Blended Learning

Orenda teachers conduct their classes in what is referred to as a “blended or hybrid learning” environment. Blended learning combines face-to-face interaction with a teacher in a school classroom, with additional instruction -- whether live or recorded – conducted in an online environment. Orenda incorporates blended learning within a fully integrated teacher instructional learning platform (“TIP”) that allows our teachers, students, and parents to access the very best instructional content.

Orenda uses Canvas TIP.  There are many advantages to this technology. Teachers load their syllabus, curriculum, course content, lectures, other instructional resources, assessments, tests, grades, etc. into Canvas.  Our students and parents can access the teacher’s course content and resources 24/7 through Canvas wherever they have an internet connection.    This allows students and parents to have immediate access to assignments, content, instructional materials and academic progress. Students can review the instructional resources as often as needed outside of school.  The teacher can vary the instructional resources they place in Canvas and the student can choose the resources best suited to their learning style.

Teachers can occasionally “flip” their classrooms so that the students access instructional resources outside of class and move “homework” into the classroom. The value of a flipped class is in the re-purposing of class time into a workshop where students can inquire about course content, test their skills in applying what they learned, and interact with classmates through hands-on activities.  During class sessions, the teacher functions as a coach or adviser, helping those students struggling with the lesson and encouraging other students to move on to new or more challenging content.