A mix of individualized, online and face-to-face instruction classes --; known as blended-learning classrooms --; are giving Jeffco students more options to help them succeed.
"We want to be a place where we can give families a lot of options," said Wendy Noel, principal of Two Roads Charter School about the district's Jefferson Virtual Academywhich is moving into the Two Roads charter after seeing low enrollment in its K-6 courses. "We typically specialize in the unique and this is something different."
On Feb. 4, the Jeffco Board of Education approved the academy's move after finding that the school --; a blended-learning system of online and in-person instructional time --; cost the district $700,000 for the two years the elementary education was running, and did not meet enrollment expectations. This move allows the district to save money by utilizing a current Jeffco facility, while giving more students the opportunity to enroll in a blended learning environment.
According to district staff, the academy's enrollment numbers fluctuated from 30-40 students, which is roughly one third of the 120 it could host.
Two Roads Online, the new option in their charter available fall 2016 is a program for second through fifth graders that combines four days of online instruction with one day or more of traditional teaching at the charter's Arvada campus, 6980 Pierce St.
On traditional teaching days, students will interact with their teacher and classmates and have the ability to take electives such as robotics, music and ceramics --; something they didn't have through the academy, which offered the traditional electives of art, music and physical education.
"Blended-learning programs are important because the teachers video themselves, interact with the students --; even if they're at home," Noel said. "Then, seeing them one day a week strengthens that relationship, it's not just all online."
While a new program to Two Roads, and a relatively new concept for Jeffco, district staff said blended learning has been implemented in various styles and environments for a while. Using models, such as flipped classrooms --; where students take an online class then come to school to work on assignments and get help --; teachers are helping students grasp difficult concepts and gain a deeper knowledge of these subjects better.
Both Mary Beth Bazzanella, Jeffco's director of education technology and Scott Allensworth, an achievement director for Jefferson Virtual Academy, said around 1,000 students participate in full-time blended learning models across the district's middle and high schools, a trend they see increasing, basedofff individual building populations, needs, supplies and demand.
"I went to the virtual academy, and the first year was awesome," said Jordyn Timmens, a seventh-grader who transferred into the Two Roads full-time program this semester. "They explained everything very well, put up videos to help you with understanding and if you still didn't they'd set up a meeting to help you one on one ... It's a great school, and there are so many learning styles, if you can focus and work hard --; go for it!"
Across the state, schools are increasingly implementing technology in their classrooms, Christina Jean, director of innovation and choice for the Colorado Department of Education said. No data reflecting that exists because the state doesn't require schools or districts to report their blended learning statistics, but various studies, such as the Clayton "The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning in Colorado", state various models, online curriculum, technological tools are arguably more successful than traditional classroom or online instruction.
While increasingly practiced, Jean, blended learning teachers like Tim Wompey and district staff said their biggest challenge with this method is awareness around what blended learning is, and how it's being implemented.
Wompey, a fourth, fifth and sixth grade math, science and social studies teacher at Jefferson Virtual Academy said it was important to understand that the academy is a "blended environment" and not a traditional online learning system.
"Because we offer that blended learning, we offer families ahome-schooll environment where they can get that socialization aspect in," Wompey said.
A relatively new approach in education, blended learning gives students who, for whatever reason, struggle in traditional classrooms or need a little extra attention, to thrive and truly prepare them for the world ahead.
"Districts are making sure all kids graduate college and career ready, the state has deemed that they need to be tech savvy," Jean said. "I think that's what's driving blended learning in the classroom to make sure they leave ready with those skills."
from Lakewood Sentinel - Latest Stories http://lakewoodsentinel.comhttp://lakewoodsentinel.com/stories/Blended-education-on-the-rise,206912?branding=15
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