Monday October 23, 2012
Interview by Lon Woodbury
Brenda Baer as well as Jennifer Blackstone, both with Blueprint Education and learning in Arizona, talked to Lon Woodbury on his L.A. Talk Radio concerning Blended Learning. The two guests on the show described it as a mix of standard direct teacher-student education with using online modern technology.
Background
Brenda Baer, the Director of Online Learning at Blueprint Education, has a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from the University of New Mexico and has spent five years teaching first grade special education in the Albuquerque Public School System.
Jennifer Blackstone, Principal of Hope High School Online, came to Blueprint Education in May 2006. Prior to her appointment, she taught seventh and eighth grade Language Arts and Social Studies for Terra Nova Academy in Phoenix and then eighth grade Language Arts in the Glendale Elementary School District.
Blueprint Education, whose head offices are in Glendale, Arizona, offers non-traditional education because its founders believe that students that don't do well with typical education and learning can still succeed if exposed to online learning with the help of a professional teacher.
What Is Blended Education?
Brenda and Jennifer described Blended Education as an alternative education for students who have not fared well in traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms. In the hour long interview, they explained how Blended Learning works to provide a deeper, more engaging educational model for students as well as allows teachers to spend more time teaching analytical thinking rather than focusing on rote memorization work.
Jennifer explained the six various styles of Blended Education:
First, there is the "face-to-face driver" model. Here a teacher in a traditional classroom instructional setting employs online learning for remediation or supplemental instruction.
Second, there is the "rotation" style. Students move back and forth between online work and classroom learning.
Thirdly, there is the "flex" design. Here the course of study is delivered mostly with an online system. Educators supply onsite assistance.
Fourthly, there is the "on-line lab" design. Here an on-line course is delivered in a physical classroom or computer laboratory.
Fifth, there is the "self-blend" model. Here students choose which courses to take online to supplement the subjects their school offers in the curriculum.
Sixth, there is the "online driver" model. Here the courses are primarily online and physical facilities are used only for extracurricular activities or necessary check-ins.
Final Thoughts
The two guests strongly believe that Blended Learning will certainly become the model of future American education. They talked about how 1.8 million high school pupils utilized it from 2009 to 2010, how some 40 states have actually promoted online classrooms, and how by 2018 it is extremely likely that most full-time university student will be researching on the internet rather going to university campuses.
Interview by Lon Woodbury
Brenda Baer as well as Jennifer Blackstone, both with Blueprint Education and learning in Arizona, talked to Lon Woodbury on his L.A. Talk Radio concerning Blended Learning. The two guests on the show described it as a mix of standard direct teacher-student education with using online modern technology.
Background
Brenda Baer, the Director of Online Learning at Blueprint Education, has a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education from the University of New Mexico and has spent five years teaching first grade special education in the Albuquerque Public School System.
Jennifer Blackstone, Principal of Hope High School Online, came to Blueprint Education in May 2006. Prior to her appointment, she taught seventh and eighth grade Language Arts and Social Studies for Terra Nova Academy in Phoenix and then eighth grade Language Arts in the Glendale Elementary School District.
Blueprint Education, whose head offices are in Glendale, Arizona, offers non-traditional education because its founders believe that students that don't do well with typical education and learning can still succeed if exposed to online learning with the help of a professional teacher.
What Is Blended Education?
Brenda and Jennifer described Blended Education as an alternative education for students who have not fared well in traditional brick-and-mortar classrooms. In the hour long interview, they explained how Blended Learning works to provide a deeper, more engaging educational model for students as well as allows teachers to spend more time teaching analytical thinking rather than focusing on rote memorization work.
Jennifer explained the six various styles of Blended Education:
First, there is the "face-to-face driver" model. Here a teacher in a traditional classroom instructional setting employs online learning for remediation or supplemental instruction.
Second, there is the "rotation" style. Students move back and forth between online work and classroom learning.
Thirdly, there is the "flex" design. Here the course of study is delivered mostly with an online system. Educators supply onsite assistance.
Fourthly, there is the "on-line lab" design. Here an on-line course is delivered in a physical classroom or computer laboratory.
Fifth, there is the "self-blend" model. Here students choose which courses to take online to supplement the subjects their school offers in the curriculum.
Sixth, there is the "online driver" model. Here the courses are primarily online and physical facilities are used only for extracurricular activities or necessary check-ins.
Final Thoughts
The two guests strongly believe that Blended Learning will certainly become the model of future American education. They talked about how 1.8 million high school pupils utilized it from 2009 to 2010, how some 40 states have actually promoted online classrooms, and how by 2018 it is extremely likely that most full-time university student will be researching on the internet rather going to university campuses.
About the Author:
The founder of Struggling Teens, Lon Woodbury has the recorded the entire interview on his weekly L.A. Talk Radio show for people to listen to at any time.