AP US and AP English History: EBA and iSchool Teaching in an Blended Learning Online Environment

Virtual Learning Platform Overview of Apex for AP US History – Chapters and Study Guides completed individually using the textbook – Written assignments are assigned in PDF files for the students to download – Tutorials and watched independently – I supplement with PowerPoint lectures that are over Skype

Planning, Grading, and Facilitating Planning: – I map out each week according to what days we can Skype and work from there assigning reading and tutorials – they get a weekly schedule ed out to them Grading: – Students their written work as attachments – I grade them in a different font color with thorough comments and them back with a score Facilitating: – Combination of periodic check-ins, communication and whole class instruction over Skype

Video This is a short video of the iSchool students skyping into our classroom at EBA. Students were about to write an essay, so we were discussing writing struggles and solutions.

Weekly s of Schedule

Sample of Student Work

Face to Face Visit

Virtual Learning Platform Overview of AP English Language -Use of APEX for multiple-choice practice -Assigned reading from Norton textbook and novels -Daily writing assignments and weekly projects

Planning, Grading, and Facilitating AP English Planning: – I map out each week according to what days we can Skype and work from there assigning reading, independent work, and group projects – I try to have students finish projects on days that we Skype, so that the two classes can share final products – I assignments on a daily basis because I tweak the assignments based on their needs Grading: – Students do all work on googledocs, I often comment on them once or twice before the final draft is due – I grade them in a different font color with thorough comments. Facilitating: – Combination of periodic check-ins, communication and whole class instruction over Skype.

Struggles Log in issues Skype can be unreliable Tech issues Discussion Groups Creating more opportunities for interaction between the schools

Struggles continued Creating meaningful interactions when 50 students are connecting through 1 medium Maintaining the confidence of lower level students Developing similar lesson plans to two groups at different levels The low quality of APEX’ AP English Language curriculum Student buy-in during the first few weeks (and even now when I am not present.)

Struggles continued Getting to know students & developing meaningful relationships with them Classroom management