What is the Station Rotation Model?
According to the Clayton Christensen Institute, "the Station Rotation model allows students to rotate through stations on a fixed schedule, where at least one of the stations is an online learning station. This model is most common in elementary schools because teachers are already familiar rotating in “centers” or stations."
Before You Begin
Divide your class into 3 groups. Teachers using Otus could use groups that already exist or create a custom group. Here's a good refresher about the Dos And Don’ts For Group Work & Student Grouping.
Getting Started
For the first station, Otus is your go-to for online instruction. Use the lesson builder to quickly create bundles of digital resources. For example:
- A video you recorded by the teacher directly inside the lesson builder. (activity 1 in the image)
- Most of your favorite edtech tools can be used e.g. Flipgrid, Thinglink, Nearpod, Kahoots, GradeCam etc.
- PDFs and Google docs, sheets, slides etc.
- YouTube videos, podcasts, historical recordings, music
- And more!
Next, Collaborative Activities
The next station to plan for is going to include learning opportunities focused on the same outcomes and objectives as the online learning, but in the context of collaborative work. Assuming a class size of 30, this group will include 10 students. You could break them into smaller groups of 3-4 or split them right down the middle to 5 students each.
There are several tried and true activities for small group work in this situation. Consider using the Think-Pair-Share Technique, Socratic Seminars & Fishbowl Discussions, or any of these Critical Creativity ideas from Dan Ryder.
Finally, Teacher Led Instruction
For many educators this is their bread and butter. Keep the instruction focused on the same outcomes and objectives as the online learning and collaborative activities, but deliver it face to face with students.
A Well Oiled Machine
Now that you have the three stations planned out, decide how long students will spend at each station and the direction they will rotate around the room. There are many moving parts to consider when choosing an approach like the station rotation model. Hopefully this quick overview will get your wheels turning and encourage you to give this a try. Before you do, the Blended Learning Universe has an awesome Design Guide to review to ensure you have all of your bases covered. Good luck!
Additional Resources
- 3 Secrets to Successful Station Rotations
- Blending Teaching and Technology: Simple Strategies for Improved Student Learning
- Part 1: Tips from blended-learning teachers about the structures and systems that make blended work
- Part 2: Tips from blended-learning teachers about the structures and systems that make blended work
- How to Use Blended Learning for K-12 Classrooms, The Right Way
- Otus Supports Blended Learning