How Blended Learning could be a teaching model ripe for well being

Summary: Blended Learning. It's a term that has been batted about for a while but has come to another level of prominence now that we have become acutely aware of our digital existence. I believe it is the best way to integrate tech into classrooms; it solves issues around our shift from a knowledge-based economy to a skills-based one; and more importantly, the model allows more of a focus on our students' well-being and relationships. This is not a panacea...but it is a hell of a remedy.

In the ancient world of Sumer, we had the second evolution of HomoSapien: the agricultural revolution. And with all this evolved agriculture came an epic amount of harvest. Too much for any person to remember exactly how much they had, and where they kept it. So comes the latest in technology with which to collect and collate data...a wet clay tablet and a reed stylus.

Now that the Sumerians have the need for highly trained accountants, they will have to train new ones. Not only in the counting itself but also in the adoption of the highly advanced technology they have created. The equivalent of the relevant tech today is very similar to that old tablet and stylus. And the most effective way of integrating this into society is to use it, not just study it.

“We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world.” – David Warlick

Tech integration is coming on leaps and bounds, especially with the catalyst that is COVID. But the real change here that will launch our students into understanding the capabilities of our technology is blended learning. "Blended Learning is a formal education program in which a student learns at least in part through online learning, with some element of student control over time, place, path &/or pace. At least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar location away from home; and the modalities along each students' learning path within a course or subject are connected to provide an integrated learning experience." (Christensen Institute)

If you're new to blended learning I cannot recommend this course enough to help introduce you. The term is being thrown around a lot lately. Many educators can easily get this mixed up with using tech for homework and going about the typical low tech environment in class. The key here is to realise that blended learning requires design elements that involve a complete overhaul of the typical instructional model. What we're looking at here is students using software to genuinely teach themselves new concepts, possibly before the teacher has introduced them.

Now, this is great and all but man cannot live on bread alone. Shove a kid in front of any EdTech and tell them to get on with it. What are your bets on when they quit? There are platforms out there that are incredibly engaging. Gamification has made many a headline of late. But if students are motivated by the gamification they will not be able to translate this into a real-world scenario. They need to be taught how to learn. That's the beauty of blended learning. By working in tandem with intelligent software, as a teacher you are freed up to teach students what they really need. How to communicate, create, think critically, persevere etc. All whilst tackling their technological skills and digital literacy through the medium.

This is done by moving the teacher from instructor to facilitator. If you're a teacher the word facilitator has been thrown around so much it may make you nauseous to read. We've seen it in discovery teaching for example. I'm genuinely a fan of discovery teaching but it's most certainly not a panacea and it has been treated as such in some circles. But back to the point. With an entire world being thrust into hands-on professional development in digital collaboration. We as teachers should have much better access to subject and industry specialists for instruction in the future. For now, we will have to remain subject specialists as well. In a blended learning model, this looks more like small group instruction though as opposed to whole class. From my perspective I see a future of learning experts in the teacher role and subject/industry specialists collaborating with them. Back to the present though.

There are obstacles. The biggest of which is funds. It's likely that those schools that are privately funded, or funded by progressive governments (Singapore for example), will find themselves blended first. Much like with any tech adoption it will fall on the 'Rogers' curve

As such these schools will bring the most innovative of teachers to their staff body. A wonderful example of a school group already well into the blended learning model is Summit Public Schools in the USA.

So how do we accelerate this adoption? Firstly we need to look at our current models and ask ourselves if they work. The high performing schools amongst us might be the most reluctant to make the change if their grades are phenomenal. So likely you need convincing that it's worth the switch. In which case you have the Summit Public Schools above, Navigator Schools and Kipp LA as some examples.

Secondly, you have to look at your current tech integration. Ideally whole school if possible. Does your current portfolio of software allow for these design elements? What are your policies for hardware and does your current infrastructure support such heavy tech use?

Lastly, once you believe it's worth it and you have a good understanding of where you are starting. You need to define your EdTech vision. What is it that you want to achieve with this approach? For me, it's all about how the proper use of EdTech allows for better options for well-being; more time to be spent on teacher-student relationships; and finally having a system where you can adopt the teaching of cognitive and life skills, with enough time to embed these lessons. As opposed to covering them in a single PHSE day for the term, or 4 PSHE lessons spread over too large a time frame to have an impact.

I haven't delved deeply into an exact process for building your blended learning model around stakeholder well-being. There's an incredible amount of nuance to your context that has to be considered for it to be useful. One small example though if I may. Should you assign Personalised Learning Time like Summit Schools do for a whole day. If you have a class of 30 students. In a 5 hour contact day you could potentially spend 10 minutes with each student. Now that doesn't sound like much, but when was the last time you as a teacher spent 10 straight minutes with a student who wasn't 'in trouble'? Surely this is a major failing for well-being if we can't even spend this much time with our students in positive, constructive conversations.

Further Reading you might like:

• The Question Concerning Technology and Other Essays - Martin Heidegger (translated by William Lovitt), 1977

About the Author.?Phil works as a consultant for Education Perfect and is always looking to collaborate on educational projects that push for systemic change. Follow Phil on?Twitter?or right here on?Linkedin.