Hello! I hope you are all doing well. I have so much to say today, so let's jump right in! Remember in my last post I told you I went to the TCEA conference? Well, there was another session I went to that gave me another "A-HA!" moment! This session was about deploying Blended Learning in the classroom by Marcia Kish. Between this session and other resources I have found since September 25, 2019, there is so much I want to share with you. Why September 25, 2019? Because that is the date I first shared the Blended Learning Station Rotation model with you!
Lately, I have been hearing the term "Blended Learning" used loosely to describe the teaching and learning that is happening in a classroom with students who are at home learning virtually and students who are in the school building learning face-to-face with the teacher. Technically this is called "concurrent" teaching and learning. Blended Learning is a term used to describe a combination of online and offline resources and activities that are used to facilitate learning in the classroom.
be implemented in a concurrent teaching environment! It is not only for in-person, face-to-face learners.
Often when teachers research the Blended Learning Station Rotation model, it can seem overwhelming. This can be alleviated by starting off slowly, and partnering with a coach like ME!
When starting this model, I would suggest starting with one content area and one unit of study. Then you should have your students go through the process of online and offline as a whole group. This is do-able, especially since we now have a device for every student. Then you will slowly start introducing stations to your students. Yes, start off slowly like this, for example....
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| This example was shared by Marcia Kish in her "Deploying Blended Learning" Session at TCEA 2021 |
Now, when the calendar says "Whole Group", that means the whole group of students will participate in blended learning activities at one time. So for example as a whole group, we might first research and take notes on a concept via Pebblego.com. Then we will switch to an offline activity where we are creating a game or flashcards that include content related to the topic of study. Students are working individually, but working synchronously on the online, and then the offline activity.
As we introduce stations, students will practice working as a group. and working individually. At the same time, they will rotate between activities that are online, and activities that are offline. They will participate in activities where they get to create, collaborate and use critical thinking skills, sometimes online, and sometimes offline. There is such a wide variety of activities or stations for students to complete, they should be engaged, interested and excited to participate each day.
In the schedule above, the goal is to get students accustomed to the idea of stations. As students continue beyond this schedule above they will eventually have the opportunity to move through stations at their own pace, place, and path. In other words, some students may take longer than others to complete a station activity. A student might choose to work on the floor in a corner, while another chooses a desk. (I know we have limited space right now due to Covid regulations!) A student might choose to complete stations in a different order than another student.
Here again, the above is just an example of a possible schedule. You might need to adjust based on your students. My point in showing you this example is that I want you to see that you can start off slowly. New things can seem overwhelming. But this shows you it doesn't have to be!
You didn't think I would end this post without mentioning John Hattie did you? I think this Blended Learning Station Rotation model is a perfect example of "Spaced Practice". John Hattie talks about the difference between "Spaced" vs. "Massed" practice. This basically means students spend several short sessions learning and practicing a concept over a longer period of time, instead of learning a concept in a large chunk(s) over a short period of time. Spaced practice is an effective strategy with an effect size of .65. (That's another great one! Remember we are aiming for strategies above .4!) To learn more about John Hattie and effect sizes, click here!
This blog post is just a taste or overview of the Blended Learning Station Rotation model! If you find that your students are not engaged or if they seem disinterested in the learning that is taking place in your classroom, this is a model you might consider trying. As I mentioned above, I can partner with you to help you deploy this model in your classroom. Together, we can get this model up and running! I'll be sending out more information soon about how you can sign up to partner with me to give this a try! Keep an eye out for more information!
It's time for more.... SUNSHINY DAYS!
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