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The key to PreK-2 blended learning success

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Blended learning is successful with young students if modified for their unique learning needs

Implementing blended learning in the earliest grades can have an incredibly positive impact on young students if educators follow a “transitional” blended learning model that focuses on active and intentional technology use.

A transitional blended learning model follows, with a few tweaks, a traditional rotational model as outlined by the Clayton Christensen Institute [1]: students move on a fixed schedule between digital learning (in which they have some control over time, place, path, and/or pace) and traditional teacher-led classroom instruction, said Barker Davis, senior vice president of business development for AWE, during an edWeb webinar [2].

This model, Davis said, is the best blended learning model for preK-2 students because of its engagement, focus, and personalization.

(Next page: Top components of a blended learning program for preK-2 students)

While a virtual learning environment is quickly becoming the norm among middle and high school students, Davis said students in the preK-2 grades need socialization and behavior modeling, which is why a transitional blended learning model works well for them—students still use digital technologies to enhance learning, but they are eased into blended learning in a way that lets them remain in group settings to develop social and emotional skills.

“Socialization is critical for that age group—it’s a critical element of early learning that cannot be done in a remote environment,” he said.

Components of a transitional rotational blended learning model include:

In order to get started, Davis recommended that educators:

Implementing a blended learning program is not without challenges, particularly at the preK-2 level, Davis noted. Top challenges are finding high-quality content, using content and the blended learning program with intention, and making sure security is up to par.

Content: Educators will need a wide variety of content to meet students’ different learning speeds and learning styles. Finding the right kind and combination of digital content can prove difficult. Explorative content is absolutely essential, Davis said, because it is among the most impactful content out there.

Blended learning environments for young students also should include collaborative content, because this helps young students develop teamwork skills and social learning skills—especially when many of these young learners are interacting with others in academic environments for the first time.

Intention: Searching for learning solutions, and not platforms or devices, will help educators ensure that students are actively learning when they do use digital technology and tools in a blended learning program. One pitfall of blended learning with younger students is that children easily veer off-task, and educators must be vigilant in this area.

Security: This challenge is a given, but is still important. When children are exposed to online content of any kind, they’ll be using a browser, which exposes them to some kind of IT security risk. Inevitably, a child breaks through security settings, and while it speaks to persistence and creativity of digital natives, it does expose young children to possible security risks. Mitigating those risks and staying one step ahead of online threats is key.