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Flexible Learning Environment Hyperdoc:  

How does a flexible learning environment support student agency? 
By the end of this Flexible Learning Environments Hyperdoc, you will be able to:
● Identify what IS NOT a flexible learning environment
● Identify what a flexible learning environment does look like
● Analyze different aspects of a flexible learning environment
● Identify how a flexible learning environment supports student agency
● Identify and analyze evidence from your own classroom being a flexible learning environment
 

Engage - ​Group Response 

  Back by popular demand, it’s Word Cloud time! ​Record your responses in the HyperDoc.
Cloud Icon 
“...we cannot simply change our learning spaces without also changing the way we teach.”
(Highfill, Hilton, & Landis, 2016, p.15).
Directions​: First, view​ ​Flexible Classrooms: Providing the Learning Environment That Kids Need​ (4:18)
(Edutopia, 2015).
View: 
Then, individually, curate a list of words that answers the prompt. Then, as a group, create a Word Cloud with
those words. Insert the link or image of your Word Cloud below.
● What are you initial reactions to a flexible learning environment?

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Insert Word Cloud: ​Made using PollEverywhere

Create: 

Explore - ​Individual Responses 

Directions​: First watch Each group member should choose one article from the series “​The A to Z of Flexible
Classrooms​,” to read and summarize for the rest of the group. Then, you should review the summaries from the
  other articles written by your other group members. Finally, find 1 article that showcases Flexible Learning as
Edutopia Logo  more than the furniture in your classroom. ​Record your responses in the HyperDoc.

The A to Z of Flexible Classrooms​ (5 articles)

1. Flexible Classrooms: Research is Scarce, but Promising​ (Merrill, 2018)
Read/View: 
2. Funding Your Flexible Classroom ​(Minero, 2017-b)
3. Flexible Classrooms: Assembly Required​ (Minero, 2017-a)

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4. 7 Outstanding K-8 Flexible Classrooms​ (Merrill, 2017-b)

5. High School Flexible Seating Done Right​ (Merrill, 2017-a)

Find your own article that showcases Flexible Learning Environments, as more than just changing the furniture
in your classroom. Summarize the article below in a few sentences and add the Title/Link.

Name: ​Mandi Wilson

1. Article Title: Funding your Flexible Classroom
a. Summary: This article discusses the different platforms teachers can use to raise money for their
classrooms. One website it mentions is donorschoose.org. This website is a tool for teachers to
describe exactly what they want for their classroom, they share their projects with others and
when it is funded DonorsChoose buys the items for them.
2. Title: Flexible Learning Environments: Leveraging the Affordances of Flexible Delivery and Flexible
Learning.
a. Summary: This article discusses exactly what a flexible learning environment it and what “flexible
delivery” is defined as. Flexible delivery is (as it sounds) allowing flexibility, or choice, in how the
information is accessed allows for more freedoms when students are trying to obtain new
information. Flexible delivery and flexible learning go hand in hand to create an effective FLE
(flexible learning environment). The article discusses some of the core principles of FLE such as
Record New facilitation and negotiation. Teachers must remember that in FLE they are the facilitators of the
Learning & learning, but the students are taking the lead. They also have to be comfortable with negotiating
Citation:  with their students on how the learning will take place. While there are certain things the teacher
must have set before a lesson, a true FLE will allow teachers and students to work together on the
decision making process.
Link: Hill, Janette R. (2006, Sept.1). ​Flexible Learning Environments: Leveraging the Affordances of
Flexible Delivery and Flexible Learning.​ Retrieved from:
https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs10755-006-9016-6.pdf

Name: ​Colleen DiNunno

1. Article Title: 7 Outstanding K-8 Flexible Classrooms (Merrill, 2017-b)
a. Summary: Teachers across the country were asked to share their flexible learning environments
with Edutopia through Facebook. As submissions started coming in, members of Edutopia began
to notice a trend with flexible learning in K-8 classrooms, which was flexible seating. Each teacher
shares the number of students they have in the classroom, how they have it arranged, and tips for
making this successful, as well as an image of their space.

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2. Article Title: Why Flexible Learning Environments? (Beingessner & Mehrbach, 2018)
a. Summary: This article is broken down into different sections that addresses all the components
that make a flexible learning environment effective. It begins with what flexible learning is, how it
personalized learning, how the physical environment can support a more personal learning
experience for students, how having flexible time gives students more choice in their own learning,
and ways to group students based off of formative assessment. Lastly, it discusses how these
can support can improve learning and increases teacher effectiveness.
Link: Beingessner, C., Mehrbach, L. (2018, April 8). ​Why Flexible Learning Environments​. Retrieved from
https://www.gettingsmart.com/2018/08/why-flexible-learning-environments/

Name: ​Kelly Grice

1. Article Title: High School Flexible Seating Done Right
a. Summary: High Schools are regularly bigger than elementary and middle schools not because the
classroom sizes are bigger, but because there’s more classrooms. The lack of space in a high
school classroom has caused many teachers to be unsure of how to create flexible seating
options. Edutopia explores five high school teachers who have successfully implemented flexible
seating in their classrooms. These teachers all included various types of seating, including
traditional desk settings, and implemented classroom rules to utilize the seating. With structure
and consistency, the teachers reported that it was possible to have flexible seating at the high
school setting, despite the lack of space.

2. Article Title: Schools Trade Traditional Classroom Setups for Flexible Learning Environments
a. Summary: Similar to work spaces trading in traditional cubicle office settings, classrooms are also
changing. “Flexible learning setups also make way for introducing ed tech resources in a modern
learning environment,” (De la Rosa, para. 2). Using flexible learning allows for introducing ed tech
into the classroom as a resource and learning tool for students.
Link: De la Rosa, Shawna.(2019, February 5). ​Schools Trade Traditional Classroom Setups for Flexible
Learning Environments.​ Retrieved from:
https://www.educationdive.com/news/schools-trade-traditional-classroom-setups-for-flexible-learning-envi
ronmen/547765/

Name: ​Kelly Hilbert

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1. Article Title: Flexible Classrooms: Assembly Required

a. Summary: This article goes briefly into the idea that Flexible Classrooms are much more than just
how we layout our classroom. If we want kids to learn differently, we have to teach differently. We
cannot just change the look of our classroom and expect that to be a quick fix. However, the
classroom layout definitely does play a huge role, and there are many ways that we can make our
classrooms much more inviting and comfortable for students. The article shows pictures of
different classrooms that have a lot of flexible seating. It also provides ideas as well as links and
pictures to items that could be purchased for the classroom. Each item is explained as well as
described, particularly in a way that shows how it could make the classroom a more flexible
learning spaces.
2. Article Title: The Positive Impacts of a Flexible Learning Environment
a. Summary: In this article, they discuss a number of other ways of how flexible environments are
much more than just furniture. I really enjoyed the portion when they mentioned that learning
should be interdisciplinary, because with the flexible learning environment, students are more able
to make connections between content areas. They also discussed how with flexible grouping,
there should be more than one teacher in a room, and scheduling should be more flexible as well,
to provide learning experiences that are more individualized.
Link:
https://www.sas.edu.sg/about-us/publications-and-media/perspectives/post-details/~board/perspectives-b
log/post/the-positive-impacts-of-a-flexible-learning-environment

Explain - ​Individual Responses 

Directions: ​Let’s dig into this idea of Flexible Learning Environments through the video Flexible Learning
  Environments (7:07) (Parkland School Division, 2015). This video is on EDpuzzle, so as you watch the video,
Edpuzzle Logo  questions and prompts will appear. Answer those prompts and questions. ​Record your responses in the
EdPuzzle.

Access the EdPuzzle Link

EdPuzzle 
Prompt:  To participate in the EdPuzzle activity, you should have already created an EdPuzzle student account. The total

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video time is 7:07. Answer the questions/prompts throughout the video to further your understanding of Flexible
Learning Environments.
 

Experience​ - ​Small Group Response 

Directions: ​Each group member will complete 2 slides in the​ ​Flexible Learning Environments Experience Slides
  with pictures from your classroom. Follow the prompts below to guide the types of images you should be
Slides Logo  including. ​Record your responses in the Flexible Learning Environments Experience Slides & paste the link in
this HyperDoc.

A Flexible Learning Environment can happen anywhere from your individual classroom, to a full grade
level shift, to a whole school shift.

Create a copy of the Flexible Learning Environments Experience Slides and share it with your group
with Edit access. Share the link below for instructor viewing.

Each group member will complete 2 slides in the​ ​Flexible Learning Environments Experience Slides​ with
pictures from your classroom. Use the following prompts to guide the images you submit:
● On the Slide that includes ‘Two pictures that are NOT Flexible Learning’, insert 2 pictures of your
  classroom that are NOT flexible learning.
Prompt:  ○ Then, identify how these practices can be CHANGED into a flexible learning practice. Consider the
support you would need. Is it possible with the current system that is in place at your
school/district? How would those changes support student agency?
● On the Slide that includes ‘Two pictures that ARE Flexible Learning’, insert 2 pictures of your classroom
that ARE considered flexible learning.
○ Identify why these images are considered flexible learning.

If students are in your photos, be sure you are complying with the Student Photo Rules and FERPA list at your
school.

Link to Group Flexible Learning Environment Experience Slides:

Paste Link:  https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1f8g7IoSZBGi5WXQZv5ozepVQZiCZ-kkM_5felkSTWqI/edit?usp=sharing

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Share - ​Individual Response 

Directions: Share a photo from the Experience that is (or could be) a flexible learning practice from your
Twitter Logo  classroom on Twitter. Include the criteria listed below to complete your Twitter Post. ​Record your responses on
Twitter.

Using one (1) of the photos from your group, make a ​meme​ to showcase Student Agency. This image can be
from either the ‘NOT Flexible Learning’ or ‘ARE Flexible Learning’ slides. The meme should relate to the content
(if it IS or IS NOT Flexible Learning) and support Student Agency. Share the meme on Twitter.
Include:
✓A summary of what your meme represents
✓#FlexibleLearning
✓#ET660
Prompt: 
✓#LoyolaET
✓@LoyolaET
✓@LoyolaEducation
✓& tag all group members
Please note, you do not need to list the school/classroom. Also, be aware of the tone/content in your tweet. Be
sure you are not showcasing a negative aspect about your school, administration, or district.
Only 1 group member is required to tweet, though all are encouraged to tweet.
 

Reflect - ​Individual Responses 

  Directions​: Select the Flipgrid link. Follow the prompt above and the one located in Flipgrid.

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FlipGrid Logo  You have 3 minutes maximum in Flipgrid. Only 1 post is needed. ​Record your responses on Flipgrid.

Access the Flipgrid Link

Prompt​: Individually, reflect on how you can bring more student agency into your classroom through Flexible
Prompt:   Learning. This should not be a regurgitation from the Explain or Experience sections, but instead a more
personalized analysis and application to your specific classroom.
Time for response: 3 minutes
 

​ xtend- ​Individual OR Small Group Response 

Optional E
Directions​: These extension activities can be completed individually, with a partner, or as a whole group.
  Choose one​ ​activity ​from the options below, and link to your completed project on the right. *If working with a
partner or small group, all group members names can go in one box with the link to the shared product.* ​Record
your responses in the HyperDoc.

These extension activities can be completed individually, with partners, or as a whole group.
Option 1
● Create an assignment; Use any tool (such as a Flip Grid or a Hyperdoc) that supports a Flexible Learning
Environment and is based in your content or a content that everyone can use.
● Reflect with 3-5 sentences on how this assignment supports flexible learning and student agency in your
classroom.
● Your assignment should have five or more activities, topics, or reflection pieces.

Prompts:  Option 2
● In order to recreate your classroom into a Flexible Learning Environment, you will need buy in from
administration, students, and parents.
● Create a presentation that you can share with your principal and parents that showcases the main
concepts of a Flexible Learning Environment and how it supports student agency.
● Your presentation should include enough slides to convey the information and be created with the best
practices of presentation slides.Use these helpful resources:
○ Create + prepare slides.​ (TED Ideas Worth Spreading, n.d.).
○ Google Developers. (2017, May 17). Sundar Pichai: ​Google I/O Keynote​ [Video file].

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○ Medina, J. (n.d.). ​A rule of thumb for presenters​. brain rules.

○ Duarte, N. (n.d.). ​Create presentation slides people can "get" in 3 seconds.​ Duarte.

Group Member(s) Name:Mandi Wilson, Colleen DiNunno

Option Number: 1
Link to Extension Activity: ​https://flipgrid.com/0s4u0fh
Students were able to choose 2 of the 4 tenses that they were the most comfortable with. They first completed a
written assignment responding to questions in their chosen tense, then they completed this Flipgrid answering
questions in their selected tenses. Afterwards they got to choose one topic other than their own to peer-edit.
Once they edited their peers videos they had to choose how to submit that to them (video response on Flipgrid,
written response, face-to face conference). Their final step was to take the feedback they got from their peers,
edit anything (if they wanted to) and choose how to present their final topic to me.

Response  Group Member(s) Name:

Option Number:
Area:  Link to Extension Activity:

Group Member(s) Name:

Option Number:
Link to Extension Activity:

Group Member(s) Name:

Option Number:
Link to Extension Activity:
 

Optional​ Suggested Resources:  

These resources are suggested for continued extended learning

● Reflections on Shifting to a Flexible Classroom​ (Markle, 2018).

● Joy Kirr’s Book - Shift This: How to Implement Gradual Changes for MASSIVE Impact in Your Classroom.

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Technology Accessibility & Privacy Policies 

Technology Used in this HyperDoc  Accessibility Statement  Privacy Policy 
Google Drive https://www.google.com/accessibility/ https://policies.google.com/privacy
products-features.html

YouTube https://www.google.com/accessibili https://policies.google.com/privacy

ty/products-features.html

EdPuzzle For this technology tool, an https://edpuzzle.com/privacy#over

accessibility statement currently view
does not exist. 8/1/18

Flipgrid https://help.flipgrid.com/hc/en-us/a https://legal.flipgrid.com/privacy.ht

rticles/115004848574-Flipgrid-is-A ml
ccessible-for-Everyone
https://static.flipgrid.com/docs/vpat
.pdf

Twitter For this technology tool, an https://twitter.com/en/privacy

accessibility statement currently does
not exist. 8/1/18
https://help.twitter.com/en/using-twitte
r/picture-descriptions

Skype https://support.skype.com/en/skype/wi https://www.skype.com/en/legal/

ndows-desktop/everythingelse/access
ibility/

Google Hangouts https://www.google.com/accessibility/ https://gsuite.google.com/terms/educa

products-features.html tion_privacy.html

Zoom https://zoom.us/accessibility https://zoom.us/privacy

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References
Cloud Icon. (n.d.). ​Dark Cloud [​ digital image]. Retrieved from

https://icons8.com/icon/set/word-cloud/all

Duarte, N. (n.d.). Create presentation slides people can "get" in 3 seconds. Retrieved from

http://www.duarte.com/create-presentation-slides-people-can-get-in-3-seconds/

Edutopia. (n.d.). Edutopia logo [digital image]. Retrieved from ​https://www.edutopia.org/

Edutopia. (2015, August 3). ​Flexible Classrooms: Providing the Learning Environment That Kids Need [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://youtu.be/4cscJcRKYxA

Edpuzzle. (n.d.). Edpuzzle logo [digital image]. Retrieved from ​https://edpuzzle.com/

Flipgrid logo. (n.d.) Flipgrid logo [digital image]. Retrieved from ​https://www.flipgrid.com/

Google Developers. (2017, May 17). ​Google I/O Keynote (Google I/O '17) [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2VF8tmLFHw

Goosechase​.​ (n.d.). Goosechase logo [digital image]. Retrieved from ​https://www.goosechase.com/

Highfill, L., Hilton, K., & Landis, S. (2016). ​The HyperDoc Handbook: Digital lesson design using Google apps. ​Irvine, California:

EdTech Team Press.

Kirr, J. (2017). Shift this: How to implement gradual changes for massive impact in your classroom. David Burgess Consulting, Inc.

Retrieved from: ​https://books.google.com/books/about/Shift_This.html?id=tYbHswEACAAJ&source=kp_cover

Markle, B. (2018). Reflections on shifting to a flexible classroom. Retrieved from

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https://www.edutopia.org/article/reflections-shifting-flexible-classroom

Medina, J. (n.d.). brain rules. Vision: Vision trumps all other senses [Video file]. Retrieved from ​https://vimeo.com/52295314

Merrill, S. (2017, August 8,-a). High school flexible seating done right. Retrieved from

https://www.edutopia.org/article/high-school-flexible-seating-done-right

Merrill, S. (2017, August 9,-b). 7 Outstanding K-8 flexible classrooms. Retrieved from

https://www.edutopia.org/article/7-outstanding-k-8-flexible-classrooms

Merrill, S. (2018, June 14). Flexible classrooms: Research in scarce, but promising. Retrieved from

https://www.edutopia.org/article/flexible-classrooms-research-scarce-promising

Minero, E., (2017, August 24,-a). Flexible classrooms: Assembly required. Retrieved from

https://www.edutopia.org/article/flexible-classrooms-assembly-required

Minero, E., (2017, October 9,-b). Funding your flexible classroom. Retrieved from

https://www.edutopia.org/article/funding-your-flexible-classroom

Parkland School Division. (2015). Flexible learning environments [Video file]. Retrieved from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyyNmfkgD88&feature=youtu.be

TED Ideas Worth Spreading. (n.d.). Create + prepare slides. Retrieved from

https://www.ted.com/participate/organize-a-local-tedx-event/tedx-organizer-guide/speakers-program/prepare-your-speaker/creat

e-prepare-slides

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Twitter Logo. (n.d.). Twitter logo [digital image]. Retrieved from ​https://twitter.com/

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This work is licensed under a ​Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License​.