Professional Learning
Virtual Learning Professional Learning Webinar Training
The Virginia Department of Education is pleased to announce the 2021-2022 Virtual Learning Professional Learning Series. This webinar series will provide school divisions, Multidivision Online Providers (MOP), and other stakeholders with information related to virtual learning in Virginia with emphasis on policies, procedures, professional development, and implementation of virtual programs. Our goal is to increase communication with school division staff and MOP staff while offering engaging sessions to enhance the implementation of the virtual programs. This training is free and available to all virtual learning stakeholders.
Webinar 1
Topics
- Discuss the MOP, school division and other Virtual programs
- The Partnerships: roles and responsibilities of stakeholders
- Policies and procedures
- Online forum for MOP and school divisions
Materials
- Webinar 1 (PPT)
Webinar 2
Topics
- Enrollment in virtual courses
- Communication and support for virtual students
- Monitoring progress and reporting
- Teacher Licensure and staff roles
Materials
- Webinar 2 (PPT)
Webinar 3
Topics
- Teacher Licensure (types of licenses, application & procedures)
- What it means for School Divisions (IPAL)
- Teacher Licensure as it relates to Accreditation
Materials
- Webinar 3 (PPT)
MOP Webinar
Topics
- Monitoring Report
- Final Surveys
- Feedback
- Preparation for the Upcoming School Year
Materials
- MOP Webinar (PPT)
Webinar 4
Topics
- Recap from March 15th Webinar 3
- Accountability & Assessment
- Data Collection
- Reporting
Materials
- Webinar 4 (PPT)
Webinar 5
Topics
- School Openings & Calendar
- Communication
- Enrollment
- Orientation & Training
- Models of Implementation
- Virtual Learning Poll
Materials
- Webinar 5 (PPT)
Webinar 6
Topics
- Virtual Learning in VA
- Engaging Students Online - Guest Presenter, Dr. Allison Powell, Chief Operating Officer, Evergreen Education Group
- What's Coming?
Materials
- Webinar 6 (PPT)
Webinar 7
Topics
- What's New at VDOE? The Website
- National Standards for Online Courses, Teachers and Programs - Guest Presenter, Christine Voelker, Director K-12 Program, Quality Matters
- What's Coming?
Materials
- Webinar 7 (PPT)
MOP Webinar 8 - Part 1
Topics
- 3rd Party Correlation and Alignment to Standards
- Correlation Alignment Requirements
- Course Correlation Template
- Course Correlation Samples
Materials
- Webinar 8 - Part 1 (PPT)
MOP Webinar 8 - Part 2
Topics
- Closing the Current School Year
- Monitoring Report
- End of Year Surveys
- Final Reporting and Communication with Stakeholders
- Preparing for the New School Year
Materials
- Webinar 8 - Part 2 (PPT)
MOP Webinar 9
Topics
- This webinar will feature virtual learning updates and information from members of the Office of Educational Technology and Classroom Innovation: Calypso Gilstrap, Instructional Technology, Dr. Susan Clair, Learning Infrastructure, and Keisha Tennessee, Computer Science.
Materials
- Webinar 9 (PDF)
WHRO Educational Online Resources
Online Teaching Methodology – 60-hour professional development online course, available through WHRO's Consortium for Interactive Instruction to Virginia educators, provides training to those interested in serving as online instructors or course developers for online learning. Other WHRO Education online professional development opportunities also are available.
Virtual Learning Support Toolkit
The Office of STEM and Innovation at the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has partnered with the Center for Implementation and Evaluation of Education Systems (CIEES) at Old Dominion University to develop a series of asynchronous learning modules, videos, and resources to support the effective delivery of virtual instruction. This professional development website offers research-based guidance to support school leaders, educators, and key staff in navigating both blended and fully online environments.
- Module 1: Supporting Positive Student Behavior in a Virtual Environment
- Module 2: Planning for the Virtual Learning Classroom
- Module 3: Structuring a Successful Virtual Learning Classroom
- Module 4: Synchronous and Asynchronous Teaching and Learning
- Module 5: Instructional Models
- Module 6: Effective Instructional Practices
- Module 7: Substantive and Timely Feedback
- Module 8: Voice and Choice
- Module 9: Effective Assessment Practices
Getting Learners Connected
Getting Learners Connected (PDF) outlines strategies available for students to connect and avoid barriers to distance learning outside of school, known commonly as the “Homework Gap”.
#GoOpenVA: Join & Get Open!
#GoOpenVA is Virginia's home for Open Educational Resources (OER). It's a growing community of educators and education partners working together to help teachers personalize learning and address the learning goals of the Profile of a Virginia Graduate. Refer to the Quick Guide to OER (PDF) to learn more.
Virtual Virginia (VVA) Outreach Program
A core service of Virtual Virginia, the VVA Outreach Program (PDF), is designed to assist Virginia public school divisions, teachers, and students by providing access to instructional resources expanded access to the Virtual Virginia learning management system at no cost.
National Resources
National Standards for Quality (NSQ) Online Learning - In response to COVID-19 and its impact on the field of education and online learning, the NSQ Project team would like to remind educators of the updated National Standards for Quality (NSQ) Online Learning. The (NSQ) standard sets include Online Courses, Online Teaching, and Online Programs. These are essential frameworks for K-12 districts developing quality online learning plans to deal with long-term school closure possibilities. These standard sets, updated in 2019, have been the benchmark for online programs since 2007.
BREAKING THE MOLD: How a global pandemic unlocks innovation in K–12 instruction by Thomas Arnett, January 2021 (PDF) - The Christensen Institute has spent the last decade studying trends in online and blended learning out of interest in their potential to enable student-centered learning. Yet in ways we never anticipated, COVID-19 brought these modalities to the forefront. As this new reality unfolds, we continue to document both the challenges and the innovations happening across the US K–12 landscape.
Aurora Institute Report: Mere Engagement: Reflections About the Connections Between Online Learning, Student Agency, and Student Engagement - In the new Aurora Institute report authors provide concrete ways in which student agency is supported and engagement is strengthened in online learning models. School leaders must not lose sight of the need for student agency and student engagement as they contend with the myriad challenges posed by COVID-19. In fact, they must reimagine what agency and engagement can look like in cases when students are learning virtually and also when they are unable to connect. When attributes of student agency are in play, authentic engagement is occurring. The report highlights the best practices of personalized learning models – and adapts recommendations to online learning in the COVID-19 era.