Preface
A Travel Guide for the Shared Journey
This book addresses each aspect of developing a blended learning program: from creating a blended culture and communicating with all the various stakeholders involved, to exploring classroom models and building a learning toolbox. Instead of focusing myopically on one group of stakeholders in a school community, this book was written to guide each group of stakeholders—leaders, teacher trailblazers, and teachers in a districtwide or schoolwide shift to blended learning. The journey is intended to be taken together to build appreciation for each stakeholder’s perspective, and through this understanding, achieve a strong blended learning culture.
This book is broken into four parts:
- Part 1: Shifting to a Blended Culture
- Part 2: Blended Learning Toolbox
- Part 3: Blended Learning—Exploring Classroom Models
- Part 4: Blended Learning—The Roadmap to Personalization
Each part of the book is focused on supporting the entire school community in the shift to blended learning. It is equally important for leaders and classroom teachers to understand the why behind this shift and to appreciate the long-term benefits of shifting to a blended model. Leaders will have to manage change on a large scale and guide the shift, while individual teachers will need to learn how to employ different models and leverage technology in their classrooms in order to blend learning mediums.
Although it might be tempting for a school leader to skim Part 3, which focuses on exploring classroom models, it’s important that leaders understand the models, the challenges and benefits of each, and the support teachers will need to implement different models. Leaders will also benefit from understanding what types of tools teachers will need to employ blended learning strategies. Similarly, teachers will gain insight into the larger-scale considerations of a blended learning implementation.
When all of the stakeholders in a school community understand the shifts taking place at each level, it ultimately makes school leaders and teachers more empathetic and understanding because they recognize the different challenges facing each group involved in this shift to a blended learning model. To make this connection even stronger between the leadership and teacher lenses, readers will find “Links to Leadership” sections included in the teacher-oriented chapters and “Links to the Classroom” sections included in the leader-oriented chapters. Each chapter also concludes with book study questions intended to help colleagues discuss the concepts presented in this book and apply them to their unique school settings.
Figure P.1 outlines the icons used to identify the Links to Leadership and Links to the Classroom. Additionally, the implementation strategies are organized by icons corresponding to the Blended Learning Elements of Effectiveness outlined in Chapter 3.
These icons represent the types of supports that teachers will need and the practices that align with a balanced implementation of blended learning models. The content next to each icon highlights areas and questions for teachers and leaders to consider as they shift to a blended learning model. Often these are issues that affect all teachers and may not be factors that teachers can control, so support from leaders is needed.
This book is intended to be one part of a longer conversation and journey. This journey will be shared within school teams, but it can also extend beyond individual school walls. We invite you to take part in a connected conversation about Blended Learning in Action through the hashtag #BLinAction as you read this book and transform your classroom.
Figure P.1 Book Icons
