"Long gone are the days of teachers standing up in the front of the class lecturing their students and studies show that many students just do not learn this way." The model for education moving forward today is Blended Learning and today's guests: Brenda Baer, the Director of Distance Learning for Blueprint Education and Jennifer Blackstone, the Principal of Hope High School Online, a virtual online school (Blueprint Education), shared with Lon what exactly "Blended Learning" is.
Jennifer and Brenda explained there are roughly six models of blended learning: from face to face driver, whereas the main curriculum is delivered by the teacher with some technology added; the rotation model, where students follow a specified schedule with a teacher and then with technology, alternating between the two; a flex format: in which the needs are dictated by the student and more individualized to those needs; an online lab: sessions where students work online in a "regular brick and stone" setting with help from an aid or teacher on the premise; self-led: whereas students needs are once again dictating, yet courses are taken "ala carte" depending on what classes are needed to complete lost credits and then there is full online virtual high school, where the majority of course work is online.
Blended learning puts the students in control of their learning and many of today's students are "technology natives", having grown up with computers at home and in kindergarten, and parent's on the other hand, tended to be "technology immigrants" and are in need of guidance and learning this new technology to keep up with their kids. "Teachers," Jennifer explained, "need to embrace the change that is coming. It will take change, they will need to change their thinking, but can you imagine? They will have all the knowledge of the entire world right at their fingertips. And the trend is growing….in the future there will be a jump to over 50% of kids taking online courses. Blended learning will be leading the way in educating our kids!"
To listen to the full interview go to
What Is Blended Education? on
LATalkRadio.
Also available in Podcast 
Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports Inc. and
www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens.
Jennifer Blackstone is the Principal at Hope High School Online; a state funded virtual charter school in Arizona that offers both a fully virtual and a blended learning educational option for students in grades 7-12. Jennifer has been with Blueprint Education since May 2006.
Brenda Baer started her work with Blueprint Education in 2008 at a Special Education Coordinator after serving ten years in both public and charter schools and now serves as the Director of Distance Learning.
This segment was sponsored by Spring Ridge Academy, 928-632-4602,
www.springridgeacademy.com, a Therapeutic Boarding School for Girls in Arizona.
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