Blended learning: Education by inspiration

Story by Michelle Hirsch

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With an alphabet soup of such terms as blended learning, flipped classrooms, oneto- one devices, critical thinking, connected math, achievement gap, PARCC assessments, brain breaks, STEM, STEAM, STEAMD—whoa!

It seems one has to go back to school just to understand how students are learning in 2015. Primavera Blended Learning Center in Chandler is helping make sense of the soup by implementing a combination of classroom support and online learning for 6th-12th grade students enrolled in its online middle- and high-schools.

“Students who attend the Blended Learning Center have online courses,” said Tempe resident Keiraj Gillis, a freshman English teacher for Primavera. “And (the center) is designed to supplement the material presented online, with a strong focus on STEM.” STEM is the education acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, with curriculum that includes project-based activities to encourage student engagement, critical thinking and real world problem-solving.

Gillis explained that many students enroll in online school to escape bullying or traditional-school anxiety, or to better deal with other social issues while completing their secondary education.

“The Blended Learning Center (offers) the ability to socialize with other students who miss that element of a traditional brick-and-mortar school,” said Gillis.

“One of our areas of focus is not to just help students develop academically but also personally, acquiring life skills and to communicate effectively,” added Gillis. Primavera has partnered with notMYkid.org, whose mission is to “empower and educate youth, families and communities with the knowledge and courage to identify and prevent negative youth behavior.”

Gillis said that Primavera will be hosting free notMykid workshops each month on topics such as antibullying, substance abuse, Internet safety and eating disorders— all aimed at providing support and information for parents as well as students. Dr. Kevin Thrasher, who is the school’s executive director, said Primavera’s teaching philosophy parallels his own. “Building programs that inspire students to learn is my passion.” Instructor Gillis suggested that, even without enrolling, Primavera workshops can provide a window for those other than current class members to not only gain valuable insight into topical issues but better understand the school’s approach to learning.

“While the BLC programs are reserved for enrolled students, the workshop events are open to the public, and the director wants them to know they can take advantage of the useful information that is provided.”

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