Blended Learning Implementation 2.0 Released!

    SEATTLE, WA, September 25, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Digital Learning Now! (DLN), a national initiative under the Foundation for Excellence in Education (ExcelinEd), in association with Getting Smart and The Learning Accelerator (TLA), today released "Blended Learning Implementation Guide Version 2.0." The updated white paper is the latest installment of the DLN Smart Series. It offers recommendations for developing and implementing an effective plan to adopt a blended learning model that focuses on accelerating student learning for college and career readiness. Version 2.0 reflects feedback from schools and districts, developments in the field and educational technology trends since its first release in February.

"There is growing momentum around the country to explore new approaches to blended learning," said Digital Learning Now! Executive Director John Bailey. "This Guide is for those state, school and district leaders who want to build a new, more personalized learning environment in order to achieve high academic student outcomes."

The Guide walks school leaders through a four-part process for blended learning implementation that begins with creating conditions for success and planning before moving into implementation and continuous improvement. The authors use exhibits, case studies and additional resources to help schools in charting their own course.

"It has only been six months since we launched the first Guide. In that time, Rocketship has refined their blended learning model, Carpe Diem has opened in Indianapolis and Cincinnati, iPads are being delivered by the truckload to districts across the country, and schools everywhere are looking for ways to add online options," said Tom Vander Ark, CEO of Getting Smart. "We've worked hard in the last six months to make important updates and to respond to your comments."

The updated Guide contains more details and descriptions of key processes, such as funding and procurement, in addition to new sections that acknowledge the importance of professional development and school culture.

"We're extremely encouraged by the rapidly growing number of districts that are getting serious about implementing blended learning at scale," said Scott Ellis, CEO of The Learning Accelerator. "We intend to keep providing resources like the Blended Learning Implementation Guide to make sure school and district leaders have the tools they need to make the shift."

In addition to the updated Guide, a 2.0 version of the accompanying infographic was released: How to Implement Blended Learning Version 2.0. The updated Guide will also be bundled with the supporting policy papers in an upcoming ebook to be released early next month.

The Guide will continue to be updated with best practices as more schools make the shift to blended learning. Educational leaders and practitioners in the field are encouraged to submit comments about this draft and engage with the authors through their websites, blogs and social media. Comments can be sent directly to [email protected].

Download the full paper, and join the conversation on Twitter with the hashtags #blendedlearning and #DigLn.

DLN is active on Facebook at Facebook.com/DigitalLearningNow and Twitter at @DigLearningNow, Getting Smart is at Facebook.com/GettingSmart and on Twitter at @Getting_Smart, and The Learning Accelerator is at Facebook.com/LearningAccelerator and on Twitter at @LearningAccel and @BlendEdUpdate.

Learn more about the latest trends in digital learning and other education reform topics at ExcelinEd's sixth annual National Summit on Education Reform taking place October 17-18 in Boston, Mass. Lawmakers, policymakers and advocates will learn about successful education reforms happening throughout world. Sessions will include "Informed Decisions: Educators, Accountability and Next Generation Data Systems," "A Customized Education: Extreme Choice through Digital Learning," and "Education's New Normal: Mass Access to the Best Courses and Teachers in the World through Technology." Visit ExcelinEd.org to view the agenda and to learn more about this event.

ABOUT DIGITAL LEARNING NOW!
Digital Learning Now! is a national initiative under ExcelinEd, with the goal of advancing state policies that create a high-quality digital learning environment to better equip all students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in this 21st-century economy. The policy framework stems from the belief that access to high-quality, customized learning experiences should be available to all students, unbounded by geography or artificial policy constraints.

ABOUT GETTING SMART
Getting Smart is an advocacy firm passionate about innovations in learning. We help education organizations construct cohesive and forward-thinking strategies for branding, awareness, advancement and communication, and public and media relations. We are advocates for better K-12 education as well as early, post-secondary and informal learning opportunities for all students. We attempt to accelerate and improve the shift to digital learning. On GettingSmart.com we cover important events, trends, products, books, and reports.

ABOUT THE LEARNING ACCELERATOR
The Learning Accelerator is a non-profit whose mission is to accelerate the implementation of high-quality blended learning in school districts across America. Part architect, part investor, we cultivate solutions to overcome the barriers to implementing blended learning in schools and work directly with districts and states to develop implementation strategies that can be scaled and shared with school districts nationwide.

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