MVU Offering Online Learning 'Tool Kit' To Schools
LANSING (WWJ) -- Michigan Virtual University has announced the introduction of an online learning tool kit to support schools expanding online learning options under a new state law.
Public Act 60 of 2013 allows students in grades five through 12 to take up to two courses online per academic term, with parental consent. Michigan is the seventh state in the U.S. to enable statewide choice at the course level through online learning options.
MVU president and CEO Jamey Fitzpatrick said the new legislation prompted requests for support from school districts, "so we developed a 'Tool Kit' – a set of practical resources – to support schools as they implement expanded online learning options for students."
Most of the resources in the tool kit are PDF documents -- sample letters, forms and draft policies. Each PDF contains a link to a Word document that can be modified to suit local needs. Also included are individual informational documents that can be used as references, as well as slide presentation material.
The kit also contains a new interactive version of the popular Online Learner Readiness Rubric that can be used to create a record of individual student levels.
All items are available online or from a link on the Michigan Online Course Catalog home page, https.micourses.org.
MVU solicited and received input on the Tool Kit from the Michigan Department of Education, Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association, Michigan Association of School Administrators, Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators, Michigan Association of School
Boards, Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning, Michigan Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the REMC Association of Michigan.
MVU is a private, nonprofit Michigan corporation established by the state in 1998 to serve as a champion for online learning. It is the parent organization of the Michigan Virtual School, Michigan LearnPort and the Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute. More at www.mivu.org.
