Thing 35 - Hot Topics in EdTech ~ Blended Learning & Computer Science for All

Blended Learning:
 I chose to research Blended Learning because I really didn't know anything about it.  I had a guess going into it that it had to be a combination of 'traditional learning' and learning through technology.  And, I was right overall in my thinking.  Below is a definition of what 'Blended Learning' is according to the website mindflash.com

And, according to the Blended Learning Tool Kit (blended.online.ucf.edu) blended learning is:

According to what I researched, no single definition of blended learning is out there.  There are many terms to describe it such as hybrid, mixed, or integrative learning.  One thing that web sites agree on is that blended learning is a growing trend.  According to mindflash.com,In 2000 an estimated 45,000 K-12 students took an online course, but almost a decade later more than 3 million took courses that way, many of them using computers in the schools themselves.
It seems from what I have been able to find that blended learning is more used in high schools and some middle schools than it is on the elementary level.   One of the key components of blended learning is to identify what is already working well in your classroom, and what might be better suited as digital content.  Teachers need to know that by adding digital content, it doesn't mean throwing out all the direct (face to face) instruction in the classroom.  It is important to find what is working well face-to-face, and add what could more effective in a digital format.

One school which has put blended learning to the test is P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School in Gainsville, Florida.  Attached is information about their school and how they've made blended learning work:  What This School is Achieving. 

Our district is special in that it is a progressive district, and we truly value hands-on, experiential learning.  Knowing that technology is going to continue to grow, and that we are going to see it integrated more and more in our schools I believe we have colleagues who will find the best ways to 'blend' technology into our classrooms.  From all that we have learned and explored through this course I personally believe that we will be able to 'blend' new technology with the face-to-face learning that we all value!  



'Computer Science for All':


Well, I don't know much about 'Computer Science for All' before digging in a little deeper.  What I first found was that it became a nationwide initiative launched by President Obama as of January of this year.  According to the White House website (www.whitehouse.gov) this is the President's plan:
Computer Science for All is the President’s bold new initiative to empower all American students from kindergarten through high school to learn computer science and be equipped with the computational thinking skills they need to be creators in the digital economy, not just consumers, and to be active citizens in our technology-driven world. Our economy is rapidly shifting, and both educators and business leaders are increasingly recognizing that computer science (CS) is a “new basic” skill necessary for economic opportunity and social mobility.

Computer Science for All (White House Site)

Below is more of the plan that President Obama has carved out for the initiative:

Fortunately, there is a growing movement being led by parents, teachers, states, districts, and the private sector to expand CS education. The President’s Computer Science for All Initiative builds on these efforts by:

• Providing $4 billion in funding for states, and $100 million directly for districts in his forthcoming Budget to increase access to K-12 CS by training teachers, expanding access to high-quality instructional materials, and building effective regional partnerships. The funding will allow more states and districts to offer hands-on CS courses across all of their public high schools, get students involved early by creating high-quality CS learning opportunities in elementary and middle schools, expand overall access to rigorous science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) coursework, and ensure all students have the chance to participate, including girls and underrepresented minorities.
• Starting the effort this year, with more than $135 million in investments by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) to support and train CS teachers, who are the most critical ingredient to offering CS education in schools. The agencies will make these investments over five years using existing funds.
• Calling on even more Governors, Mayors, education leaders, CEOs, philanthropists, creative media and technology professionals, and others to get involved. Today, Delaware, Hawaii and more than 30 school districts are committing to expand CS opportunities; Cartoon Network, Google and Salesforce.org are announcing more than $60 million in new philanthropic investments, and Microsoft is announcing a fifty-state campaign to expand CS; and Code.org is announcing plans to offer CS training to an additional 25,000 teachers this year. 

After digging up some more information  I was able to find CS4 All (Computer Science for All) has been an initiative in the Chicago Public Schools since 2013.  The information in regards to what the CPS has been doing can be found at Choose Your Future.  Currently there are 164 schools in Chicago that will be part of the initiative upcoming school year.

Here is more information about why the 'Computer Science for All' push is important in so many peoples' eyes:

I love what the Office of Innovation and Improvement had to say in regards to the growing importance of computer science in our schools:

When students have the opportunity to study computer science, they can develop skills and aptitudes such as persistence, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration — skills that they will need to succeed in school, life, and any profession they choose.

I think that this is exactly how we see our own students that we work with every day - they are persistent, problem-solvers with critical thinking skills, who work creatively and collaboratively with each other.  We are preparing them to be successful 21st century learners!


From the information that is out there on the President's initiative, all of America is realizing the need for all of our students to be taught computer science in our schools because of all the STEM jobs that are out there. I believe that our district is so fortunate to have so much technology at our hands, and a staff (from the tech. department on down) that is both knowledgeable and willing to learn so that we can give provide our students with the best technology in their hands, as well as learning the most effective ways to use it.