Mastering the Blend: A Professional Development Program for K-12 Teachers

Abstract

Blended learning is an instructional approach meant to enhance students' learning experiences by merging and deliberately integrating online technology into a face-to-face learning environment. With the increase in online instruction and blended learning comes the need for quality professional development programs that foster learning and encourage real change in the classroom. This paper introduces the design for a four-course professional development series on teaching in a blended learning environment that targets in-service teachers of K-12 students. Mastering the Blend is designed as a professional development opportunity to enhance teachers' face-to-face classroom instruction. The focus of the program as a whole is to assist K-12 teachers in developing the skills needed to design, develop, and facilitate student-centered blended learning environments. Through hands-on experience and activities designed to uncover best practices, participants are expected to develop the ability to effectively integrate a variety of tools into a blended learning experience. To model the methods being advocated, this professional development program is social constructivist in design and includes a blend of synchronous and asynchronous activities. The results of an initial evaluation of the program are described.