Standard+6

Using an LMS for Blended Learning Throughout the past few years, I have been creating online blended courses to enhance and engage learning in our classroom. Blended Learning is a combination of online content and face to face instruction. In June of 2013 I also presented Schoology at Naomi Harm's Tech Boot Camp in Sparta, WI. **Standard 6**: Teachers communicate well.  The teacher uses effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques as well as instructional media and technology to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.

**Evidence 1**: Blended Learning Courses with a Learning Management System.


 * Rationale 1 **: Using a Blended Learning Model means that I am creating online content to deliver instruction to my students as well as incorporating face to face interaction in the classroom. The online course might include assessments, discussions, links, videos and other multi-media.

*Developing blended lessons was important for my growth as an educator because it allowed me to be able to deliver content to students in a new and engaging way. Using a Learning Management System also promotes 21st Century Skills. There are many options for hosting an online class. So far I have used Moodle, Edmodo, Course Director, and Schoology.

*Click here to view one example of an activity in Course Director for a literacy class. This example shows the use of a Google Form for collecting answers to literacy questions.

*Below are screenshots of another online class that I created using Schoology.

 This is a screen capture of a course I created for literacy. 

This screen capture shows the assessments that I created.

This screen capture shows the assignments that went with this literacy courses.


 * KSD **

6.K.4 The teacher recognizes the importance of nonverbal, verbal and media communication techniques. //Using the Blended Learning Model allows students to experience using technology in a learning management format. Students are instantly engaged with the different forms of media and images used on the wiki. //

6.S.5 The teacher knows how to use a variety of media communication tools, including audiovisual aids and computers, to enrich learning opportunities. //Using an LMS incoprorates many different tools for learning. Some of the communication tools include links, images, screencaptures, videos, video tutorials and Google forms and Google documents.//

6.D.2 The teacher values many ways in which people seek to communicate and encourages many modes of communication in the classroom. //The Blended Learning Model gives students a chance to communicate with others through the use of discussions as well as collaborative projects. The students also can view their grades and comments left by the teacher.//