Deborah Malone

When parents find out that their child’s school is implementing a blended learning program, it can leave them feeling like their world is being turned upside down—especially when one of the most common models for blended learning is literally called the “flipped classroom.” But it is possible to transition to a blended learning model without turning a community of parents into an angry, pitchfork-wielding mob, and it all starts with how your school or district presents their case for switching to blended learning.

Implementing a blended learning model in the classroom is a big transition for most schools, so it’s understandable for teachers to have some apprehensions about moving away from the traditional model. However, most educators will agree that incorporating online learning into the classroom has become a necessity.

The internet has infiltrated nearly every aspect of our daily lives, dramatically changing how we consume information, buy products, communicate, travel, live, and work. In fact, the number of households that have internet access has risen from just 18 percent in 1997 to more than 74 percent in 2012 according to data from the US Census Bureau.

Discussion boards are common tools used to facilitate course-related conversation in classes that have an online component. However, the lack of face-to-face interaction can make it difficult to maintain a respectful learning environment and foster a sense of community among students.

For many schools and districts, the most difficult part of adopting a blended learning solution is not simply finding the right program, but figuring out how to fund it. Funding for education is always a juggling act, as schools and districts work to provide both personnel and instructional resources to support their learning environments.