Blended Learning - 5 Steps

About 10 years I became a Google Certified Trainer, and I discovered the wonderful world of blended learning! Suddenly, I felt like I uncovered the secret to effective pedagogy. Ever since then, I've created and incorporated a Google Site for blended learning in the classroom, for professional development, and even in other career roles.

At the core of any truly blended learning environment is a website to house instructional resources. I love the ease and compatibility with which a free Google Site creates. Here are the essential components:

Lead learner-created instructional videos including current, past, and future learning
Practice opportunities that provide immediate feedback and support for all skills current, past, and future
Multiple forms of instructional content such as videos, websites, infographics, text, etc.
Forms for participants to contact, ask for support, and provide feedback
A way for participants to interact with the site. For example, creating a PD in which learners are expected to upload examples they incorporated after the PD and in their classrooms.

What is also crucial for effective blended learning is for these learning opportunites to remain active even after the learning session(s) have concluded.

This is especially relevant for PD.

With this site created, the classroom has now become an environment in which learners can access learning according to their individual preferences. Also, and very importantly, this learning becomes on-demand with learners being able to access content outside of the classroom environment. Further, participants can access their learning whenever they choose and in whatever form during class.