Blend that Learning!

During a recent Snow Day (Yippee!), I watched a Weather Network segment on the different types of snow and their names.  Those images and words came to mind as I started thinking about Blended Learning.  Soon I had more and more ways to name it too. Each a little different but the same as the other.

 Blended Learning, Flipped Classroom, Virtual Education, Elearning, Webinars, On-Line Learning, Hybrid, Mixed Mode, etc.

Sticking with the first, Blended Learning, another list appears....these being the delivery models.

Face-to-face, rotation, flex, labs, self-blend, online driver

Do I use blended learning?
Using the above lists, I'll say a tentative yes.

Some examples:

Primary and Junior Division

Dreambox Math  (License Required)
Two years ago my school was 'chosen' to pilot Dreambox Math.  Every student was given an account.  Several teachers decided to receive training and then were asked to share their learning with other teachers.  Basically, teachers choose a level for their students to begin at and give them a password.  They then work through strands at their own pace. Dreambox is supposed to intuitively recognize when a student needs review and scaffolds them through the stages.  There are lots of incentive rewards and narration.  Students log on anytime, anywhere. Teachers can track student progress and then plan in class time to support a student's needs.  This past year, only the Grade 2's were chosen to have Licenses, along with a designated number of Special Education students from any grade.  Its graphics, 'game-like' environment, and sound make it user-friendly for ELL students and students with Learning Disabilities.
My tentative yes?  Because I knew it was too expensive to keep for all students, so I didn't latch on to this one. Interesting option for some students.  Three of my current students have licenses and are tracked by our Special Education Teacher.

Junior/Intermediate Division

Desire to Learn  a.k.a. D2L, associated with Brightspace. This learning space environment has its headquarters in my hometown of Kitchener.  Teachers in our board sign up for training and enrollment in this Learning Management system.  Students will have access to a variety of activities in multiple subject areas.  Teachers can upload content as well.

Edmodo 
Using Edmodo, teachers invite students into private groups that can be used for online classroom discussions, but in a format that keeps the teacher firmly in control. Teachers give students a class signup code, which can be deactivated once all students have signed up, and students in turn are encouraged to share the code with their parents, allowing them to monitor their own child's activity. As an invitation-only social network, Edmodo is meant to mirror a secure offline classroom that intruders cannot access, with rules of decorum enforced by software. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmodo)
It's a platform that allows students and teachers to connect.  It has been marketed as the 'Facebook' for schools.  Lots of possibilities in this one.  It really filled a need before Google Apps for Education came along!

There, 3 more types of 'snow'.  Time to go play in it!