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The Digital Backpack - Your Resource For Online Learning

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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.

Episode 45: Mimi Ito, UC Irvine and Justin Reich, MIT

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

https://soundcloud.com/mvlri/episode-45-mimi-ito-uc-irvine-and-justin-reich-mitIn this episode, we’re joined by two researchers affiliated with the Digital Media and Learning Research Hub – Mimi Ito f

Podcasts, Research
DEC 18, 2017
Child staring out a window in a classroom

Innovation in Education

Andrea McKay Andrea McKay

Students have access to more information in their pockets than ever before, yet they are often told to leave their phones in their lockers.

Teaching
NOV 30, 2017

Opportunities for Engaging Students in "Data Practices" in Online Science Classes

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

What are Data Practices?Data are powerful, both in science and science education as well as in our everyday lives. By preparing students to think about data, students can question the claims of scient

Research
NOV 20, 2017

Episode 44: Jordan Rickles, American Institutes for Research

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

https://soundcloud.com/mvlri/episode-44-jordan-rickles-american-institutes-for-researchIn this episode, we’re joined by Jordan Rickles, principal researcher at the American Institutes for Research. Jo

Podcasts, Research
NOV 15, 2017
Devices showing FlipGrid

Podcast: Flipgrid & The Great Chicken/Egg Debate

The Digital Backpack

Jeff and Erin share about Flipgrid and how they dig using it with students and teachers alike, then ask: what comes first, the technology tool or the learning?

Blended Learning, Podcasts
NOV 08, 2017
The Office 365 Dashboard

Free Microsoft services that are great for classroom use

Jeff Gerlach

Designing the physical classroom to accommodate modern learning

Tips and Tools
OCT 27, 2017

Where the Research is @iNACOL 2017

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

For the last few years, MVLRI & TLA have been co-hosting the preconference K-12 Research Community Meeting at iNACOL. We hope to see you this year!We have several great panels planned, including:a

Research
OCT 23, 2017

Episode 43: John Jacobs, Wisconsin eSchool Network

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

https://soundcloud.com/mvlri/episode-43-john-jacobs-wiscons-eschool-networkJohn Jacobs, the Director of the Wisconsin eSchool Network, joins us for this episode. He paints for us a picture of the digi

Podcasts, Research
OCT 16, 2017

Episode 42: Charles Graham, BYU and Jered Borup, GMU

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

https://soundcloud.com/mvlri/episode-42-charles-graham-byu-and-jered-borup-gmuIn this episode, we’re talking with two researchers about a project they are currently working on to develop a tool to ass

Podcasts, Research
SEP 29, 2017

How SOAR Academic Institute Puts Relationships in Focus

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

Matt Daly is the Director at SOAR Academic Institute in South Redford, Michigan. SOAR serves students in grades 6 through 12 with a fully online curriculum and provides support to students through on-

Research
SEP 29, 2017

Episode 41: John Watson of Evergreen Education Returns

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

https://soundcloud.com/mvlri/episode-41-john-watson-of-evergreen-education-returnsIn this episode, we are joined once again by John Watson of the Evergreen Education Group. Since the last time John jo

Podcasts, Research
SEP 27, 2017
Michigan Virtual honored by Quality Matters for quality courses and impact on student success

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

Michigan Virtual Logo Michigan Virtual

LANSING, MI — Michigan Virtual™ is excited to announce that it received a 2017 Quality Matters Making a Difference for Students Award for Outstanding Impact by a K-12 Organization at the QM annual con

Online Learning
SEP 27, 2017

Social Presence and Its Relationship to Learning Outcomes with Credit Recovery and Non-credit Recovery Students

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

AuthorsYining ZhangMichigan State UniversityChin-Hsi LinThe University of Hong KongIn recent years, online courses have become a major alternative method for at-risk students’ credit recovery (CR) eff

Research
SEP 27, 2017

Understanding Engagement in K-12 Online Courses: Part Two

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

AuthorsAndrew Vanden Heuvel, Michigan VirtualKristi Peacock, Michigan VirtualKristen DeBruler, Michigan Virtual Learning Research InstituteAnecdotal evidence from course designers and Michigan Virtual

Research, Instructional Design
SEP 27, 2017

Understanding Engagement in K-12 Online Courses: Part One

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

Anecdotal evidence from course designers and Michigan Virtual™ instructors suggested that some students were not fully engaged with their online course materials. There was a commonly held belief by instructional staff and designers that some students were picking and choosing which assignments to do and only did the minimum required to get their desired grade. It was thought that some students were spending only as much time in the course as absolutely necessary, and even when in the course, not taking full advantage of all course materials.

Research, Instructional Design
SEP 19, 2017

Creating Conditions that Promote Success in Online Learning

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

This is the fourth in a series of blog posts written by Michigan Virtual’s Regional Mentor Leaders to bring to life what mentors do to build and maintain a supportive online learner environment to help students be successful. If you are a mentor and would like to share a strategy, a success story, or another topic that illustrates how you support students, please email mvlri@michiganvirtual.org.

Research
SEP 11, 2017
Podcast: Sharon Murchie

Podcast: Putting Students in the Driver’s Seat

The Digital Backpack

After a summer hiatus (or a summer full of professional learning opportunities with teachers), we’re back! In this episode, we chat with Sharon Murchie, a high school English teacher with Bath Communi

Blended Learning, Podcasts
SEP 05, 2017

Getting to Know Billy

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

This is the third in a series of blog posts written by Michigan Virtual’s Regional Mentor Leaders to bring to life what mentors do to build and maintain a supportive online learner environment to help students be successful. If you are a mentor and would like to share a strategy, a success story, or another topic that illustrates how you support students, please email mvlri@michiganvirtual.org.

Research
AUG 28, 2017

The Student Who Made It Anyway

Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute

This is the second in a series of blog posts written by Michigan Virtual’s Regional Mentor Leaders to bring to life what mentors do to build and maintain a supportive online learner environment to help students be successful. If you are a mentor and would like to share a strategy, a success story, or another topic that illustrates how you support students, please email mvlri@michiganvirtual.org.

Research
AUG 21, 2017
Group photo of our online instructors

The New Michigan Virtual

Jamey Fitzpatrick Jamey Fitzpatrick

2018 marks our 20th anniversary as a nonprofit organization. We have witnessed the unparalleled growth of new technology tools that leverage the power and reach of the Internet to address business, en

Leadership
AUG 11, 2017

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