Blended Learning in the Elementary Classroom

1. Presented by:
Emily Schmidt and Martha Smith
Professional Development, November 4th

2. Who Are We?
Emily Schmidt
Emily.Schmidt@cabarrus.k12.nc.us
Martha Smith
Martha.Smith@cabarrus.k12.nc.us

3. Agenda
15 minutes Arrive and Complete Survey
20 minutes Presentation
o What is Blended Learning?
o How to create your own Blended Learning
Classroom
25 minutes Design Your Blended Learning Classroom
15 minutes Break
30 minutes Cabarrus County Blended Learning Resources
30 minutes Create a Blended Learning Lesson/Unit
30 minutes Share
15 minutes Questions

4. SURVEY
http://tinyurl.com/kes3crz
Please click on the link above
to take our survey about
Blended Learning.

5. What is Blended Learning?
• Blended learning is a hybrid way of learning
• Combines small group instruction with the
teacher and personalized instruction on a
computer/tablet
• Uses adaptive technology
• Blended learning allows students to control the pace and
content of their own instruction.
• Blended Learning is NOT Technology Integration.

6. Blended learning combines traditional direct instruction
from the teacher and instruction and practice on a
computer/tablet
+ =
BLENDED LEARNING

7. “Technology is not a teacher -
even with the best software, the
technology is not the
professional in the room.”
-Talbot Bielefeldt, ISTE Senior Research Associate

8. What does an elementary
level blended learning
classroom look like?

9. Elementary Blended
Learning Classroom
• There are several models of blended
learning.
• In our classes, we use a
station-rotation model.
• If you are already teaching using the
workshop model, you are only a step away
from creating a blended learning classroom.

10. Data
To create your groups, use all available data sources
CFAs, Dreambox, Reading 3D, etc.

11. Small Group Instruction
with a Teacher

12. Instruction and Practice on
Computer/Tablet

13. Centers & Partner Work

14. Independent Work

15. Instruction & Practice on
Computer/Tablet
Independent Work
Centers & Partner Work
Small Group Instruction
with a Teacher

16. Our
Experiences
with Blended
Learning
Here are just a
few things we’ve
learned along
the way...

17. Student Experience with
Technology
Helpful Hint
Keep in mind what
technology students have
access to at home. Not
every student will have
access to a computer,
tablet, and/or smartphone at
home.

18. Organization
Helpful Hint
Assign each student to a
specific device.

19. Accountability
Technology Contract
Have students and parents
sign a technology contract
that outlines your
expectations for technology
use.

20. Headphones
Helpful Hint
Add headphones to your
back to school supply list.

21. Computers versus Tablets
Helpful Hint
If you have a choice
between computers and
tablets, ask yourself:
“What is my purpose for
using the technology?”

22. Compatibility of Programs
Helpful Hint
Test the programs you’d like to use on your device before giving
assignments to students.

23. First Steps to Building Your Own
Blended Classroom

24. Start with what you have!

25. Scrounge Around for Unused or
Under-Utilized Resources

26. Cabarrus County Blended
Learning Resources

27. Creating a Blended
Learning Math Classroom

28. Plan It!
Using the
suggested
model, create a
plan for your
math workshop.

29. Mrs. Smith’s Blended
Learning Plan
90 Minute Block
• 15 minute Mini-Lesson
• 20 minute Group Rotations
• 10 minute share out

30. Ms. Schmidt’s Blended
Learning Plan
90 Minute Block
• 15 minute Mini-Lesson
• 20 minute Group Rotations
• 10 minute share out
Monday/Friday
Mini-Lesson 12:15-12:25
12:25-12:40 12:40-12:55 12:55-1:15
Group
1
TenMarks Center Teacher
Group
2
Center Teacher TenMarks
Group
3
Teacher TenMarks Center
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday
Mini-Lesson 12:15-12:25
12:25-12:45 12:45-1:05 1:05-1:25
Group
1
Dreambox Dreambox Teacher
Group
2
Teacher Dreambox Dreambox
Group
3
Dreambox Teacher Center

31. Discovery Education
All Schools
How can we use DE as a blended learning resource?

32. Benchmark Universe
Title 1 Schools and CMES
How can we use Benchmark Universe as a blended
learning tool?

33. Create a Blended Lesson
Think of an upcoming unit that you
have to teach. Using Discovery
Education or Benchmark Universe,
plan a Blended Learning lesson.

34. Other Cabarrus County
Online Resources
• CultureGrams
oUsername: Cabarrus Password: student
• NCWISEOWL
oUsername: wiseowl Password: wiseowl
• Defined STEM
• iCurio
• Blendspace – You can create an account
using your Cabarrus Apps login information

35. Free Resources

36. More Resources
(Paid Subscription Required)
ST Math

37. What Our Students Think
“We use technology everyday. If it’s
iPads, computers, or the
SMARTBoard, it counts. I like this
school because the teachers tell us
to never give up and do what’s right
for you.”
-Samay, 2nd Grade Student
“The best thing that I like about
Coltrane-Webb is that we get to use
lots of technology. On the
computers, we use websites like
Dreambox and Sumdog for math,
RAZ-Kids for reading and Pebble-Go
in Science and Social Studies.”
~Tealy, 2nd Grade Student
“In my class, we use Dreambox.
Dreambox is for math. I like it because
you’re learning, but you’re having fun and
if you get stuck, they help you out.”
~Amelia, 2nd Grade Student
“We are a lucky school to have all of this
technology.”
~Ben, 2nd Grade Student
We use technology to teach us math and
reading and typing and lots more. We
use the laptops and iPads each and
every day. The students learn a lot at
this school.”
~Charlotte, 2nd Grade Student

38. Questions

39. Feedback
Please click on the link below to give us feedback about our
presentation.
http://tinyurl.com/qy5ggtt