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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.
Cold weather doesn't stop learning at Michigan Virtual
Jamey Fitzpatrick
When it’s cold out. Really cold. Like it has been often this winter. Many schools shut down. That’s not news to anyone in Michigan, but Michigan Virtual online learning students are warm and toasty on
Looking for teachers, administrators and researchers to review modules
My name is Jason Siko, and I’m currently an assistant professor of educational technology at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. My research interests included K-12 online and blended learn
Episode 2: Shawn Rubin
We sit down with Shawn Rubin, the Director of Blended Learning at the Highlander Institute, a Rhode Island-based nonprofit organization providing professional development and other educational service
Differentiation in a world without learning styles
My ExperienceIt was in an 8th-grade social studies class that I first encountered differentiation based on learning styles. At that time I was a student assistant, gaining classroom experience in prep
End-of-course assessments as quality assurance measures
Several states are using end-of-course assessments (EOCs) as quality assurance metrics for both online and face-to-face courses. Michigan is developing and implementing EOCs as part of the larger stat
Online Learning journal – call for proposals: special issue on K-12 online education
A special issue of Online Learning, the official journal of the Online Learning Consortium (formerly Sloan-C), will be published in December 2015. This issue will focus on K-12 online learning.Submiss
AECT 2015 – School Media and Technology Division looking for submissions
Proposals for AECT 2015 (in Indianapolis, Nov. 3-7, 2015) are due February 2, 2015.TopicsCyber and virtual schooling in K-12 education, the design of online and blended K-12 environments that optimize
Simply engaging and utterly consuming: #Givercraft 2014
Graduate and K-12 students engage in a new interactive learning experience combining the use of Minecraft, Wikispaces, webinars, and The Giver, by Lois LowryIn the spring of 2014, I was fortunate enou
School psychology: Bringing a virtually hidden field online
In this guest blog post, three Georgia Southern University associate professors, who authored a chapter in the Handbook of Research on K-12 Online and Blended Learning, discuss their desire to share t
Calling all instructional designers in K-12 online learning programs
A Capella University Ph.D. candidate is seeking research participants for a telephone-based study concerning the use of Instructional Strategies in the development of virtual courses designed for a hi
Supporting students online
REL Southeast Blended and Online Learning Alliance developed the following video that talks about research in supporting students who take online courses.
Episode 1: Dr. Tracy Weeks
Dr. Tracy Weeks, Chief Academic and Digital Learning Officer with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, shares stories about her past experiences in the field, the work she’s currently
More studies needed on blended learning for students with disabilities
Today’s guest bloggers are Mary Rice and Bryan Dykman from the Center for Online Learning and Students with Disabilities.Students with disabilities and their families have a history of struggling for
New handbook presents the current state of research in K-12 online and blended learning
ETC Press is excited to announce the release of “Handbook of Research on K-12 Online and Blended Learning,” by Richard E. Ferdig, Kathryn Kennedy, et al.The Handbook of Research on K-12 Online and Ble
Call for papers – Journal of Science Education and Technology
The Journal of Science Education and Technology is soliciting manuscripts for a special issue on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Career Development Education.Important DatesLe
New research on affective and motivational factors of learning in online mathematics courses
Today’s guest blogger is Joe Cozart, the Associate Director of Strategic Planning for Georgia Virtual Learning.The role of motivation in student success in online courses is clear. Highly motivated st
MVLRI adds New Zealand organization as contributor to research clearinghouse
DEANZ, the New Zealand Association for Open, Flexible and Distance Learning whose mission is “fostering growth, development, research and good practice in distance education, open learning and flexibl
Fall Research Collaborative meeting – Recording and slides available
If you missed our Fall Research Collaborative meeting last week, we have archived the recording, slides and chat transcript. The links are below:SlidesChat Transcript
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