To: Administration of Patricia E.

Paetow High School

From: Kathryn Lindley

Date: July 24, 2020

Re: Proposal for Blended-learning and Project -based Learning in All Science Classes

To the Administration of Patricia E. Paetow High School,

In my previous year of teaching high school, I found myself looking for a new way to deliver instruction which would
provide more meaningful experiences to engage student learning. I also needed to improve my strategies for providing
students with enough information to be successful on the STAAR test. My students were spending too much class time
receiving direct instruction in the form of notes, which left very little time to do a lab investigation or inquiry.

My blended-learning and project-based learning proposal will hopefully provide all science teachers with the ability to
engage their students with inquiry, reflection, and collaboration. Blended learning is an umbrella term for combining
face-to-face learning with an online experience. With so many variations in blended learning, each teacher will be able
to customize their blended learning classroom by integrating technology. Project-based learning is a dynamic approach
that allows students to solve real world problems and challenges. Technology is a critical component in blended
learning and must play a large role in each classroom on a daily basis. Hopefully by integrating these two concepts in
our classrooms, our students will continue to enhance their critical thinking skills and develop college readiness skills.
District-provided resources like Canvas and others will be utilized to maximize instructional time.

I am proposing a self-piloted blended learning and project-based learning program in my own classroom this fall which
would include:

● Using the district-provided unit plans and Canvas platform to build the curriculum for my pilot canvas course.
My PLC and instructional coach will help guide the modules to make sure the content is engaging and
meaningful.
● Students will be able to interact on Canvas with recorded lectures, discussions, gizmos, videos, and other
resources.
● Within the Canvas course, formative assessments will be created to assess the students’ knowledge as they
progress through the modules. This will enable students to receive immediate feedback and be able to move
forward or return to previously covered material.
● When students are in class, they will have a variety of lessons, such as inquiry-based labs, project-based
learning, and small group instruction to fully utilize our time together. Students who require extra help can
receive tutoring from myself or a classmate either during class or advisory.
● Students will be able to collaborate with other students on projects using the Google platform in school or away.

I hope to create critical thinkers and 21 st century learners by implementing the blended learning environment and
project-based learning. The goal of this pilot is to define and refine a model that the other science teachers will follow in
the future.

Sincerely,

Kathryn Lindley