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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.
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
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
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 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
K-12 teachers needed for survey about OER
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
This request is from a doctoral student who needs teachers who are using OER to fill out a short survey. See her request below.I am writing to request your participation in a short survey about how K-
Michigan Virtual at MACUL in Detroit this week: See you there!
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Michigan Virtual staff members will be presenting at the 2015 MACUL Conference this week on Thursday and Friday in Room 358. Please visit us at booth 145 and booth 614 in the exhibitor’s hall on both
Comparing virtual schools in Michigan to national trends identified in NEPC’s recent national report
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
On March 10, the National Education Policy Center (NEPC), released its third annual report on virtual schools in the U.S. In this report, entitled Virtual Schools in the U.S. 2015, the authors tackle
Call for participation – online secondary science education – student and teacher perspectives
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Investigators at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and Hartley University are looking for virtual school teachers and students to participate in a study called “The Experience of Online Secondary S
Episode 3: Christina Jean
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Christina Jean, Innovation and Blended Learning Specialist with the Colorado Department of Education’s Office of Blended and Online Learning, is our guest in Episode 3. The work of the Office of Blend
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