The DLL program at Lamar University has allowed me to explore innovation that will revolutionize education and connect with educators that will lead the way to the new classroom!
*Updated March 2021
I began my innovation plan with the intent of brining individualized instruction to all students. I launched blended learning in my own classroom and watched how powerful the academic changes were when students had instruction tailored to their individual needs. I watched my students grow and progress further and learn at new depths. My students mastered content and applied it across multiple disciplines.
I began sharing our progress and plans with my colleagues. The school closures due to COVID brought my plans to a standstill. Once we were able to resume in person instruction, I began again in my own classroom with a new group of students. This year has been focused on measuring the growth of these students when using the same blended learning strategies.
Moving forward, I will be presenting using blended learning in all classrooms to differentiate learning to colleagues in my district. I will be working on ways to show that this is not the same as the flipped classroom. It is important that students have access to teachers while learning. My intent will never be that students are teaching themselves or that they are getting instruction at home where they do not have a teacher that can help when needed. The bottom line is that teachers are not replaceable. This program is using technology to aide the teacher and provide students with targeted instruction. The teacher is able to spend more individualized time with students to ensure understanding while other students are engaged in rigorous and purposeful activities that enrich their understanding of the subject they are studying.
Developing this innovation project has reminded me of how important it is to keep the learners in mind when planning. In public education, we have such a diverse group of students coming from so many backgrounds. Often times, students fall behind because the classes must move forward for the majority. Throughout my research and development of my project, I was able to identify strategies to help those students and continue to scaffold so that they are able to understand new content. I have learned just as much about what not to do to promote the best classroom environment possible. My classroom will always be a place to learn and engage. The days of perfect little rows of perfect little desks with students filling out a worksheet are over. My classroom will be a place of active, individualized learning!
Jennifer Bloodworth 