Our Lady of the Lake Catholic School uses a blended learning approach to provide personalized instruction that meets students where they are and helps them grow. Blended learning combines different instructional approaches to respond to the individual needs, strengths, and readiness levels of our students.
At OLL, we recognize that students do not all learn at the same pace or arrive at the same place academically. Our teachers use assessment, observation, small-group instruction, whole-group instruction, individual practice, collaboration, hands-on experiences, and other instructional strategies to provide students with learning experiences that are appropriately challenging and supportive.
Blended learning allows teachers to differentiate instruction and provide students with opportunities to learn at their just-right level. Some students may need additional instruction and practice with a skill, while others may be ready to move ahead or apply their learning in a more complex way. Our teachers use their knowledge of each student and ongoing assessment to determine the best approach.
Technology may be incorporated into learning when it enhances instruction and supports a student’s individual learning needs. However, blended learning is not defined by the amount of technology a student uses. Rather, technology is one of many tools available to teachers as they design meaningful, personalized learning experiences.
In our classrooms, students may experience a combination of direct teacher instruction, small-group learning, independent practice, collaborative activities, hands-on learning, and digital resources. The balance of these approaches may look different from classroom to classroom and from student to student based on the needs of the learners.
Our goal is simple: to know our students well, meet them where they are, and help them take their next step. Through blended learning, our teachers are able to provide the instruction, support, challenge, and opportunities each student needs to grow academically and become a confident, independent learner.