Blended Learning

- Project Based Learning -

Digital Student Portfolios 

My dream is to create or work with a school that integrates project based learning with technology. More specifically I'd like to see many of the fundamentals taught and assessed with apps or online curriculum software that offers differentiated instruction/learning, standardized test prep/practice, and easy data management all in a game like atmosphere. This part of schooling is already happening, but there is the potential to lose interpersonal relationships in a fully tech learning environment. That's where P.roject B.ased L.earning or the maker movement (these methods go by many names) can make a big difference. Have a look at the essential elements of PBL in this video from BIE.org.

In this technology based skills setting I would like to see each class do cross-curricular projects that put these skills to use in a larger context. Projects designed by teachers and tuned by a vertical education team to engage students in a way that is interesting and relevant to learners and teachers. If teachers are trained to seek out ways students can develop and lead their own projects, a student could finish the year as a participant in the teacher lead projects, a leader in his/her own projects, and a contributor to other student projects.

Ongoing assessment for the projects is a must. Portfolios are flexible, easy to share with parents, easy to safely share students' best works with the public, and easy to pass on to next year's teacher (no matter where that teacher is). Organizing a digital portfolio with Evernote is an efficient way to get the most out of this method. See this video by Matt Renwick where he uses Kindergartner work in Evernote to begin to use and share a digital portfolio.
There are many great examples of how teachers are blending tech and pbl on sites like edutopia.org. This does not mean it is embraced as a well utilized form of education, and in fact most schools and districts don't have heavily tech integrated classrooms, nor do they utilize project based learning. Here is a good sample of how schools could blend tech and tactile learning. Please add other examples you find in the comments section.