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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.
The All Too Often Neglected Teacher Superpower
Kelli Hixon
Throughout my childhood, I had teachers I connected with in a way I will never forget, while others have faded in my memories. What is the extra “something” those teachers possess? I think I’ve finally figured it out.
A comprehensive look at postsecondary distance education enrollment in Michigan
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In a previous blog post, we’ve examined online and distance education enrollment rates at postsecondary institutions across the United States. In this post, we’ll provide some local context by examini
Episode 15: Joel Rose
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
This episode's guest is Joel Rose, the Co-Founder and CEO of New Classrooms Innovation Partners. Joel and his team at New Classrooms are striving to implement personalized learning models in scho
Change, The Monster Lurking Under your Blended Learning Bed
Stacey Schuh
Change is not always easy for me. Ok, it is never easy for me. I dread the unknown, funny since a major part of my job is to support changes in education. Every day I encourage educators to take a lea
Episode 14: Julia Freeland Fisher
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Our guest for this episode is Julia Freeland Fisher, Director of Education at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation. Julia and I discuss some of her recent work focusing on helpi
Episode 13: Beatriz Arnillas
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Our guest for this episode is Beatriz Arnillas, the Director of IT and Education Technology at the Houston Independent School District in Houston, Texas. Beatriz provides some insight into what it’s l
OLC addressing K-12 online teaching & learning research
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
The Online Learning Consortium is launching a new special interest area addressing the research and practice of K-12 online teaching and learning.Twenty-five concurrent sessions at the 21st Annual Onl
Episode 12: Paul Curtis
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Our guest for this episode is Paul Curtis, the Director of Curriculum for the New Tech Network. Paul touches on some of the history of the organization, one that has been around for a surprisingly lon
New position to expand research capacity
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
To help stakeholders meet the educational challenges they face and better support online learners, the search is on for a new full-time quantitative researcher for MVLRI. The person in this position w
Rediscovering Microsoft: Three powerful tools for teachers
Roman Stotland
Expand your presentations and supercharge your screen captures with these tools.
Episode 11: Sarah Luchs
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
Our guest for this episode is Sarah Luchs of NGLC, Next Generation Learning Challenges. NGLC is a challenge grant strategy initiative of Educause, dedicated to accelerating educational innovation thro
About 26% of undergraduates at degree-granting postsecondary institutions took a distance education course in 2012-13
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
For the first time, the recently released Digest of Education Statistics 2013 includes statistics on the percentages of undergraduates and graduates who took distance education and online courses. The
USDOE report finds 32% of undergraduates took an online course in 2011-2012
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
For the first time, the recently released Digest of Education Statistics 2013 includes statistics on the percentages of undergraduates and graduates who took distance education and online courses. The
Episode 10: Kate Loughrey
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In this episode, we talk with Kate Loughrey, who is the statewide Texas Virtual School Network Coordinator. Kate gives us a very detailed picture of the ins and outs of the Texas course choice program
Episode 9: Tom Driscoll
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In this episode, we’re talking with Tom Driscoll a high school social studies teacher and instructional technology consultant based in Connecticut. Tom is on a mission to better and more efficiently s
Is Online Teaching in Your Future?
Jamey Fitzpatrick
During the next decade, thousands of educators in the U.S. will start a new professional journey by teaching one or more courses in an online environment. For some, this will be an exciting transition
Episode 8: Christine Fox
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In this episode, we talk with Christine Fox, the Director of Educational Leadership and Research for SETDA. Christine and her team face a lot of challenges in a constantly changing setting, as the pol
Episode 7: Jeff Renard
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
In this episode, we chat with Jeff Renard, Director of Vermont Virtual Learning Cooperative. We gained quite a bit of insight as to how virtual learning is structured in Vermont public schools, d hear
Online learning helps prepare students for higher education
Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute
The experience of learning online during high school develops independence and confidence with technology says Ed Lawless, Principal of Pamoja Education.After five years as the only approved provider
Celebrating student learning at Brandywine
Jeff Gerlach
Exploring a blended learning project from start to finish.
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