K-8 Virtual Education: Raising the Bar

Presented by Julie Alspach, Program Administrator, Virtual Learning Academy Consortium (VLAC); and David Kanter, Chief Academic Officer, Calvert Education
Sponsored by Calvert Education

Watch the Recording

When you think about virtual schools in the United States, do the words effectiveness and innovation come to mind? This edWebinar covers how the bar in virtual education has been raised, particularly for grades K-8, with best practices in the field. Hear key considerations for success in K-8 virtual schools, and practical examples of how to achieve it, from Julie Alspach, Program Administrator of the Virtual Learning Academy Consortium (VLAC).

Gain insights and more about these areas:

• How virtual-specific instruction is unique and the skills required for virtual instructional success
• Special considerations for curriculum in a virtual environment
• New opportunities in project-based learning
• Ways to increase student engagement
• How virtual learning can benefit students in lower grades academically and developmentally
• The difference between schools managed by EMOs and district virtual school programs
• How to improve community outreach and increase enrollment
• How to overcome challenges in starting a new virtual program, and retain funding for your district

This recorded edWebinar will be of particular benefit to district and school leaders, curriculum specialists and teachers in current K-8 virtual school programs, or ones considering forming a new virtual program. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the Virtual Learning Academy Consortium’s success and get an expert’s insight on effective virtual school programs, whether you’re in a virtual school program now, or are considering forming a new one.

About the Presenters 

Julie Alspach is the program administrator of the Virtual Learning Academy Consortium (VLAC), which provides K-12 virtual learning in partnership with 60 school districts across six counties in Michigan. As an educator, she has taught elementary school, high school English, and special education. Julie was part of the original team at VLAC that piloted home-based learning when K-5 online education first began. Beyond the classroom, Julie presents at leading conferences in Michigan such as miGoogle and MACUL. Before teaching, Julie worked in I.T. as a network engineer, certified trainer, and client support analyst. Her educational background includes a masters in special education and an Education Specialist in educational leadership. She is currently finishing her doctorate at Oakland University in educational leadership. Julie’s family consists of a wonderful husband, three adult children, a dog, a cat, and four parrots. A geek at heart, Julie mentors FIRST robotics teams in her free time.

David Kanter is a learning scientist who has driven a body of design and research work over the past 18 years. While he began his career in biomedical engineering, he has followed his passion for education by focusing on using technology to build innovative K-12 curricula. David’s research has included “active learning” instructional approaches to improve K-12 student learning and new approaches to teacher preparation as necessary to prepare K-12 teachers to use new kinds of curricula in the classroom. In executing all this work, he has collaborated closely with district/school leadership and teachers in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City.

A previous university faculty member, David has directed UX research and impact research for Amplify Education on its K-12 classroom platform and products. He was senior UX researcher on Google’s “Play for Education” and “Classroom” K-12 products. He has consulted for clients such as Scholastic, Nick Jr., Pearson, littleBits, and the New York City Department of Education. He has been invited to present his work to national audiences of both practitioners and academics, and he has had his work published in peer-reviewed journals as well as in books intended for all audiences. David received his B.S. in engineering and his B.S. in economics from the University of Pennsylvania. He received his Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

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Calvert helps schools elevate their K-8 virtual education with curriculum, tools and services that drive student success. With a mission-driven focus and over 100+ years of education experience in out-of-school settings, Calvert provides flexible solutions to districts and charters that are specifically optimized for K-8 virtual learning.