inacol webinar: implementation and policy considerations for blended learning programs

Planning, Implementation and Policy Considerations for Blended Learning Programs

• Greg Klein, Director of Blended Learning, Rogers Family Foundation

• Samantha Sherwood, Vice Principal, Bronx Arena High School, New York City Schools

October 2013

Blended Learning

• “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)

Tech-rich = blended

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.

Webinar Focus

• Policy, Implementation and Teacher Support for Blended Learning Programs– District Perspective– School Perspective

Greg Klein

• Director of Blended Learning

• Rogers Family Foundation

• Oakland, CA

• Former Oakland USD teacher

and administrator.

Greg’s Digital Journey

• Downtown College Prep Alum Rock• 2010-11, 3 groups of 60 middle schoolers

for 90 minutes, 1:1.• Google, Edmodo, EverFi, Khan,

Achieve3000, pilots, pilots, pilots

About Rogers Family Foundation

• Handful of Oakland-based initiatives

• 2nd year of Blended Learning Initiative

• Fund across the district and local charters

Samantha Sherwood

• Assistant Principal

• Bronx Arena High School

• New York, NY

Samantha’s digital journey• Developed a blended science unit for my 6th grade class during my third

year of teaching.– Project-based– Was hooked on the high level skills students developed

• Joined Ty Cesene to help start Bronx Arena• Researched the characteristics of a successful teacher and classroom in

a fully blended class as part of my Master’s thesis.• Continue to innovate at BAHS

About Bronx Arena / iLearnNYC• 3rd year, fully blended transfer school in the Bronx.• Serves overage and undercredited students.• Unique “Arena” model has students matched to a

single teacher in 25:1 ratio• iLearnNYC is part of a larger citywide initiative to

implement blended learning in classrooms across NYC.

Lessons Learned from Oakland’s Cohorts

• Oakland Case Study

• Key Policies Identified– RFP; use what you have; everything really

• Implementation Strategies• Network; Device ratios; Web / Google / DC

• Teacher Support Systems

Greg: Our Blended Learning Model

• What does it look like? – Site-based design and decision-making– Usually devices in regular classrooms, 1:2 or 1:1.– Kids get access to personalized adaptive online

content– Kids get access to personalized small group

instruction with teacher

Greg: Implementation Stages

• Where we are now– 8 schools: 6 in OUSD, 2 local charters– Models vary across the sites– Lots of tech support

• Where we are going– SBAC readiness as a leverage point– Opportunities to launch future cohorts

Samantha’s Research• Paper: “A Mixture for Success: Characteristics of a Blended Learning

Class”• How the teachers transforms

– Shift in mental model from “teacher centered to student centered”• Use of technology

– Technology as a tool to re-invent the craft and the learning experience.

– Makes it sustainable, however not the end-all-be all• Use of data to drive instruction

– Necessary to individualize

• School Policies Identified• Implementation Strategies• Teacher Support Systems

Bronx Arena and Implementation Stages

Where are we now?

• 3rd year and 2nd year using “Arena model”

• Using completely homemade curriculum

• Beginning to really incorporate mastery based/ competency based learning to individualize

• Senior portfolio• Online, customized data-

tracking system

Where are we going?

• Full competency-based instruction for course selection

• Have students “build their own” curriculum based on interests and aligned to competencies

• Continue to develop data tracker to track individualized pathways using competencies.

• Create more dynamic curriculum through partnerships with other schools

Bronx Arena: Blended Learning Model

• Homemade, project-based curriculum using the Legacy model– All curriculum created collaboratively

• Blending the knowledge with intrinsic learning.• “Arena Model” that includes a generalist teacher and

content specialist co-teachers.• Competency-based to individualize and personalize• Customized data tracker to monitor student progress, set

student goals, and track competency mastery.

Other Discussion Items

How much planning is needed? How far in advance is it important to plan?

Who should be at the planning table / planning committee?

• District

• School

• Classroom

What are important Policies / Procedures to put in place?

• District

• School

• Classroom

How important is Leadership?

• What do key leaders need to do to support implementation and sustainability?

• What daily/monthly leadership activities take place to support blended learning direction?

Other Questions

Final Thoughts

• Samantha

• Greg

Contact Info

• Greg Klein, Rogers Family Foundation, Oakland, Ca

• gklein@rogersfoundation.org, @gregdklein

• Samantha (Sam) Sherwood, Bronx Arena School, New York

• ssherwood@bronxarena.org