At the start of the pandemic, educators everywhere had to dramatically change the way they taught students. Many schools went completely online, some remained in person, while others adopted a hybrid model. No matter the scenario, digital technology played a key role in keeping studies on track.

For many teachers and students, this was their first experience with blended learning. But the truth is, blended learning has been around long before the pandemic began. And as technology continues to evolve, it’s guaranteed that more schools will adopt this method of instruction.

If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of blended learning or need a refresher, read on for more information!

What Is Blended Learning?

In simple terms, blended learning is a combination of traditional, face-to-face teaching methods and online instruction. Blended learning relies on technology to support students' learning, whether it's through online resources like interactive textbooks or videos, or by making use of digital educational tools such as Google Classroom or Quizlet. 

Common Blended Learning Models

Blended learning can take many forms, but the basic premise of each is that students are given the chance to work independently, while teachers have more time to help them reach their full potential. Here are some of the most common blended learning models used by educators:

Face-to-Face Driver Model

This model is closely aligned with traditional classroom instruction and is generally implemented based on student ability. Teachers provide instruction to the class as usual. Technology is used to support students who may not fully grasp the content and allows them to practice without holding up the rest of the class.

Station Rotation Model

Here, students remain in the classroom and rotate through different activities, of which at least one is an online learning station, on a fixed schedule.

Flipped Classroom Model

In this model, the traditional roles of home and school as learning spaces are swapped. Students are introduced to content at home through online coursework. The following day, teachers use classroom time to facilitate practice exercises, class discussions, or projects about the content.

Enriched Virtual Model

This model is similar to the flipped classroom, with one difference. Students complete most of their coursework online, but they’re required to attend in-person sessions with their teacher intermittently, as opposed to the flipped classroom’s daily meetings.

Flex Model

This model gives students a highly personalized learning experience to match their specific needs. While students meet in the classroom, most of the course content is delivered online. Students can work on their own, and because they’re in the classroom, they can seek help from their teacher if needed.

The A La Carte Model

In addition to their normal face-to-face classes, students enroll in an online course of their choosing. This course can be completed at home or in school during a free period. This model works well for schools that are unable to provide certain courses, such as AP level classes, but have motivated students wanting to learn on their own.

How Do Students and Teachers Benefit from Blended Learning?

Aside from its variety of use cases, blended learning offers a number of other benefits for both students and teachers. 

For the driven student, the reluctant learner, and everyone in between, blended learning gives them an opportunity to take ownership of their education. Students can work on assignments or projects at their own pace, rather than having to keep up with a teacher who may be moving too quickly or too slowly for them. Depending on the model, this level of autonomy varies. For instance, the flex model has students work nearly on their own. In others, like the station rotation model, students complete assignments with some guidance from a teacher.

Many online learning platforms automatically keep track of student progress, allowing students—and teachers—to see exactly where they are in a course or lesson. Based on the data, teachers can tailor their courses to suit each student's unique needs and interests and provide more resources for those struggling. 

In addition, blended learning can build more than just academic abilities. Unlike online-only instruction, where in many cases, students are physically isolated from their peers, blended learning encourages in-person interaction. Students need face-to-face classroom time to build strong interpersonal skills. 

Prestwick House Resources to Support Blended Learning

Based on years of feedback from teachers like you, we’ve developed two digital programs that can easily be integrated into your English language arts curriculum. 

Inspired by our popular print series, Vocabulary Power Plus Online challenges students with rigorous vocabulary activities designed to help them learn and retain new words. Each interactive lesson provides instant feedback to guide students toward word mastery and takes just a few minutes of class time to complete. Vocabulary Power Plus Online can be used alone or as a supplement to the print series.

Adding another dimension to your literature units is simple with KeyLit, our newest digital resource. This interactive program is intended to be used in conjunction with reading a novel or play. Every KeyLit Literature Companion includes standards-aligned lessons and assessments that guide students through a close reading of the text and helps build critical reading skills.

Both Vocabulary Power Plus Online and KeyLit are accessible through a web browser and don’t require any additional software. Students simply need an internet connection and a computer, tablet, or smartphone. That said, not every student may have internet access at times, especially if they’re studying at home. Alternative methods of instruction should be considered for special circumstances.

Ready to Jump into Blended Learning?

As we’ve discussed, blended learning is a great way to create an even more exciting and educational environment for students and teachers alike. If you’re thinking about incorporating blended learning into your classroom using Vocabulary Power Plus Online or KeyLit, send a message to info@prestwickhouse.com. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have and can even set you up with free trial accounts!