Blended Learning

Learning Accelerator Maps Blended Learning Process

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 12/15/15

An organization that works to help schools introduce blended learning into their instructional practices has launched a collection of Web resources dedicated to the topic, one set intended for use by district people implementing blended learning and the other for state leaders who want to make policy for enabling and encouraging blended learning in their schools. Blended or hybrid learning integrates face-to-face classroom time with online components.

School district resources on the Learning Accelerator site cover eights aspects of the transition:

• Communications;
• Computing devices;
• Financing;
• Human capital;
• Internet connectivity;
• Measurement of results;
• Open education resources; and
• Software.

Each section addresses questions that the reader might need to answer. For example, under communications, the site addresses how to build a communications strategy and how to develop specific messages about the blended learning program for various audiences.

The policy maker site covers:

• Strategic planning;
• Encouraging a culture of innovation;
• Funding;
• Early adopters;
• Policy-setting;
• Community engagement;
• Blended learning examples; and
• "Thought partners."

These resources emphasize links to examples to show readers how various states have handled specific issues.

The effort is a "work in progress," acknowledged Learning Accelerator CEO, Scott Ellis in a blog article on the project. "As new and better information arises, we will update the blended learning recommendations so that eventually districts and states will have a clear roadmap for how to successfully implement blended learning at scale."