Episode Details

Anthony Godfrey:
Hello and welcome to the Supercast. I'm your host, Superintendent Anthony Godfrey. Today, we're talking about an exciting new program which will allow some high school juniors and seniors to sleep in. If they choose, you can start school at 9:00 AM. We're talking about a first of its kind. Late start blended learning program, which is being piloted in all Jordan School District High Schools in the upcoming school year. Students will have to provide their own transportation for the late start. This is an option, not required, but we are excited about the possibilities. Here to talk about the program and how it will work is Instructional Design Specialist, Michelle Truman. So you've done blended learning for about 20 years. How would you define blended learning? Let's start with that.

Michelle:
The main thing that you have to think of the difference between blended learning and a technology rich classroom. In blended learning, students have some control over the pace of their learning, the place of their learning. So whether that's sitting on a beanbag in a classroom or on their bed at home or at the kitchen table. The path of their learning, there's some choice involved in that as well. So those three are the things that are going to distinguish blended learning from a traditional classroom that's too technology-infused.

Anthony Godfrey:
And that makes a lot of sense because if those three things are flexible for students and for teachers, there's a lot higher chance of engagement.

Michelle:
Absolutely. Who doesn't want choice? Right? Do you want the blue lollipop or the red lollipop? Well, I like red better. Okay. Well, here you go.

Anthony Godfrey:
Everybody wants choice. And this provides choice, not just about where you learn or how fast you learn, but even when you learn. We'll talk more later about what a blended learning model is. But basically it's an online course that still allows students the chance to interact in person with the teacher, as necessary. We're setting up classes like this at each of our high schools. We have a total of 36 teachers teaching 13 different courses that will allow students that level of flexibility that hasn't been available before. We know the health benefits for students, not just physical health but social and emotional wellness that can come from being able to sleep on a rhythm. That makes more sense as a teenager. Even when teenagers try to go to bed early or do go to bed early, they're on a different pattern and they're on a different rhythm. As anyone who's been watching the news knows it's been a hot topic lately, but it's something we've been working on for a while. And I'm really excited to have Michelle here to talk about what the program's going to look like. So Michelle, tell us a little bit about what this program is starting to shape up to be out in our high schools.

Michelle:
They are initially coming in for the late start at 9:00 AM, and that is exactly what's happening. Teachers volunteered at each of the high schools to participate in this. And when I say volunteer, they volunteered to be instrumental in changing education for kids in Jordan School District. What we're going to do is take the traditional curriculum where teachers typically lecture, give assignments, kids go home and prac