For many, face-to-face learning combined with online instruction is the true teaching model, and for some schools it is the tried and true – they’ve implemented it and seen the benefits it has reaped for both teacher and student.
CVCS (Chicago Virtual Charter School) is one of these six to have implemented an innovative school – a combination of a traditional school and a virtual one: Daily students attend their classes virtually and work online four days a week, then coming together to attend school on day five. By attending a school setting once a week to see other peers and teachers face-to-face, students are given an anchor – one that holds them accountable and keeps them from drifting from a course of action with their studies.
Most school settings require all students in the classroom at the same time to learn the same thing, but CVCS has implemented a blending learning system where students work on chosen materials at their own pace, which gives teachers more control to customize an approach for each individual, and the ability to better address gaps in that child’s learning and knowledge.
“In a traditional setting, students are at the mercy of the teacher, who decides how fast they’re learning [and] how much time they have to spend on the subject,” Rogers said. “We give those who ‘get it’ faster the ability to move on,” commented Leah Rogers, acting head of CVCS.
CVCS is just one school, it is one of many to have adopted a blended learning solution and despite what naysayers may think, the proof is in the numbers: Even serving many underprivileged and minority students, this school made Adequate Yearly Progress in 2008, in 2009 it posted considerable gains in both reading and math, becoming one of 147 public schools in Illinois to win an Academic Improvement Award.
Despite the many benefits that virtual learning provides, traditional or face-to-face learning has its own strengths as well – allowing students to interact with a teacher in-person, a scenario where questions and answers can help to motivate. In addition to this, some say teachers can more aptly evaluate students in ways a digital program can’t.
Traditional schools offer more opportunities for peer-to-peer and teacher interaction, and a physical place where students can learn in a safe environment, but online models showcase unique benefits as well – therefore, many schools are using a hybrid approach and blending both of these learning systems to find one that fits their school best.
Read on, http://www.eschoolnews.com/2010/10/27/esn-special-reportblended-learning-on-the-rise/?ast=76&astc=6561 for more examples of schools that have implemented successful blended learning campaigns.
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Source: eSN Special Report: Blended learning on the rise by Jennifer Nastu. eSchool News, online. October 28, 2011.
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