LANSING, Mich., Aug. 7/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- When State Superintendent for Public Instruction Michael P. Flanagan addressed a group of Michigan Virtual School(TM) (MVS(TM)) online teachers Thursday he praised them for their pioneering spirit and challenged them to stay ahead of the curve.
Flanagan said changes to the educational system to allow alternative methods of learning, like the online learning courses MVS provides to middle and high school students, engages more students than strictly traditional methods. Flanagan spoke to the MVS online teachers as they wrapped up a two-day learning event at Michigan State University's Henry Center.
Flanagan said changing the mind set of parents, teachers and administrators so they fully understand the state's new high school graduation requirements, which include an online learning requirement, is important to state education and critical to Michigan's economic future.
"When people understand how change and new practices work, they usually embrace them," Flanagan said.
The component of the new Michigan Merit Curriculum, adopted in 2006, that all students engage in an online learning experience is one step toward providing different ways to meet the needs of students, needs that aren't always met in a traditional setting.
"We are not situated as a system that can drill down and support every student," Flanagan said.
Flanagan added that educators in the state are "headed in the right direction." The explosion of technology and its influence on children means educators must continue pioneering new ways to take education to "where the future will be," he said.
"Mike fully understands the need to better address the learning needs of each and every student, and using technology is one powerful way to accomplish this important goal," said Jamey Fitzpatrick, president of Michigan Virtual University(R) (MVU(R)). "Not every student learns best with a text book and chalkboard in a lecture style classroom environment. Mike's vision and leadership for the state's K-12 education system is clear and compelling and was well received by our online instructors."
MVU's two-day "Collaboration of the Minds" event brought together online educators from around the state, and a few from outside the state, to share information, learn new skills and prepare for another school year.
Michigan Virtual School is part of Michigan Virtual University, the parent organization of MVS and the Michigan LearnPort(R) professional development portal. MVU is a private, not-for-profit Michigan corporation established in 1998 to deliver online education and training opportunities to the citizens of Michigan.
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