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Introduction

Do you want to leverage technology to improve the teaching and learning in your classroom? Are you unsure where to start? Are you looking for a way to meet the needs of a diverse group of students with various strengths and needs? Blended learning could be the solution for your classroom. The Perfect Blend: A Practical Guide to Designing Student-Centered Learning Experiences can help you redesign your lessons to use technology in ways that help you individualize and personalize instruction for students. Let’s move away from using technology for the sake of technology, and instead let’s use it to transform what learning looks like in your classroom.

What’s in This Book

Blended learning in its simplest form is any combination of face-to-face instruction and online learning. This book is divided into two parts to cover those two components.

Part 1, “The Physical Classroom,” explores the elements of the traditional classroom that impact the blended learning experience. You will learn about blended learning models and structures that you can adapt, reflect on the role of student agency, and make a plan for data collection to drive instruction. We will also discuss strategies for designing an active learning space in which student-centered blended learning can take place, as well as for classroom management in such a modern learning environment.

Blended learning relies on high-quality online instruction to be effective. Part 2, “The Digital Classroom,” examines the components of high-quality online learning. After addressing the differences between learning online and more traditional instruction, it shares digital teaching strategies that will help you make the most of the online environment. You will learn ways to immediately improve the digital content that you deliver to students, as well as how to create equitable and accessible digital learning opportunities that meet the needs of all students.

Throughout the book, you will find several recurring elements to help you on your blended learning journey. Every chapter includes an opening list of learning objectives to guide your reading, a section outlining the corresponding ISTE standards covered, QR codes and links to additional templates and resources, a summary of the chapter, and reflection questions to think about independently or as part of a book study.

Whom This Book Is For

This book is for teachers and teacher leaders who want to make a change in their classrooms. Although some incredible blended schools and programs required major planning and shifts at a high level, they are not the only model. You do not have to wait to be placed in a blended school; you can get started personalizing and individualizing instruction in your own classroom tomorrow. That’s right—regardless of the school or system in which you teach, this book will help you implement blended learning for your students. If you are not satisfied with a one-size-fits-all approach to education, then The Perfect Blend is the perfect resource to effect change.

As you read and reflect, I hope you will join me on Twitter, Instagram, or your social media platform of choice using the hashtag #PerfectBlendBook. Share your thoughts, questions, ideas, and favorite resources with our community.

Happy blending,

Michele (@micheeaton)