In many blended learning models, students spend some of their face-to-face time with the teacher in a large group, some face-to-face time with a teacher or tutor in a small group, and some time learning with and from peers. This approach often allows students to have some control over time, place, path, or pace of learning. In a blended learning environment, learning occurs online and in person, augmenting and supporting teacher practice.
In addition, learning activities are meaningful and relevant to learners, driven by their interests, and often self-initiated. Learning objectives, instructional approaches, and instructional content (and its sequencing) all may vary based on learner needs. Personalized learning refers to instruction in which the pace of learning and the instructional approach are optimized for the needs of each learner. 3, 4 Such opportunities also can support increased capacity for educators to create blended learning opportunities for their students, rethinking when, where, and how students complete different components of a learning experience. These opportunities expand growth possibilities for all students while affording historically disadvantaged students greater equity of access to high-quality learning materials, expertise, personalized learning, and tools for planning for future education. Technology-enabled learning environments allow less experienced learners to access and participate in specialized communities of practice, graduating to more complex activities and deeper participation as they gain the experience needed to become expert members of the community.Students engaged in creative writing, music, or media production can publish their work to a broad global audience regardless of where they go to school.A school with connectivity but without robust science facilities can offer its students virtual chemistry, biology, anatomy, and physics labs-offering students learning experiences that approach those of peers with better resources.With mobile data collection tools and online collaboration platforms, students in a remote geographic area studying local phenomena can collaborate with peers doing similar work anywhere in the world.Learners struggling with planning for college and careers can access high-quality online mentoring and advising programs where resources or geography present challenges to obtaining sufficient face-to-face mentoring.With high-speed Internet access, a student interested in learning computer science can take the course online in a school that lacks the budget or a faculty member with the appropriate skills to teach the course.Technology-enabled learning allows learners to tap resources and expertise anywhere in the world, starting with their own communities. Historically, a learner’s educational opportunities have been limited by the resources found within the walls of a school. 1 Technology can be a powerful tool to reimagine learning experiences on the basis of those insights. Fortunately, advances in learning sciences have provided new insights into how people learn. This journey begins with a base of knowledge and abilities that can be augmented and enhanced throughout our lives. To be successful in our daily lives and in a global workforce, Americans need pathways to acquire expertise and form meaningful connections to peers and mentors.