WHY BLENDED LEARNING?

BLENDED LEARNING @ MSS

21st Century Learning Skills Developed

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Creativity and Innovation students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Communication and Collaboration students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Research and Information Fluency students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources

Personalizing Learning
When students each have their own device, it doesnt mean that they are being used every minute of every day. We place value on the social interaction, group work, teacher expertise, physical activity, arts, science and inquiry, manipulatives, extracurriculars and hands-on work found in all classes. Having personal devices does mean that students can set up their devices in ways that work best for them. Too often, students have access to these devices and see them as purely social machines. This initiative will support the shift to make use of these powerful devices to support learning. Being able to choose devices, programs and apps that work best for each student, they will be able to take more responsibility for their own learning.

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Digital Citizenship students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior Technology Operations and Concepts students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations required for success in todays post-secondary worlds of employment, college and university.

Preparing for the Future Most jobs and post secondary schools require technology skills. The blended learning initiative will ensure all students are well prepared to learn new technologies for career advancement and navigate the online learning management systems used by all colleges and universities.

LOCAL INITIATIVE People change jobs all the time.The skills of creativity, collaboration and networking are important life-long skills in the world of work.

PROBLEM SOLVING Students who are exposed to a wide variety of technology and devices will learn to troubleshoot and problem solve technical difculties. These trouble shooting skills and perseverance are invaluable in todays world.

LIFE-LONG LEARNING When students are able to differentiate their own learning, they are empowered to take responsibility for their own education. This skill of learning new things is an important skill in todays ever-changing world.

WHAT IS BLENDED LEARNING?

! BLENDED LEARNING @ MSS

What is Blended Learning?

Blended learning is using computers in the classroom. Classes are still run face-to-face with a teacher leading the way. Students work in groups; there are lessons, labs, activities; and they use paper and pen when it is the best tool. When each student has access to a device, it means that teachers can share resources and materials online and not worry that some students do not have equal access. Blended Learning allows students to access types of material that help them learn best. When reviewing material after a lesson, students can access resources that work best for them like text, image, video or audio. The textbook isnt the only option, but it is still an option. Classes will still function as they do now with a teacher facilitating the learning. The best parts of face-to-face classes (social interaction, discussion, collaboration, labs, activities, games, teacher expertise) will be mixed with access to online tools.

What Blended Learning IS NOT

Blended Learning is not an online course. Students will not be just sitting in front of a computer accessing online lessons. Laptops and tablets will not be used at all times.

IN SCIENCE CLASS The teacher may set

up stations around a concept. Some students may be working on an online interactive activity to master the concept of the Law of Conservation of Mass. Another group may be doing pen and paper practice balancing equations. A third group of students may be working with the teacher to complete a lab inquiry testing the Law of Conservation of Mass.

IN MATH CLASS After a math lesson,

students may be using their devices to access online graphing apps to investigate how the slope of a line changes when aspects of a linear equation is altered. Other students may be watching a video to review the concept of slope before they start practice questions.

IN ENGLISH CLASS Students may be working on a variety of projects as they wrapup a unit. These projects could include creating audio recordings (podcasts or news reports), writing blog posts and collaborating with each other to plan presentations using collaborative tools. At times, students will be using pen and paper, and at other times, using their devices to access resources.