PBL-BLENDED LEARNING AT SMALL

Small Middle School is piloting a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) - Blended Learning Instructional design that allows students to explore 21st skills in a technology-rich 1:1 initiative. Eighth grade students have access to 20 iPads and 10 notebooks in each academic classroom. Students use Edmodo.com as a platform to access learning goals, classroom expectations, embedded digital academic resources, grading rubrics, and to communicate with the teacher and classmates. The 3-part instructional design (PBL, Blended Learning, & Small group instruction) allows teachers to group students according to academic need within an inclusive learning environment. In PBL groups, students explore content for mastery by solving real-world problems, create unique digital products, and present their work to an audience. During Blended Learning, students explore self-paced interactive online content and show mastery through online assessments. Teachers use real-time data from online learning to determine..