• Education
  • Health
  • Technology
  • About
Blend My Learning

Blend My Learning

Where Education, Health, and Technology Meet

  • Education
  • Health
  • Technology
  • About

teaching and technology infrastructure structures

Teaching and Technology Infrastructure Structures

Posted by Kiera Chase on Jun 14, 2013 in Blog, Envision Schools

Envision Schools is entering its 2rd year of blended learning and over the years we have learned a lot about infrastructure, hardware, costs and other blended learning related considerations. In our first pilot, the summer school Algebra I course in which students used Khan Academy, we were suddenly confronted with the limitations of our Internet infrastructure. Not so much the overall bandwidth, but the capacity of each airport and the spacing of the airports and the consequent coverage and flow of traffic. Since the airports had initially been installed to serve periodic use spread across several classrooms, the set-up did not work efficiently or effectively for concentrated and constant use. I know this seems like a no brainer, but it is these surprising details that can hamper progress when trying something new and innovative. Therefore, the bandwidth concern is at the top of our list as we plan and prepare for our newest pilot program. Next year City Arts and Technology HS will be going 1 to 1 in the 9th grade. This will be our first venture into doing blended learning in all courses and it is really exciting.

Going fully 1 to 1, in and of itself, has presented a number of infrastructure considerations, all of which are nested, like a little matryoshka doll. For example, creating plans for how students will receive and return their devices. If students pick up their devices at the beginning of the day we would need to devise a system for managing the check-in and check-out process. This possibly involves carts, or cabinets that are wired for charging and are fireproof, and adults to either oversee or supervise while other students oversee the process. There are many examples of systems out there that we can draw from, and we just need to decide on a system that works best for our students and teachers. We would love to develop a system that allows for students to have their own device. This would mean that everyday they use the same device, they could personalize it, and they would be ultimately responsible for its well being. Yet, with block scheduling and scheduling rotations, it is difficult to figure out how a device can be turned in with one teacher, and then appear in another teachers room the next morning. I think we need devices that grow legs!

Another concern of mine is building the skills and staffing to provide adequate support. In a 1 to 1 situation we will need people who oversee the daily deployment and retrieval of devices, as mentioned above. We will also need skilled IT personnel onsite to address needs fairly immediately. We can have several back-up devices made available so that students can continue to learn should their device malfunction, yet beyond this Band-Aid solution we must consider how to address different problematic situations that could arise. We have thought deeply about how to build the capacity of the teachers and site leaders to deal with particular issues that may be within reach for them to solve with small amounts of training, and which would in fact, greatly reduce time used to coordinate these samer small tasks.

In service of working towards a model for blended learning that works for Envision School, I have also been thinking about the best ways to do blended learning for adults. As the instructional coach working with the blended learning teams, I am constantly aware of how individualized my services are. I would love to leverage technology so that I can provide ‘just in time’ opportunities for learning. While I know that instructional videos only really scrap the surface I see that this may be one place to start. I am building an internal website where we can develop ideas as a team. I am selecting possible resources, thinking about ways that different tools can be implemented, and trying to see how I can manage my time so that all stakeholders get what they need. I guess the real question is how can I leverage technology to clone myself so I can be in multiple places at once. I know that sounds very self-centered, but it is intended to carry a selfless tone. I have recognized through our pilots and my ongoing work that the most important resource in blended learning is the human-to-human interaction. The infrastructure, and systems, and hardware, and software should all exist in service of timing and improving and maximizing the human-to-human interaction so that optimal learning can occur, for staff and students alike.

Written by Kiera Chase

Kiera Chase

Blended Learning Coach at Envisions Schools

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)


One comment

  1. Andrew

    June 24, 2013

    I applaud your effort especially in trying to quantify blended learning through your group’s research. I believe the greatest measured gains are in the increased 1:1 learning opportunities created through the blended model. I think the gains will be significant when you combine this with PBL, inquiry, higher level questioning, and the like. These models often get pinched by the time-consuming direct teaching methods. It appears that blended classrooms can open a door to a plethora of learning opportunities for kids!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Categories
  • Education
  • Health
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
Recent Posts
  • Is Almond Milk Healthier Than Coconut Milk?
  • 7 Reasons You Keep Dropping Things
  • Does BCAA Before or After Workout Matter?
Recent Posts
  • Is Almond Milk Healthier Than Coconut Milk?
  • 7 Reasons You Keep Dropping Things
  • Does BCAA Before or After Workout Matter?
  • Does Intermittent Fasting Slow Metabolism?
  • Solutions for When You Get Sore From Stretching
Recent Comments
  • Fashion Styles on How an Egg Membrane Supplement Supports Joint Health
Archives
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
Categories
  • Education
  • Health
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
Meta
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Doo by ThemeVS.