BlendEd

The Bay Area BlendEd Consortium (BlendEd) provides a unique educational opportunity for MA juniors  and seniors, allowing them to access an expanded array of courses as well as an opportunity to work  with students and teachers beyond MA. Using a blended model of online and experiential instruction,  BlendEd courses represent a unique range of high­-level elective topics enriched by Bay Area  resources. BlendEd combines best practices for online learning with our partner schools' strengths in  direct classroom instruction and experiential learning, giving students practice in self-­motivation and independence along with the technical expertise they will need in college and beyond.

Classes meet face-­to-­face a minimum of three to five times per semester, as well as through a mix of  all­-class and small group online videoconference meetings. The face­-to­-face sessions are held at one  of the partner schools or at a specific location relating to the class topic. Students access the class  materials through the BlendEd online learning management system (for MA students, this is an online  repository similar to myMA). Students will be responsible for determining when and where to  complete independent class work, similar to how they now work on homework for their MA courses.

For the online sessions of the course, are the students at home or at MA? Depending on each teacher’s requirements, the synchronous videoconference sessions will happen in the evening and/or over weekends. During the asynchronous, independent work portion of the  course, students must be able to manage their time both at school and at home. When and where are the face-­to-­face sessions held? Each course teacher determines when and where the face­-to-­face sessions occur. Often, these  gatherings are scheduled at a location specific to the class, such as a film studio, environmental  firm, park, etc. Many face-to-face sessions happens on weekends, though teachers are allowed to use one school day per semester for a face-to-face session.

MA’s Library is always available to students for quiet time and studying. We also recommend that BlendEd students have a desk or table in a quiet room at home in order to participate in the online videoconference classes or small group sessions, as well as to complete homework and independent study. Students also need internet access at home (MA can assist students in obtaining that if needed).

Students enrolled in BlendEd courses should have regular and reliable access to a computer with a high­-speed internet connection. Some courses may also require a microphone and webcam or specialized software which MA can provide. Please contact Liz Gottlieb, MA’s BlendEd Site Coordinator for support in meeting this expectation.

Courses are open to juniors and seniors. Each of the partner  schools receives two seats in each class, with four extra seats reserved as "floaters." Classes are limited to 18 juniors and/or seniors. Students who have shown a high  level of independence, reliability and academic achievement are encouraged to register for a spot in  one of the BlendEd courses.

No. A BlendEd course can be taken as a regular class in a 6­class load or as a 7th class with a  properly executed petition to exceed course load recommendation.

Tuition for a BlendEd course is covered in MA’s annual tuition and fee structure. MA’s standard  financial aid protocols will be followed in situations for which there are additional fees for books, field  trips, software, etc.

Each teacher will follow his/her own school’s approach to assessment, which will include an interim  or midterm evaluation, as well as a final course grade. MA teachers will continue to use our assessment practice of providing rich, specific feedback on assignments, as well as rubrics and  interim and course reports.  

BlendEd courses follow a special schedule that does not coincide exactly with MA’s academic  schedule. While the BlendEd schedule aligns closely with MA's schedule, there are some differences. Each BlendEd teacher schedules his/her course's spring break, for instance. BlendEd teachers, however, are very aware of special situations--MA's minicourse week, for example--and will work with students to make appropriate adjustments to coursework due dates.

Yes. In most situations, taking a BlendEd course will not interfere with co-­curricular activities at MA, although we strongly suggest you speak with your advisor and/or our site coordinator, Liz Gottlieb, to optimize your schedule.

Yes, parents receive contact information for their student’s BlendEd teacher. Following our usual  MA protocol, parents should first contact the teacher about any issues related to their student, as  well as MA’s BlendEd site coordinator, Liz Gottlieb. MA parents may also contact their student’s  advisor with any questions or concerns. Who at MA oversees the students’ non-­MA ­taught BlendEd work? Each school has a site coordinator who, among other things, is tasked with ensuring MA BlendEd  students are able to have a positive BlendEd experience – technologically, academically and  personally.  MA’s BlendEd site coordinator is Liz Gottlieb, and she can be reached at  lgottlieb@ma.org.

All courses are awarded credit by each school based on a shared rubric that ensures a common set of  standards for the quality of instruction, the way students are assessed, and high expectations for  student learning. The courses are equal in rigor to our existing elective courses. As online and blended  courses have become increasingly common, most schools do not note the instructional mode (online,  blended, or face-­to-­face) on transcripts. The BlendEd Consortium follows this practice.

BlendEd courses meet iNACOL (International Association for K­12 Online Learning) standards. In addition, BlendEd course offerings are UC approved to fulfill the “g” (elective) requirement for 2016-2017. Some courses may also meet “a-f” requirements for 2016-2017. Check with your school Coordinator if you have any questions.

MA believes strongly that students must be well prepared to navigate smoothly between in­-classroom and digital classroom modes of instruction, as colleges and future employers will seek out people with these skills. Students taking a BlendEd course learn to work independently, manage time effectively,  and satisfy their curiosity about topics relevant to them. The BlendEd initiative aligns with MA’s core  value of extending learning beyond the classroom and enables students to take advantage of our vast  regional resources. And finally, taking a BlendEd class allows students to experience learning with non-MA teachers who are specialists in their subjects and with students from across the Bay Area.

Please visit www.blendedconsortium.org for more information or contact Noah Orgish.