Bringing Blended Learning to RHHS

Blended learning is the strategy of providing students with a combination of face-to-face and online instruction.  Richmond Hill High School has offered online learning opportunities for our students, through Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) and Edgenuity.  These courses were offered to students who had conflicts with scheduling and/or needed a class that we did not currently offer.  Many students at the high school level are not fully prepared to take a strictly online class with no face-to-face time with an actual teacher.  We have had more students NOT succeed in these situations, then we have had succeed.  This has helped us to see the need for a "blend" in learning: offer students face-to-face with online learning.

Much research has gone into the how, why, when, and who for blended learning at our school and for our school system.  Several media specialists, technology resource teachers, and one of our curriculum directors visited Forsyth Co. (GA) schools to see how they have already incorporated blended learning into one of their high schools - South Forsyth High School.  Being able to hear from both teachers who are creating the blended classes and students who are participating in them gave us insight into how to begin our journey with blended.  The students were very positive about their experiences with blended as it allowed them the freedom for work, activities, and sports without missing valuable instruction time.  Teacher training was also emphasized during our visit, as blended learning does not simply mean a teacher uploads a handout online for students to access.  Much preparation needs to go into the blended class.  This is where I learned about Univ. of Central Florida's BlendKit.  Teachers at South Forsyth High School go through a training that is based on UCF's BlendKit.  Armed with new knowledge, we headed back to our schools to see how we could make blended learning work!

We already have many students who are taking advantage of the A/B block option that we have that deviates from our normal 4x4 block schedule.  Students that want to get all of their AP curriculum options in, as well as those who desire to take a certain class that may only be offered in a certain block, have been allowed to use our A/B schedule options, but blended learning would give our students even more freedom and options in scheduling.

Our school has decided to incoporate one teacher teaching three blended courses in the 2016-17 school year.  Mr. Adam Balduff, our AP and Honors U.S. History teacher, is our "guinea pig" for blended next year.  We have a team in place to integrate these blended classes.  As a media specialist, I will work with our Tech Resource teacher to ensure that Mr. Balduff has all of the technology componenets that he needs to make the classes truly blended learning.  All three of us are taking part in the BlendKit 2016 course to give RHHS the start to incoporating blended learning successfully.