Innovative Free E-Learning Tools
The Latest from Lansing
What You Need to Know for 2009-10
Barb Fardell –Michigan Department of Education
Educational Technology Manager
Overview – Michigan Learns Online
 This grant addresses the need to expand online
instruction throughout the State of Michigan,
specifically online courses and professional
development for teachers and administrators.
Goals
 Development and management of a content
management system (portal) which will house learning
resources for educators and students.
 Identification/delivery of highly requested student
courses/support.
 Professional development necessary to ensure that
teachers and administrators have the skills necessary to
prepare students for success in the 21st century.
Status
 Surveyed administrators, counselors and teachers
across the State in regards to online learning via the
North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL)
Status
 The survey revealed that the overall need was in
Algebra I
Status
 Over 300 teachers trained in the Teaching and Learning
Online professional development
 Purchased Teaching and Learning Online course
content
 Purchased Algebra I Credit Recovery course from
Aventa Learning
 LuAnn Murray, GISD and Jim Ashmore (Oakland
consultant) aligned the course content to meet
Michigan standards
Algebra I Credit Recovery
 Course length: Two Semesters or Block
 Textbook: None
 Pre-Algebra and Algebra I Credit Recovery course
 Course works with Blackboard and Moodle*
 Available by contacting GISD’s Helpdesk at
(810) 591-4473, Option 4
Status
 Created Algebra I Intervention course from Epic
Learning – aligned to MI Content Expectations
 Seventeen (17) teachers across the state will be trained
to use the Algebra I Intervention course Fall 2009
 Creating, implementing and populating Michigan Online
Portal for administrators, counselors, teachers, and
students to access information about online learning
 Supporting already established MI Online Resources for
Educators Portal
Teaching & Learning Online
 Online course for educators available for distribution
 Course content includes:
 Skills necessary to teach and manage and online or blended
course
 Skills to aid students in meeting the new MMC Online
Experience requirement
 Netiquette, issues of copyright and plagiarism, building
online community, communicating effectively and
management of student dynamics
 Content is applicable to total online or creating
blended course
Teaching & Learning Online
 Educators taught by experienced online instructors
who model best practices
 Course meets once in traditional classroom setting,
then continues online at 3 hours per week for 4 weeks
 Total: 15 hours
 Training sessions are ongoing
 Course in Blackboard and Moodle
 Available by contacting GISD’s Helpdesk at
(810) 591-4473, Option 4
Conferences
 Moodle Conference
 February 2008
 February 2009
 Blackboard K-12 Statewide Users Conference
 August 6, 2009 at CCRESA
SAS Curriculum Pathways
 Free high quality digital content
 Each district may have their own account
 Contact: Lee Ellen Harmer
Academic Account Executive ▪ Education Practice
800.727.0025 x12643 ▪ LeeEllen.Harmer@sas.com
 Let’s take a look!
More Free Digital Content
 HippoCampus
 MIT Open Courseware
 MERLOT
 OER Commons
 Bartelby
Digital Content cont.
 Described and Captioned Media Program
 iTunes U – MI Learning
Creating Digital Textbooks?
 Why it’s the wrong direction to head
 Example of a teacher created online learning
environment – thanks to:
 Fred Sharpsteen
Unionville-Sebewaing Area Schools
Director of Technology
2203 Wildner Rd.
Sebewaing, MI. 48759
example
Coming Soon!
 Digital Content for a complete Michigan Merit
Curriculum
 Content will be available in both Blackboard and
Moodle
 Content will be available for a district/ISD server or will
be hosted on GISD website for a small fee
 FREE Professional Development for teachers to
facilitate online courses
 100% Virtual or Blended
What
is
MORE?
 Michigan Online Resources for Educators (MORE)
 Portal developed by the Michigan Department of
Education in partnership with the Library of
Michigan and Wayne State University
 Located on MeL.org (Michigan eLibrary)
 Contains 1000s of free web-based resources for all
core areas
 ALIGNED to Michigan content expectations
http://more.mel.org
http://more.mel.org
http://more.mel.org
http://more.mel.org
Thinkfinity Content
Partners
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Arts
National Council on Economic Education
Economics
National Endowment for the Humanities
Humanities
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Mathematics
International Reading Association &
National Council of Teachers of English
Reading/Language
Arts
American Association for the Advancement of Science
Science
National Geographic Society
Geography
National Museum of American History
American History
National Center for Family Literacy &
ProLiteracy Worldwide
Adult &
Family Literacy
http://more.mel.org
Professional Development
Program
 Customizable end-user curriculum
 Flexible session types and lengths
 Content-specific, grade-specific, topic-specific, job-
specific, state-specific
 Multiple formats (face-to-face, online, webinar, selfguided Flash tours)
 Aligned with ISTE's National Educational
Technology Standards (NETS).
http://more.mel.org
Train-the-Trainer Model
Training focus:
How to train Field
Trainers
Training focus:
How to train
educators
Certified Trainers
Field Trainer
Training focus:
How to improve
student learning
http://more.mel.org
End User
End User
Alignment Workshops
 Train teachers and others to use alignment tool
 PD on what is a “good alignment”
 $600 per 100 alignments
 New web services allows for searching “across the
content expectations”
http://more.mel.org
We Need You For MORE!
 Become an integral part of a teacher’s
instructional practice
 Inform educators about high quality
resources
 Provide effective strategies for integrating
digital resources into the curriculum to
enhance student learning
 Build sustainable training networks that can
be customized to meet local needs
http://more.mel.org
Seat Time Waiver – latest news
District level seat time waiver process is on hold,
however……
Superintendent Flanagan announced last week that ISDs
may participate under the Genesee ISD seat time
waiver. For more information, contact Beverly KnoxPipes at Genesee ISD bknoxpip@geneseeisd.org
GenNET has options for all students http://www.geneseeisd.org/partnerships/gennet.htm
Contact Info
Barb Fardell bfardell@michigan.gov
For info on this presentation and Alignment Workshops
Beverly Knox-Pipes bknoxpip@geneseeisd.org
For info on seat time waivers and access to Algebra I
Credit Recovery course
Karen Hairston – hairstonk@michigan.gov
For info on MORE portal training