Online Instructional Resources - District Considerations

• Prior to districts moving learning experiences to an online environment, there are several readiness considerations that need to be put into place. The Michigan Department of Education provides the following RESOURCE to support districts with their decision making process.
• Created by researchers at the Michigan Virtual Learning®, our family of FREE GUIDES will introduce you to the world of online learning. Inside each guide, you will find key definitions, research findings and practical strategies that paint a picture of what kind of preparations and support systems are necessary to ensure students succeed in their online courses.?
• The Office for Civil Rights (OCR at the U.S. Department of Education released today a WEBINAR on ensuring web accessibility for students with disabilities for schools utilizing online learning during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
• In addition, OCR published a FACT SHEET for education leaders on how to protect students' civil rights as school leaders take steps to keep students safe and secure. These resources will assist education leaders in making distance learning accessible to students with disabilities and in preventing discrimination during this Administration-wide response effort.
• Educators can  meet the needs of their English learners (ELs) by reviewing MDE's Guide to online resources created to help educators design distance learning opportunities and communicate with the families of ELs around issues pertaining to the Coronavirus.
• As schools have moved to online learning during this time, the Attorney General’s office offers internet safety resources. These resources can help parents and educators ensure our students remain safe online while they continue with their learning. This site also offers other resources and various crises tip lines.
• To help Michigan educators and parents keep students learning during school closures, Michigan Virtual is producing a series of short webinars (approx.30 minutes each) that offer tips, tricks, and best practices for online learning.

Check out the four pre-recorded webinars we've released below on topics including:

• Simple Instructional Strategies for Teachers
• Planning Resources for Schools
• Accessibility in the Digital Age
• Differentiation in the Online Classroom

More topics coming soon, such as:

• Accommodation in the Online Classroom
• Supporting Students with Disabilities
• Critical Steps to Designing and Implementing a Remote Learning Program
• Tools for Supporting Online Learners
• And many more!

In addition to this webinar series, we have shared a variety of free resources for educators and parents on our Learning Continuity page.