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The Digital Backpack
Your resource for online learning
Your trusted source for K-12 online learning insights, teaching strategies, and success stories from Michigan’s leading virtual education provider. Join us as we explore innovative approaches to help students thrive in the digital age.
Valuing vs. Acknowledging Diversity
Michigan Virtual
Meet Joy Taylor, a teaching consultant from WAVE who reminds us that there’s a big difference between ACKNOWLEDGING diversity in education and VALUING it.
Podcast: Learning like an Innovator with The Henry Ford
Michigan Virtual
In this episode, we talk to Phil and Lucie from the Learning and Engagement Team at The Henry Ford. We discuss research that indicates that humans are innately innovative, especially in difficult situ
Where Does Tech Belong in Teaching?
Michigan Virtual
Meet Amy Gwizdz & Bob Harrison, an instructional technology coach duo from Dearborn Public Schools with insights on how to leverage technology to create student-centered classrooms.
Best of 2020
Michigan Virtual
A compilation of our top-viewed content in 2020, including blog articles, podcasts, webinars, research articles, and more.
16 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Online Teachers in Your Life
Sarah Pazur
A list of 16 gift ideas to make the online teaching experience easier, better, and, yes, more fun!
Guest Perspective: The Menagerie, Myths, and Merits of the Bitmoji Classroom
Sarah Pazur
Bitmoji classrooms exploded during emergency remote instruction in Spring 2020. Bitmoji classrooms are two-dimensional scenes depicting a teacher-created avatar in a drawn classroom environment; the scenes feature a variety of imaginary objects.
Podcast: Design Thinking in Schools with Ariel Raz
Michigan Virtual
Ariel Raz is the Head of Learning Collaborations with the Stanford d.school k12 Lab. In this episode, we chat with Ariel about design thinking and how it can be used in K-12 schools to unlock innovati
Looking Ahead: How to Thrive in (and Beyond) the 2020-21 School Year
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
What steps can you be taking now to better prepare your students, yourself, and your school district for the future? When you think about the learning environment that your students will need, does it encompass any of the principles of student-centered learning?
Podcast: Why the Same Learning Model Won't Work for Every School with Adam Rubin
Michigan Virtual
Adam Rubin is a Founder and Partner with 2Revolutions, an education design lab. In this episode, we chat with Adam about his organization’s approach to supporting schools, districts, and education age
Increasing Learner Agency Through Continuous Monitoring of Student Needs
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Student-centered learning is about more than just putting students at the center of education. It is about giving each student the opportunity for success. It is about designing learning to be flexible and adaptable for each learner, not just the average student. It is about understanding the whole child—what they need both academically and non-academically—and giving students the skills they need for success within and beyond the classroom.
Tips and Tricks for Communicating with Parents and Students
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
During this time of remote learning, what are some best practices in the ways you communicate with your students and their parents? In this webinar, we’ll explore examples and tips for communication, specific tools and resources to aid this process, and lessons learned from applying these practices.
Taking a moment to dream: How can we reimagine what ‘school’ looks like?
Michigan Virtual
It might as well be the motto of 2020: Things aren’t going quite the way that we had hoped. . . Alright. Now, what can we learn from it? How can we do better in the future?
Competency-Based Progression: Designed for Student Success
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
As we transition into another school year faced with many uncertainties, maybe it doesn’t make sense to try and get back to “normal.” Maybe the need for learning continuity and remote learning actually provides us with an opportunity to look at teaching and learning differently. Maybe this is an opportunity to rethink what we know and believe education to be. Maybe this is an opportunity to make learning more student-centered.
You Can Do This! Transitioning to Remote Teaching & Learning
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Are you feeling overwhelmed about transitioning your classroom into a remote learning environment? In this webinar, we share simple strategies for getting started, communicating with students and parents, finding and delivering content, building relationships, and designing assessments. You can do this!
Podcast: Diversity — Understanding self and embracing the conflict with Dr. Jay Marks
Michigan Virtual
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Jay Marks, Diversity and Equity Consultant with Oakland Schools (Michigan). We discuss the topics of race, culture, social justice, and inequities that exist in the K
How Implementing Voice & Choice Can Improve Student Engagement
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Schools will look different this fall, there’s no doubt. However, the need to rapidly adopt virtual learning is no longer an emergency. We knew it was coming. So what can we do differently this time?
District Plans for Shifting to Remote Instruction in Spring 2020
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Should we go fully digital, use paper copies, or use a hybrid model? How will we assess the technology needs of our students? Should we arrange for meal pick up, delivery, or some combination? How will we manage and monitor student learning? How will we continue to meet the social-emotional needs of our students? These are just some of the questions that school leaders faced as they developed their plans for continued learning after school doors were shuttered for the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Student-Centered Learning at Fraser Public Schools
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Competency-based learning. Asking kids to do things rather than know things. Designing learning for all. Just some of the ways in which at Fraser, learning drives innovation.
Student-Centered Learning at FlexTech High Schools
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Student-centered by design. Meeting kids where they are. Competency-based learning. Project-based curriculum. Just some of the ways FlexTech is giving students permission to choose rather than deciding for them.
Creating a Supportive Learning Environment for Online Students: Communication is Key
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
What does a supportive online learning environment look like? Administrators, parents, mentors, and teachers must work together and communicate effectively. While overlap in responsibilities is inevitable, each has a defined role in shaping an online learning environment conducive to student success.
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