regularly used as a means for differentiating instruction.
Indicator: New Student Roles
3.1 New Student Roles
Well Developed• Students regularly take active role in their learning and are able to
choose types of content (e.g. textbook, video or online) that causes their best learning.
• Students regularly track their own progress towards learning.
• Students regularly have ability to complete work at own pace.
• Students regularly know where to find help or support when needed.
Questions?Comments?
Quick Quiz: Blended Learning, what does “it” look like?
Blended? Yes, No, Maybe?
Blended? Yes, No, Maybe?
Blended? Yes, No, Maybe?
Blended? Yes, No, Maybe?
How to Observe a Blended Learning Teacher
• Adapt the Rubric• View student computer/device screen• View teacher interaction with students• View data teacher uses• Talk with students• Talk with teacher
Classroom Walk-Throughs• Evidence of student centric
– Student learning focus / Students in groups– Student computers/devices on a course management
system (access school and home)– Students can explain what and why they are doing
• Evidence of personalization– Teacher working with individual or groups– Student data used by teacher– Variety of ways for student to communicate with teacher
(verbal, discussion boards, email, twitter, etc.)
What does blended learning really look like?
Mott Hall V, New York City7th Grade Science
One-to-One
Group Projects
Small Group
Instruction
Management
What data do I use?Test 1 60.0% avgTest 2 76.6% avg
Progressing students cite review activity as most relevant piece to learning.
Prep Academy at Southeastern High SchoolDetroit, Michigan
Science Classroom
Prep Academy Management: Student chooses their weekly schedule
Data to personalize learning
iNACOL Webinar• A Day in the Life of a Blended Learning
Teacher– Alex Paraskaveides (Mr. P), Lead Blended
Learning and Science Teacher, 7th Grade, Mott Hall V, New York City
– Haley Hart, PASE Prep Academy Science Teacher, Southeastern High School, Educational Achievement Authority, Detroit
• Recording:• https://sas.elluminate.com/p.jnlp?psid=2013-
11-21.1455.M.A4AD5CB70B5A4D831FFD0B6FB3AD9A.vcr&sid=253
An Effective Blended Learning Teacher
• Classroom is controlled chaos:– students generally in groups– teacher circulating
• Student centered learning• Students focused on work, but may be in
different places in a unit• Teachers use data on a daily basis to
personalize learning / re-group students
Questions?Comments?
Now, the Technology Needed
• Robust Network• Student Devices• Course Management System• Content
Successful Blended Learning Involves Six Elements
• Leadership• Professional Development• Teaching/Instructional Practice• Operations/Admin
Systems/Policy• Content• Technology
1. Leadership
School Implementation• Identified administrator/leader and teachers at each school• Ongoing interactions (one-on-one, formal and informal) and
meetings of those involved in iLearn• Administrators, teachers and administrators work together
towards the blended learning goals established in each school
Promising Practices• School culture of innovation and empowerment• Start small and build• Communication is strong and occurs between involved people
in a variety of ways (one-to-one, phone, email, chat, etc.)
2. Professional Development
School Implementation• Both formal and informal (Schedule ongoing group and
individual support – online and face-to-face)• Modeling, webinars, small conferences, workshops, cohort
meetings• Support teacher / school librarian / implementation managers
are key
Promising Practices• Scheduled Time (within work week)• Participating Teachers as Resources• Professional Sharing / Professional Learning Community• School Support
3. Teaching/Instructional Practices
School Implementation• Common Vocabulary / Resources
– Blended Learning Continuum, Blended Learning Rubric, Observation Form
• Support for new blended learning teachers – modeling and mentoring
• Analyzing real-time data to personalize learning for each student
Promising Practices• Classroom Setup• Data Analysis• Individualized Instruction• Student Engagement• Digital Content
4. Operations/Management Systems/Policy
School Implementation• Restructuring of the traditional school class / school day• Emphasis on using real-time student performance data• Change in instructional delivery model
Promising Practices• Removal of institutional barriers / policies• Operational support• Policy development examples• Data-driven instruction
5. Content
School Implementation• Common course management system• Content providers to choose• Professional development and teacher sharing about content
provider and platform use
Promising Practices• Content Decision Making (purchase or build your own)• Customizable platform – teachers use base curriculum and
customize based on student needs• Customizable for individual students
6. Technology
School Implementation• School leadership ensures that technology needs of students
and teachers are addressed, and proper training provided.• Dedicated technical support for the blended learning
programs.• School leadership is visible in their own use of technology;
modeling expectations.
Promising Practices• Technology Training • Technology Support – Technician on site • Hardware and Software in place to use
Handouts - Use and Improve
• Links / Documents• Resources
– Continuum from Textbook Enhanced to Online Teaching and Learning
– Rubric– iLearnNYC Observation Form
Questions?Comments?
Remember:This is a journey, not a destination.It takes time to
transform thinking and teaching.
www.inacol.org
Contact Information
Rob Darrow - [email protected]
Rob’s Wiki: http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com