Professional Learning

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-This is a PDF document. (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-This is a PDF document. (PDF) to learn more. Visit #GoOpenVA:COVID-19 Extended Closing Resources for materials to support educational activities when schools are closed.  

Virtual Virginia (VVA) Outreach Program

A core service of Virtual Virginia, the VVA Outreach Program-This is a PDF document. (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.  For more information, refer to Superintendent's Memo 093-20-This is a Word document. (Word).

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.

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-This is a PDF document. (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.