An Interview with Jamey Fitzpatrick: Michigan Virtual University

5.22.10 - Michael F. Shaughnessy - The mission of Michigan Virtual University® is to provide quality Internet-based programs that strengthen teaching and learning for K-12 education. MVU® was created in 1998 by the State of Michigan

An Interview with Jamey Fitzpatrick: Michigan Virtual University

                         Michael F. Shaughnessy

                         Eastern New Mexico University

                         Portales, New Mexico

1.      Tell me about MVU, how you got started, and what is your mission?

The mission of Michigan Virtual University^® is to provide quality Internet-based programs that strengthen teaching and learning for K-12 education. MVU^® was created in 1998 by the State of Michigan as a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation that is governed by an independent Board of Directors. Initially MVU was broad-based, providing services to business and industry, along with the higher educational community. Since narrowing our focus in 2004, we have refined our mission to serve as the champion of online learning for K-12 schools.

Michigan Virtual School^® was launched during the 1999-2000 academic year, providing 100 online course enrollments to 18 schools. During the 2008-09 academic year, MVS^® provided more than 16,000 course enrollments working with more than 500 schools throughout Michigan.

In 2003, in partnership with the Michigan Department of Education, MVU created Michigan LearnPort, a web-based portal that provides low-cost and no-cost online professional development opportunities for Michigan’s K-12 community, higher education and for organizations not directly affiliated with K-12 or higher education. To date, Michigan LearnPort has more than 55,000 registered users.

2.      What are the enrollments trends for the Michigan Virtual School over the past five years and how does this compare to what’s happening at the national level?

Today’s education system is experiencing explosive growth with the use of online learning as an effective delivery model at all levels.  Enrollments in the Michigan Virtual School continue to grow at double digit rates.  This trend is consistent with what other statewide virtual schools are experiencing.

Nationally, approximately one million students are taking online courses (Sloan Consortium). There is steady growth (25% - 40%) of many state virtual schools, online school providers operating nationally, and total online student populations in states for school year 2009-10 (Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning*).

*John Watson, Butch, Gemin, Jennifer Ryan and Matthew Wade (Evergreen Education Group), 2009 Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning: An Annual Review of State-level Policy and Practice.

3.      How many other states have statewide virtual schools? 

According to the Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning annual report, most states (45 as of September 2009) have significant supplemental online learning programs, or significant full-time programs, or both. Of the states that do not have either of these options, several have begun planning for online learning development.

4.      What is the completion rate for student success in online learning through the Michigan Virtual School? 

Last year our course completion rates ranged from over 75 percent in mathematics and English language arts courses, to approximately 80 percent in science and social studies courses, to 84.2 percent in foreign language courses.  The overall completion rates for instructor-led courses last year was nearly 81 percent.

5.      Is Michigan the only state with an online learning requirement for high school graduation? 

No, Michigan was the first state to require that all students, beginning with the Class of 2011, fulfill an online learning requirement.  In 2008 the states of Alabama and Hawaii implemented online learning requirements.  In Florida, starting with the 2009-10 school year, each district must provide a program for full-time online students in grades K-8 and full- or part-time online students in grades 9-12.

6.      What can be said about the effectiveness of online learning? 

Most of the studies completed in the last few years indicate online learning to be as effective as face-to-face instruction.  In 2009 the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development published a study that concluded that “… on average, students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction.”* This is the first comprehensive study that shows online learning to be more effective than face-to-face instruction. The USDOE researchers said their findings should not be generalized to the K-12 level, because most of the studies analyzed were conducted on adult populations.

*U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development, Policy and Program Studies Service, Evaluation of Evidence-based Practices in Online Learning: A Meta-analysis and Review of Online Learning Studies, 2009.

7.      What is the status of educational policy in the U.S. as it relates to online learning?

Unfortunately, most states are struggling to determine how to fund, support, grow and evaluate online learning systems at the K-12 level.  Most states have invested in some kind of statewide virtual school or program, but few states have scaled these initiatives to match student and parent demand for online learning options.  We will likely see much more policy developed over the next three-to-five years as states come to the conclusion that online learning needs to be a permanent fixture in the K-12 landscape.

8.      What are some of the latest trends in online learning?

Full-time online learning programs continue to grow throughout the U.S.  This trend will continue for the next several years as innovative educators work to develop solutions for  students that have unique skills, interests, talents, study habits, or extenuating circumstances that warrant the expanded use of online learning.

*Michigan Virtual University, Framework for the Future 2009-14, 2009.

9.      What role do you believe online learning will play in school reform efforts at the local, state and federal levels?

I believe online learning will have a major impact on school reform efforts throughout the U.S.  The new National Technology Plan provides a compelling argument regarding the need to transform American education using technology.  The Plan emphasizes the need for productivity gains by rethinking basic assumptions such as seat-time measures of educational attainment.  The Plan also calls for learning environments that are always on and available to students, educators and administrators regardless of their location of the time of day.

10.  Does the Michigan Virtual School delivery model include online teachers?

Yes. Online teachers are integral to the student success in online learning. Every MVS course employs a high-quality, Michigan-certified instructor. We have invested heavily in training our contracted teachers to ensure success in our online learning environments.  Online learning will never replace talented educators, but it will certainly change their role as they evolve into instructional coaches.

11.  Do you believe online learning will take over regular brick and mortar schools in the future?

No, MVS works in cooperation with individual Michigan school districts who grant course credit and diplomas. MVS helps schools stretch tight school budgets, provide staff development opportunities and improve student performance. The use of online learning will continue to grow, but online learning will not replace the need for school buildings and teachers who interact with students face to face.

12.  What is MVU doing to help prepare K-12 educators to teach online?

We have trained more than 500 educators how to teach online. A new Online Teaching and Learning Mastery program is currently being piloted with a core group of teachers. This program offers K-12 teachers the opportunity to use the tools and techniques to teach and create online activities and online courses. Teachers who complete this program will possess the knowledge and skills in design and teaching online courses.

13.  What are the biggest barriers to success you face in operating a statewide virtual school?

Overcoming a general resistance to the use of online learning within the K-12 community and the need to establish a stronger sustainability model that can accommodate significant growth in online course enrollments represents are biggest barriers in running the Michigan Virtual School.

14.  Ultimately, what is Michigan Virtual University trying to achieve?

The long term view of success for MVU is to provide leadership by expanding, improving and innovating learning opportunities for K-12 students and educators.  We will accomplish this goal by serving as a catalyst for change by providing quality Internet-based programs that strengthen teaching and learning for K-12 education.

15.  Is there real potential to save money by an increasing reliance on online learning?

Yes, online learning can be cost-effective when compared to traditional brick and mortar delivery models. However, there are costs associated with online learning that are not typically part of a regular school, such as maintaining a learning management system (LMS) or operating a statewide helpdesk.  On the other hand, we benefit from not having to manage school facilities and transportation operations. 

16.  What role does MVU play in helping local districts make decisions on where and when to use online learning?

MVU is active in providing technical assistance and planning support for schools in the area of online learning.  In the first few years of operation, we played the role of “catalyst” to help facilitate change in schools.  After four or five years of operating the MVS, we evolved into the role of service provider to respond to the growing demand for online course enrollments.  We are now being asked to help schools with capacity building support.