In the past, NDCL students learned to navigate the online learning system using Blackboard. The blended learning days were meant to give students focused opportunities to engage in their work through lessons designed by their teachers. These blended learning days allowed the students to work on their time management at home to increase their productivity and further build on how they could do independent study in college. Students would access the lessons through the Blackboard, a college management system that enabled the students to work in the comfort of their homes or anywhere else they, please. The teachers used Blackboard to create learning modules, activities, and assessments that blended with the learning in their classrooms. Hence the name blended learning. 

Blended learning days were a fun day off and a privilege because our teachers and staff believed we could responsibly do all our work at home. They took place once every month, usually at the end or start of the week. Contrary to our standard blue and gold block scheduling, all students would participate in the same subjects on the same day. For example, one month, the teachers may have decided that students would study their language, English, and elective classes versus all four core subjects. 

NDCL student Nina Depasquale “loved having these blended learning days because colleges often have classes online, and it prepares us to do well in that environment.” So why did we get rid of them? During Covid, students were forced to stay home and participate in online learning to keep safe and socially distance themselves. Students began online learning at home in March and continued this until the end of the year. Fast forward to the present, we no longer have blended learning days. Instead, students are given a day off every month. Student Caitlyn Cvitkovic claims that she “liked online learning” she explained that “it prepared us [students] for a college atmosphere. This is because college classes are normally online as well as in person. They allow students to work independently and at their own pace.” So, what do you think? Would you rather have a day off or a day of work in preparation for the college atmosphere?