Implementation Outline for Blended Learning

Teacher-led classrooms are a thing of the past.  The future of learning needs to be more student centered, more open ended, and more engaging.  One way to help these to come alive is to implement blended learning to the everyday classroom.  According to Tucker, Wycoff, & Green, (2016), “blended learning is about reinventing what learning looks like for students, and even schools” (p. 5).  This implementation plan describes how I intend on bringing blended learning to life in my first grade classroom.

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Phase 1- Research and Introduction Phase (Summer 2022)

Prior to implementing a blended learning program in my classroom, I will need to research blended learning more in-depth and introduce my findings to the school administration.  These steps include:

1. Complete research on blended learning by:

   1. Defining blended learning

   2. Researching prior case studies that have been implemented in primary classrooms

   3. Determining advantages and disadvantages of using blended learning

   4. Researching the best and most effective ways to use in the classroom

   5. Creating a SMART goal 

2. Present all obtained information to school administrators (principal, assistant principal, and campus curriculum coaches)

   1. Share my Innovation Plan which includes the Innovation Proposal

   2. Ensure they are aware of the Why I feel blended learning could be beneficial for my students

   3. Discuss the How I will implement this in my classroom

   4. Present the Where the learning will take place

 

Phase 2- Creation Phase (September 2022)

This is the part of the process of implementing my blended learning plan when I will begin to bring it to life in my classroom.

1. Create a blended learning team- 

   1. Discuss plans for implementation with technology teacher

      1. How will the blended learning curriculum be used in the classroom? 

      2. What apps can be used?

      3. Can everything be attached to Classlink or will the students have to access the different online content in other ways? 

   2. Present my blended learning plan to the rest of the first grade team during PLC to determine an interest in joining me using an interest survey

   3. Present goals and ideas for with the resource teacher in order to determine best practices with students that are identified as SPED 

2. Create  physical space for blended learning classroom 

   1. Rearrange classroom furniture (desks, shelves, and tables) to create a designated online learning space for students to take their computers

   2. Post anchor charts with specific instructions in the blended learning space  

   3.  Ensure online learning space is not in close proximity to the hands on learning spaces in order to minimize distractions

   4. Ensure the blended learning space is placed away from the windows and the door

   5. Determine if a table or multiple desks arranged in a group would be best

 

Phase 3- Implementation of Blended Learning (September 2022- April 2023)

1. Plan SMART goals that students will be expected to work toward

2. Create station rotation schedule 

   1. Decided how many students will be grouped together

   2. Create the student groups

   3. Decide how the students will move between the stations

3. Determine which TEKS will first be presented in the blended learning platform

4. Set classroom expectations for the students and explicitly teach those expectations

5. Begin to introduce the online learning using the chosen program (Seesaw, Google Classroom, Dreambox, etc)

6. Start small!! Add on when the students are ready

   1. Start with small groups (two students per collaborative group at a time) 

   2. Add more students per group as they become more comfortable 

   3. Start with a small number of blended learning “assignments”

   4. As students become more proficient, add more content or projects

7. Assess learning and effectiveness of program and determine what needs fixed or changed completely and what is successful

8. Weekly share data with other teachers, coaches, and admin

9. Share the celebrations of the program with families

 

Phase 4- Sharing Phase (May 2023)

This is the part of the implementation that I will present to the other teachers in the school.  

1. If other teachers have been implementing along with me, work on presentation together

2. Create a powerpoint to present my blended learning experience to the school

3. Create an interest survey for the rest of the teachers about implementing blended learning in their classes for the next school year

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References

Tucker, C. R., Wycoff, T., & Green, J. T. (2016). Blended learning in action: A practical guide toward sustainable change. SAGE Publications.