DLC Webinars

DLC webinars bring together online and mainstream educators, policymakers, and others to explore key digital learning issues that apply to your work. Upcoming webinars and a list of previous webinars are provided below.

Upcoming Webinars


Securing the Digital Classroom: Proactive Cybersecurity Strategies for Schools and Districts

This month’s Digital Learning Collaborative webinar panel will be sharing their insights and lessons learned around the Cybersecurity threats facing today's connected school environments. We’ll discuss the ways you can take a proactive approach to reduce risks and prevent attacks. Learn what you need to be aware of when safeguarding students, teachers, and administrators from online threats, and how you can be better prepared. Together with our panel, we’ll delve into this timely topic.

When: ***THIS WEBINAR WILL BE RESCHEDULED FROM March 14, 2024 TO LATER IN THE YEAR***

Moderator: Stacy Hawthorne

Panelists: Michelle Watt, John Armstrong, and Eileen Belastock

Registration: DLC webinars are now hosted in our new DLC Community Portal under "Events." To register for a webinar, please log in or create a free user account.


Supporting Special Education Learners in the Virtual Classroom: Strategies to Engage, Connect, and Set Them Up for Success

Join the Digital Learning Collaborative this month, as our panel leads a discussion on strategies to ensure students with disabilities receive the accommodations, modifications, and related services they need to succeed academically and socially in virtual classrooms. We’ll talk about 504 plans, and free appropriate public education (FAPE), as well as ways to reduce failure and truancy rates among special education students in virtual environments.

When: April 11, 2024 at 3:00pm ET

Registration: DLC webinars are now hosted in our new DLC Community Portal under "Events." To register for a webinar, please log in or create a free user account.

The Policy Puzzle: National Trends and State Policy Insights

As virtual education continues to evolve, what policy implications are arising? This month’s Digital Learning Collaborative webinar will examine the digital learning landscape across the U.S. and provide key insights on emerging policies, trends, and issues impacting online, blended, and digital education. Discover how state legislatures and departments of education are addressing digital equity gaps, funding models, curriculum standards, teacher training and support, student engagement and outcomes, data privacy and security, and more. Join our panel as they lead a discussion around strategic policy perspectives that will help inform decisions at local, state, and national levels.

When: May 9, 2024 at 3:00pm ET

Moderator: Peter Robertson - Evergreen Education Group

Registration: DLC webinars are now hosted in our new DLC Community Portal under "Events." To register for a webinar, please log in or create a free user account.

Archived DLC Webinars

Snapshot 2024 - An Annual Report from the Digital Learning Collaborative

Are you interested in learning more about national trends in digital learning practice and policy? Are you wondering how your program compares to others across the country? If so, please join us for a preview of the Digital Learning Collaborative’s (DLC’s) annual Snapshot report. In this session you will learn about full-time online schools, hybrid schools and state virtual schools. You will also hear about key policy changes that impact individual states and influence the national discussion on digital learning.

When: Thursday January 11, 2024 at 3 pm Eastern

Moderator: Christine Voelker

Presenters:

Allison Powell, Chief Academic Officer, Digital Learning Collaborative

Butch Gemin, Digital Learning Collaborative and Open Circle Projects

Nurturing Talent in Digital Learning: Proven Strategies for Recruiting, Onboarding, and Retaining High-Performing Teams

Join the Digital Learning Collaborative's monthly webinar discussion to discover effective strategies for building and maintaining a skilled and motivated team for your online learning program. Whether you're seeking talented staff or looking to enhance your current team, this engaging discussion with industry leaders will delve into the art of recruiting top talent, streamlining onboarding processes, and implementing robust support systems to foster long-term employee retention. Uncover practical insights, exchange best practices, and gain the knowledge needed to create a thriving environment for your digital learning workforce.

When: Thursday, February 8 at 3pm ET

Moderator: Allison Powell, Digital Learning Collaborative

Panelists: Jeff Farden - IDLA, DeLaina Tonks - Mountain Heights Academy, Ryan Fuller - Cobb Virtual Academy

Generative AI - It’s Here To Stay, Now What?

Join us for a forward-thinking discussion about Generative AI and its impact on digital learning. Interact with our expert panelists who move beyond a description of this new technology, helping you as an online/blended leader or teacher plan for and embrace the impact on you and your students. Expect a wide ranging conversation about Generative AI influences on: critical thinking, struggling students, the teaching role, inherent bias, creativity, the human element and much more. Bring your stories, and we’ll bring ours!

When: Thursday December 14th at 3 pm Eastern

Panelists:

Justin Bruno, AI Strategist @ Michigan Virtual
Jon Fila, AI Leveraging Teacher/Consultant/Author
Carl Hooker, Consultant | Speaker | Author | Entrepreneur | Podcast Host | Instigator

Moderators:

Allison Powell, Chief Academic Officer - Digital Learning Collaborative
Chris Rapp, Director, Digital Learning Collaborative


Registration: DLC webinars are now hosted in our new DLC Community Portal under "Events." To register for a webinar, please log in or create a free user account.

Digital Learning That Transforms: From Emergency Remote Teaching to Disruption

During the pandemic, all learners became online learners. The experience each student had during mandatory lockdowns is now how they and their families define online learning. With that in our rearview mirror, this edWebinar will explore ways that online, blended, and hybrid learning leapfrogs emergency remote teaching (ERT) when students are in the center and high-quality online learning models are designed.

K-12 leaders will share different ways they revisioned digital learning’s “job to do” in their districts and approaches that have worked in deepening the quality of online learning for their learners in very different contexts. They will share strategies for designing and refining digital learning programs, processes to check for and ensure quality, and different supports that engage both families and students in online learning.

They will share a number of free resources, including specific ways to identify quality online teaching and learning, ways to help students and families change their understanding of online learning, and a view of the digital learning landscape, today’s and tomorrow’s. An overview of the Digital Learning Annual Conference (DLAC), where hundreds of sessions dig deeper into learning models, quality program standards, and more real-life advice and examples from digital learning pioneers will also be shared.

This edWebinar is of particular value to education leaders in K-12 districts, schools, Intermediate Units, and state agencies with online programs. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions to the presenters during the live broadcast.

When: Thursday December 7th at 1pm Eastern

Panelists:

Holly Brzycki, Supervisor of Online Learning, Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAOLA)
Nartarshia Sharpe, M.Ed., MBCT, School Counselor, Dean of Students, Crossroads FLEX High School (NC)

Moderator:

Allison Powell, Chief Academic Officer - Digital Learning Collaborative.


Research Community Meet Up

The DLC Research Community Meeting on December 7th will feature an introduction to the community's objectives, followed by members introducing themselves and discussing current research projects or challenges. The agenda includes exploring special topics such as research resources and databases, and a discussion on the upcoming DLAC Conference, including attendance plans and session preferences. 

When: December 7th at 3:00pm ET


Hybrid Schools in Action - Community Group Meeting

At Hybrid schools, mixing online and live instruction is the rule of thumb. Hybrid schools constantly think about how to best utilize the small amount of "live" instructional time they have with students. Join us this month at the quarterly gathering to discuss finding the right balance to instruction.

When: November 16, 2023 3:00pm ET

Registration: The DLC offers six distinct Communities that host meet-ups regularly throughout the year. The meet-ups are available to everyone with a free user account, and can be found in our new DLC Community Portal under "Events." To register, please log in or create a free user account. After the meet-up, join the Community Group to continue the conversation!

Design & Refine - Community Group Meeting

The Design & Refine Best Practices Community is a DLC Membership group that focuses on sharing proven strategies in online, blended, and hybrid digital learning programs.

During the November gathering, the participants will respond to this question: What Do We Wish Everyone Knew About Online Learning? This is a follow-up session from the August DLC blog post linked here. Let's combine our voices and shout from the rooftops what we want others to know!

Please join us on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 3:00 pm EST to have your voices heard and to learn from and with others who want to shout to the rooftop what they consider the benefits of online learning! We hope to see you there!

When: November 14, 2023 3:00pm ET


Member Orientation Meeting

Unlock the full potential of your Digital Learning Collaborative membership! Join us for an interactive walkthrough of our Membership Portal, your gateway to a world of educational resources and collaboration opportunities.

Whether you're a new DLC member eager to dive in or a seasoned participant looking to make the most of your membership, this session is for you. Bring your questions and harness the full potential of your Digital Learning Collaborative membership.

When: November 8, 2023 6:00pm ET




Course Content: Build, Buy, or Both - Community Group Meeting

Building Your Own Online Courses: Experts share how to make it a delight- not a fright.

Does the idea of building your own online or hybrid courses for your district make you shiver with delight or fright? The thought of designing your digital courses in-house is an intimidating and sometimes frightening thought. In this month’s meeting, we’ll talk to those who’ve been in your position. Bring your questions, and find out how they were able to develop their own online courses. Our panelists will share strategies that led to success- that you may be able to adapt to your own situation.

When: November 2, 2023 3:00pm ET




Navigating Success: Transforming Online High Schools with CTE Innovations

Join us for an insightful webinar where we dive into the dynamic world of Career and Technical Education (CTE) implementation within online high schools. Designed for educational leaders and teachers, this engaging session will equip you with the knowledge and strategies necessary to achieve remarkable outcomes in CTE programs.

Discover the latest trends and best practices that empower leaders and teachers to excel in online CTE education. Uncover innovative approaches to successfully integrate CTE curricula, leverage cutting-edge technologies, and foster meaningful student engagement. From establishing strong partnerships to creating impactful learning experiences, this webinar will provide you with valuable insights and practical tools to unlock the full potential of CTE in online high schools.

Don't miss this opportunity to stay ahead in the rapidly evolving landscape of online CTE education. Join us and discover how to create a thriving learning environment that prepares students for future careers while maximizing their educational journey. Register now to secure your spot in this interactive and insightful webinar!

When: November 9, 2023 3:00-4:00pm ET

Moderators: Chris Rapp and Allison Powell - Digital Learning Collaborative

Panelists: Teri Cady - Destinations Career Academy of Colorado, Cindy Chleborad - Sequoia Choice - AZ Distance Learning, Bobby Striebel - ASU Prep Digital




Hybrid Schools Unleashed: Designing, Implementing, and Supporting Next-Generation Learning Environments

Join the Digital Learning Collaborative's monthly webinar on Hybrid Schools and unlock the power of flexible learning environments! Discover the secrets of building a successful hybrid school as leaders from Crossroads FLEX (NC), VALOR Prep Academy (AZ), the Village School (CO), and Taos Academy Charter School (NM) share their expertise and engage in collaborative problem-solving on key topics such as student engagement, scheduling, and building a balanced curriculum. Gain practical on-the-ground advice and learn how critical decisions like attendance tracking, course selection, and curriculum expectations were made, and explore innovative strategies for engagement and discover ways to create interactive and reflective experiences that meet your learners' needs. Unleash the power of digital learning to remove barriers to education and embrace a student-centric approach. Bring your questions, challenges, and roadblocks to the table, and let's navigate the future of education together!

When: October 12, 2023 3:00-4:00pm Eastern Time

Moderators: Chris Rapp and Allison Powell - Digital Learning Collaborative; Kim Loomis - Innovative Learning Strategist, i3DigitalPD

Panelists: Nathan Gorsch - Village High School (CO), Elizabeth LeBlanc - Taos Academy Charter School (NM), Dan Mahlandt - Valor Prep (AZ), Nartarshia Sharpe - Crossroads FLEX High School (NC)








Connected Classrooms: Empowering Online Learning Communities

Get ready for the new school year by joining us for the Digital Learning Collaborative's timely and informative monthly webinar on building community in online courses. Discover how to leverage technology and foster supportive online communities to enhance your students' learning experience. From award-winning advisory programs to student-led discussions and engaging classroom ideas, our expert presenters will equip you with practical tools to create vibrant and connected virtual classrooms. Explore strategies for promoting social-emotional learning, school spirit, and peer-to-peer interactions in the online setting. Don't miss this opportunity to start the school year strong and empower your students through a sense of community. Register now and be prepared to transform your online learning environment!

When: September 14, 2023 3:00-4:00pm Eastern Time

Moderators: Chris Rapp and Allison Powell, Digital Learning Collaborative

Panelists: Ann Meeks - Mountain Heights Academy, Mary Hizon-Barry - Sage Oak Charter Schools, Debbie McWhirt - Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy, Jessica Potts - Davidson Academy








September Design & Refine Best Practices Community

The Design & Refine Best Practices Community is a DLC Membership group that focuses on sharing proven strategies in online, blended, and hybrid digital learning programs. 

This community will host seven webinar sessions during the 2023-2024 school year and continue the conversations throughout the year via the DLC membership portal.  The group will also convene at the annual DLAC conference in February.

During the September webinar, the participants will help shape the direction of the Design & Refine Community for the entire year.

When: Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at 3:00 pm EST to plan for the year and kick off this year’s first gathering. 















DLC Policy Protectors Community Meeting - Legislation in the Wild Wild West

We are just about to hit interim for the majority of the states, and at the very least a summer recess for those who have made the unfortunate decision to be year-round legislatures. There's been a LOT of different bills signed into law with major implications for digital learning. Are states moving backward with technology (talks of banning devices in the classroom)? How should or shouldn't we use AI (yeah, a group of people with not a lot of tech backgrounds are trying to regulate the wild wild west of something they don't know a whole lot about)? We'll use this time to look at not only the signed bills, but some proposed ones that our community may want to think about or discuss with legislators during the interim- which of course is the best time to have these conversations! Did a crazy bill pass in your state that I may have missed? Did a great scandal happen in your state? Come ready to share war stories from the 2023 session and I'll do my best to bring some spice, too!

When: Wednesday June 14 at 3 Pm Eastern Time

Speaker: Susan Gentz, BSG Strategies

 

From Pandemic to Policy: The Texas Approach to Virtual and Hybrid Education

Join us for a webinar led by D Thompson, legislative director for Shapiro Linn Strategic Consulting and Chief of Staff to the Chair of the Texas Commission on Virtual Education. D will provide exclusive insights into the path Texas used to create a new policy framework for virtual and hybrid education. This webinar will outline the process from the pandemic to a state level commission to getting legislation authored and passed in the Texas legislature.

You will learn how the Texas Commission addressed myths about virtual education, engaged experts and practitioners, and influenced policymakers to make informed decisions about virtual and hybrid education. This is an opportunity to hear firsthand from a someone who helped design the strategy for change and has been intimately involved with policymakers in shaping Texas' approach to virtual and hybrid education. In addition to the insights shared by D, there will be plenty of time for questions and answers.

When: Thursday June 8 at 12pm Pacific/3pm Eastern

Speaker – D Thompson, Chief of Staff to the Chair of the Texas Commission on Virtual Education and Legislative Director for Shapiro Linn Strategic Consulting

Registration: Beginning in June, DLC webinars will now be hosted in our new DLC Community Portal under "Events." To register for a webinar, please log in or create a free user account. All live webinars are available to those with a free DLC user account. Recordings of this webinar and past DLC webinars are available to DLC Members.

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Strategic Synergies: Working Together to Support the Field (Cancelled)

What do you do when you need more capacity? You team up and synergize! The Digital Learning Collaborative, Quality Matters, and the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance support one another to fulfill their missions. In this webinar, representatives from these organizations will share how they synergize efforts to help you provide exceptional educational experiences and navigate the vast digital landscape. 

When: Tuesday May 16, 2023 at 3:00 pm Eastern

Panelists: Cindy Hamblin, Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance, Allison Powell, Digital Learning Collaborative, Christine Voelker, Quality Matters

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Empowering Special Student Populations: Strategies for Effective Online Learning

The Digital Learning Collaborative (DLC) is proud to present "Empowering Special Student Populations: Strategies for Effective Online Learning," a webinar focused on delivering exceptional education for incarcerated youth, home and hospital-bound students, students with autism, and students with cerebral palsy. Our esteemed panelists will share their expertise, innovative techniques, and best practices for adapting online learning environments to cater to the diverse needs of these special student populations.

Join us for an engaging discussion with our panelists who will explore the challenges and successes of creating inclusive digital learning spaces, highlight the importance of individualized education plans, and offer practical solutions to maximize student engagement and achievement. Don't miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and skill-set to better support the unique needs of special student populations in the digital age.

When: Thursday May 11, 2023 at 3:00 pm Eastern

Panelists: John Ashworth, Arkansas Virtual, April Fleetwood, Florida Virtual School, Teresa Giardina, HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, Dana VanDeinse, Arizona Autism Online Charter School

Moderators: Allison Powell and Chris Rapp - DLC

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The following title and description was generated by Chat GPT….

AI and Chatbots in Online and Blended Learning: Revolutionizing the Education Landscape

With the ever-growing demand for online and blended learning, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbots has become increasingly important in providing personalized, effective, and engaging education experiences for students. From assisting in administrative tasks to supporting teachers in lesson planning and delivery, AI and chatbots have transformed the education landscape.

In this webinar discussion, we will explore how online and blended schools are leveraging AI and tools like ChatGPT to enhance various aspects of their operations, from leadership and management to teaching and learning. Our panel of experts will share insights on the benefits of using AI in education, such as increased efficiency, improved student outcomes, and greater accessibility. They will also discuss the challenges and ethical considerations that come with implementing AI and chatbots in education.

Join us for this informative session to learn how AI and chatbots are transforming the way we teach and learn in the digital age.

When: Thursday April 13, 2023 at 3 PM Eastern

Panelists: Ken Dirkin, Michigan Virtual, Jon Fila, District 287 (Minnesota), Jason Neiffer, Montana Digital Academy

Moderators: Allison Powell and Chris Rapp - DLC

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Foundational Principles of High-Quality Online Learning: Strategies Every Online Educator Should Know

Join the DLC’s Design & Refine Best Practices Community for its April Gathering, where the topic will be Foundational Principles of High-Quality Online Learning. The discussion will focus on foundational online learning strategies from the literature, the Quality Matters rubrics, and National Standards of Quality publications.

Engage with others as we work together to summarize foundational principles forming the gold standard for online learning.

When: Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 3:00 pm Eastern

Panelists: Patsy Kraj, Cobb Virtual Academy, Rebekah Redmer, Jenison Public Schools, Kristy Engel, Stride

The Talent Landscape in Online Learning: Strategies for Recruiting, Onboarding, & Retaining Talent 

Looking for talented staff for your online program?  Searching for strategies for supporting and retaining talent? Engage with other leaders at the DLC's Design & Refine Community of Practice to discuss proven strategies for recruiting, onboarding, supporting, and retaining talented staff.

When: Tuesday, March 21 at 3 pm EST.

Panelists:

Jeff Farden - Idaho Digital Learning Alliance

DeLaina Tonks - Mountain Heights Academy

Jill Pellegrini - iLearn Collaborative.










Making Your Digital Learning Accessible to All Students and Parents – Including Those with Disabilities

Join us to learn how to ensure your digital learning is accessible to all, including students and parents with disabilities. The experts who lead the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights – and its National Digital Access Team -  will share their perspectives, gained from years of enforcing Section 504 and ADA Title II with respect to school districts and other educational entities. They will walk you through how complaints of discrimination are resolved, demonstrate how to perform basic manual tests to identify barriers to access for people with disabilities, talk about the importance of adopting a cohesive institution-wide approach, and preview upcoming changes to the legal landscape. Whether you are an online teacher, school leader, or provider, this is a “can’t miss” session that will help increase your understanding of how the Federal government enforces disability rights laws in the digital space, and how you can ensure you are doing your part to comply.

When: March 16, 2023 at 3:00 pm Eastern

Moderators

Ray Rose - Texas Distance Learning Association

Mary Rice - Assistant Professor of Literacy, University of New Mexico

Panelists

Judith Risch - Co-Team Leader National Digital Accessibility Team, Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education

Mary Lou Mobley - Co-Team Leader National Digital Accessibility Team, Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education

IMPORTANT NOTE - this webinar will not be recorded, so please plan on attending the live session.

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Design & Refine Community
January Best Practices Community Webinar 

You are invited to join the DLC's Design & Refine Community of Practice at the January gathering! The Design & Refine Best Practices Community is a DLC Membership group that focuses on sharing proven strategies in online, blended, and hybrid digital learning programs. 

During the January meeting, we will be exploring the topic of Online Learning as A Tool to Mitigate the Teacher Shortage. 

When: January 17, 2023 at 3:00 PM Eastern

Community Leaders: Cindy Ambrose - Executive Director, Low Country Education Consortium; Edi Cox - Director, Low Country Virtual


Supporting Online Teachers Being Evaluated by Traditional Rubrics

During the pandemic teachers moved to emergency remote teaching and learning with little to no training in online pedagogy. School instructional leaders were also not prepared to support teachers in these new environments. Policies and rubrics for supporting and evaluating teachers did not change. Many states and districts across the country use the Danielson Framework to support their traditional teachers, while many online schools and programs use the National Standards for Quality Online Teaching. The two organizations have come together to create a crosswalk of both frameworks to better support teachers and instructional leaders in supporting teachers teaching in all modalities. Learn more about this new resource and how to use it in your school.

When: January 12, 2023 at 3:00 PM Eastern

Panelists: Brandi Benton, Virtual Arkansas; Jim Furman, Danielson Group; Cindy Hamblin, Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance (VLLA); Allison Powell, Evergreen Education Group/Digital Learning Collaborative (DLC); Shannon Smith, Michigan Virtual; Christine Voelker, Quality Matters (QM)


The Digital Learning Collaborative Policy Community - Preparing for the New Legislative Season

The holidays are upon us which means the new year and state legislative sessions across the country will begin before we know it. As always, there will be a lot going on with impacts on education and technology. Kick off the new year with the DLC Policy Community to preview what the legislative season will bring. We will also use this community session to discuss some advocacy strategies you can use to engage with your state & local policymakers.

Special guest speaker D Thompson, Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Texas Commission on Virtual Education. D will share with us the commission’s process for developing its report and recommendations for the future of virtual learning and how grassroots advocates can play an important role in shaping these types of influential policy recommendations.

We are looking forward to building this community up in 2023!

When: January 11, 2023 at 3:00 PM Eastern

Community Leaders

Susan Gentz - Founder, BSG Strategies
Brendan Desetti,
Sr. Director, Strategy & Public Affairs, D2L Ltd.

Special Guest
D Thompson,
Founder and Principal Consultant, DT Strategic


The Digital Learning Research Community (DLRC) Presents - Evidence for Everyone

How would you like to cocreate a community for thinking deeply about and applying the evidence of learning in digital environments? The Digital Learning Research Community is a place for DLC members who are educators, administrators, researchers and anyone who is interested in generating, sharing, understanding, and applying research and evidence about digital learning. This webinar will introduce you to the DLRC, share some resources, and invite you and your thoughts to our annual Research Community Preconference session at DLAC 2023.

When: January 4, 2023 at 3:00 pm ET

Community Leaders:

Sarojani S. Mohammed, Ph.D. - Founder and Principal, Ed Research Works

Kripa Sundar, Ph.D - Founder & Lead Consultant, Edtech Recharge


Parents as Partners for Student Success

Having a student in an online course/school at home comes with expectations for parents that are often new, unexpected, and unclear. Past experiences or faulty assumptions may set students and families up for frustration. Other students, however, thrive in the new online environment, feeling empowered by the flexibility and choice. Recent research has attempted to identify and measure the most effective types of parent support for online students. Families may breathe a sigh of relief that they don’t need to be an expert in Algebra or World History to have a significant impact in supporting their online learners. Join us to share ideas from school leaders around the country who have found success in engaging families using a variety of strategies.

When: December 8, 2022, at 3:00 pm ET

Panelists: Kara Heichelbech - Director of Student Learning, Indiana Online; Rekha Manakkal - Co-Director of Special Education, Ohio Connections Academy; Betsy Springer - Instructional Coach, Gull Lake Virtual Partnership; Kristi Teall - Executive Director, Link Learning Online High School


The Design and Refine Community Presents: Digital Equity: Ensuring Access to Prepare ALL Students for Life

You are invited to join the DLC's Design & Refine Community of Practice at the November gathering! The Design & Refine Best Practices Community is a DLC Membership group that focuses on sharing proven strategies in online, blended, and hybrid digital learning programs.

During the November meeting, we will be exploring the topic of Digital Equity: Ensuring Access to Prepare ALL Students for Life.

When: November 16, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. EST

Panelists: Christine Fox - CITES at CAST, Pam Shaw - Quality Matters, Bethany Simunich - Quality Matters


How Did We Get Here?

Ever wonder what decisions made the early virtual education programs successful. This session will allow participants to ask the parents of virtual education questions to gain a better understanding of the rational and decisions that shaped the early virtual education programs and the learnings that made them successful. Potential questions might include:  How did these programs select their LMS? What were the keys to providing teacher training? How did their courses get designed? What about student drops, how was that addressed/prevented?

This session will be highly interactive. It will open with an opportunity for participants to identify why they selected this session and what they want to get out of it.  Questions help guide the session, and they also help other participants by exposing them to issues (questions) they may not have experienced yet.

Rather than repeating the session from 2 yrs ago, this will be more interactive, allowing participants to ask questions and focus attention on decisions that they may be facing themselves.

When: November 10, 2022 3:00 pm ET

Moderator: Ray Rose, Public Policy Committee Chair – Texas Digital Learning Association, (Co-Founder Virtual High School)

Panelists: Allison Powell, COO – Evergreen Education Group (Co-Founder of Clark County School District’s Virtual High School), Mickey Revenaugh, Vice President, International Business Development – Pearson Virtual Schools (Co-Founder of Connections Academy), Matt Wicks, Director of Assessment and School Accountability – Pearson Virtual Schools (Founder of Illinois Virtual School), Julie Young, Vice President – ASU Preparatory Academy (Founder of Florida Virtual School)






Online student funding: findings from a national study

The DLC recently released the report The Land of Confusion: A review of online student funding. This webinar will look at key issues including how funding levels vary by state, and how online schools face different costs and accounting challenges.

Speakers: DLC’s John Watson will host a discussion with policy expert Mary Gifford, and Arizona State University Prep Digital’s Chief Partnership Officer Lisa Edgar, as we delve into the findings of the study.

When: October 13, 2022 @ 3:00pm ET






October Best Practices Community Webinar

You are invited to join the DLC's Design & Refine Community of Practice at the October gathering! The Design & Refine Best Practices Community is a DLC Membership group that focuses on sharing proven strategies in online, blended, and hybrid digital learning programs. 

During the October Zoom meeting, we will be exploring the topic of Parent Collaboration. 

When: Tuesday, October 11, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. EDT.






September Design & Refine Best Practices Community

The Design & Refine Best Practices Community is a DLC Membership group that focuses on sharing proven strategies in online, blended, and hybrid digital learning programs. This community will host eight webinar sessions during the 2022-2023 school year and continue the conversations throughout the year via the DLC membership portal.  The group will also convene at the annual DLAC conference. During the September webinar, the participants will help shape the direction of the Design & Refine Community for the entire year. We hope to see you there!

When: Tuesday, September 20, 2022 @ 3:00pm ET






Proof Points Demonstrating Online Learning Success

Can online and hybrid schools demonstrate successful student outcomes? YES! The DLCs Proof Points project has been gathering data from schools, programs, and course providers that can show positive outcomes based on externally validated academic data points. This session will feature findings from several schools, including interviews with educators exploring their keys to success.

When: September 8, 2022 @ 3:00pm ET






What’s Your Take? Differing views on online schools: a conversation

Are online schools serving students well or poorly? Are the companies supporting online schools a valuable part of the education system, or do they represent the neoliberal front lines of the privatization of public education? Does the recent GAO report on online schools suggest that digital learning policy disputes are shifting, as the DLC's John Watson writes, or is he missing the mark, as Michael Barbour of Touro University believes?

Michael Barbour recently wrote "Usually, John and I agree on most things. We come to a similar position from very different routes often times, but our end point is usually in the same general area. But on these issues, the two of us have recently diverged."

This session will be a conversation between Barbour and Watson about what they believe and why, moderated by DLC Director Chris Rapp . Join us and bring your questions!

When: Thursday June 9, 2022 @ 3:00pm ET











Quality Assurance In Online Learning

It’s More Than Just a Checkbox

(DLC Members Only)

Speakers -

Cindy Hamblin - Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance
Allison Powell - Digital Learning Collaborative
Chris Voelker - Quality Matters

Tuesday, May 17 at 3 pm EDT.






Understanding Accessibility from Multiple Perspectives

Accessibility is defined by the US Office for Civil Rights as when individuals with disabilities can access, use, and learn from instructional strategies and materials with the same ease, and in the same time frame as individuals who do not have disabilities. This requirement applies to digital as well as non-digital learning. It is vital to understand how accessibility must be included throughout the conception, design, instruction, and assessment processes for digital and online education. This DLC Discussion will involve the participant questions and concerns while taking a broad approach to accessibility. We’ll help participants Identify some of the "hot spots" or challenges to enacting an ethic of accessible learning that goes beyond the ability of students to log on and find the material. We anticipate a lively discussion with educators from varied roles in designing, instructing, managing, and assessing this important topic.

When: May 12, 2022 @ 3:00pm ET

Speakers: 

Ray Rose, Consultant

Mary F. Rice, Assistant Professor of Literacy, University of New Mexico

Roman Stotland, Director of Technology Integration at Michigan Virtual School

Chris Smith, Instructional Designer at NCVPS






The Passed + the Proposal: What passed for FY22 and What the President is Proposing for FY23

(DLC Members Only)

Things are always getting done at the 11th hour in DC and passing the budget is no exception. The President proposed ambitious numbers for the budget, but many of the promises made on the campaign trail went unfulfilled in this year. Join us to see what the numbers look like for FY22 and we'll take a look at what the Biden administration is prioritizing to try and make good on several of those promises. Added bonus: The US Department of Ed is FINALLY doing something with the National Ed Tech plan. (It's been a minute.) It's time once again for the Policy Protectors to UNITE!

When: Thursday May 5, 2022 at 3:00 pm Eastern Time






Professional Learning for the Online Environment: Building a Foundation for Collective Teacher Efficacy

(DLC Members Only)

Join the DLC Best Practices Community as we delve into the role of professional learning in building the foundation for collective teacher efficacy.  John Hattie’s research validates the importance of teachers collectively believing that they can make a difference in student learning outcomes. Teachers who are supported and provided opportunities to learn from and with peers are prepared, and they know that they make a profound difference in the lives of students.

When: Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 3:00pm EST

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DLC Discussion Highlight: Student Panel

(Public - All Welcome)

What can we learn from students?

The digital learning field exists to serve students, of course, but their voices are not included as often as they should be. This session will feature three middle and high school students of online and hybrid schools. They will explore why they chose their current school, how their school operates, what they like about it--and what they might want to change. We will be taking queries from the audience so bring your questions!

April 14, 2022
3:00pm ET

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Best Practices Webinar - Portrait of an Online Teacher

(DLC Members Only)

This webinar will focus on the skills and mindsets essential for teachers to possess to help students thrive in an online environment.  Guest panelists will share insights on their recruitment and selection process as well as reference the alignment to the National Standards for Quality.

Special Guests: RIch Copeland - Georgia Virtual; Lori Grantham - Pearson; Tony Quilici - Idaho Digital Learning Alliance

When: Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at 3 pm EST

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What - Beyond burnout? - Join our discussion focused on educator mental health!

(Public - All Welcome)

Mental health issues among students during the pandemic have been recognized, but we have also seen a crisis for our educators, with some choosing to leave the profession to preserve their wellbeing. We are seeing a need for whole-school approaches to support the mental health and wellbeing for all stakeholders, not just educators and students but also families and caregivers. Join us for an active discussion to share strategies for supporting you and your stakeholders’ wellbeing!

Panelists:

  • Dr. Rebecca Itow - Principal at Indiana University High School Online

  • Alejandra Ramos Gomez - Author, Education Consultant, and Bilingual Educator

  • Shomari Jones - Director of Equity and Strategic Engagement at Bellevue School District

  • Dr. Dacia Robertson - Supervisor of Montgomery Virtual Academy Grades 6-12 at Montgomery County Public School

  • Tyrone Martinez-Black - Practice Integration Specialist at Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

  • Dr. Meroudjie Denis - Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Master Social Worker at Momentous Institute

When - March 17, 2022 at 3:00 pm ET.

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DLC Design and Refine Best Practices Community(CofP) for a discussion around Breaking Through Educational Barriers with Collaborative Innovation.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

3 pm Eastern time.

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How do we think about quality Online Learning?

We have seen so many headlines and stories over the past two years about how online learning doesn’t work! However, these articles are referring to the emergency remote learning models schools & districts implemented for students and families out of necessity. The majority of these were not based on research or examples of other high-quality implementations of online learning. Additionally, very little planning & training was provided for these models. Quality online learning has been happening in K-12 education (public, private, and charter schools, districts, state programs, etc) around the world for over 20 years. Quality online learning can happen over time with thoughtful planning, as well as intentional and ongoing pedagogical- & technology-focused training using research-based best practices. 

Join us for a conversation about how the National Standards for Quality Online Learning (NSQOL.org) can be used as a free framework and resource for all stakeholders who are implementing new or refreshing current online programs.
November 9, 2021
3:00 pm ET

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Digital learning and Career Readiness: Examples from the Field

As discussed in the DLC’s recently released report and in our webinar in early October, digital learning in all its forms supports career readiness and CTE in several important, innovative ways. In this second of two webinars examining Digital Learning and Career Readiness, we will explore these issues and opportunities with leaders representing online schools, state virtual schools, and mainstream school districts.

November 4th, 2021
3:00pm ET

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A busy year for federal and state policy: How policymakers are working through a new era of education

From $197 billion in stimulus funds, states looking to remove barriers to remote learning, and districts considering new anytime, anywhere learning opportunities, 2020-2021 has seen an avalanche of policies as the entire field grapples with what an education setting is. Join our expert panel for a discussion on where policy barriers still exist and where they are being broken down.

October 14, 2021
3:00 pm ET

Moderator:

  • Susan Gentz, BSG Strategies

Panelists:

  • Joe Freidhoff, Michigan Virtual

  • Ken Haptonstall, Colorado River BOCES

  • Sheryl Tatum, Stride

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The Nexus of Digital Learning and Career Readiness

Career readiness has been a major focus of education of late, and CTE has been a topic of interest for many decades. Online and hybrid learning, of course, are much more recent developments. But digital learning in all its forms supports career readiness and CTE in several important, innovative ways. In this first of two webinars exploring Digital Learning and Career Readiness, we will explore these issues with two people who have deep experience thinking about career readiness and CTE from national and international perspectives, and the heads of a full-time online school and state virtual school.

October 7, 2021
3:00pm ET

Panelists:

John Ashworth - Executive Director, Virtual Arkansas

Shaun McAlmont - President, Career Learning, Stride, Inc.

Michael Connet - Assoc. Dep. Director of Outreach & Partner Development, Association for Career and Technical Education

David Crook - Head of School, CyberAcademy of South Carolina

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Build Your Schools’ Resilience as a Pathway to Innovation and Equity

Description: The pandemic is an extreme example of the ongoing disruption facing our society and schools, but building resilience to that disruption is an opportunity to increase learning innovation and equity. Join a panel of thought and practice leaders to learn how you can identify, design, and implement practice changes to increase your preparedness for the next foreseeable change event. You will gain access to a research-based framework for building resilience, hear examples from education leaders growing their schools’ agility and flexibility, and have the opportunity to reflect on your school’s resilience and pathway forward.

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September 23, 2021
3:00 pm ET

Moderator:

Allison Powell, Digital Learning Collaborative (DLC)

Panelists:

Mark Schniederman - D2L
Amy Valentine - Future of School
Elizabeth Barszcz - Principal of the K-12 public school in Silverton School District
Dr. Jessica Potts - Online Curriculum Coordinator

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Centering Equity in Remote Learning

Help your students leap across the homework gap! Focusing on equity is always important but as Covid-19 forced schools to move quickly to remote learning, how intentional is your school about centering equity in your plan? Broadband access for school aged children in low income homes can cause low-income students to fall behind.  The “homework gap” can be daunting. Our panel of principals and digital equity experts will share their best strategies for providing equitable remote learning and take questions from attendees to help address the challenges that they face. 

April 8, 2021
3:00 pm ET

Moderators:

Comaneci Brooken, Director of Professional Learning at Digital Promise
Shawn McCusker, Director of Professional Learning at Digital Promise

Panelists:

Nicole Adell,  Newburg Middle School Principal in Jefferson County Public Schools, KY 
Ronda Cosby , Grace James Steam Academy in Jefferson County Public Schools, KY
Erin Berry-McCrea, North Carolina Virtual Public Schools

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Supporting ELL Students in Remote Learning Environments

How are English Language Learners (ELs) supported in your remote and hybrid learning environments? Panelists will share how they support families and understand the obstacles of first-generation families at the classroom, school, and district levels. Learn from their personal stories and professional experiences in communicating with and supporting EL students and their families in remote learning environments.

March 11, 2021: 3PM ET

Speakers:
Prakash Patel
Christy Saez
Pate Thomas





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Maintaining Academic Growth During a Pandemic
COVID-slide? Learning Loss? However you approach it, unfinished learning has been a main topic of research and discussion during the pandemic. Instead of focusing on the existing learning gaps and inequalities that have happened over the last year, let's change the conversation to focus on how we can take advantage of a variety of strategies to engage students to maintain their academic growth during the pandemic. Topics of conversation include ideas such as personalized learning pathways, planning for the short-, medium-, and long-term, accelerating learning as opposed to remediation, changing how we define success in education, rethinking grading to focus on learning vs compliance, and other strategies to support student academic growth.

Moderator: Stacy Hawthorne, Director of Online Learning - Davidson Academy
Speakers: Carrie Bisgard, Director of Instructional Support in Placentia-Yorba Linda USD
Dr. Paula Dillon, Assistant Superintendent for Barrington Public Schools
Buffy Roberts, Executive Director of Assessment and Evaluation at Charleston County Schools





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Student perspectives of online and blended learning during the pandemic
As the pandemic has changed the way we think about school and learning, many students have chosen to learn online either temporarily for this school year, or more permanently for the remainder of their K-12 education. Let’s learn from these students about their experiences this year compared to previous years of school. We will explore what is working and not working for them in these online, remote, and hybrid environments, how they have changed as students over the past year, and what they hope sticks after the pandemic. Join us for this discussion from the students point of view, and bring your specific questions to learn from these students.

January 14, 2021: 3PM ET
Summary will be available shortly

Speakers:

Samara: 3rd grade - Da Vinci Connect K8
Dylan: 8th grade - Pine Springs Preparatory Academy
Abigail: 11th grade - Alabama Virtual Academy
Daren: 12th grade - Summerville High

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Supporting the whole learner: SEL in remote and online learning
During this time of remote learning, student support and social emotional learning has been recognized as critically important. But SEL is not new. Experienced educators have been considering SEL needs for many years, and are now building processes to incorporate SEL into a variety of online and hybrid learning environments. This panel will discuss student support and SEL as they relate to digital learning, from the perspective of experienced online educators as well as mainstream school districts.

December 16th, 2020: 3pmET
Click here for a summary of the webinar

Speakers:

Erin Craft
Robert Cole
Djuna Craig


Digital content: Build vs buy
Online instruction requires digital content--whether the instruction is temporary remote learning, or a long-time online school. Each school or district must decide whether it is buying content, building, or a mix of both. What factors should go into this decision? What paths have schools and districts chosen? This panel will explore the content build vs buy decision from a variety of perspectives.

December 10th, 2020: 3pmET
Click here for a summary of the webinar

Speakers:

Dr. Kelly Schwirzke
Dr. Stacy Hawthorne
Jennifer Echols


Real-time online learning vs asynchronous: which is better?
Remote learning in response to pandemic school closures tends to use real-time video much more than experienced online courses and schools, which rely much more heavily on asynchronous instructional modes. Is one approach better than the other? What are the best uses for live-streaming video, and the best uses for asynchronous online discussions, digital content, and online assessments? Our panel will discuss these questions and explore how and why a school or district might select varying instructional modalities. These lessons apply to remote learning during the pandemic, and will be applicable post-COVID as well.

December 3rd, 2020: 3pmET
Click here for a 2 page summary of findings

Speakers:

Dan Mahlandt: Principal of Valor Preparatory Academy of Arizona
Dr. Theresa R Rouse: Superintendent at Joliet Public Schools District 86
Marie Hanna: Superintendent of Ohio Connections Academy