Thrive Public Schools founding teachers Cori Brooks and Lauren Valot presented at the Next Gen Learning Symposium, August 2015.

1. Thrive Blended Learning
Presented By: Lauren Valot and Cori Brooks

2. Who we are
Cori Brooks-
cbrooks@thriveps.org
*Founding teacher at Thrive
Public Schools
*Ten years in various
Educational models
*Masters of Education in
Teacher Leadership
*Passionate about global
education
Lauren Valot-
lvalot@thriveps.org
*Founding teacher at Thrive
Public School
*Focus in Primary Grades
*3 years in various educational
models in Michigan and
California.
*Passionate about building
personalized education choices
for students.

3. Twitter
Please post questions, thoughts, and ideas on Twitter using #NGLS15.
Poll Everywhere
Post its…
**Don’t forget to complete your Close notes as we proceed through the workshop,
either digitally or hard copy. This will help to trigger your brain when discussing
thoughts with new and old friends and colleagues.
Ways to interact...

4. How familiar are you with blended learning?
Poll Question

5. *Log in to your Beenpod account.
OR
*If you haven’t created one yet please follow the below directions:
-Go to beenpod.com
-Create an account by clicking “Sign Up Now” at the top right corner of the
home page.
-Click on “Educator” and follow the prompts to get signed up.
-Once you have Beenpod, click “Get Beenpod” in the top right corner of
your screen and then refresh your browser. A Been icon should show up in the
bottom right corner of your screen.
-Click on “Community” from the top menu bar of the Beenpod homepage and
then search for “Blended Resources” and join our BEEN.
-Let’s go surfing!
Let’s Surf Together!

6. According to the Christensen Institute, blended learning
is:
“a formal education program in which a student learns:
(1) at least in part through online learning, with some
element of student control over time, place, path, and/or
pace; (2) at least in part in a supervised brick-and-
mortar location away from home; (3) and the modalities
along each student’s learning path within a course or
subject are connected to provide an integrated learning
experience.
Take 5 minutes to browse the Blended Learning Definitions web page.
Think about it…What model interests you? Is there a model or pieces of
a model you already incorporate into your classroom? What is
something new you want to try in your classroom in the future?
What is Blended?

7. Short video Blended Learning Models
Chat with a neighbor:
What are two things that struck you from investigating the definitions of
blended learning and watching this video?
Don’t forget to post ideas or questions on our live feed #NGLS15 for instant
feedback or on our takeaway boards up front!
What is Blended...continued?

8. Rotation Model that focuses on the station rotation
Thrive methods of blended learning are built with an emphasis in 9 areas
of interest, or evaluation criteria!
Thrive Blended Learning Rubric
*Living Document*
Blended Learning at Thrive

9. Data
Data is used to help students understand their needs
Student goals and data connect
Parents are informed of data and what it means
Teacher uses data from multiple sources
Chat with your neighbors. What data tools do you currently use to
inform teaching and learning? What data tools would you like to implement
in your class to help inform teaching and learning?

10. Students are fluidly moving through rotations and work at their pace.
Dynamic Groupings
Teacher has various grouping protocols (pairs, whole class, small group, independent, online,
etc.)
Grouping

11. Personalized from various data sources
Parent communication and action steps for how to help at home.
Check out what we do:
Primary
Middle School PLP Example
Personalized Learning Plans

12. Student can present completed work to families and communities confidently and
clearly during POL’s and exhibitions.
Students know what steps they have to take to meet their goals.
More Evidence
Student Ownership

13. Teacher asks open ended questions often. Student driven learning space (voice and
choice).
Teacher as Facilitator

14. Teacher and students know where they are and where they are going in real time.
Feedback and check-ins given in real time both in and out of the classroom.
Student to student collaboration and student to teacher collaboration happens consistently.
Relationships

15. Tools are purposeful and relevant to project or essential skill building
Some Examples:
ST Math, Raz Kids, LexiaCore5, Waggle, Newsela Pro, Beenpod,
Illuminate, Google Doc, QR Code
Learning Tools

16. Learning happens anytime, anywhere.
Students understand set expectations for all learning environments.
Teacher doesn’t have to be there to learn.
Procedures/Time/Space

17. Prompts for Planning:
Think about what you have learned and design a learning
experience/lesson with an new element of blended learning to try in your
classroom this year.
or
Use the Thrive Rubric to select one area of focus to improve the blended
learning instruction in your classroom.
Think about it...Plan it!

18. Poll Question
Workshop take away:
Please share one of the areas of the workshop you connected with and why?
Feedback from blended learning workshop:
Thoughts on areas you enjoyed or something else you would have liked to learn about.
Final Steps

19. Please utilize the “Blended Resources” Been on Beenpod for additional
Resources.
Shout Out- Relay Graduate School of Education, Liz Arney, Alvo, Christensen
Institute
Contact info
Cori Brooks: cbrooks@thriveps.org
Lauren Valot: lvalot@thriveps.org
Thank you!