1. Personalized Learning

Each student learns in different ways and at their own pace. What if there was a way to personalize each student's learning experience so that each one learned in different ways and at their own pace? What if we could tap into every student's unique potential and help them reach their highest level of success? This is the goal of personalized learning - to individualize each student's experience in order for them to achieve the most they can. It's an exciting idea, and one that is already being implemented in many schools across the country. Personalized learning can be done through an adaptive program. This means a student will take an assessment and learning will occur at the student’s “just right pace.” This is ideal for education because most students are either not challenged and get bored or are too confused and get bored. This is a double-edged sword because these are the students that will disrupt the class and prevent learning from occurring from others. Personalized learning will also occur when a teacher understands a student’s academic level and assigns him/her work that is “just right” for them. Either way, personalized learning is much easier when using technology and lends itself to a blended class.

2. Active Learning

When students are actively learning they are constantly engaged in the learning process.

In order for students to truly learn, they need to be engaged. This is where active learning comes in - it ensures that students are focused on the task at hand because they enjoy what they are doing. Teachers who use this approach find that their students are more interested in what they are teaching and retain more of the information. So how can you incorporate active learning into your own classroom? There are many different techniques that can be used, but here are a few:

1) have students work in pairs or small groups

2) give them tasks that require movement

3) get them up out of their seats and interacting with each other

4) allow them to use technology resources

5) provide opportunities for discussion and debate

Active learning is necessary because without engagement, teaching is very difficult. Active learning is a natural process of Blended Learning.

3. Student-Centered Classrooms

The focus is on the students, not the teacher (that’s how it always is, right?) What is a student-centered classroom? It is a classroom in where there is more facilitation and less teaching. In a student-centered classroom, the teacher creates a learning environment that encourages independence and responsibility in students. In this type of classroom, students are actively engaged in their own learning and are given opportunities to make choices about what they learn and how they learn it. Students are engaged because they have some “say” as to how they learn and when students take ownership in their learning there is a much higher likelihood that they will retain what they’ve learned.

One of the best things about student-centered classrooms is that there is no one right way to do them. Every classroom will be different, depending on the students who are in it. Student-centered learning occurs more naturally in a Blended Learning station or center.

4. Social and Emotional Learning

Students learn how to interact with others, manage emotions, and set goals

Social and emotional learning is one of the most important things that students can learn in school. This type of learning helps students learn how to interact with others, manage their emotions, set goals, and achieve them. When social and emotional learning is done right, it can help students reach their full potential both in school and in life. It's essential that we provide students with these skills so they can succeed now and in the future. Social Emotional learning can be more structured within a smaller-group. When a Blended Learning station is created it should allow for students to be able to work with others they normally wouldn't interact with. This can build important social emotional skills that they would not normally could not obtain in a cafeteria, a gym, or in a school yard.

5. Project-Based Learning

Students work together on projects that have a real-world application. Project-based learning is a great way to get students working together on projects that have real-world relevance. It can help them learn more effectively and make connections between what they're learning in school and the world around them. Plus, it's just plain fun! If you really want to build relationships with what is being taught and how that relates to the real-world, introduce project-based learning. To take that a step further, to create something meaningful with knowledge you obtained in the class, while working with other students, builds a much stringer bond between those students.

6. Technology Integration

This should be a given. Technology is used to facilitate and enhance learning.

Technology has become an integral part of our lives. We use it for everything from communicating with others to entertainment. So why shouldn't it be used in the classroom? Technology can be used to facilitate and enhance learning. It can help students learn in a more engaging and interactive way. Teachers who integrate technology into their lessons see improved student engagement, participation, and motivation. It doesn’t need to be used to every class, every day, but it does need to be incorporated consistently because technology is a very important piece of our world today. We would be doing our students a disservice without allowing them to learn using technology. In a blended class, differentiation is that much easier when using technology.

If you’re not already blending your classroom, it’s time to start. Blended learning is the presence of education and needs to be more accessible in the future. If it is not being implemented in your class and in your school, then please feel free to start right away to get some feedback on what works and what does not. There are so many benefits to blended learning – from personalized learning for each student, to active learning that keeps students engaged all day long. Not to mention social and emotional development, which is so important at a young age. It can be hard to make the switch from traditional teaching methods to blended learning, but it’s worth it! We hope this article has given you some ideas on how to get started. Are you excited about blended learning now? Let us know in the comments below!