Category: Online Learning

Best of 2020

Michigan Virtual

A compilation of our top-viewed content in 2020, including blog articles, podcasts, webinars, research articles, and more.

Guest Perspective: The Menagerie, Myths, and Merits of the Bitmoji Classroom

Bitmoji classrooms exploded during emergency remote instruction in Spring 2020. Bitmoji classrooms are two-dimensional scenes depicting a teacher-created avatar in a drawn classroom environment; the scenes feature a variety of imaginary objects.

District Plans for Shifting to Remote Instruction in Spring 2020

Should we go fully digital, use paper copies, or use a hybrid model? How will we assess the technology needs of our students? Should we arrange for meal pick up, delivery, or some combination? How will we manage and monitor student learning? How will we continue to meet the social-emotional needs of our students? These are just some of the questions that school leaders faced as they developed their plans for continued learning after school doors were shuttered for the year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Creating a Supportive Learning Environment for Online Students: Communication is Key

What does a supportive online learning environment look like? Administrators, parents, mentors, and teachers must work together and communicate effectively. While overlap in responsibilities is inevitable, each has a defined role in shaping an online learning environment conducive to student success.

LMS Selection and Implementation: Best Practices

What factors should schools and districts consider when selecting a learning management system (LMS)? What are the key processes that you should follow? What challenges and opportunities exist within the process? Where should you start?

Do Orientation Modules Contribute To Student Success In The Online Classroom?

Christopher Harrington

Dr. Chris Harrington has a conversation with three accomplished researchers (Erin Stafford and Jacqueline Zweig of the Education Development Center, Joe Freidhoff of Michigan Virtual) to discuss the details of their recent study focused on the impact of an orientation on the success of online learners.

Conversations on Continuity: Educators discuss the future of education in the face of COVID-19

Christopher Harrington

In this video, Dr. Chris Harrington talks to educational leaders from across the state and nation about the impact of the extended school closures on schools and districts. They compare the teaching and learning we're experiencing today due to rapid shifts to remote learning models to what we know to be effective online and digital learning and discuss new opportunities on the horizon for schools and what we've learned during this emergency remote learning period.

Mentoring Through a Pandemic

Online Student Support and Enrichment

We’ve talked previously about monitoring student progress as an essential responsibility of online instructors. Today’s blog post will dive deeper into instructor responsibilities around monitoring student progress, including providing support services or enrichment opportunities to students. These services are incredibly important as they can make the difference between student success and students failing to thrive in their online courses.

Communication & Engagement in the Online Classroom

Most teachers would agree that communication and engagement are key factors for student success in any classroom. In the online classroom, however, these variables play out a little differently than they might in a face-to-face setting. In this article, we break down what communication looks like in an online course, who is responsible for student engagement, and, finally, how communication and engagement interact in practice.

Digital Learning Day: Ways to Support Successful Online Learning

Michigan Virtual

On Digital Learning Day, what can be done to improve online instruction? In this article, we share suggestions for researchers and practitioners from EDC's Erin Stafford and Jacqueline Zweig.

What if Michigan Had eLearning Days?

With eLearning, students can learn from home when extenuating circumstances (such as snow storms) prevent them from being able to attend their brick-and-mortar schools. Many states in the U.S. have eLearning policies, but Michigan's not one of them. Why is that and what would it look like if we did have eLearning days?

Online Student Success Triangle — Students, Mentors, & Parents

A healthy support system for online students involves interrelationships between students, mentors, and parents. In this article, we take a look at how students, mentors, and parents can all work together to help students thrive in the online environment.

The Hidden Heroes of Successful Online Courses

Michigan Virtual

What Do Successful K-12 Online Programs Have In Common?

What do successful K-12 online programs have in common? Beyond obvious variables like student support and quality curriculum, there are many systemic supports that effective programs put in place to provide a foundation for student success. In this article, we break down the importance of leadership, multi-level support, and program evaluation.

Setting Online Learners Up For Success

Each month our team of researchers will be discussing all things K-12 online learning in Michigan and across the nation. Our hope with this series is to provide a primer on K-12 online learning, cover established and emerging topics, and provide relevant research and resources.

[Webinar] Supporting Student Success Through Predictive Analytics

Michigan Virtual

Podcast: Strong Student Relationships in Online Courses

Are online courses "easier" than face-to-face courses?

Michigan Virtual

Debunking the common misconception that online courses are “easier” than face-to-face courses.

Michigan Virtual honored by Quality Matters for quality courses and impact on student success

Michigan Virtual