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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.
Web3 101: What educators need to know about the future of the web
Dr. Mike Peck
Remember the days when the internet resembled a massive library, and Google was our librarian? Well, the internet has evolved a lot since then! As we transition to web3 — the 'read-write-own' era — we gain unprecedented control over our data and information. As educators, it's our responsibility to adjust to this new reality while embracing its exciting possibilities. Let's explore what web3 means for the future of education together!
Mastering the email game: Three hacks for getting students to ACTUALLY read & reply to your emails
Jonelle Barker
Discover the art of successful email communication with students. By following these three proven email hacks, you’ll stop sending emails that result in crickets and instead create authentic, engaging digital communications that foster rapport between you and your students.
AI's growing role in education: Top 5 predictions from Michigan school leaders
Nikolas McGehee
Will AI be the key to transforming education? Explore five game-changing ways AI has the potential to reshape the classroom and enhance student learning.
Overcoming procrastination: Boost student executive function with transparent planning (+ free template!)
Danielle Peck
The transparent planning process offers strategies for combatting procrastination and strengthening students’ executive function. This process not only can improve academic outcomes but also helps instill lifelong skills in students. In this article, I dive into the connection between procrastination and executive function before exploring what transparent planning is and how it can help. I’ll also share a free Google template you can use to practice transparent planning with your students.
Designing for the future with AI: Lessons learned in curriculum development
Nikolas McGehee
Michigan Virtual's educators experimented with ChatGPT to generate content for online courses, offering insights into its potential benefits and limitations in areas like content creation, individualized learning, and the 5D course design process.
3 Creative Ways to Celebrate Student Success in the Online Classroom
There is much to celebrate when students do well in their online courses! After all, success in online learning requires excellent time management skills, the ability to learn in a new environment, and so much more. Looking for ways to celebrate student achievements that go beyond the typical “good job” email? Here are three creative tactics you can try!
AI in education: What you need to know about this game-changing technology
Nikolas McGehee
Don’t miss these predictions for the good, the bad, and the ugly of AI’s impact on the future of learning (plus a sneak peek of how educators are already rising to meet this new challenge).
Become an online learning pro: Top tips & tricks from experienced instructors
Andrea McKay
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the freedom and flexibility of online learning? You're not alone! In this article, we share top tips from seasoned instructors on how to make the most out of your online course, no matter your experience level.
How Will Artificial Intelligence Change Education? Let’s Ask an AI to Find Out...
Justin Bruno
I asked two different AI programs how artificial intelligence will change the future of K-12 education. Here's how they responded.
The Power of the 5:1 Ratio: How Fostering Positive Interactions Can Transform Student Learning
Danielle Peck
The 5:1 ratio has completely changed my thinking about interactions in the classroom. It all started with a question about grading. After all, part of our jobs as teachers is to provide corrective feedback to help students grow. The 5:1 ratio helps to ensure that students can receive this feedback effectively. More importantly, however, it can help us be intentional about creating a classroom environment that centers our humanity.
A simple template for SEL check-ins
Andrea McKay
Using this simple template, our online instructors have learned a lot more about what’s going on in their students' lives, both sorrows and joys. This information can help teachers better connect with students and figure out what might be getting in the way of learning.
Three surprising benefits of holding structured check-ins with students (plus a free template!)
Anne Perez
Looking to cultivate a more student-centered classroom? Try holding structured check-ins with students. You'll immediately start seeing these three key benefits.
21st-century skills: What are they, how should I teach them, and why are they important?
Nikolas McGehee
What are 21st-century skills?There have been many substantial changes in the world at large, but especially in education, over the past few years. With so many things rapidly changing, one of the only
A roadmap to K-12 innovation: Three takeaways from Michael Horn’s latest masterpiece
Michigan Virtual
Here are our top takeaways from educational futurist Michael Horn's latest book, which offers a practical roadmap to K-12 innovation for school leaders.
Time for Teachers: Self-Assessment with Community Support as Individual Solutions
Ed Timke
Educators often cite a lack of time as one of their most significant stressors. How can we help teachers find the balance necessary to feel satisfied in their jobs and meet their social and emotional needs? This third post in the Time for Teachers blog series will discuss the importance of a self-assessment in addressing individual problems and solutions teachers face. This is not to say the onus of addressing challenges should fall squarely on the shoulders of individual teachers. Teachers need a community of practice and support to help them identify problems they might face individually that could benefit from solutions that come from consulting with colleagues.
Time for Teachers: Agile Meetings and Short Pulse Surveys as Systemic Solutions
Ed Timke
Educators often cite a lack of time as one of their most significant stressors. How can we help teachers find the balance necessary to feel satisfied in their jobs and meet their social and emotional needs? This second post in the Time for Teachers blog series will discuss two possible solutions that can help all educators save time while addressing needs to serve students and communities: agile meetings and short pulse surveys.
8 go-to SEL tools for teachers
Nikolas McGehee
Social emotional learning — also known as “SEL” — is a component of education that addresses the traditionally non-academic side of student development and learning.The idea is that children should ha
Effective Practices in Professional Learning Course Design: Course Content
Christa Green
Based on direct input from learners via end-of-course survey data, Michigan Virtual’s Instructional Product Development team gleaned the effective practices outlined in this blog in order to improve their course development and better meet the needs of the educators whom they serve.
Effective Practices in Professional Learning Course Design: Assessments, Format, Structure, and Appearance
Christa Green
Based on direct input from learners via end-of-course survey data, Michigan Virtual’s Instructional Product Development team gleaned the effective practices outlined in this blog in order to improve their course development and better meet the needs of the educators whom they serve.
Step 2: How do we gain an empathetic understanding of the problem at hand?
You’ve already completed the first step of this process – immersion. You’ve immersed yourself in the problem at hand and discovered the right questions to ask. Now, you’re ready to conduct research to start answering those questions.
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