4 Reasons to use Blended Learning.
There is little research to prove test scores increase as a result of Blended Learning environments. Positive data that does exist is often compiled by companies selling products.
Blended Learning also takes money and time for teachers to implement, so why should we make the investment? Four things may motivate us to blend our instruction.
1. Extend Instruction Beyond Classroom
Expand beyond the textbook to include online content. You already create lots of materials to connect your students to your content. You know there are other resources available online that your students will love. With Blended Learning, you can add great online content with what you already teach to extend instruction beyond the book.
2. Showcase Your Excellence
We now have tools to showcase the quality instruction we provide every day. We’re not waiting for approval of critics to improve education. When we make our instruction available online for students and their parents to access, we silence critics and gain the support of our community. By showing the many ways we meet student needs, we begin to drive the conversation on our own terms.
3. More Interesting Classroom Activities
Blended Learning opens time during class for new activities. It allows our students to be more productive and enjoy class more. Posting some instruction online allows you to spend time in class playing educational games or fun activities. Students are now more productive, because they can watch lessons if they missed class and access homework when it is most productive for them.
4. Stay Relevant to Your Students
The internet changed how students access information. The internet also changes how we provide instruction. Students still want to ask you questions in class and they don’t even mind lectures. They also expect us to master tools they use all day long outside of class. You have knowledge and experience, now part of our job is to use a tool like Lunch Box to reach students where they are, both in our classrooms and on their cell phones.