Recently, I was asked by a school district to showcase how to engage students from bell to bell in a blended learning environment.  I generated a quick presentation of what a 50 minute class period would look like from the viewpoint of the students and the viewpoint of the teacher.  The five-minute video will quickly explain entrance tickets, learning studios, and exit tickets that can be used in any classroom setting.  

Entrance Ticket Ideas: 

• Post a selfie to the group Padlet, Seesaw, or LMS and share out one thing that they are looking forward to today. 
• Post a problem of the day
• Post a quote of the day and have the students write, talk, or create something that represents how the quote inspires them. 
• Create a quick FlipGrid post about their passion project

Mini Lessons

• Mini-lessons are key!  Being able to teach the students in small groups will improve student engagement, student relationships, keep track of data, and it will allow for quick checkpoints.  
• Tips for Mini-Lessons: if you are going to repeat yourself to each group, videotape the essential aspects of your mini-lesson, have the students watch the video in the digital content.  During your mini-lesson, enrich the content that you shared with the students, ask in-depth questions, or break down the material to help the students understand the learning target
• Here are a few quick tips on how to keep mini-lessons mini from Thing Grow Giggle​

Independent Learning Studio

• Think of the Independent Learning Studio as a time where students can process the information or where they can challenge themselves to figure it out.  
• Since a group of students will have to start at the independent learning studio implement the 4-2-2 rule.

Digital Content Learning Studio

• The digital content learning studio is a time where the students can learn or relearn the learning targets.  
• Students can also practice the learning targets through adaptive technology programs
• Digital Content is not a place to create.  The creation aspect will appear in the Future Ready Skills
• Be careful to make sure that the digital content is not confused with independent practice.  

Future Ready Learning Studio

• Students should be creating, collaborating, communicating, connecting, and using critical thinking skills in the Future Ready Learning Studio
• Explore our blog post about the Evolution of Future Ready Skills to learn more.

Learn more about Blended Learning, Personalized Learning, & Future Ready Skills

Often times, we forget that when the classroom teacher makes changes to the classroom pedagogy or environment that it is essential to share the "Why" with the students.  

Over the last couple of months, I have been asked by a couple of school districts to generate a video about blended learning that can be shared with the students.  The video below will walk the students through seven commonly asked questions that relate to blended learning.  

What is blended learning?
Why does my classroom look different?
What are the learning studios?
How can I get all of the learning studios completed in a class period?
Why only ten minutes?
When can I work at my own pace?
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When can we get started?  Feel free to share the video with your students and parents.  If you would like to learn more about blended learning, check out our other blog post, follow us on Twitter, or contact us at dsdpd@dsdpdcoaching.com