A wise educator once said, “Today’s students have their world’s information either in their pocket or on their lap and don’t need to be told it. They want to be engaged in working together (not sitting quietly) and solving real world problems. They want learning to be fun and intriguing and it doesn’t really matter what technology you put in front of them because, at its heart, teaching is inspiring learning, not managing it.”
Vail Blended Learning Middle School, located on Houghton in Tucson is taking this very concept and inspiring their students to achieve nothing short of excellence. Current enrollment stands at 56 students and is open to all students in the Vail/Tucson area.
Blended learning is a model of learning and teaching that uses the best aspects of computer-based learning and the power of face-to-face, small group instruction, to provide students with a challenging and individualized education. The goal of blended learning is to use the best elements of both traditional school and online learning to create a flexible and rigorous individualized curriculum where the students can work at their own pace.
Each student’s day is broken up into three blocks. The first block of each student’s school day is spent on computer aided instruction focusing on skills acquisition. The second block is spent with special focus on Humanities, Language, and the Arts. The third and final block is the STEM block (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) where time is spent with the teacher putting skills into context with real life problems and solutions. This block also gives students an opportunity to spend time with teachers working on areas where they might be struggling. The school week is Monday through Thursday leaving Fridays as optional. Students are given the opportunity on Fridays to engage with experts in the community to extend their learning. Fridays are also set aside for Art, Music, field trips, as well as clubs and activities.
Vail Blended Learning provides an environment specifically designed to model real life working/office spaces. Students are provided work areas with traditional desks and chairs, as well as lounge areas with comfy couches. The program allows students more freedom only enhancing their decision making skills and education.
If you are interested in learning more about Vail Blended Learning, please contact Kelly Creasy at 879‑3959 or creasyk@vail.k12.az.us.
