COVER STORY
“ If blended learning through the rotation model is to be defined by reducing the number of certified teachers in schools and placing students in computer labs to spend half of their day in front of math and reading software programs , then education in the 21st century is indeed heading down an antiquated and very dangerous path ,” Mr . McRae writes .
At Steward , however , our teachers continue to be considered the core element of students ’ success in academics . Mr . Frank emphasized that our faculty is fundamental to both the exploration of content and to administering best practices in education .
“ Children having their own unique Steward experience is bigger than any technological offering , and our faculty is a crucial part of that ,” he said . “ They absolutely have to be here .”
Another concern surrounding blended learning is the increase in screen time that can potentially be harmful for children . An October 2016 study called “ Media Use in School-Aged Children and Adolescents ” by the American Academy of Pediatrics reported that children who overuse online media are at risk of problematic Internet use . The prevalence of this issue among children and adolescents is between four and eight percent . In addition , “ a growing body of evidence suggests that the use of media while engaged in academic tasks has negative consequences on learning ,” according to the study .
The study concluded , however , that harmful consequences can be avoided by educating children in media literacy , designating media-free family time , and engaging in active media that can be used to promote creativity and learning among children .
Steward faculty understand the importance of limiting the amount of screen time students receive per day to only what is necessary and beneficial , especially in Lower School . Mrs . Ricketts said that the screen time Lower School children have at Steward is limited , guided , and involves creation or active skills and drills rather than passive activities .
It is especially important to reinforce this concept as young students are beginning to form study habits . Steward has a 1:1 technology program , meaning every student has access to a digital device to support his or her learning . Mrs . Wilton said the Lower School team teaches students to view their iPads as tools , not toys — just as books have their place as an educational resource , so do iPads .
“ We remind teachers to be sensitive about the work they assign because we know parents don ’ t want their children on electronics all night ,” Mrs . Wilton added . “ We want family time to occur and we want those quality conversations to happen . In addition , we remind parents that when you do allow your child to have screen time at home , let it be something beneficial for him or her . If they can watch a 30-minute television show , consider allowing them to do a session of Lexia or DreamBox instead .”
But thanks to the engaging content presented in the virtual programs Steward offers , many students are taking part in conversations with each other about the digital content they ’ re receiving , according to Lower School Academic Dean Becky Groves .
“ My daughter [ Sarah Grace Groves ‘ 27 ] tells me how many tokens the other kids got while using DreamBox and Lexia , or tips they gave her to pass challenges ,’” Mrs . Groves said . “ These programs really are blended — children are talking about what they ’ re learning because they ’ re so engaged in these platforms that it ’ s spilling over into their conversations and informing social interactions .”
As for the future of blended learning at Steward , Mr . Frank said he sees Steward following a two-part vision : we will continue to engage in the blended learning offerings we have currently , and faculty will continue to analyze data to ensure that the platforms are still rewarding for all involved .
Moving forward , he hopes more teachers will adopt flipped classroom or asynchronous learning models so that inperson class time will not be spent on delivering content or administering assessments , but rather on critical thinking and collaborative discussions between teachers and students .
“ Brick and mortar is here to stay — that will never go away at Steward ,” he said . “ But technology gives our children the chance to have more autonomy over their content , over the pathways through which they learn the content , and over the pace at which they learn . That can happen in lots of ways , and we fully intend on exploring all avenues for opening up the possibilities for learning as they become available .”
BY THE NUMBERS
1
Number
50 %
59 %
43 % of recommended hours of screen use per day for children 2 to 5 years of age ( American Academy of Pediatrics )
1999
The year in which the first reference to blended learning occurred in a news release from EPIC Learning ( Defining Blended Learning , Norm Friesen )
3.5 billion
Dollars spent by prominent investors on education technology companies in the U . S . in 2014 ( Rebirth of the Teaching Machine through the Seduction of Data Analytics : This Time it ’ s Personal , Philip McRae , Ph . D .)
High school courses that will be available online nationally by 2019 ( Christensen )
Teachers who reported that students were more motivated to learn in a blended learning environment ( EdTechReview )
Blended learning users who combined online and traditional classes in 2016 ( EdTechReview )
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