Essentials courses now available for statewide enrollment

LANSING, MI — Michigan Virtual™’s Credit Recovery courses have been renamed “Essentials” and are now available for statewide enrollment. These 27 core classes are designed for students who either need to recover credits due to previously failing the equivalent course in their local educational setting, or for students enrolled in approved alternative education programs. All Essentials courses include mentor training and comprehensive student orientation modules at no additional cost. These courses will soon be listed as “Essentials” both on Michigan Virtual’s website and in CEMS for enrollment. During this transition period, however, some items may still be listed as “Credit Recovery (CR).” Educators can rest assured that these courses are still the same high-quality, teacher-supported courses that students have taken in the past. Students who would like to take an Essentials class are now able to do so through the typical CEMS enrollment process. The course catalog for our Essentials courses can be found here. By enrolling a student in an Essentials course, schools still express a willingness to have their mentors complete brief online training on:

How to successfully coach students enrolled in this program
How to use the Essentials course platform
How to use Shmoop
How to use the unique supplemental features added to select courses via our Blackboard LMS

This training, estimated to take no more than 2 hours, is now available in a self-paced, online course through Michigan Virtual’s Professional Learning Portal. Registration for this training course can be found here. Because they are designed around evidence-based best practices for supporting students in online environments, the Essentials courses provide students with the tools they need to succeed. The free mentor training and orientation modules are a crucial component of student success. Paired together, they create a highly-supportive environment for students to navigate their online coursework. Essentials courses have a separate enrollment period from traditional courses. Enrollments for the 2017-18 second semester will be accepted through March 31, and courses will end on June 8.

Michigan Virtual

For more than 27 years, Michigan Virtual has partnered with K–12 school districts across Michigan to expand learning opportunities for students and educators alike. Through our high-quality online courses, taught by Michigan-certified, highly qualified teachers, we empower students to learn anytime, anywhere. We also provide affordable, impactful professional development to help educators grow in their craft. Most recently, Michigan Virtual has been at the forefront of innovation and artificial intelligence in education, offering consultation services and professional learning to guide schools in thoughtfully integrating new technologies and learning pathways.