"The most important thing that schools can do is not to use technology in the curriculum more, but to use it more effectively."
John G. Palfrey and Urs Gasser
www.geckoandfly.com
Tech Talks Podcast
As more and more classrooms gain access to various devices in the classroom, teachers are learning about new ways to leverage digital resources to enhance learning. Blended learning and the use of ePortfolios are a couple of ideas for how to elevate learning for 21st-century learners. According to Horn & Staker (2015), blended learning is any formal education program where students participate in a blend of in-person learning as well as online learning where learners can control some elements of time, place, and path of instruction. In our podcast myself and four other educators share reflections from our publications about how technology can enhance blended learning environments, apathy among today's learners, increasing success in student performance, and the use of ePortfolios to demonstrate student learning.
Image from Wix Media
Blended learning learning has been around for decades, but post covid times have really pushed this method further than before. Klein (2021) shared a survey by EdWeek Research center declaring that about two-thirds of educators predicted their use of blended learning would increase the following school year. Being able to collaborate with my peers on these topics was invigorating as it connects to my innovation plan to use blended learning to enhance literacy skills. Seeing how other educators are seeing great benefits such as being able to personalize learning, keep students engaged, and reduce student apathy motivates me to continue learning and growing in this area. If you are also interested in this movement please find your way to my colleagues' sites to read their different articles. I have also listed a link to my own article below.​
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Coming Soon
Resources​
​Horn, M. & Staker H. (2015). Blended. Using disruptive innovation to improve schools. Jossey-Bass.
Klein, A. (2021, September 14). The future of blended learning: what educators need to know.
EducationWeek. https://www.edweek.org/technology/the-future-of-blended-learning-what-educators-need-to-know/2021/09
Palloff, R. M., & Pratt, K. (1999). Building learning communities in cyberspace: Effective strategies for the
online classroom. Jossey-Bass.