Our Project

Here is our paper that discusses the impact and implications in using blended learning in the classroom.

Blended Learning in the Middle School Classroom

Creating a Virtual Community of Writers Through Blended Learning

Blended learning has not only helped me create a vibrant learning community within my 8th grade Language Arts classroom but it has resulted in a student-directed learning community outside my classroom. My writing workshop procedures blend technology with face-to-face discussions to enhance students' understanding of the writing process. Students use GoogleDocs to share and comment on their assigned groups' submissions at home. Then, on Workshop Day, kids open their writing pieces on Chromebooks in class. They review and discuss comments in small groups while writers ask follow-up questions. Finally, everyone fills outs an online reflection survey about their next steps in improving the piece.

This excerpt from Debbie Garber's abstract, Growing Virtual Communities, echoes my own philosophy in the creation of a meaningful learning community:

"To be a learning community, participants must be committed to the learning process, and responsive to the contributions of other participants through “reciprocity” based on trust between the community members. Trust is based on credibility (i.e., another’s word can be relied on) and benevolence, the extent to which “learners are genuinely interested in the welfare of other members”

Trust is the key word. While the initial success in the workshop comes from the use of technology, I feel that students have succeeded in building a community of trust and camaraderie that is often more difficult to accomplish in traditional peer review scenarios. In my video, I share the impacts that I've observed in using blended learning within my writing workshop:

Blended Learning at an Innovative School and in a Center Program Classroom for Students with Cognitive Disabilities: Britta's Experience

As the Multi-Intensive Center Program Teacher at an innovation school I feel as if I could not be luckier.  I am able to have one to one ratios of technology for my students.  The technology enables me to provide differentiated instruction on a consistent basis as well as allowing for multiple accommodations and modifications for each student.  In my personal experience for my classroom I have found a lot of success utilizing ipads.  The ipads are very user friendly and the students are able to manipulate them regardless of their motor or cognitive abilities.  They are perfect for providing multiple accommodations or modifications simultaneously based on student needs.  They are also useful in tracking and storing data of student work or quizzes.  They also can allow me to differentiate based on where a student is in their learning.  See the videos below for some examples of the work I have been doing with my students as well as the blended learning that has been happening in my school.

Blended learning in a diverse school. Bryan's blended learning experience.

I teach at a school with nearly 50% non-caucasion students. This is my story about how blended learning has been implemented in my class to influence positive change.