Learning is breaking out of the narrow boxes that it was trapped in during the 20th century; teachers' professionalism, reflection, and ingenuity are leading learning to places that genuinely excite this new generation of connected young school students - and their teachers too."
~Professor Stephen Heppell In 'Virtually There', Yorkshire and Humber Grid for Learning Foundation.
Across our nation, everyone is talking about the cost of health care and the need for reform. Discussions exist in the home, at work and in our legislative halls. However, where is the talk and the push for educational reform? Yes, there are a few news releases about our lagging educational accomplishments when compared to other countries, drop out rates and the philanthropic efforts of a few; however, is there any substantial movement to make a significant change on a large scale? Is education reform taking a back seat because citizens are under the impression education doesn’t cost? Every student does have the right to a free and appropriate education. The answer to our nation’s educational dilemma, which will cost us in the long run, may be in the option of blended schools. Blended schools are a combination of face to face and online learning provided by educators. The above quote is from the forward of Professor Heppell’s book Virtually There and is posted to the online education link for the East Grand County School District in Granby, Colorado. Children are not all alike, nor do they learn alike. Why then do we expect to teach them by one method and expect to experience any measure of success? In their research report entitled, “Class Connections: High School Reform and the Role of Online Learning”, Picciano and Seaman state, “The main finding was that blended environments combining face-to-face and online elements had better outcomes than purely face-to-face instruction or purely online instruction.” (2010) Perhaps blending the best of face to face with online programs is the different “input” which will provide an improved “output”.
How can Blended Schools help our students?
The youth of today learned their numbers and alphabet by utilizing educational technology. These young people are more tech smart than most of the adults who are guiding them into adulthood. How then can we expect them to endure the classroom designed decades ago? With the option of blended schools, students are provided an individualized education to meet individual needs, a means of credit recovery, advanced education where applicable and the ability to receive the best possible education regardless of the student’s geographically restrictions. Medical technology is providing the means for remote robotic surgery performed by the best surgeons regardless of geography. Why shouldn’t students be afforded the same opportunity when receiving an education? This evolutionary blended format brings together the best of both educational worlds and creates a greater flexibility in meeting the highly varied educational needs of students.
Are Blended Schools Appropriate for Every Student?
The goal of education should be to facilitate each student’s fulfillment of their individual potential. For some this is best served in an entirely face-to-face environment or an entirely on-line program. Online programs can be implemented within the boundaries of the physical school or the home setting. There are no limits to the possibilities when considering technology. However, in meeting the needs of all students, there does exist a need for the combined option. It is by providing all options that truly individualized learning plans can be developed in order to provide differentiated education based on need. Such an endeavor would require collaboration between the student, parent/guardian and the teacher. Some might argue this format would further reduce the quality of education; however, an argument could be made that such an option could provide a higher level of education to more students.
How many students are trapped between two worlds?
I have a daughter who attended a face to face school from kindergarten through the 5th grade. We discovered, through professional testing, that she is highly gifted with an IQ in the top 1-2%, ADHD and dyslexic. The traditional school setting was destroying her academically and emotionally. We enrolled her in an home based online educational program in the 5th grade and she is currently in the 10th. I fought daily to find an option other than a virtual education program; however, every fact-to-face school we tried failed. We were at risk of loosing our daughter and she was identified as “at risk”. She is now confident in her abilities and desires a different educational setting. She is a typical teenager and wants more socialization and educational interaction. She desires a combined program but we are struggling with local school districts. Our school district has yet to fully embrace this idea of blended schools; however, they acknowledge this would be an ideal fit our daughter and others. They have not developed a means of delivery this type of educational program. How many other students would benefit from blended schools? How many other students are choosing to drop out in the absence of an educational “fit”? How many bright minds are we turning away at the school house door? Isn’t it time to be creative when educating our youth of today in preparing them for the ever changing, highly technical world of the future? The blended school option has the potential to “add” to, not “take away” from, our educational system.
References:
East Grand County School District, Granby, Colorado. Retrieved February 10, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://www.egsd.org
Picciano, A. G. & Seaman, J. (August 2010) Class Connections: High School Reform and the Role of Online Learning. Babson Survey Research Group. Retrieved February 10, 2010 from the World Wide Web: http://tinyurl.com/27gagek
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