Effective Practices of Successful Blended Learning Schools

Abstract

Blended learning is a teaching technique utilizing face-to-face teaching and online or technology-based practice in which the learner has the ability to exert control over the pace, place, path, or time of learning. Schools that employ this teaching method often demonstrate larger gains than traditional programs due to their increased ability to differentiate and quickly assess student learning. This study sought to determine ways blended-learning models contribute to student success, how blended-learning schools are measuring student success, and how administrators are supporting teachers in their use of blended techniques.

In this mixed-methods study, survey data were collected from 230 teachers and 43 administrators in blended-learning programs. Interviews were conducted with teachers and administrators at two school sites in the Southwestern most region of the United States, along with classroom observations and reviews of participating schools’ Local Control Accountability Plans (California Department of Education, 2017) and mission statements. Results yielded five consistent themes: an understanding of student needs to drive individualized instruction, varied and individual success criteria, strong relationships with students tied to decision-making that fosters individual achievement, student needs as a driving force behind the development of school programs, and an increased level of student choice to combat low motivation.