What is blended learning?

On January 14th, the Arkansas Department of Education declined the request of America's Charter Schools charter system to open a virtual learning charter school in northwest Arkansas. The entity had two tries to come up with a plan that would satisfy the State Board of Education and was, ultimately, unsuccessful in their attempt. A lot of people have asked over the years what exactly IS virtual or blended learning? The difference between the two is subtle. As I understand it, virtual learning is exclusive computer-based learning absent the face-to-face interaction with a teacher. Whereas, blended learning is a mixture of both. Some states, such as Florida, have been somewhat successful at developing curriculum that gives K-12 students an online forum from which to learn. Just today I learned that the state of New York received the coveted Race to the Top AND the Investing in Innovations grants to expand iZone schools (http://www.ed.gov/oii-news/incentive-prizes-target-middle-school-math-achievement). These schools provide a blended learning environment. From what little I can determine, the schools allow students to work at their individual pace inside and outside of regular school hours. In fact, iZone schools have completely redesigned the school day (http://schools.nyc.gov/community/innovation/izone/About_Us/faqnew):
 
             " Each iZone school schedule is structured to best meet the needs of its students and                teachers. In general, iZone schools allow students to learn outside the traditional school day, progress at a pace that works best for them and accelerate toward graduation. Teachers have more time to plan lessons alone and with fellow educators so they can identify and address each student's needs."

             "Schools in the iZone are thinking through how learning can happen anywhere and at anytime. This can mean during regular school day hours, before school, after school, or on weekends depending on each student's needs. This doesn't mean more homework, but it may mean more time learning outside of the traditional school day, based on each student's preferred learning style and pace."

When I wear my parent hat I think, yes of course this makes sense! Now my kids can be doing something more constructive with all that time they spend on the iPad or Kindle  or computer. We can continue learning when we travel. They can make valuable life connections between what they are learning and how it plays out in the real world. But then my kids have access to all of those types of experiences don't they?

When I put on my public policy hat, I see a very different picture. The questions become: How will we ensure all students have necessary access to hardware and software? Who will pay for the added expense of broadband and devices? How will we keep students and teachers accountable? How can we design curriculum that is at once differentiated and equitable? How do we really scale this idea to the entire student population of the United States?

I'm certain that the designers who are pushing for more blended learning have all of these things figured out on some level. And I personally am a proponent for finding a blended learning solution. My fear, though, is that once you set the precedent that being at "brick and mortar school" is not as important as it once was, you can never go back from that decision. Not to sound dramatic, but can we really envision a nation of blended learning? To be honest, I don't know the answer. What I do know is that if this is the direction we are headed in, and it appears the Federal Government believes we are, then the every day, ordinary citizen has a heightened role to play in making sure ALL children receive adequate education. As the design of school shifts, we must be thinking about how we fit into the new picture of education. Imagine a world with no brick and mortar schools. How would that change how you live and function? What would your role be in making it successful for all kids? Please share....

Inspired

I am relatively new to the education realm. Over my 14 year career, I have worked in the non-profit sector or for the government. Regardless of my employer, one thread has been constant in my professional pursuits...helping people improve their lives and the lives of others. I currently have the pleasure of cultivating community partnerships for a charter school in my city. Being imbedded in a school setting but not being "from" here, I have noted that all of society converges in this single forum. We underestimate the many roles educators must navigate in order to adequately perform their jobs. They must be teacher, counselor, therapist, mediator, parent liaison, event planner, social worker, nurse and statistician just to name a few. We don't expect this same level of expertise in any other field. A lawyer gets to be just a lawyer, a nurse gets to be just a nurse, a businessman gets to be just a businessman. Yet, teachers carry the burden of keeping the proverbial plates of education constantly spinning while striving to achieve adequate academic progress for their students.

There has been a lot of discussion about education reform and the need to improve teacher quality. I couldn't agree more. Movies like "Waiting for Superman" and "Won't Back Down" sensationalize the critical state of America's public education system. One need only look as far as his/her state's department of education website to find the disparity in resources among schools. Each year, principals and staff are shuffled to try to bring some level of equality to the "system". Who can blame teachers for giving up at times trying to combat a system that is ineffective?

But is the real issue teacher reform? Or even educational overhaul?

Maybe there is a better way. At least those of us passionate about not settling for the status quo had better believe there is.

Perhaps the education realm has something to learn from the non-profit sector? Non-profit agencies understand the importance of cultivating partners. Their sustainability depends on it. What if there was a mechanism for schools to access partnerships that improve their capacity to address the needs of all of their stakeholders? What if there was an attorney imbedded in the school to authoritatively address any legal questions that arise? Or a social work department that proactively worked to improve the social/emotional development of students rather than contracted social workers who serve to intervene in extreme cases? Or perhaps a mandated on-site health clinic that served the area around the school and not just the students who attend that school? Better still, a health and wellness facility that doubled for occupational and physical therapy for students with disabilities.

We must rethink the design of school if we are to continue to have any hope for public education. But then public education is an antiquated model itself. We are stronger together and we must enlist the help of the private sector to see the value in investing in schools from their personal pockets. We must make a way for incentives for private donors to provide resources for public education. They are already doing it for private schools, consequently increasing the disparity gap among America's students.

We have spent far too much time placing the burden of "fixing" education on the backs of educators. They have a role to play, yes. But their role is no more important than mine...or yours.

My goal is the same for my own children as it is for all children. I want them ready to launch successfully when the time comes. In order to achieve that goal, we all must embrace our place in the educational landscape. We all must accept responsibility for the outcome. Only then can we expect to create exemplary students.