1. Blended Learning and ELT Victor Castro Instituto Guatemalteco Americano – IGA ABLA 2010 Cali, Colombia

2. Overview Five aspects – Platform – Content – Community – Teacher role – Student training Two experiences – Teacher training – Student instruction

3. Background 3 years ago we installed IWBs in our classrooms as part of a strategic plan to add value and differentiate ourselves by offering technology to enhance our teaching. This was the catalyst that led to our exploration of blended learning as an alternative Many of the lessons learned during the implementation of IWBs are now being applied to the planning and implementation of blended learning.

4. Blended Learning Community Content Platform

5. Blended Learning Community Teacher Training Student Training

6. Platform Web 2.0 = WWW + BBS

7. Platform

8. Moodle – Open standards (we can transition to a different platform in the future) – Free (low risk) – Scalable – Secure – Flexible (many different kinds of learning objects) DotLRN Blackboard Facebook (Schoology)

9. Content Buy Build Borrow

10. Content - Buy LEI English Discoveries Campus Software as service Content and platform

11. Content - Build

12. Content Learning object – proof of concept. Video lessonsVideo lessons – Hot potatoes

13. Content - Borrow

14. Content Borrow Dynamic community Exchange Share Generate traffic Reputation

15. Community Student Community Centered – Building and maintaining a community of practice. Engagement – Activities, moderators, tumblers. Motivation – Rewards, badges, etc.

16. Community – Teacher Role Monitor Moderator Tumbler Skills Computer skills Social Networks Digital Communication Online Presence School of Teacher Development – Educational Technology module – Search strategies – Learning Strategies – Affordance.

17. Community - Students Student Orientation Student Training – Manuals – Demonstrations Rewards and incentives – Profiles, badges.

18. Blended Learning Applied to Teacher Training Online Materials Skype conferences Meetings once a week http://teaching.iga.edu

19. Blended Learning Applied to Student Instruction Companion courses Formal Blended learning courses – 3 hour sessions per unit. – 60% of score applied to online work – 40% of score applied to face-to-face session participation and evaluation Encouraging teachers to run classes using different platforms. http://learining.iga.edu

20. Discussion How relevant is blended learning in your BNC today? What is your experience in blended learning and technology use in your BNC? What are your short/medium term plans concerning blended or online offerings? A) we are currently offering online or blended courses. B) It is in our plans for the future and we are planning to… C) It is not in our short or medium term plans because…