Blended Learning Options

In this article, blended learning or hybrid learning refers to learning where some students are learning in the room and other students are at home. This article outlines different options for teachers.

Objectives

1. We seek to integrate at-home and in-person learners.
2. We seek to enhance and deepen learning through the use of technology in a seamless way for all students (in-class or at-home).

Techniques to Use

1. Chances for the students to combine academics and creativity. Check out this Padlet of some things done in the Y10 IDU.
2. Continue clearly stating the lesson’s structure/ intentions/ outcomes/ objectives/ tasks on the class platform so that those both groups of learners have the same instructions, regardless of network issues, audio issues, etc.
3. The “teacher” has a few options:
   1. Pair one remote learner with one in-person learner. See below for details.
   2. Arrange your classroom display to show both the content (slides, site, web, app, etc.) and the video of the remote students). (this option is useful when teacher leading the class. For audio, teacher should either stand near mic on presenting device.) 
   3. Teacher joins Zoom meeting with two devices to use one as content sharing and other as classroom display (see below video). iPad joined to Zoom is very mobile as audio and microphone.

Table of Options

Teacher wants…	How to Make It. Happen
Students in class to have a way to connect with students at home while not needing to share content synchronously.	Run Zoom on classroom iPad or a MacBook and place in a strategic location.  Students from home join at certain times.
Integrate remote and in-person learners.	Veracross class directories are a great way for students to see each others’ names and pictures. Be sure to make groups with a mix of in-class and at-home students. Google Classroom students/people tab (to see names of classmates). Instead of 1 buddy -> we can make multiple buddies in each of their classes. Buddies can use Hangouts Chat to text chat or Hangout with each other. Answer questions, etc. Need a social media platform – I think we should ask student council if they suggest something.
Get students to help you run Zoom and connect to at-home students.	Pair one in-class learner with one at-home learner during the lesson. The in-class learner can then host a “zoom” with the at-home learner on their own laptop. The at-home learner can hear the lesson easily and ask the in-class learner for clarification or to ask questions to the teacher on their behalf. The in-class learner can also share their screen (using Google Classroom posted resources) to mimic the teacher-led in-class presentation at the correct pace. The in-class learner can also use their camera to show the at-home student different people speaking in the class as appropriate. This also seems to work well for Year-level assemblies and workshops.
Teacher to show content (slides, web page, app) to all students (in classroom and on Zoom). The students at home should be visible to the class and teacher. The classroom should be somewhat visible to the home students. The home students will have a similar view.	Run Zoom on the computer attached to the classroom display/projector (best if Macbook with webcam). Home students join Zoom. Use Gallery View. MacBook webcam aimed to focal point (students in class or front of room or teacher). This will be a small image to students so not imperative. Easy level: Share your screen or browser window into your Zoom meeting (many people already did this last year). Pro tip from Angelo for Google Slides: Click on Present, but then use the Exit full screen (Shift + Command + F) button then resize the slides window to take up 3/4 of your screen and floating zoom panel on the right side. Advanced level: Join your own Zoom meeting with another device such as an iPad and share its screen into the Zoom meeting. On the main computer, split the window to show up to 10 students on right and your content on the left. Audio setup Laptop: Mute Mic, Mute Speakers iPad: Join Audio of Zoom You will get feedback if you have mic and speakers from both iPad and MacBook at same time.
Students to have a whole-class discussion	As above, but with no screen sharing so the teacher computer is on Gallery View on the display in the classroom. Audio output of Zoom goes to the display device. Blue hand for those at home or speak to let you know they have a question. Use discussion board in Veracross to have class discussions.
Student presentation in classrooms	Same as the teacher presenting content (above).
Student presentation from home	Allow screen share by participants. Audio from teacher computer will need to be connected to classroom speakers. Teacher device with webcam pointing at the class (so that student presenter can see audience). Students present using Zoom. Questions from the audience will need to be repeated so that the home student(s) can hear the questions.
Question from student at home	Home student questions will be heard on the teacher device. Likely have to repeat the question to the classroom students.
Question from a student in the classrooom	Classroom student questions will be heard to everyone in the classroom but not heard by the teacher device mic. Teacher must repeat questions for the benefit of the home students.
Play a video	Be sure to Share system audio when you share your screen in Zoom.
Students work in small groups either separate or mixed	Determine if you want each group to involve home and classroom students or to keep them separate. If separate groups, make enough breakout rooms for home students, and set your classroom students to be in groups (but apart). This might be noisy. If mixed groups, make enough breakout rooms for number of groups, and put one classroom student in a breakout room with any number of home students. Other classroom students can speak to that same computer by spinning it on the desk.
Document Camera to show anything physical	Borrow an iPad stand from IT. Clamp an iPad (or phone) into the stand. Join the Zoom meeting with that device. Use the Camera or Magnifier app. Aim at the object or surface you wish to show/demonstrate.
Writing on Screen of iPad to annotate something	Borrow an iPad and Apple Pencil. Connect as in row #1. Use any Notes app or Keynote to draw on the iPad.
Send video of a subject in class (such as a monologue or speech) to students at home.	Easy level: Use MacBook webcam pointed at the subject. Advanced level: Borrow an iPad stand from IT. Clamp an iPad (or phone) into the stand. Join the Zoom meeting with that device. Use the Camera app. Aim at the subject.
Show some student work to the entire class	Use iPad (or phone) to take a picture of the student work as you move about the room. Go to Photos app and show the photos to the entire class. Advanced Level: Annotate the work with Apple Pencil.
I want to work on my laptop privately and students in classroom see something else.	Advanced: Use dual monitors (Macbook + Projector) with Zoom. This setup is built-in with your MacBook, but using it is a bit disorienting since you have to look at the projector to move your mouse around that display Tech Support will help you with setup.

Hybrid Learning with Two Devices (iPad + Laptop)

This video (4:37) gives you a full explanation and a taste for how your classroom display and Zoom can look when using two devices and Zoom in blended learning.

• Learning Management Systems (such as Veracross and Google Classroom) are key for sharing resources to be accessed by learners asynchronously (at any time they desire).
• Communication systems such as Zoom are key for connecting learners regardless of physical location.