-blended-learning-in-dc-public-schools_084713921628
-blended-learning-in-dc-public-schools_084713921628
-blended-learning-in-dc-public-schools_084713921628
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BLENDED LEARNING IN DC PUBLIC SHOOLSDANIEL K. LAUTZENHEISER AND TARYN HOCHLEITNERPut simply, <strong>blended</strong> <strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong> is a mix of face-to-faceand onl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>struction. As DCPS expla<strong>in</strong>s, <strong>blended</strong>-<strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong>models have “changed the role of technology<strong>in</strong> the classroom from that of a supportive tool <strong>in</strong>toan <strong>in</strong>tegrated component of <strong>in</strong>struction.” 1 If “digital<strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong>” is the umbrella term for any <strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong> experiencethat takes place at least partially onl<strong>in</strong>e, <strong>blended</strong><strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong> implies some degree of redesign<strong>in</strong>g the traditionallecture-based model of classroom <strong>in</strong>struction.This means a teacher is no longer solely responsiblefor deliver<strong>in</strong>g content to an entire classroom at once,but can use a mix of onl<strong>in</strong>e tutor<strong>in</strong>g, digital content,teacher-led lessons, and other methods to ensure thatstudents receive targeted <strong>in</strong>struction.Why pursue <strong>blended</strong> <strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong>? These models signala departure from the “one-size-fits-all” lecture-base<strong>dc</strong>lassroom. Blended <strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong> offers a more personalizedexperience, usually by <strong>in</strong>corporat<strong>in</strong>g multipleways of <strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong>. In addition to provid<strong>in</strong>g aricher <strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong> environment, Digital Learn<strong>in</strong>g Now(a nonprofit group supportive of such efforts) writesWhat Is Blended Learn<strong>in</strong>g?that <strong>blended</strong>-<strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong> models are more “productive”because they ensure that “the right resources and <strong>in</strong>terventionsreach the right students at the right time.” 2F<strong>in</strong>ally, the fact that students spend part of their timework<strong>in</strong>g onl<strong>in</strong>e also creates the possibility for morereal-time data on student performance that teacherscan use to <strong>in</strong>form <strong>in</strong>struction.Notes1. District of Columbia Public Schools, “Blended Learn<strong>in</strong>gExecutive Summary” (Version 1), Submitted by BlendedLearn<strong>in</strong>g Team, Educational Technology and Library MediaServices, Office of Teach<strong>in</strong>g and Learn<strong>in</strong>g, Budget Responses,March 2013, www.<strong>dc</strong>council.us/files/user_uploads/budget_responses/Q8_Attachment_DCPS_Blended_Learn<strong>in</strong>g_Executive_Summary_March_2013.pdf.2. Digital Learn<strong>in</strong>g Now, “Blended Learn<strong>in</strong>g ImplementationGuide,” Version 2.0, September 2013, www.digital<strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong>now.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/BLIG-2.0-F<strong>in</strong>al-Paper.pdf.centralized <strong>blended</strong>-<strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong> strategy was nonexistent.One of those teachers was John Rice, who, <strong>in</strong>spired byMichelle Rhee’s reforms, left his high school teach<strong>in</strong>gjob <strong>in</strong> Florida to move to Wash<strong>in</strong>gton, DC. Dur<strong>in</strong>ghis three years of teach<strong>in</strong>g at Anacostia High School,he started experiment<strong>in</strong>g on his own with a number ofonl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong>structional tools to help his students. DCPSbegan to notice, to use Rice’s phrase, the “pockets of<strong>in</strong>novation” like his own spr<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g up scattershot <strong>in</strong>classrooms across the district.David Rose, director of education technology andlibrary services at DCPS, expla<strong>in</strong>s, “We had lots of different<strong>schools</strong> try<strong>in</strong>g some <strong>blended</strong>-<strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong> models<strong>in</strong> DCPS a couple of years ago. And we saw that weneeded to really come up with an overall plan for thedistrict of how we wanted <strong>blended</strong> <strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong> to look <strong>in</strong>our different <strong>schools</strong> and to support those <strong>schools</strong> thathad already stepped out <strong>in</strong>to this area.” The f<strong>in</strong>ancialenabler of this nascent plan was a STEM (science, technology,eng<strong>in</strong>eer<strong>in</strong>g, and math) education grant fromGoogle <strong>in</strong> the amount of $750,000, which allowedRose to hire the two-person department that wouldfocus exclusively on <strong>blended</strong> <strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong>. 8Rose recruited the young and energetic Rice to managethese efforts—a largely open-ended position that<strong>in</strong>volves, as Rice describes it, “implementation on theground, meet<strong>in</strong>g with teachers, fix<strong>in</strong>g hardware, provid<strong>in</strong>g[professional development], and figur<strong>in</strong>g outwhat we’re go<strong>in</strong>g to do <strong>in</strong> the next five years.” Rice’sprimary role is to be <strong>in</strong> the <strong>schools</strong> as much as possible,constantly communicat<strong>in</strong>g with teachers and pr<strong>in</strong>cipalswho are on the ground implement<strong>in</strong>g <strong>blended</strong><strong>learn<strong>in</strong>g</strong>. To that end, he travels every Wednesday tothe <strong>schools</strong> and classrooms under his purview <strong>in</strong> anattempt to develop rapport with teachers and pr<strong>in</strong>cipalsand address the concerns that arise.An Organic Approach. Although <strong>schools</strong> have alwaysused some sort of technology <strong>in</strong> the classroom, whetheroverhead projectors or laptops or smart boards, recent3