A Quitman High School teacher will give a presentation to educators across the state this summer on how to incorporate digital learning with traditional teaching methods.

Julie Sandifer, a QHS math teacher, will speak at the UTeach Institute STEM Educators Conference in Austin June 27-28 for a session titled “Blended Learning for Middle/High School Classrooms.”

Blended learning is a type of education that incorporates online educational materials with traditional classroom methods to improve students’ learning opportunities.

“Blended learning is an excellent teaching style to maximize student engagement and learning,” Sandifer said. “Specifically for this presentation, it is the concept of station rotation, where students pick different tables to learn concepts.”

Sandifer said her QHS algebra II students have the choice of technology, group learning, math games, or hands-on manipulatives to improve their understanding of challenging concepts.

Google Classroom applications – a web service developed to simplify sharing files between students and teachers – and recordings from a Swivl device are both used to teach concepts through Google Classroom. A Swivl device allows students to record themselves as they walk around. The video is then uploaded and placed on Google Classroom.

UTeach Institute is a preparation program with the goal of increasing the number of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) teachers in U.S. secondary schools.

Sandifer’s presentation will showcase what Quitman is doing to improve its education methods.

“They (attendees) will experience research-based instructional strategies as well as see how our students at Quitman actually do station rotation,” she said. “We will wrap up with discussions about the inherent challenges of (station) rotation, including planning, execution, and effective rubrics so that students work with intention and accountability.”  

Sandidfer applied to the conference with a proposal to be a presenter. Before applying to be a speaker, Sandifer learned about blending learning by being a part of a semester-long course offered by University of Texas at Austin and UTeach Institute.