Getting started with blended learning:
- Use what you have! Many students carry mobile devices that can be used with polling and assessment sites, like Socrative, Kahoot, Quizzizz, and Go Formative.
- Model proper technology use. Not all students come to your classroom with the same prior experiences with technology, and some students may need extra assistance using classroom technology.
- There are many great technology tools available, but remember -- the technology is secondary. Good teaching always comes first! Consider what types of technology can help your students reach higher levels on Bloom's Taxonomy and Webb's Depth of Knowledge levels. (Take a look at Kathy Schrock's Bloomin' Apps, or Katie Ritter's Web Tools, integrating Bloom with many educational technology options.)
- Think of what areas of instruction make more sense online. For example, online discussions allow each student to express their thoughts and be heard -- not always possible in a large face-to-face classroom.
- Consider these questions: What objectives must students master? What are several ways that your students can master those objectives? If learning objectives can be taught through an interactive lesson that students can access at any time, you should think about moving that material to an online format.