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Blended Model
 The actual implementation of any professional development program is a critical element. While Beacon courses are self-contained and provide everything needed for a meaningful learning experience, the blended or hybrid model is a very successful implementation format.
The blended model of professional development includes both face-to-face contact and the benefits of flexible online learning. Using this format, a school or district may have a face-to-face workshop at the start of an online course. Participants meet with an instructor and other participants in a workshop to provide technical support, content introduction, discussion exercises, and/or video demonstrations. After the initial meeting, a participant engages in an online course with a course facilitator. Follow-up meetings may occur during the online course or at the end of an online course. Some districts require participants to attend the face-to-face meetings while others make the face-to-face meetings optional.
If online professional development is new to you or your district, you may have concerns regarding the technology skill level of participants who have never taken an online course. While Beacon courses provide access to all needed content and an expert facilitator, using a hybrid or blended format may provide additional support to educators to guide them to a new way of professional development. This format has proven very effective in many districts.
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