January 2019 - Beginnings of LTG - Blended Course Design
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JAN 7, 2019 - An exciting day to get together (finally) with PNW BOCES team Greg Brown, Marla Gardner, April Francis, and Diane Cunningham to move forward with planning and prep for the upcoming learning technology grant (LTG). After a review and dive into the grant application and 3 GOALS, we turned our attention to plans for the upcoming Jan. 14, 2019 Advisory Council meeting.
There's SO MUCH to discuss, brainstorm, and collaboratively develop! We did lose track of time a bit as we settled into our "storming" phase of group team process and first steps. One shared vow to each other at the extedned end of the day, "no skipping lunch again." :)
We identified basic outline of Adv. Council session. Biggest focus became work to develop a "Blended Learning Models" chart to have ready to use with advisory council as we all agree this focus will be most pressing 1st priority.
Diane and I shared our progress in formulating course criteria and the PHASE 1 4-month PD program learning outcomes, EQ, topics and guiding questions for the series of face-to-face and online segments. The two of us began work together beginning back in October 2018 sharing ideas, expertise, building, creating, and collaborating. To date, it has been one of the most rewarding professional collaborative endeavors I’ve ever had. Can’t wait to work & learn more with Diane!
We have each used the same curriculum design/course build process and activities in prior OC21 years. I believe, however, that given the unique aspects of the LTG, there'll be A LOT of "new" work and thinking ahead in upcoming work. In addition, this cycle of PD program will provide the perfect outlet for me to update and refine the OC21 "course design & building" activities, strategy and materials given that it's OC21's 2nd semester with Schoology. This work with the LTG will benefit future OC21 program as well.
We're off and running! :)
Personal Design Challenge - Blended Learning Planner Board
One personal endeavor is attempt to construct a visual “blended learning course planner” tool for instructors. Using a course timeline (beginning-to-end) to map “face-to-face” vs “online” components considering the “location of instruction” (teacher, coach, online / in school or out of school) along with “student grouping” (all, some, individual). Inspired by Christiansen’s blended learning “models” diagrams. My wondering is that new blended learning course designers might benefit from a hands-on means for visualizing, manipulating, planning, and reorganizing ideas for their courses.
CONCEPT IDEA: a printed ‘planner board’ and supply of ‘BL board pieces’ representing different instructional choices for location/source of instruction and student grouping.
PURPOSE: provide a hands-on means and method tp externally visualize and plan the cycle of face-to-face and online learning segments in my blended learning course.
Where will learning/instruction occur (face-to-face/online, in-school/out-of-school)?
Which will be source of instruction (the teacher, a lab coach/facilitator, or online materials)?
Will learning be altogether (whole class), with some others (student groups/teams), or on own (individual)?
[update April 2019. uncertain if/when may incorporate into LTG work. reached a “round 2” prototype. leaving it at this state of development for now.]
