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Several Ector County ISD schools will soon integrate 'blended learning'

Pease Elementary credits the use of adaptive learning through AI software for its reintroduction of three grade levels.

ODESSA, Texas — Blended learning is bringing the traditional classroom and modern technology together. 

"Blended learning is getting your traditional brick and mortar, you're building, you're teaching, you're up at the front of the room and taking an online piece of adaptive learning and then just combining the two," said Ashley Rojo, the blended learning specialist at the Ector County Independent School District (ECISD). 

The 2023-2024 school year marked the first time Pease Elementary School implemented blended learning into all 23 of its classrooms, including prekindergarten.

This school year, Pease Elementary reintroduced three grade levels with help from blended learning.

"I think that we were able to bring back our 3rd, 4th and 5th [grades] because we were having success in Pre-K12 because of blended learning. A lot of that is because of blended," said Principal Micah Arrott of Pease Elementary. "When the district found that both our sister schools, Noel and ourselves, were in good standing that gave both campuses the confidence and the board feeling confident that we could add 3rd, 4th and 5th [grade] back. A lot of that goes back to just the instruction and the quality of instruction that blended learning brings to the classroom for sure."

Students continue to receive that face-to-face Tier One instruction, which is grade level instruction. They spend a certain amount of time on the adaptive software each day.

Examples of the adaptive software Pease Elementary uses is My Math Academy and My Reading Academy. Students use the tablets to access the software during daily rotations. These rotations last about 90 minutes a day and the use of the software varies from student to student. 

According to Principal Arrott, the software adapts to a student's educational levels and tracks their progress. 

"The level of engagement is even more so with the kids than it was in year one. So we've had more teachers extend and do blended," Principal Arrott said. "You see better quality of learning, better teaching, better ownership of students and their data and understanding of what it is that they're learning."

According to the Blended Learning Coordinator, Amanda Weber, two ECISD schools served as the main pilots. Two additional schools began incorporating blended learning into some of their classrooms last year. 

"...But this year, we're spreading to 16 [ECISD schools.]," said Weber.

These include the middle school and high school levels, with the launch at the higher education level starting in just one subject. 

Weber and Rojo anticipate blended learning will reach every ECISD school within three years. 

Meanwhile, Pease Elementary continues to see growth, with the school also welcoming the International Baccalaureate Primary Year's program next year. All of which will intertwine with blended learning. 

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