Blended Learning Activity Project

Outcomes

After completing this assignment, you will be able to:

  • design and develop a blended learning activity
  • state the three primary types of learner analysis criteria and describe the role of the criteria in the systematic planning process for learning
  • discuss the rationale and purpose of learning objectives
  • write learning objectives that include the audience, behavior, conditions, and degree of mastery
  • describe the procedures for selecting, modifying, and designing instructional materials, including when each choice is appropriate.
  • create examples of the five basic steps in utilizing technologies, media, and materials.
  • describe and justify methods for eliciting student participation when using technology and media during instruction
  • compare and contrast the techniques for evaluating student achievement, technology, media, strategies, and instruction.

Overview

This assessment item is designed to assist you to implement a blended learning activity in your teaching practice. As you have learned from the text (Blended: Using Disruptive Innovation to Improve Schools), blended learning requires many hours of planning, design, and development. In this assignment, you will go through the entire process of implementation of a blended learning activity for a single instructional unit (1 – 3 hours).

In the text, the authors do not address the specific steps of implementing a blended learning activity. In order to guide you through the process, we will be using the ASSURE model introduced in Module 8. The ASSURE model is widely adopted by many professionals and teachers when it comes to technology integration. This model particularly addresses the selections of media/technology/tools in the design process. Given the nature of blended learning, this model fits our needs very well. Click here to read about the ASSURE Model.

In this project, you are allowed to work with another student from this class. If you do, each of you needs to create your individual Weebly page to host the content for all parts of the project. After the page is built, both of you need to submit the page URL onto the corresponding link inside Moodle.

To guide you through the whole process, six parts aligned with the ASSURE model are created. Please read through the following instructions for each part carefully.

Due Dates

  • Project, Part 1: Analyze Learner (Due: the 1st day of Module 9)
  • Project, Part 2: State Standards and Objectives (Due: Due on the 1st day of Module 10)
  • Project, Part 3: Select Strategies and Resources (Due on the 1st day of Module 11)
  • Project, Part 4: Utilize Resources (Due on the 1st day of Module 14)
  • Project, Part 5: Require Learner Participation (Due on the 1st day of Module 15)
  • Project, Part 6: Evaluate and Revise (Due on the 1st Monday after Module 15)
    You can view the exact due dates on the Course Schedule page.

Part 1: Analyze Learners

Outcomes

During this part of the project, students will identify their learners by analyzing their general characteristics and entry competencies.

Instructions

  1. Review Analyze Learners section of the ASSURE model introduced in Module 8.
  2. Identify your learner population for this blended learning activity.
  3. In MS Word, report your analysis of your learners.
  4. Check for any spelling and grammatical errors before posting onto Weebly.
  5. Create a new page on your Weebly site and post your text—DO NOT save your report as a word file and upload it to your page.
  6. Label your Weebly page appropriately.
  7. Homework example (by Samatha Justice).

Submitting and Posting

  1. To submit your work, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Submissions inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st day of Module 9.
  2. After the submission, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Weebly Pages inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st day of Module 9.

Part 2: State Standards and Objectives

Outcome

During this part of the project, students will discuss the rationale and purpose of learning objectives.

Instruction

  1. Review State Standards and Objectives section of the ASSURE model introduced in Module 8.
  2. In MS Word, compose standards and objectives for your blended learning activity for a single instructional unit.
  3. Your blended learning activity should cover an instructional session between 1 and 3 hours. As a result, your standards and objectives should be attainable within 1 – 3 hours of instruction.
  4. Check for any spelling and grammatical errors before posting onto Weebly.
  5. Create a new page on your Weebly site and post your text—DO NOT save your work as a word file and upload it to your page.
  6. Label your Weebly page appropriately.
  7. Homework example (by Samantha Justice).

Submitting and Posting

  1. To submit your work, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Submissions inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st day of Module 10.
  2. After the submission, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Weebly Pages inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st day of Module 10.

Part 3: Select Strategies and Resources

Outcome

During this part of the project, students will describe the procedures for selecting, modifying, and designing instructional materials, including when each choice is appropriate.

Instruction

  1. Review Select Strategies and Resources section of the ASSURE model introduced in Module 8.
  2. From previous modules, you’ve learned more than 20 tools and models of blended learning. It is time to make your own choices. Select a blended learning model from Figure 1.1 (Blended) and describe the rationale of your selection. Your rationale must be supported by the readings in Module 8 and the text (Blended).
  3. Select and describe resources. Selecting appropriate technology and media can be a complex task. From our first text (Untangling), you are introduced to more than 20 instructional tools. Select at least 3 tools (not limited to the tools introduced in Untangling) by referring to your note for Untangling and selection rubric criteria introduced above. Again, please describe your tools and provide a rationale for your choice.
  4. In MS Word, compose your answers to steps #2 and #3.
  5. Check for any spelling and grammatical errors before posting onto Weebly.
  6. Create a new page on your Weebly site and post your text—DO NOT save your work as a Word file and upload it to your page.
  7. Label your Weebly page appropriately.
  8. Homework example (by Samantha Justice).

Submitting and Posting

  1. To submit your work, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Submissions inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st day of Module 11.
  2. After the submission, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Weebly Pages inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st day of Module 11.

Part 4: Utilize Resources

Outcome

During this part of the project, students will describe examples of the basic five steps in utilizing technologies, media, and materials.

Instruction

  1. Review Utilize Resources section of the ASSURE model introduced in Module 8.
  2. According to the ASSURE model, this is the phase you actually implement your blended learning activity. There are five processes involved: preview and prepare the resources; prepare the environment; prepare the learners, and provide the learning experience. You need to provide a narrative description for each phase. If any artifact (websites, PowerPoint, video, or multimedia) is created in this phase, you need to attach it to your Weebly page. Your description for these five processes has to be as detailed as possible. Remember, you are the technology integration leader in your school/school districts. You need to make sure others can follow your written instructions.
  3. In MS Word, compose your description for five processes.
  4. Check for any spelling and grammatical errors before posting onto Weebly.
  5. Create a new page on your Weebly site and post your text—DO NOT save your work as a word file and upload it to your page. In addition, attach any artifacts associated with each process.
  6. Label your Weebly page appropriately.
  7. This phase requires lots of your time in planning. That’s why this part is allocated additional weeks for you to complete. In this phase, you need to implement this blended learning activity in one of your teaching or training units.
  8. Homework example (by Samantha Justice).

Submitting and Posting

  1. To submit your work, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Submissions inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st day of Module 14.
  2. After the submission, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Weebly Pages inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st day of Module 14.

Part 5: Require Learner Participation

Outcome

During this part of the project, students will describe and justify methods for eliciting student participation when using technology and media during instruction.

Instruction

  1. Review Require Learner Participation section of the ASSURE model introduced in Module 8.
  2. In this part of the project, in 1-2 paragraphs you need to discuss how you:
    • require active mental engagement by learners.
    • engage learners in the practice of new knowledge or skills.
    • support learning with technology and media.
    • provide performance feedback prior to a formal assessment.
  3. In MS Word, compose your answers to the four questions listed above.
  4. Check for any spelling and grammatical errors before posting onto Weebly.
  5. Create a new page on your Weebly site and post your text—DO NOT save your work as a word file and upload it to your page.
  6. Label your Weebly page appropriately.
  7. Homework example (by Samantha Justice).

Submitting and Posting

  1. To submit your work, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Submissions inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st day of Module 15.
  2. After the submission, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Weebly Pages inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st day of Module 15.

Part 6: Evaluate and Revise

Outcome

During this part of the project, students will compare and contrast the techniques for evaluating student achievement, technology, media, strategies, and instruction.

Instruction

  1. Review the Evaluate and Revise section of the ASSURE model introduced in Module 8.
  2. In the last part of the project, you need to evaluate the implementation of your blended learning activity and make some revisions to your lesson plan. Specifically, you need to
    • Use traditional and authentic assessments to determine learner achievement of stated standards and objectives.
    • Examine the entire instructional process and the impact of using technology and media.
    • Examine the efficiency of your blended learning model. Which part works well, and which part does not?
    • If discrepancies between learning objectives and student outcomes are identified, revise the lesson plan to address the areas of concern.
  3. In MS Word, compose your answers to the four questions listed above.
  4. Check for any spelling and grammatical errors before posting onto Weebly.
  5. Create a new page on your Weebly site and post your text—DO NOT save your work as a Word file and upload it to your page.
  6. Label your Weebly page appropriately.
  7. Homework example (by Samantha Justice).

Submitting and Posting

  1. To submit your work, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Submissions inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st Monday after Module 15.
  2. After the submission, post URL of your Weebly page to the corresponding link under Weebly Pages inside Moodle before 11:59 p.m. U.S. EST/EDT on the 1st Monday after Module 15.