Michigan Virtual and 28 public and private school organizations have formed a Partnership in Innovation group to help explore the academic needs of Michigan schools and to foster the development of new and innovative online learning solutions.
“We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with Michigan Virtual and with other educational leaders from around the state to define the future of online learning in Michigan.” said Partners member Mark Bielang, Superintendent of Paw Paw Schools.
The Partners group met at Michigan Virtual in Lansing Friday, Oct. 7, to prioritize educational challenges and to examine core areas to develop and pilot new online programs and services. One of the high priority areas identified relates to blended learning, a mix of face-to-face and online learning. Michigan Virtual plans to use the powerful new ideas generated by the Partners to seek philanthropic investments from corporate and foundation groups that have an interest in helping to fundamentally redesign how educational services are delivered in the K-12 community.
“We believe historians will look back at this new decade and document the educational revolution we are beginning to experience as a turning point in public education. Smart mobile technologies are fundamentally changing the way we live, entertain, communicate and access information. Ultimately this new technology will have a profound impact on teaching and learning within the K-12 community,” said Jamey Fitzpatrick, President & CEO of Michigan Virtual.
The Partners plan to develop and pilot new instructional models for students and educators, benefit from joint research, and enable collaborative interactions to share innovative ideas and best practices. The 28 partners range from Ferris State University in Big Rapids to the Michigan Technical Academy in Detroit to DeTour Area Schools in the Upper Peninsula.
“This is a perfect time for a group of pioneering leaders in public education to invest time in brainstorming how we can do more with less in public education using innovative technology tools that make learning engaging, relevant and fun for students.” said Judy Bonne, Executive Director of Instructional Services at Wayne Regional Educational Service Agency in Wayne County.
Following this initial start-up meeting, the Partners will meet again at the 8th Annual Michigan Virtual Symposium in Traverse City on Nov.7, and follow that up with web- and phone-based meetings, information gathering from their local constituents, and other activities designed to develop new instructional models for students and educators. Some of these models will be piloted in Michigan Virtual online courses.
“This statewide Partners in Innovation group has the potential to cultivate new thinking and new delivery models that will ultimately change the look and feel of public education so that every student benefits from a cost-effective customized learning approach,” said Stephen Cousins, Superintendent of Traverse City Area Public Schools.
