THE BLENDED LEARNING ARC

• The Blended Learning Arc is a process teachers use in any blended learning model. The purpose is to engage learners and facilitate instructional learning experiences, whether the instructional time table set is an instructional block, week or semester.
• There are four core modalities that frame the teaching and learning within the blended learning arc.

The four core modalities that frame the teaching and learning within the blended learning arc are:

1. LAUNCH: GROUP DISCUSSION

Creating a blended learning environment in classrooms firstly, required to identify a desired outcome. Blended learning is launched through group discussion (in-person or using Microsoft Team meetings). This way helps to begin the learning and assists in planning learners work that will be doing in-person or online.

2. WORK: INDEPENDENT WORK

Blended learning provides opportunities for learners to work independently.  It helps to practice and demonstrate learners understanding, promotes learners agency and ownership of the learning process. Teachers then scaffold work in order to empower learners to work independently. This helps learners to develop the skills they need to grow as learners.

3. WORK: SMALL GROUP COLLABORATION

Learning is social and working in collaboration. It fosters learners’communication skills, inclusion, problem-solving, and community. Teachers in blended learning classrooms design ways for all learners to work in small groups.

4. WORK: 1:1 CHECK-INS

1:1 check-ins is to monitor learners’ independent and collaborative work during the learning process. It is vital for   learners and teachers progress and growth.  Collecting and analyzing data from learner’s work demonstrate the shape of future support for the learner and teaching opportunities for the teacher.

CLOSE: GROUP DISCUSSION

This Teachers and learners may return to a group discussion to close the blended learning arc. They share their gained knowledge together, come up with new understandings, giving praises, making reflection on the learning outcomes, learning processes, pace and learner agency during the learning. This way will enable teachers and learners to pace time for questions, ideas and ways to demonstrate learning that can support launching a new  or the next learning arc.

BLENDED LEARNING MODELS

There are four types of blended learning models.  They are rotation model, flex model, A la carte model and Enriched virtual model.  Teachers may choose any of these models to implement in the teaching and learning. Each of these models incorporates the blended learning arc and allows learners to have some agency over time (when), space (where), pace (speed and rate of learning) and path (way in which they learn)

Teachers may click this link below for further reading of these four blended learning models.

https//www.raiseyourhandtexas.org>blended learning

IMPLEMENTING BLENDED LEARNING IN THE CLASSROOM / HOW?

• Blended learning method moving from teacher-led instruction to a student-driven environment. This instructional method incorporates digital learning with traditional teaching methods which creates a blend between teacher-led and student -driven learning.
• An example of this method is using an online history resource for activities and direct learners to illustrate how they got their answers in a history journal or as a group.  This method enabling engagement among learners and efficiency among teachers.
• Teachers need to use variety of teaching tools. Incorporating digital technology along with traditional methods of instruction.
•   Make learning accessible for learners by incorporating digital learning to enabling learners to access information, activities, and games anywhere, anytime. Digital learning provides flexibility that supports student success. 
• Personalize learning pathways for each learner. Each learner has various potential abilities and is unique with approach to their learning. Teachers, therefore, should use varying resources from difficulty to easy.  This is to encourage learners having fun learning the subjects and topics taught as well as challenging  those who have already mastered the material. 
• Choose any suggested blended learning models that works for teachers.  All types of blended learning models have their strengths and weaknesses. Teachers need to test out the different blended learning models to see what fits best in the classroom. Examples of the popular models to consider are Station Rotation Model, Flipped Classroom Model and Flexi Model but there are also other variety models to choose as mentioned above.

Conclusion:

As a conclusion blended-learning is the most effective tool in classroom teaching. This tool involves virtual learning platform, game-based learning, peer to peer coaching, and has project-based learning activity as in the diagram below. Blended-learning is in line with the 21`st century learning requirements which makes learning meaningful and encourages learners to have fun.

References:

1. https://www.pinterest.com>shelldenise>blended-learning
2. YouTube Edutopia: Blended Learning:Making It Works In Your Classroom
3. Adaptation from link:  https://education.microsoft.com/en-us/course/e98793cb/0