Blended Learning Research
We hear about the challenge of embedding digital skills in literacy learning when working with learners who have beginner literacy skills or digital skills that do not meet the requirements of an educational setting.
Visit our Computer Basics Google site to see a collection of resources you can use to to support learners who are trying to “catch up” on digital skills.
You will find a collection of places that support learners with beginner literacy skills who want to learn more about using digital devices and leveraging connectivity for learning.
There are Lessons and Tutorials that you can use as a curriculum, build into your own curriculum or supplement a curriculum you are using as well as Lessons and Tutorials created by Ontario Literacy and Basic Skills programs.
Under the Standards tab we have collected resources to help literacy learners reflect upon and assess their computer skills.
Lots of people know about and use GCFGlobal (GCFLearnFree – edu.gcfglobal.org) resources as a place to send learners and to learn about techy stuff themselves.
Here are some other sites for getting started reviewed on this site:
- Text-based resources
You can read more about these places to learn at the AlphaPlus Computer Basics site under the Lessons and Tutorials tab.
You will find activities from these sites organized by topic at the AlphaPlus Digital Technology Readiness site Table of Contents where you will find some basics (parts of a computer, the mouse and the keyboard, etc.) under Getting Started. The rest of the topics are to help learners get ready for using digital technology for learning.
Activities from these sites are also accessible through the Digital Skills Library where they have been indexed and are searchable.
Here’s what you need to know about our new open educational resources library
- You can access the materials with one-click.
- All materials are free and reproducible for your learners and most are modifiable.
- Each resource has a description along with information about allowable uses.
- The first four of ten topics are now available. We’ll release more topics in the upcoming months.
Half the planned topics in the library are focused on developing overall literacy and numeracy capabilities, many of which introduce innovative instructional approaches. Other topics will address learner interests and goals such as supporting children with their learning or preparing to write the food handler’s test to gain a certificate.
You’ll be able to supplement published workbooks with PDF workbooks, interactive digital activities, online courses and lessons presented in Slides. Modifiable resources allow you to change the content to reflect an Ontario context and better reflect student experience and interests.
We’ve also made it easy for you to build your collection by setting up folders in Google Drive that contain many of the resources. You’re sure to find at least one new gem that you can add to your personal collection.
Blended learning models
“I’ve always found this compilation of models quite mind-boggling. I find it very difficult to keep all the permutations of a blended learning approach straight. In a conversation with some very wise literacy practitioners from Ontario, I suddenly realized why. I think that instead of reading these models of prescriptions of how to design the delivery of blended learning, we should read them as descriptions of all the ways that educators have developed and adapted a blended learning approach to specific contexts and to meet the needs and circumstances of specific learners.
There is a lot of professional knowledge and wisdom here and, perhaps more importantly, demonstrations of how that wisdom and knowledge is applied in the real world. These models are the curriculum planning frameworks in action.“
Tracey Mollins.
Contact me at tracey@alphaplus.ca to talk about blended learning delivery models.
Here are the models described on the website:
- Four Project-Based Learning Models
- Five Rotation Models
- Station Rotation Blended Learning
- Lab Rotation Blended Learning
- The ‘Flipped Classroom’ Blended Learning
- Individual Rotation Blended Learning
- The Playlist Model
- Two Hybrid Models
- Supplemental Blended Learning
- Mastery-Based Blended Learning
- Three Remote Learning Models
- A La Carte model
- Remote Blended Learning (also referred to as Enriched Virtual)
- Flex Blended Learning
Blended Learning Resources
These frameworks were developed to help educators design and develop technology-rich learning environments. The frameworks help us determine the level of technology integration in the learning environment and evaluate if the technology is enhancing, extending and/or transforming learning.
Tracey Mollins
Contact me at tracey@alphaplus.ca to talk about blended learning delivery models.
These are the Frameworks described on the website
- Designing for Learning Outcomes
- A blended learning framework – ISTE Standards for Students
- A computer basics framework – Northstar Digital Literacy Framework
- A computer basics / blended learning framework – Maryland Department of Labor Digital Literacy Framework for Adult Learners
- A roadmap to reach the City of Seattle’s vision to become a more digitally equitable city, where technology’s opportunities equitably empower all residents and communities – Seattle Digital Equity Initiative Digital Skills Framework
- Designing for Learning Experiences
- The Technology Integration Matrix
- The Triple E Framework
- Thinking about Teaching Innovation
- The SAMR Model – SAMR = Substitution – Augmentation – Modification – Redefinition and describes a way to think about the result of integrating digital technology for learning into a curriculum.
- The LoTi Framework – Levels of Teaching Innovation – This is a Teaching Innovation Framework that is similar to SAMR but includes a resource for reflecting on how different learning activities fit into the framework.
- Designing for Modes of Learning
- Bloom’s Taxonomy – Some people have done some work to align the Bloom’s Taxonomy learning domains to SAMR.
- HEAT – H.E.A.T Framework = Higher-order thinking – Engaged learning – Authentic connections – and Technology use is a student learning framework that describes what learners are doing at different levels of digital technology integration with reference to Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Blended Learning Research
Blended Learning Resources
AlphaPlus has collected a set of interesting frameworks, approaches and theoretical foundations that are relevant to adult literacy practice and can inform planning, designing and decision-making.
We’ve included a blended learning toolbox, an annotated bibliography of tools, apps and websites curated using the framework principles.
If you’re interested in exploring blended learning options for your program, please get in touch.
- AlphaPlus coaches will work with you to create an individualized plan and develop blended learning solutions for the learners in your program.
- As an Educator Network (eNet) participant, you’ll join a cohort of Ontario literacy practitioners in a reflective practice process and have access to both AlphaPlus knowledge and peer experience.
- If you get stuck while trying something new, the AlphaPlus Quick Tech Help option can help.
Blended learning is an approach where educators leverage technology and digital access for learners to create, communicate, collaborate and apply critical thinking skills to construct knowledge in a connected world.
Blended learning is a foundation of AlphaPlus services for instructors and program planners.
Through eNet, technology coaching, workshops and tech support services, AlphaPlus helps literacy educators employ blended learning methodologies.
What does AlphaPlus mean by blended learning?
Our position is that blended learning in adult education is not only about the use of tools and resources. Instead, it’s a way to think about program and curriculum development, including learning design and delivery.
Why do we take this position?
Using digital technology isn’t just learning how to operate digital devices and navigate the internet. These are important skills that enable participation in a digitally connected world, but a curriculum that focuses only on these operational tasks doesn’t meet learners where they’re at and doesn’t meet the changing needs of people learning, working and engaging in 21st-century life.
Join the discussion
We believe that the discussion about blended learning in adult education needs to extend to the realities of adult basic-education programs that operate in an individualized educational context as well as those that are course-based and use a fixed curriculum.
We’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas
Read the full paper to learn more about the principles and benefits of blended learning in adult literacy programs as well as our recommendations for program development and why AlphaPlus supports people-first strategies.
Read an online version and more about AlphaPlus and blended learning here: The Blended Learning Collection.
The full paper is available in American Sign Language.
A HyperDoc is a teaching and learning tool that helps you organize content and instructional activities using text, audio, video, images and, of course, hyperlinks. Think of it as an interactive lesson or unit plan.
HyperDocs can be short, specific lessons, like introduction to fractions and their uses. They can also be more general and then applied to different topics and subjects, like the inquiry template. They can even be a comprehensive collection of learning activities, resources and ideas that you can use to develop smaller lessons or modules, like digital storytelling ideas.
Creating a single HyperDoc does take time and effort. But what if it’s not all up to you to do the work? What if we could build a collection — sort of a crowdsourced effort? This is something we’re currently exploring.
AlphaPlus developed four HyperDocs to model their use and help you transition from paper to digital planning and activity development.
Visit the Hyperdocs site to learn more:
- Review copyright with paper and online resources.
- Think about what you’re digitizing and why.
- Organize your digitized content using Google Drive.
- Explore ways to make your activities interactive .
AlphaPlus curated a collection of shareable, free and high-quality learning materials that adult literacy educators can use to enhance their personal and program collections.
Learning materials
The collection is divided into five sections for learners working at Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework (OALCF) Levels 1 and 2:
- Reading texts
- Practice tasks and writing
- Numeracy and mathematics
- Professional learning and how-to guides
- Creating, modifying and analyzing your own materials
Shareable
We looked for materials that could be copied, printed or posted in online and offline environments. This means you can add materials to a website or learning management platform, attach them to an email or share them with learners in Google Drive. They can also be printed. In addition, some materials are templates or permit adaptations, allowing you to build and modify materials for your own use. Copyright information and Creative Commons licensing details are included for all materials.
This site is for people in the ACE* or Adult Upgrading programs at Ontario Literacy and Basic Skills (LBS) programs who want to upgrade their computer skills in preparation for post-secondary education. We made this site especially for people in programs that do not include digital skills upgrading on site.
It is a companion to the Post-secondary digital skills readiness assessment developed by the College Sector Committee for Adult Upgrading and AlphaPlus.
Learners can use this site on their own or educators can use the site as a resource to develop a digital skills curriculum.
*ACE – Academic and Career Entrance program
AlphaPlus curated a collection of shareable, free and high-quality learning materials that adult literacy educators can use to enhance their personal and program collections.
Learning materials
The collection is divided into five sections for learners working at Ontario Adult Literacy Curriculum Framework (OALCF) Levels 1 and 2:
- Reading texts
- Practice tasks and writing
- Numeracy and mathematics
- Professional learning and how-to guides
- Creating, modifying and analyzing your own materials
Shareable
We looked for materials that could be copied, printed or posted in online and offline environments. This means you can add materials to a website or learning management platform, attach them to an email or share them with learners in Google Drive. They can also be printed. In addition, some materials are templates or permit adaptations, allowing you to build and modify materials for your own use. Copyright information and Creative Commons licensing details are included for all materials.
Download a PDF version below or click here to open the collection in your Google Drive.