Giving Compass' Take:

• Blended learning is on the rise in kindergarten through grade 12 education, and several versions of this practice are in use. The Christensen Institute has the full report on which practices are best using their growing database. 

• How do we implement them properly? What factors affect the success of these practices?

• Read more about how blended learning techniques work. 

Over the years researching blended learning in schools, our team at the Christensen Institute has observed a wide spectrum of blended-learning practices. While there is great diversity of practice, the Institute identifies seven common models leveraged by educators: Station Rotation, Individual Rotation, Lab Rotation, Flipped Classroom, A La Carte, Enriched Virtual and Flex. In this work, we’re often asked questions like, ‘Which models are the most popular? Which models work best for primary school students versus high schoolers? What practices are cropping up internationally?’ Fortunately, we have a continuously growing database that is beginning to answer some of these important questions about practices in the field.

In February 2016, the Christensen Institute updated the Blended Learning Universe, an online hub of blended learning resources, and launched a more intuitive directory of blended schools around the world, precisely with the goal of making it easier for educators to learn about emerging practices from peers. Today, with 670 profiles and counting of schools’ and districts’ blended programs on the BLU, we’ve amassed an informative database indicating changes over time across the blended-learning space. Of course, while this isn’t an exhaustive picture of K-12 blended implementations across the world, it is enough data to reveal insightful trends. Here’s a look at models on the rise as shown in the data.

Read the full article about blended learning by Jenny White at SmartBrief.