The world of education is awash in cutting-edge practices designed to amplify student engagement and learning. From methods that are technology driven - like “Blended” learning and “Flipped” classrooms to ideologies that describe how to best meet a student’s needs - like “Personalized” learning and “Individualized” learning; teachers are bombarded with “best practices”. How is a teacher to know which direction to move for his/her classroom?
For what my 15 years of experience in education, youth development, and curriculum and instructional design might be worth, I would tell teachers that methodologies and ideologies are like tools in a toolbelt. You aren’t limited to the choice of one, but you will be most effective if you choose the tool best designed for your goal.
Quick Aside: In my last post, I encouraged educators to explore the possibilities of ed tech tools; to experiment bravely in order to better know the tool. For those who may feel that the previous paragraph contradicts bravely experimenting, please know that I would consider experimentation to be a prerequisite of the ability to “choose the tool best designed…”.
Blended
Blended learning offers students the opportunity to engage with educational technology. The technology tools can be used to assess, practice, explore and expand understanding of concepts. Teachers may want to consider using this tool if they have students who learn best independently, have a large class and could use help reducing the size of a group receiving instruction, and/or if they have limited access to manipulatives/hands-on activities to reinforce learning. Clearly, blended learning can be a challenge for teachers with limited access to computers and/or the Internet.
Flipped
Flipped learning opens the door for classroom time to be used for activity and practice instead of direct instruction. Flipped learning environments typically require students to watch videos of instructional material. This content is then reinforced and further explored through hands-on activities in the classroom. Teachers who wish to have more class time for interaction, practice, and observation of student performance would do well to flip their classroom. Teachers of students who struggle to regularly attend school and/or who have little support at home with homework may also find that the flipped classroom better supports their students. However, teachers need to be prepared for the student unable to access the video due to inaccessibility of computers/phones and/or the Internet.
Personalized
Personalized learning refers to curriculum and instructional design that allows for student choice of time, place, path and pace. It is a methodology that allows for students to learn, practice and demonstrate understanding through avenues that meet personal interests and learning styles/needs. Teachers looking to add student input to assignments, who wish to amplify student creativity, and who want students to take responsibility for their learning could find happiness with personalized learning. Teachers looking for a quick fix to student engagement may feel disappointed with personalized learning as creating a personalized learning environment is a journey, not a final destination. Adding elements of personalized learning will take time, experimentation, and piece-meal implementation.
Tools in a Toolbelt
Just as a house isn’t built with only a hammer, increasing student learning and engagement will likely require more than one tool and methodology. In looking at Personalization, Blended learning, and Flipped classrooms as tools, you might decide to use elements of all three. Consider adding student choice (Personalization) to how a skill is practiced by offering online learning material that a student can use as evidence of learning. If you open a center in your classroom where they can do this, that is technically Blended learning. If you create or use curated videos to explain the skill in question, then you could offer student choice (Personalization) for whether they practice at home and get direct instruction at school or they could watch the video at home (Flipped) and practice online in the classroom (Blended).
“But where do I start?”
The idea that one tool and/or one methodology isn’t a panacea, may leave teachers panicked about how to get started. I would suggest that the first step is to start with a method or idea that resonates. Find one small way to adjust instructional practices based on this learning. Keep what works. Drop what doesn’t. Then keep learning and experimenting in order to fill the toolbelt. Every journey, whether a walk in the park or a mountain trek, is completed one step at a time.
Recommended Resources:
- Able, Natalie (February 17, 2016). What is Personalized Learning [Blog Post]. Retrieved from: https://www.inacol.org/news/what-is-personalized-learning/
- Blended Learning: Blended Learning (2017). Retrieved from: https://www.edutopia.org/blogs/tag/blended-learning
- Flipped Classroom (2017). Retrieved from: https://www.edutopia.org/blogs/tag/flipped-classroom
