Today, there are many trends in education. From Project-Based Learning to Personalized Learning, the future of educational technology is exciting. One of the most promising trends is Blended Learning. Blended Learning grew out of the Flipped Classroom method of instruction. In a Flipped Classroom, the teacher produces or curates videos and other digital materials for students to access at home. Because students come to class having learned the content, discussions are far more rich, and they spend more time analyzing and applying what they've learned. During class, the teacher's role is that of facilitator, guiding students, pushing their thinking, and clearing up misconceptions. If well planned and executed, Flipped Instruction can help students develop the critical thinking skills needed for a 21st Century learner.

Blended Learning is very similar to Flipped Instruction in that students learn both online and face-to-face with their teacher. The main difference is that the online portion of blended learning, at least in part, takes place in the classroom. As a result, it's far easier to meet the needs of students because the teacher can assign differentiated videos or even pull small groups to work on filling in the gaps in their learning. Because students are in the classroom, the teacher is also able to monitor and quickly intervene if a student is struggling with the digital content. This tailored digital instruction gives the student every opportunity to succeed.

There are many advantages to Blended Learning. First, students are highly engaged. One reason for this is because the Blended Learning classroom is not like a traditional classroom, the teacher doesn't lecture. Students find lectures boring and often there is little or no time at the end to apply what they've learned. That makes retention of the content far more difficult. Further, once the lecture is over, it's over, there's no going back. With Blended Learning students are given high-quality digital materials and time to rewatch the learning videos as often as they want. Combine that with the in-class discussion and ample time for practice, it's not surprising students feel far more successful, and perform better.

Another reason for the success of Blended Learning is that, at least to a certain extent, students have control over the path and pace of their learning. Students are at different levels, some learn quickly and are ready to move on while others are just beginning to understand the content. By giving students control over pace, the ones who are ready can move on, they don't have to wait for the teacher or class. By the same token, students who need more time can take it without feeling rushed. This degree of freedom makes kids more comfortable with learning and more successful.

Finally, students are given choice over their learning path. In the traditional method of teaching, students have to sit through a lecture even if they already know the content. It's not surprising then that these students become bored and disengaged. The opposite is true in Blended Learning. If a student can show they've mastered a particular topic(s), they are free to move on to the next challenge. By giving students a choice of path, they can spend time on the things they need to practice the most.

Blended Learning is an excellent model. Not only does it free up valuable instructional time, but it allows the teacher to help the students who need it most. Also, according to the 2015 Horizon Report, which details the trends in educational technology, Blended Learning leads to increased student engagement in the classroom. The report cites schools in both the United States and abroad which saw not only increased student engagement but significant gains on academic achievement tests. More importantly, the increased level of performance makes kids more confident and willing to take risks while learning.

Engagement and achievement aside, Blended Learning benefits not only students, but teachers, and society as a whole. As educators, we work hard to develop well-rounded students who have the experience to compete in the 21st Century. Blended Learning helps students learn essential skills like communication, collaboration, and critical thinking while all-the-while making teaching easier. In fact, being able to communicate with technology is in part why the Common Core State Standards include technology integration English Language Arts and Math. Without the ability to effectively use technology to enhance learning, students will find it hard to compete in our digital world. Blended Learning is the key to unlocking our student's future at Stellar. Right now the door is closed. Will you go through it with me?