In a recent presentation to the school board, Assistant to the Superintendent for Operations Tracy Smith reported students and teachers are participating in a blended learning pilot program.

"Blended learning is transforming the classroom," Smith said. "Technology is being used to amplify the great work of our teachers.

"We created a marriage of curriculum and technology."

Through a pilot program implemented in several sections at the secondary level, the class period is divided into three components: instructional time with the teacher, collaborative period with classmates and independent learning time.

Students are separated into three groups, which move from one station to another during the class time.

Beth Breiner, coordinator of educational technology, said goals of the program are to motivate students to learn and to develop digital age competence.

Thirteen teachers volunteered to take part in the pilot program, which received input from consultant Kevin Dellicker of Dellicker Strategies.

Kate Robbins, high school math teacher, initially was concerned about keeping up with the curriculum in a third of the class time.

Robbins said she normally spent the entire period presenting a lesson. With the blended learning, that was greatly reduced.

However, Robbins reported the new program is doing well.

"This works out," she said. "The teacher's message is reinforced at the collaborative and independent stations."

Robbins said she is only slightly behind other math teachers who are using the conventional class set-up for the same subject.

Reports from other blended learning teachers indicate students are more engaged in the learning process and are able to receive one-to-one attention in the small groups.

Through a program called IXL, not only can students access math work at home, but teachers can gather data and make assessments through the technology resource.

Melissa Goldstein, high school math teacher, offered comments on the blended learning program.

"Students really love this," Goldstein said. "They do a lot of work at the independent station and don't realize it."

Board member Mark Hanichak asked how the blended learning system affects performance on standardized tests.

"So far, the results have been positive," Dellicker said.

Board members said the program may be expanded to include other subjects and grades.