Frequently Asked Questions
Select any of the questions below to see the accompanying answer. Also check out our Blended Learning Readiness Questionnaire.
The Bay Area BlendEd Consortium (BlendEd) provides a unique educational opportunity for students of our member schools, allowing them to access an expanded array of courses as well as an opportunity to work with students and teachers beyond their school. Using a blended model of online and experiential instruction, BlendEd courses represent a unique range of high-level elective topics enriched by Bay Area resources. BlendEd combines best practices for online learning with our partner schools’ strengths in direct classroom instruction and experiential learning, giving students practice in self motivation and independence along with the technical expertise they will need in college and beyond.
Classes meet face-to-face (F2F) in-person a minimum of three to five times, as well as regularly via all-class and small group virtual sessions. The F2F sessions are held at one of the partner schools or at a specific location relating to the class topic. Students access the class materials on Canvas, the BlendEd online learning management system (LMS). Students are responsible for determining when and where to complete independent class work, similar to how they now work on homework for their regular courses.
Depending on each teacher’s requirements, regular virtual sessions tend to take place in the evening and/or over weekends. During the independent work portion of the course, students must be able to manage their time both at school and at home.
Each course teacher determines when and where the F2F sessions occur (3 to 5 sessions for a BlendEd course). Often, these gatherings are scheduled at a location specific to the class, such as a film studio, environmental firm, park, etc. Teachers are well aware of the school-week requirements of our students, and will design the in-person sessions with that in mind. Each BlendEd course is allowed to schedule one F2F session that takes place during a school day though not all classes use this option.
Our school libraries are always available to students for quiet time and studying. We also recommend that BlendEd students have a desk or table in a quiet room at home in order to participate in the online class or small group sessions, as well as to complete homework and independent study. Students also need internet access at home (BlendEd Coordinators can assist students in obtaining that if needed).
Students enrolled in BlendEd courses should have regular and reliable access to a computer with a high-speed internet connection, a microphone and a webcam for virtual meeting sessions. Please contact your school’s BlendEd Coordinator (see contact info below) for support in meeting this expectation.
We encourage students who demonstrate a high level of independence, reliability and academic achievement to register for BlendEd courses. Our courses can have anywhere from 5 to 18 students, representing 3 to 6 of our partner schools, and typically run with an average of 12 students per course. Each of our partner schools initially has three seats in each class on reserve, though some exchanges take place once enrollment requests come in from our partner schools.
Students are allowed to take one BlendEd course per semester. With permission from their school, a rare student may be able to enroll in the year-long Multivariable Calculus class in addition to a semester or trimester-long BlendEd course.
No. A BlendEd course is taken as part of a regular course load. Students may follow the standard petition process at their school to get approval to exceed the course load recommendation.
Tuition for a BlendEd course is covered by your school’s annual tuition and fee structure.
Each teacher will follow his/her own school’s approach to assessment, which will include a midterm evaluation with narrative comments, as well as a final course grade (which some teachers provide with additional comments and/or assessment rubrics).
BlendEd courses follow a special schedule that may or may not coincide with your home school’s academic schedule.
Fall courses typically begin in August/September and end in December with Wednesday through Friday of Thanksgiving week designated as a break.
Spring courses typically begin in January and end in May with two weeks set aside as a break. The two weeks may or may not be contiguous and will be scheduled by the teacher.
Yes. In most situations, taking a BlendEd course will not interfere with co-curricular activities, although we strongly suggest students speak with advisors and/or BlendEd Coordinators to discuss how to best manage schedules and potential conflicts.
Yes, parents receive contact information for their student’s BlendEd teacher. We recommend that parents first contact the BlendEd teacher about any issues related to their student, as well as your school’s BlendEd Coordinator. Parents may also contact their student’s advisor with any questions or concerns.
Each school has a BlendEd Coordinator who, among other things, is tasked with ensuring BlendEd students are able to have a positive BlendEd experience – technologically, academically, and personally.
BlendEd courses are primarily electives, though some may count towards departmental requirements at your school. The elective courses do count towards the overall total amount of courses/units required for graduation. Check with your advisor or school Coordinator to make sure you are still meeting departmental requirements should you decide to take a BlendEd course.
BlendEd courses meet iNACOL (International Association for K12 Online Learning) standards. In addition, BlendEd course offerings are UC-approved to fulfill either the “g” (elective) requirement or one of the “a-f” subject-specific requirements. Check with your school’s BlendEd Coordinator if you have any questions about a specific course.
All courses are awarded credit by each school based on a shared rubric that ensures a common set of standards for the quality of instruction, the way students are assessed, and high expectations for student learning. The courses are equal in rigor to our existing elective courses. As online and blended courses have become increasingly common, most schools do not note the instructional mode (online, blended, or face-to-face) on transcripts. The BlendEd Consortium follows this practice.
We strongly believe that students must be well prepared to navigate smoothly between in-classroom and digital classroom modes of instruction, as colleges and future employers will seek out people with these skills. Students taking a BlendEd course learn to work independently, manage time effectively, and satisfy their curiosity about topics relevant to them. The BlendEd initiative aligns with our commonly held value of extending learning beyond the classroom and enables students to take advantage of our vast regional resources. And finally, taking a BlendEd class allows students to experience learning with other teachers who are specialists in their subjects and with students from across the Bay Area.
Students will receive BlendEd registration instructions during the home school’s regular course registration period. Please contact your school’s site coordinator should you need further assistance.