Blended Learning with Math

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Lately we have been doing a lot of discussion about blended learning and incorporating technology with lessons, so I wanted to talk about what this looks like in a math class. I'll admit, at first I was confused about blended learning and didn't really know what it meant. My initial uncertainty about the topic has inspired me to focus on blended learning in this post, in hopes of clearing the air for teacher candidates who will be expected to use it in their future teaching.  

What is blended learning?

This question is actually more complicated than it seems. Blended learning involves integrating technology and online learning with classroom learning. To clarify, this doesn't just mean using online math games during spare time in class. It goes a bit deeper than that and requires stronger connections between the online and in-class learning. The following video does a great job at explaining the details of blended learning:

Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD8AUfGsCKg 

Why use technology?
So we know we should be creating rich tasks for our students to help improve their level of understanding, but is it really necessary to throw technology in the mix when it's often seen as a distraction? Yes, students can definitely get distracted with iPads, laptops, and cellphones but maybe we can encourage them to use these devices for educational purposes too. For example, the class can be engaged in online activities using Mentimeter , where they can rate their understanding of new concepts in class, type answers to questions if they don't feel comfortable raising their hand, create collaborative word clouds, or do quizzes. This would be a great way to incorporate technology with classroom learning in a way that is fun and inclusive. Plus, kids get to feel like they're playing on their phones or iPads in class! As long as they are focused and participating in your lesson and not going off track with their technology (texting or gaming), it can be a very useful tool for engaging students throughout the day. 

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Of course, as educators we will have to set strict guidelines for technology use in the classroom and probably won't want to use it all the time, but I do think it is something that can help more students learn. You'll have to determine what works best for your class. There may also be instances where the school does not have Smart boards or a class set of iPads... or even wifi for that matter. However, a lot of schools are working towards an increase of technology in classrooms, and blended learning is becoming an expectation from teachers. It can't hurt to be prepared with ideas for incorporating blended learning in your teaching.