The Things you Need to start
1. What kind of model are you going to use?
2. What platform are you going blend?
3. How are you going to organize that platform?
2. What platform are you going blend?
3. How are you going to organize that platform?
What do you mean by Model? There are literally HUNDREDS of blending learning models out there. The key to blended learning is to find a model that fits for you. While the flipped classroom is a model, is there a model you can find that works for your content and is somewhere in between instruction through video and direct sit and get?
As you are starting to formulate your model, consider how you are going to deliver content as well as what activities you are going to use in order to extend student learning. Be willing to change and adjust, though, it takes time in order to work through issues that you may have never thought of! If you want to see examples of the INACOl aligned models please refer back to the Why Blended Page through this link. Some ModelsThere are so many ways to do the blend, and these are just a few:
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What About Platform?One of the keys to blended learning is finding an online platform to present your blended learning environment. There are a TON of them out there. You could start with a simple LMS (Learning Management System) or go to your own website. It all depends on what you want to do.
Some PlatformsThis section is going to cover the most popular and most successful at the High School Level. There are many others that won't be covered, and there is no shame in using one of those if it fits your needs.
Weebly: education.weebly.com
Weebly is a free website builder that you can manipulate to fit your classroom needs. You can have separate pages and categories in order to truly organize your classroom needs, and you can add HTML code in order to bring in other learning tools. Depending on what you want to do, you may want to pay for a pro version, and it can have a bit of a learning curve
*Note: Tutorial is for Weebly's regular version. It looks a little different at the start, but once you start your site they are identical. Please use the education URL education.weebly.com though for added benefits Schoology: schoology.com
Schoology is a full-scale LMS that allows you to create classes, post assignments, post-assessments, and much more. Students join through a class code, and it has some HTML embed features.
Moodle: moodle.org
Moodle is an open source learning platform that can be bent to fit a multitude of needs. It has many levels and types of assignments as well as assessments. It also allows for HTML embed. Because it is multi-functional though, it can have a bit of a learning curve
Moodle has a full channel of Youtube tutorial videos that can be found at this link. Canvas: canvaslms.com
Canvas is a full-scale LMS with loads of features. You can create courses, add assignments, and add assessments easily. You can also do things like enhance collaboration and give feedback easily. Canvas does, however, cost a bit of money, and would need to be a school-based solution
Canvas also has a full Youtube Channel dedicated to tutorials. You can find it at this link. Google Classroom: classroom.google.com
Google Classroom is Google Apps for Education's solution to an LMS. It lets you create classrooms, post assignments, post calendars, and much more. It also integrates easily with many other education apps and tools. Many of them have a single button to send items to Google Classroom. Where it really excels is it allows students to easily turn in Google Drive assignments, and then the teacher can give feedback and send back easily. You do have to be a Google Apps for Education School or District in order to have access.
You can use the Youtube Channel at this Link in order to access tutorials. OneNote Class Notebook: Part of 365
OneNote Notebook is Microsoft's competitor to Google Classroom. You do have to have a 365 account in order to access it. You can post lessons, deliver assignments, and post assessments. You can also give feedback easily, and students can annotate and sketch within the platform.
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Some Learning Models In Action
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