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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.

SITE 2015: March 2-6, 2015

SITE 2015: March 2-6, 2015

MVRLI Icon Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

We hope to see you at SITE 2015 in Las Vegas this week!Below is a list of the sessions that are categorized under the Virtual Schooling SIG. Safe travels, and we’ll see you in Vegas![table id=15 /][ta

Research
MAR 02, 2015
Cold weather doesn't stop learning at Michigan Virtual

Cold weather doesn't stop learning at Michigan Virtual

Jamey Fitzpatrick Jamey Fitzpatrick

When it’s cold out. Really cold. Like it has been often this winter. Many schools shut down. That’s not news to anyone in Michigan, but Michigan Virtual online learning students are warm and toasty on

Leadership
FEB 25, 2015
Looking for teachers, administrators and researchers to review modules

Looking for teachers, administrators and researchers to review modules

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My name is Jason Siko, and I’m currently an assistant professor of educational technology at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. My research interests included K-12 online and blended learn

Research
FEB 24, 2015
Episode 2: Shawn Rubin

Episode 2: Shawn Rubin

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We sit down with Shawn Rubin, the Director of Blended Learning at the Highlander Institute, a Rhode Island-based nonprofit organization providing professional development and other educational service

Podcasts, Research
FEB 23, 2015
Man wandering down a path

Differentiation in a world without learning styles

Jeff Gerlach

My ExperienceIt was in an 8th-grade social studies class that I first encountered differentiation based on learning styles. At that time I was a student assistant, gaining classroom experience in prep

Blended Learning
FEB 20, 2015
End-of-course assessments as quality assurance measures

End-of-course assessments as quality assurance measures

MVRLI Icon Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

Several states are using end-of-course assessments (EOCs) as quality assurance metrics for both online and face-to-face courses. Michigan is developing and implementing EOCs as part of the larger stat

Research
FEB 17, 2015
Online Learning journal – call for proposals: special issue on K-12 online education

Online Learning journal – call for proposals: special issue on K-12 online education

MVRLI Icon Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

A special issue of Online Learning, the official journal of the Online Learning Consortium (formerly Sloan-C), will be published in December 2015. This issue will focus on K-12 online learning.Submiss

Research
FEB 09, 2015
AECT 2015 – School Media and Technology Division looking for submissions

AECT 2015 – School Media and Technology Division looking for submissions

MVRLI Icon Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

Proposals for AECT 2015 (in Indianapolis, Nov. 3-7, 2015) are due February 2, 2015.TopicsCyber and virtual schooling in K-12 education, the design of online and blended K-12 environments that optimize

Research
JAN 29, 2015
Simply engaging and utterly consuming: #Givercraft 2014

Simply engaging and utterly consuming: #Givercraft 2014

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Graduate and K-12 students engage in a new interactive learning experience combining the use of Minecraft, Wikispaces, webinars, and The Giver, by Lois LowryIn the spring of 2014, I was fortunate enou

Research
JAN 25, 2015
School psychology: Bringing a virtually hidden field online

School psychology: Bringing a virtually hidden field online

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In this guest blog post, three Georgia Southern University associate professors, who authored a chapter in the Handbook of Research on K-12 Online and Blended Learning, discuss their desire to share t

Research
JAN 14, 2015
Calling all instructional designers in K-12 online learning programs

Calling all instructional designers in K-12 online learning programs

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A Capella University Ph.D. candidate is seeking research participants for a telephone-based study concerning the use of Instructional Strategies in the development of virtual courses designed for a hi

Research
JAN 05, 2015
Supporting students online

Supporting students online

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REL Southeast Blended and Online Learning Alliance developed the following video that talks about research in supporting students who take online courses.

Research
JAN 05, 2015
Episode 1: Dr. Tracy Weeks

Episode 1: Dr. Tracy Weeks

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Dr. Tracy Weeks, Chief Academic and Digital Learning Officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, shares stories about her past experiences in the field, the work she’s currently

Podcasts, Research
DEC 22, 2014
More studies needed on blended learning for students with disabilities

More studies needed on blended learning for students with disabilities

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Today’s guest bloggers are Mary Rice and Bryan Dykman from the Center for Online Learning and Students with Disabilities.Students with disabilities and their families have a history of struggling for

Research
DEC 17, 2014
New handbook presents the current state of research in K-12 online and blended learning

New handbook presents the current state of research in K-12 online and blended learning

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ETC Press is excited to announce the release of “Handbook of Research on K-12 Online and Blended Learning,” by Richard E. Ferdig, Kathryn Kennedy, et al.The Handbook of Research on K-12 Online and Ble

Research
DEC 05, 2014
Call for papers – Journal of Science Education and Technology

Call for papers – Journal of Science Education and Technology

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The Journal of Science Education and Technology is soliciting manuscripts for a special issue on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Career Development Education.Important DatesLe

Research
DEC 01, 2014
New research on affective and motivational factors of learning in online mathematics courses

New research on affective and motivational factors of learning in online mathematics courses

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Today’s guest blogger is Joe Cozart, the Associate Director of Strategic Planning for Georgia Virtual Learning.The role of motivation in student success in online courses is clear. Highly motivated st

Research
NOV 24, 2014
Mastery of the Universe

Mastery of the Universe

Jeff Gerlach

Exploring the practical aspects of Competency Based Learning

Blended Learning
NOV 21, 2014
MVLRI adds New Zealand organization as contributor to research clearinghouse

MVLRI adds New Zealand organization as contributor to research clearinghouse

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DEANZ, the New Zealand Association for Open, Flexible and Distance Learning whose mission is “fostering growth, development, research and good practice in distance education, open learning and flexibl

Research
NOV 13, 2014
MVLRI presenting at iNACOL symposium

MVLRI presenting at iNACOL symposium

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[table id=19 /]

Research
NOV 04, 2014

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