A Student-Centered Model of Blended Learning

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I’ve seen many teachers attempt to incorporate student-centered and blended learning, but this model introduced here is not only efficient but seems genuinely effective! It’s great to see students learning at their own pace while also helping out their classmates.

I’m really interested in implementing this approach in my own classes, but I’m curious about how the assessment process would work when teachers are required to submit standardized assessment scores within a set deadline. Also, while the model addresses differences in students' readiness levels, how can we accommodate learners with different learning styles? For instance, some students might struggle with video-based instruction if they prefer direct teacher guidance. How can we ensure all learners make progress?

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THIS IS AN AMAZING VIDEO!!! I am saving this for consistent reference!

It's fascinating that there are so few comments questioning the efficacy of these models. The high school as a whole ranks fairly low in the DC metro area, and extremely low in graduation rate. I question any approach these days that forces kids to have more screen time in a setting that provides a great opportunity for actually engaging with the people around you. I don't see anyone asking the question about those students who aren't getting it, but who also aren't asking for help–how many of them are simply developing strategies for slipping by unnoticed, like copying someone else's exit tickets, etc.? I can see doing this sort of thing twice a week in a particular class, but it really does absolve the teacher of a lot of in-class responsibility for checking on learning and for providing instruction on the subject at hand. And it skews the workload so that the teacher is probably spending more time preparing videos and other class tools than they are actually teaching. Young people want to be challenged, but they also want to be helped, and many of them aren't able to ask for that help for a variety of possible reasons. As a college teacher, I've witnessed tons of students coming to their freshman year completely unprepared for the academic rigor that is demanded of them there, and much of the reason for that comes from lowering expectations in high school and lowering the levels of rigor. Yes, this student may get this concept after five weeks, but now there are only four weeks left in the quarter–is that student going to be able to get the other four concepts that they need to grasp before the end of the quarter? There are so many unanswered questions here. Finally, concerning engagement–almost everyone acts differently when there's a camera pointed their way. We hear from several of the students who are engaged and interested, but we don't see anything about the students who are failing these classes or simply doing poorly–this video basically pretends they don't exist, and ignores them. Which is what I see happening in quite a few real-life classrooms, too.

Absolutely beautiful and refreshing. If I had a school like this around me I would go back to teaching. These teachers and students are doing an amazing job and gives me
Hope for the future. Thank you teachers who care about these babies/young leaders. We need you! Please take care of yourselves. Well done

Summary:
– Eastern High School in Washington, D.C., employs a student-centered model of blended learning.

– The approach aims to alleviate student tension, enhance commitment, and foster content mastery.

– Key components of this instructional model include video lessons, self-paced learning, and mastery-based grading.

– Students appreciate the autonomy to pause and re-watch video lessons, promoting a deeper understanding.

– The model permits individualized progress, accommodating students at different skill levels and paces.

– Peer collaboration is encouraged, with students assisting each other, whether they are ahead or behind.

– Exit tickets, acting as mini-quizzes, determine students' readiness to advance or need for re-teaching.

– Teachers have the flexibility to work one-on-one or in small groups due to video instruction.

– The model proves effective for students with lower-than-average in-seat attendance, allowing them to catch up on missed lessons.

– It offers a lifeline to students facing challenges, ensuring they have a fighting chance to pass and succeed.

I love this! What a creative way to empower students and instill independent learning/time management as well as utilizing instructor time effectively

As someone who has been both homeschooled and been through public school and college, I think that this method of teaching blends the best of them both. You can work at your own pace, it prompts self-motivation, there is a teacher at hand to answer your questions, there are other students to help you come up with ideas/have discussions with, and you can practice oral things like poetry and foreign languages. The one concern I have is that students will make a fuss out of being very far ahead or very far behind and correlate it to their intelligence and self worth.

Classroom small. Try that with 48 students.

I love it~! This is a brilliant way to teach middle schoolers and I bet the success level is high. I wonder if I can implement it THIS year? Need more info, but this seems like the very best way for kids to learn at their own pace in a non0threatening, student-centered environment. Very exciting

Fantastic approach! Teachers need a lot of resources and prep time to implement this effectively, as well as an Ed department that is flexible enough, though.

PS- What high school is this in DC?

I wish I could bottle this engagement for my own classroom. Way to leverage the technology without compromising the personal touch. . Inspiring for me.

JUST BEAUTIFUL! This is how every classroom should be!

Very cool. Must have taken the teachers a LOT of time outside of work to create those slideshows and videos for each lesson lol, but worth it.

It's a blessing to see my former elementary student in this video. Great job teachers.

This is a really awesome concept for students. They all learn at their own pace and this gives a students a chance to understand on their own timing with the support of the teacher when needed. This does seem to require a lot of accountability, routine explaining… but with time I think this is a great model of learning.

I am a student in college studying to be a teacher, and this is precisely how I would like my classroom to function. This video has really given me hope that I can indeed do that

this is how education needs to be done. we have the technology to make it happen. this is the future of how to be successful in teaching

How long did it take for the students to adjust to this self-paced blended learning model? I don't see any off-task behavior – not even cell phone use.

This video is so encouraging! I will be using it in all of my competency-based, student-centered, and blended learning trainings. Thank you for taking the time to create it.

This is called a workshop pedagogy. Nancie Atwell created this in 1987.

I am in EDUCATOR HEAVEN right now! I saw this video a while ago and wanted to know how to do this in my class. This year I found The Modern Classroom Essential Free Course on Facebook! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU!

sent here from modern classrooms project–worth checking out for those interested in this model

Thank you. I recently changed my Algebra 2 class to a self-paced class. So far the students love it.

What happens in math when the students who are behind haven’t covered the material they need to be successful in the next grade?

Hello, My name is Barbara and I am from New Zealand in a small town of Huntly. I am doing some study for myself. I have some textbooks that I work from. I also watch youtube learning. I also watch students learning in the classroom and assignments too.. From Barbara in N.Z.

This is amazing 👏

I wonder what software or app they use to make those videos..anyone knows

I love this…makes me miss the classroom and engaging with students. Will definitely try this method when this pandemic nonsense is over!