Responding to Misconceptions about Blended Learning
When most people hear about Modern Classrooms for the first time, they are skeptical. That's actually a good thing!
Education really matters, and those involved - teachers, administrators, caregivers, students, etc. - should question the methods used to deliver it. We're skeptical of the one-size-fits-all model, and others have every right to be skeptical of our approach.
Over the years, we've realized that many people share common concerns about the Modern Classroom model. So we've listened, and done our best to address them. While there are plenty of valid critiques of our - and any - instructional approach, we feel that some of the most frequently raised concerns actually arise from misunderstandings about how our model is designed to work.
Here are three common misconceptions - and what you can share in order to address them:
With self-pacing and video instruction, teachers don’t teach anymore.
Modern Classrooms do not replace teachers. In fact, they empower teachers! The goal of using videos and other technology in a Modern Classroom is actually to free up teacher time for human interaction, so that you can work closely with your students. Let your videos repeat instruction - and make instruction accessible outside of class - while you focus in class on answering questions, building relationships, and connecting with your students. If you're interested, read more about how technology enhances human interaction, or how teachers (and students) in Modern Classrooms use class time.
This structure doesn’t allow for whole-class projects or discussions.
Modern Classrooms do not eliminate whole-class instruction. There is a lot of value in whole-class instruction: it builds community, encourages discussion, and allows for creative activities such as simulations or Socratic seminars. We encourage this! What Modern Classrooms reduce is simply the time that you as an educator spend delivering new content at the front of the room (and having to keep your students quiet while you do so). Your videos can deliver new content more effectively - and you can spend that time working closely with your students. If you're interested, read more about different modes of instruction in a Modern Classroom, and about ways to get the most out of whole-class time.
Students have too much screen time with this model.
Modern Classroom students don't spend all day on screens. A Modern Classroom is a dynamic learning environment: while some students watch videos, others work in groups, ask their teacher questions, or study independently - think of a college library, if perhaps a bit louder. In accordance with research on screen time, we urge you to keep your videos short and to plan engaging, collaborative activities in between videos. This will keep you busy, too! If you're interested, read more about student and teacher roles in a Modern Classroom, or about best practices for engaging instructional videos.
These are some of the most common misconceptions that we hear, but they aren't the only ones. If you're interested in hearing others - and learning to address them - I encourage you to watch our most recent webinar, which discusses the uses of instructional videos, school/district pacing guides, grading, and more.
