9 Questions You Should Ask Before Planning a Blended Adventure
A practical flowchart for instructional leaders
The physical learning spaces we design for students matter. To meet the demands of today’s rigorous standards and assessments, instructional leaders need to create vibrant classrooms that encourage higher-order thinking (not just rote practice), peer-to-peer collaboration, and help teachers deliver individualized feedback.
Here, we map out nine questions every school or district leader should ask themselves before launching a blended initiative.
[How can your school or district improve its approach to blended learning? Take our quiz >>]
Helpful Resources Mentioned Above
- Read what Education Week has to say about innovative classrooms at thinkcerca.com/teachingahead.
- For more classroom schedules and model ideas, visit planning.thinkcerca.com.
- Review iNACOL’s recommended resources for getting started with personalized learning at thinkcerca.com/iNACOL.
- For ideas on arranging learning places around the routine of providing effective feedback, visit thinkcerca.com/feedbackroutines.
- Consider the TPACK framework when developing PD for your team. Learn more at thinkcerca.com/TPACK.
- Make time for collaboration by reimagining your school day. Take a page out of Generation Schools' playbook by visiting thinkcerca.com/schoolday.
- Develop students' digital skills with e-learning resources available at digitalliteracy.us.
- Explore EdSurge's guide to choosing and vetting products at thinkcerca.com/edsurgeguide.
- Visit thinkcerca.com/dataprotocol to download ThinkCERCA's data analysis protocol.
Designed by Brooke Kravitz
Elizabeth Riley Boyer is an experienced journalist, digital content strategist, and operations manager. Prior to joining ThinkCERCA, she was part of the founding team at Impact Engine, Chicago’s first social impact investment fund and accelerator. As Impact Engine’s Director of Operations & Communications, Elizabeth oversaw the company’s overall processes, day-to-day planning and finances, curriculum development, marketing strategy, and community outreach.
Elizabeth also spent three years at Chicago magazine, most recently as its Digital Engagement Editor, where she managed the organization’s social media and reader engagement initiatives. Elizabeth also works as a freelance content strategist, writer, and communications consultant. Her recent writings on impact entrepreneurship have been featured by the Huffington Post and Crain’s Chicago Business.
In 2007, Elizabeth helped open a private school for underprivileged children while volunteering for a nonprofit organization in the Dominican Republic. This experience inspired her to quit a paper-pushing job at an insurance brokerage firm to pursue a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University. Elizabeth also holds a bachelor’s degree in American studies from the University of Texas at Austin.