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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.
New position to expand research capacity
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
To help stakeholders meet the educational challenges they face and better support online learners, the search is on for a new full-time quantitative researcher for MVLRI. The person in this position w
Rediscovering Microsoft: Three powerful tools for teachers
Roman Stotland
Expand your presentations and supercharge your screen captures with these tools.
Episode 11: Sarah Luchs
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Our guest for this episode is Sarah Luchs of NGLC, Next Generation Learning Challenges. NGLC is a challenge grant strategy initiative of Educause, dedicated to accelerating educational innovation thro
About 26% of undergraduates at degree-granting postsecondary institutions took a distance education course in 2012-13
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
For the first time, the recently released Digest of Education Statistics 2013 includes statistics on the percentages of undergraduates and graduates who took distance education and online courses. The
Episode 10: Kate Loughrey
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In this episode, we talk with Kate Loughrey, who is the statewide Texas Virtual School Network Coordinator. Kate gives us a very detailed picture of the ins and outs of the Texas course choice program
USDOE report finds 32% of undergraduates took an online course in 2011-2012
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
For the first time, the recently released Digest of Education Statistics 2013 includes statistics on the percentages of undergraduates and graduates who took distance education and online courses. The
Episode 9: Tom Driscoll
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In this episode, we’re talking with Tom Driscoll a high school social studies teacher and instructional technology consultant based in Connecticut. Tom is on a mission to better and more efficiently s
Is Online Teaching in Your Future?
Jamey Fitzpatrick
During the next decade, thousands of educators in the U.S. will start a new professional journey by teaching one or more courses in an online environment. For some, this will be an exciting transition
Episode 8: Christine Fox
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In this episode, we talk with Christine Fox, the Director of Educational Leadership and Research for SETDA. Christine and her team face a lot of challenges in a constantly changing setting, as the pol
Episode 7: Jeff Renard
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In this episode, we chat with Jeff Renard, Director of Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative. We gained quite a bit of insight as to how virtual learning is structured in Vermont public schools, d hear
Online learning helps prepare students for higher education
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
The experience of learning online during high school develops independence and confidence with technology says Ed Lawless, Principal of Pamoja Education.After five years as the only approved provider
Celebrating student learning at Brandywine
Jeff Gerlach
Exploring a blended learning project from start to finish.
Episode 6: Cathy Cavanaugh
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In this episode, we chat with Cathy Cavanaugh, Director of Teaching and Learning at Microsoft Worldwide Education. Dr. Cavanaugh provides us with a glimpse of some of the exciting research that’s bein
Collaborative meetings bring researchers and practitioners together
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
MVLRI’s Collaborative meetings are designed to bring researchers and practitioners together virtually in order to share opportunities for collaboration, including but not limited to research, grants,
Episode 5: Michelle Licata
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Our guest is Michelle Licata, Global Curriculum Coordinator for FLVS Global. Michelle’s work is focused on engaging educators and administrators in training and conversations about appropriate use of
The Online Learning Orientation Tool – OLOT – prepares students for new learning experiences
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Students currently have an unprecedented level of choice when it comes to the courses they take and the subjects they learn in school. In Michigan, this is made evident by the goals of Section 21F of
Episode 4: Aubrey Francisco
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In this episode, we chat with Aubrey Francisco, Director of Research at Digital Promise. Digital Promise is involved in a number of different projects aimed at improving the opportunity to learn for a
To serve and subsist: Reflections on finding the ideal registration window
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
How do online schools and curriculum providers attend to the myriad needs of teachers, students, and staff? This constant juggling act requires skill, tact, and most of all, data.To cite one example,
Is Blended Learning a Fairy Tale?
Jamie DeWitt
In Michael Horn (@michaelbhorn) and Heather Staker’s (@hstaker) new book “Blended,” blended learning implementation is examined and discussed. As the blended learning movement is exploding, it is nat
Calling all middle and high school online writing teachers!
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
We are posting this for Kristine Pytash and Jennifer Nigh of Kent State University who are conducting a study of online writing teachers. Please share this out with your networks.Two Kent State Univer
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