Presentation at Barstow School Hybrid School Symposium. http://hlcsymposium.org

1. www.inacol.org
Dr. Rob Darrow
Director, Member Services
June 2013
Online and Blended Learning:
Avoiding Pitfalls, Being Successful,
and
Transforming Your Teaching
Presentation: http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com

2. Introductions
• iNACOL, Director of Member Services
– Former online charter school principal, school
librarian, K-8 teacher in California
• You? teachers? Administrators?
– More than 20 years?
– Between 10 and 20 years
– Between 5 and 10 years
– Less than 5 years

3. Who is iNACOL? www.inacol.org
• Educators, policy makers, researchers,
non-profits, for-profits, support staff,
teachers, and administrators
• K-12 schools, universities, think tanks,
regional service agencies, county offices,
organizations, etc.

4. Why join iNACOL? www.inacol.org
• Passion for online and blended learning
• Receive daily news and research updates
about online and blended learning
• Contribute to the online and blended
learning voice and conversation
• Participate in regional and standing
committees

5. Why join iNACOL? www.inacol.org
• Participate in webinars and related
activities (access to Archives)
• Reduced cost for attending yearly iNACOL
Symposium (Oct. 27-30, 2013, Orlando,
FL)
• Membership: $60 for educators
– Other memberships: School, institution,
companies, etc.

6. We are on the same journey:
to improve education for
every student in every school

7. Remember: Teaching and Learning
• What is the student
doing and where is the
student?
 What is the teacher
doing and where is the
teacher?
 What and where is the
content?

8. Our Conversation Focus Today
• 1. Pitfalls
• 2. Change
• 3. Transformation
• 4. Blended Learning

9. Pitfalls – Planning
• Not having a 3-5 year implementation plan
• Not including all staff (especially teachers
and counselors) in creating the
implementation plan
• Not identifying success measures as part
of the implementation plan
• Not having an ongoing implementation
advisory committee

10. Pitfalls – Teachers
• Not paying attention to teachers,
teaching, and pedagogy (and only
focusing on content selection)
• Not identifying ongoing professional
development for administrators and
teachers

11. Pitfalls – Students
• Not having support structures
in place for students
–How to work online
–Ongoing “triggers” if students are not
being successful

12. Pitfalls – Words to Use
• The term “Blended Learning” is more
well received than “Hybrid Learning”
• “Personalized Learning” is better
understood than “individualized learning.”
**Survey completed by iNACOL three years ago and separately
by the Clayton Christensen Institute

13. What was school like
for you?
Teaching ?
Learning ?
Curriculum ?

14. Dan Pink. A Whole New Mind
• “change is inevitable, and
when it happens, the wisest
response is not to wail or
whine but to suck it up and
deal with it.”

15. Why change?
• Enrollment is good – have waiting lists
• Students being successful
• Students getting into colleges
• Students getting into careers and
contributing back to their schools
• Excellent teachers with excellent results
• Tradition of excellence for the past 50 years

16. Change is Hard and
Uncomfortable
• Some teachers thrive on change (and
some administrators, too)
• Some teachers never change
• Some teachers think doing the same thing
every year is the best teaching (take out
the same lessons and just change the
dates)

17. Research Teaches Us:
• If you do the same thing in the same
way, you get the same results
• Same lessons = same result

18. 20 Years Ago – 1990
What were you doing and what
was happening then?

19. 20 Years Ago – 1990
What was I doing?
• Teaching 5th Grade
• Apple 2e with floppy disks
• No Common Core Standards
• No California standards
• No Internet
• No cell phones or handheld devices
• High tech: overhead and a phone in my classroom

20. In 1990
Personal computers are
15 years old
Tim Berners-Lee writes World
Wide Web program
First graphical web interface, Mosaic, was not
invented until 1993

21. Lots of Changes since 1990

22. What’s changed in our world?
• Costs to compete, improve continue to rise
• Endowments, contributions fallen in many cases
• Tuition continues to rise as well
• New independent schools using online learning
• Some at lower price point
• Some fueled by global companies/visions: K12, Inc., etc.
• Charters, other public schools improving with
online learning
• New modular offerings that aren’t “traditional”
schools
• Technology continues to improve to provice
multiple ways for students to be educated

23. Review: Ongoing Change…
• In what our students now have in the palm
of their hands
• In technology
• In global market place
• In skills students need for college and
career

24. What causes Transformation?
• Education
• Learning
• Experience
• Professional Learning Network
• Information sharing – magazines,
online/social media, conferences, peers

25. Transformation and Change takes time –
Just ask Everett Rogers
• Studied “Diffusion of Innovations” for 40
years
• Innovation = anything new
– Purified water
– Hybrid corn seed in Iowa
– Technology in a school
• Why are some innovations adopted and
some are not?

26. Iowa Farmers and Corn
• 1943 – Farmers in Iowa used regular corn
seed
• Iowa State researchers found that hybrid
corn seed produced better results –
increase in quality and production
• Farmers in Iowa were resistant – Why?
– Hybrid seeds could not be reproduced by the
farmer and had to be purchased from
someone
– Current seed worked just fine

27. Hybrid Corn Seed –
Eventually Adopted, But what happened?
• Solution based on several studies by Iowa
State Professors, where Everett Rogers
began his work.
• What caused the change?
– Mass communication of studies /
advertising
– Interpersonal communication channels
(farmer to farmer)
Note: Think about your blended or online program here.

28. Corn, Iowa and Everett Rogers
The “back” story…
• Rogers born and raised in Iowa
• His father was a farmer who was resistant to using
hybrid corn seed
• Rogers became a professor at Iowa State where the
corn seed and diffusion studies originated (he interacted
with the researchers)
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Communication_Theory/Diffusi
on_of_Innovations

29. Factors that cause adoption
• Attributes of the Innovation/Relative Advantage
of the Innovation
• Individual Innovation Use Decisions (End User)
• Communication Channels
• Nature of Social System/Culture of Innovation
• Change Agent’s (Leader) Promotion of the
Innovation
• Individual Characteristics of Adopters (Do they
like to change?)

30. Stages of Adoption
• Awareness - the individual is exposed to
the innovation
• Interest - the individual becomes
interested in the new idea and seeks
additional information about it
• Evaluation - individual mentally applies
the innovation to his present and
anticipated future situation, and then
decides whether or not to try it
• Trial - the individual makes full use of the
innovation
• Adoption - the individual decides to
continue the full use of the innovation

31. Rogers: Adoption Groups

32. Adoption: S-shaped Curve

33. Change and Adoption: Where do you fit?
• Adopter
Category?
–Innovator
–Early Adopter
–Early Majority
–Late Majority
–Laggard
• Stage of
Adoption?
–Awareness
–Interest
–Evaluation
–Trial
–Adoption

37. Trends and Surveys
• iNACOL Research (www.inacol.org)
• Pew Internet Research
• Project Tomorrow: Student Speak Up
(http://www.tomorrow.org/SpeakUp/ )
• Horizon Report
(http://www.nmc.org/horizon-project/horizon-reports/horizon-report-k-12-edition )
• World Future Society (http://www.wfs.org/)

38. iNACOL Trends: Online Learning
• 2 million K-12 online course enrollments in
2009-10
• 27 States have state virtual schools
• 4 states require some type of online course as
part of high school graduation requirements
(Alabama, Florida, Michigan and Virginia)
• An estimated 50% of public school districts
nationally are offering some time of online or
blended learning

39. No one knows for sure how many
• Numbers are estimates based on surveys
• Bigger schools like K-12, Inc. or Connections
Academies or Florida Virtual School keep count
of their own
• How students are counted is different (one
student in one semester course = one)
• No one really counts numbers of students in
independent schools involved in blended or
online learning (keep track of your own
numbers)

40. Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)
All online
adults
(18+)
Cell phone 96% 94% 87% 84% 77% 52% 88%
Desktop
computer 55% 67% 62% 61% 48% 29% 57%
Laptop
computer 70% 63% 58% 49% 32% 14% 56%
iPod or MP3
player 69% 57% 36% 24% 10% 5% 44%
Game
console 63% 63% 38% 19% 8% 3% 42%
e-Book
reader 19% 25% 18% 12% 9% 5% 19%
Tablet, like
iPad 23% 23% 16% 14% 8% 3% 19%
Student Digital Devices (Pew Internet Surveys)

41. Video
• More video uploaded in YouTube in the
last 2 months than all new content aired
by ABC, NBC and ABC since 1948.
• The equivalent of 60,000 full length films
is uploaded to YouTube every week
• 20 hours of video uploaded every minute
to YouTube

42. Speak Up 2011. Yearly Survey
• 416,758 surveys completed from K-12 students, parents
and administrators
–A majority of teachers, school site
administrators and district level
administrators now report
participating in an online class for
their own professional development.
http://www.tomorrow.org/SpeakUp/

43. Speak Up 2011. Yearly Survey
• The profile of a typical student interested in
taking an online class today is a middle
school girl who values the use of a
mobile device in school and sees online
learning as her ticket to a more
personalized learning environment
where she is in control of the learning
process.
http://www.tomorrow.org/SpeakUp/

44. Horizon Report
• Yearly report since 2002
• Purpose: To understand the impact of
emerging technologies
• Diverse group of experts gather and
discuss and then make predictions
http://www.nmc.org/horizon-project/horizon-reports/horizon-report-
k-12-edition

45. Horizon Report Predictions (2012)
• 1. Education paradigms are shifting to include
online learning, blended learning and
collaborative models.
• 2. The abundance of resources and
relationships made easily accessible via the
Internet is increasingly challenging us to revisit
our roles as educators.
• 3. People expect to be able to work, learn, and
study whenever and wherever they want.

46. Disrupting Class
• “By 2019, about 50 percent of all
high school courses will be
delivered online”
– Christensen, Horn, Johnson (2010)
• Student-centric, modular learning
• Affordability, non-consumption
(online and blended learning)

47. Transformation: Perspective
• Do you think education should change?
• Do you think you should change the way
you teach?
• Do you think the tools you use for teaching
should change?

48. What do you see?

49. What do you see?

50. Where do the stairs begin?

51. Transformation = Who or what
influences you to change?
• Transformation is mostly personal
• Transformation of teaching is a personal
decision

52. Change and Transformation
• Change is happening all around us all the
time (technology, student access to
technology and information, etc.)
• Transformation occurs when people are
influenced by others (peers, print, digital,
etc.)

53. But…
• To change and transform, we need to
define terms.
• What exactly is “blended teaching and
learning”?

54. We are pretty clear
Face-to-Face Teaching
• Students in classroom
• Teacher in classroom
• Interaction face-to-face,
mostly verbal, some
visual
• Fixed schedule of classes
to attend
• Prescribed curriculum
based on standards / use
of textbooks
Online Teaching
• Students online
• Teacher online (minimal
face-to-face interaction)
• Interaction online video
conferencing, email –
more visual, less verbal
• Flexible schedule for work
completion
• Prescribed curriculum
based on standards / text

55. A formal education program in which a student
learns at least in part through online learning, with
some element of student control over time, place,
path and/or pace
at least in part in a supervised brick-and-mortar
location away from home (such as school).
100010
001111
010101
000
The modalities along each student’s learning path
within a course or subject are connected to
provide an integrated learning experience.
100010
001111
010101
000
Defining blended learning

56. Blended learning is not…

57. Blended
learning is
not like a
light switch
you turn on
one day

58. …And pedagogical shifts take time

59. Think in terms of 3-5 years
from now (not just today).
Think about what can be,
not what is.
This is a journey,
not a destination.

60. Emerging blended learning models
A la Carte
model

61. But what does
Blended Learning
really look like
for a teacher?

62. Teaching and Learning
• What is the student
doing and where is the
student?
 What is the teacher
doing and where is the
teacher?
 What and where is the
content?

63. From Textbook to Online Teaching
Online
Teaching
Textbook
Enhanced
Teaching
Technology
Enhanced
Teaching
Web / Online
Enhanced
Teaching

64. What does “it” look like?
Where do you fit?
(* See handout)
• Textbook enhanced teaching and
learning
• Technology enhanced (not online)
• Web/online enhanced
• Blended
• Online

65. What does “it” look like?
*Teacher-centric vs. Student-centric
• Textbook enhanced
teaching and learning
• Technology enhanced
(not online)
• Web/online enhanced
• Blended
• Online
More teacher
centric
Combination
More student
centric

66. What does “it” look like?
*Teacher vs. student control of
teaching and learning
• Textbook enhanced
teaching and learning
• Technology enhanced
(not online)
• Web/online enhanced
• Blended
• Online
More teacher
control
Shared
control
More student
control

67. What does “it” look like?
*Control of time and pace
• Textbook enhanced
teaching and learning
• Technology enhanced
(not online)
• Web/online enhanced
• Blended
• Online
Set time
structure
Some
Flexibility
Flexible

68. What does “it” look like?
*Blended Learning Models continuum
• Textbook enhanced
teaching and learning
• Technology enhanced
(not online)
• Web/online enhanced
• Blended
• Online
Rotation
Self Blend
Enriched
Virtual
Flex

69. Textbook Enhanced
Teacher Student Curriculum

70. Textbook Enhanced
What is the student doing?
• Sitting in a desk in a
classroom
• Writing on paper
• Listening to teacher
• Talking with peers
What is the teacher doing?
• Standing in front of the
classroom
• Directing Learning
• Group discussions
What is the content?
• Textbooks
• Supplemental materials
• Teacher created materials
Where is the content?
• On paper
• In the classroom
• In a school library

71. Technology Enhanced
Teacher Student Curriculum

72. Technology Enhanced
What is the student doing?
• Sitting in a desk in a classroom
• Writing on paper
• Listening to teacher
• Talking with peers
• Using a shared or personal
computer
What is the teacher doing?
• Standing in front of the classroom
• Directing Learning
• Group discussions
What is the content?
• Textbooks
• Supplemental materials
• Teacher created materials
• Computer (Word, Ppt, etc.)
• Computer Program (loaded or CD-
Rom)
Where is the content?
• On paper
• In the classroom
• In a school library
• On a computer/digital white board
/ doc camera, etc.

73. Web/Online Enhanced
Teacher Student Curriculum

74. Web/Online Enhanced
What is the student doing?
•Sitting in a desk in a classroom
•Writing on paper
•Listening to teacher
•Talking with peers
•Using a shared or personal computer
What is the teacher doing?
•Standing in front of the classroom
•Directing Learning
•Group discussions
•Some assignments/activities online
What is the content?
•Textbooks
•Supplemental materials
•Teacher created materials
•Computer (Word, Ppt, etc.)
•Computer Program (loaded or CD-
Rom)
•Web
•Computer led (e.g. programmed math
or English. Plato, Ed 2020)
Where is the content?
•On paper
•In the classroom
•In a school library
•On a computer/digital white board /
doc camera, etc.
•Some Online

75. Blended
Teacher Student Curriculum

76. Blended
What is the student doing?
(30% work online)
•Sitting in a desk in a classroom or
computer lab
•Using personal computer online at home
or other location
•Interacting with peers in person and
online
What is the teacher doing?
(30% interacting with students online)
•Standing in front of the classroom and
interacting online
•Directing Learning
•Meeting students in small groups (f2f and
online)
•Developing/assigning online lessons
•Grading online
What is the content?
•Textbooks
•Supplemental materials
•Teacher created materials
•Computer (Word, Ppt, etc.)
•Computer Program (loaded or CD-Rom)
•Web
•Computer led (e.g. E2020, Aventa, K-12,
Inc, Compass, etc ) or Teacher Developed
Where is the content?
•On paper
•In the classroom
•In a school library
•On a computer/digital white board / doc
camera, etc.
•Online (computer led or teacher led
content)

77. Online Teaching
Teacher Student Curriculum

78. Online
What is the student doing?
(70% or more work online)
• Sitting in a desk in a classroom or
computer lab
• Using personal computer online at
home or school or other location
• Interacting with teacher in person
and/or online
• Interacting with teacher in person
and/or online
What is the teacher doing?
(70% or more interacting with students
online)Standing in front of the classroom
• Facilitating Learning
• Meeting students in small groups (f2f
and online)
• Developing/assigning online lessons
• Discussion Board
• Online meetings/teaching (e.g.
Elluminate)
• Grading online
What is the content?
• Textbooks
• Supplemental materials
• Teacher created materials
• Computer (Word, Ppt, etc.)
• Computer Program (loaded or CD-Rom)
• Web
• Computer led (e.g. programmed math
or English)
• Teacher led
Where is the content?
• On paper
• On a computer/digital white board / doc
camera, etc.
• Online (computer led or teacher led
content)

79. iNacol –Quality Online Teaching Standards –
Blended Learning Continuum
**Students**
Less Online
Instruction
More Online
Instruction
Mostly Online
Instruction

80. Blended teaching is a
combination of many factors
Student
• Flexibility of time
• Turns work in mostly online
• Participates in online
discussion boards
• Utilizes Web 2.0 tools to
complete assignments
• Actively engaged in content
Teacher
• Personalized learning
• Ongoing review of student data to
change instruction
• Meeting with students whole class,
in groups, individually
• Online and face-to-face strategies to
deliver instruction
• Adept with a variety of Web 2.0 tools
and technologies
• Curriculum both face-to-face and
online in different modalities
• Curriculum and assignments mostly
online and graded online
• Embraces redundancy and change

81. Quick Quiz – Blended Teaching or Not?
Strategy Yes No Maybe
Teacher posts an article online for students
to read.
Students turn work in online and teacher
grades all work online
Teacher utilizes online discussion boards
with students in an ongoing way
Students create a PowerPoint presentation
and present it in class

82. From Textbook to Online Teaching
Online
Teaching
Textbook
Enhanced
Teaching
Technology
Enhanced
Teaching
Web / Online
Enhanced
Teaching

83. Blended Learning, A Developing
Field. Ongoing Challenges
• Teacher: How do I know I am “doing”
blended learning?
• Administrator: How do I know the
teacher is doing blended learning?
• Administrator: How do I observe a
blended learning lesson?

84. Blended Learning Rubric (Handout)
• 1) Leadership
• 2) New Staff Roles
• 3) New Student Roles
• 4) Personalized Learning Plans
• 5) Next Generation Curriculum and
Assessment;
• 6) Flexible and Real World Learning
Environments

85. Remember…
The path each school takes
down this road of blended
learning may be different, but
the journey will be the same.

86. This is a journey,
not a destination.
And…
Remember…

87. “Never doubt that a
small group of
thoughtful, committed
“educators ” can change
the world.
Indeed, it is the only
thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead

88. Contact Info
• Rob Darrow – rdarrow@inacol.org
• www.inacol.org
Presentation:
http://robdarrow.wikispaces.com

89. Discussion Questions
• On the “continuum” where does your school fit?
• On the Blended Learning Rubric, where do you
fit?
• What has to happen to further transform yourself
and your school to more fully adopt blended or
online learning?
• What type of professional development is
needed?
• What student support systems are needed?

90. The challenge..
Or Jane
Or Mia
Or Deny
Or Juan
Or Sara