Virtual Learning

Synchronous learning is learning in which two or more individuals are engaging in learning at the same time (for example, a live teacher-led lesson using a videoconference tool). Asynchronous learning occurs at different times, without real-time interaction. Students learn from instruction that is not being delivered live.

The Virtual Learning will utilize the same curriculum and grading guidelines as Face-to-Face instruction with a different instructional design. The Virtual Learning assignments may look different but they will cover the same content and skills as on-campus instruction, following the district curriculum.

Elementary, middle and high school students will generally follow a typical school day from start to finish with Virtual Learning. Depending on the student and his or her grade, selected coursework and individual needs, the amount of synchronous versus asynchronous time may differ from student to student. Teachers will share what their daily schedule looks like for their virtual students. 

Per the Texas Education Agency, students will be required to have assignments, activities, or demonstration of their learning progress daily just like the face-to-face classroom. Students will not be able to complete a week’s worth of work at the beginning of the week. There are daily requirements for virtual learners. 

Virtual Learning has numerous differences from At-Home Learning in the spring based on the feedback received from parents, students and teachers. Virtual Learning will look different based on the needs of each individual student. Students who receive supplemental services or are in different grades will find that their services are developmentally appropriate.

Key aspects of the Virtual Learning include:

• Content learning and activities will be planned by the teacher to make sure each student receives their full instructional minutes.
• An improvement upon quality, depth and rigor of the curriculum will be implemented.
• Personalized learning opportunities will be implemented.
• Data-driven, personalized enrichment and intervention will be implemented to meet students' needs.
• The same scope and sequence as students in the classroom will be followed for virtual learning.
• Some mandated related services, scheduled on an individual or small group basis, will also be offered on campus, as appropriate or needed.

At-Home Learning in the Spring was an emergency response to closure. In preparation for Virtual Learning going into the 2020-2021 school year, Midlothian ISD has provided training for teachers on effective practices for online instruction through our M*Powered Summer Academy, secured additional resources for online learning and has scheduled additional training throughout the school year to support teachers. 
 

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will require daily attendance and participation in Virtual Learning. Students will be required to participate in online classes daily and traditional attendance rules will be enforced. A student will be considered absent if the student does not progress in asynchronous learning activities each day as defined in the MISD Asynchronous Learning Plan. No matter the setting of the students. Midlothian ISD will continue the current policies and is proud to offer an online curriculum that will meet the continued needs of the students whether they are on campus or online.

Students will engage in the Virtual Learning through the following methods:

• PK-3: SeeSaw
• 4-12: Canvas Specialized learning programs will use the same platforms as general education.
   

Students who are guaranteed related services through Special Education, English as a Second Language, Bilingual Education, 504, etc. and choose Virtual Learning will be provided the opportunity to convene a meeting to revise their supports and services to ensure we meet the needs of our students virtually.

Students will be provided daily scheduled “live” synchronous virtual opportunities to ask questions and receive additional assistance as needed.

Additional information and guidance will be coming soon.

Notably, for students who are IEP entitled progress will be carefully monitored and ARD/IEP committees will convene and make appropriate recommendations to meet individual student needs to ensure continued growth in the state standards and on IEP goals and objectives. For students who receive 504 services, 504 committees will convene and make appropriate recommendations to meet individual student needs to ensure continued growth in the state standards.

At the elementary level, Gifted and Talented services will be provided to identified GT students through a virtual GT teacher. Students will receive services at a scheduled time and will be coordinated through the GT teacher. At the secondary level, GT services are provided through Pre-AP and AP courses. Advanced courses will be offered virtually.

More information will be coming soon in a detailed guide for elementary, middle school and high school. These teachers will notify parents of the schedules, working with teachers to make sure the time is not overlapped by direct teach time. 

To limit larger gatherings, campus club meetings will be held virtually when possible.

The District is investigating ways to mitigate against this issue. Stay tuned for more information.

Each student will continue to be connected to their home campus. Parents will continue to receive communication from the campus and will be invited to engage in various virtual activities throughout the year as feasible.

Please note, if a Virtual Learning student switches to face-to-face, they may not have the same teachers, as teachers may or may not be teaching both an online and Face-to-Face class. Virtual courses will be taught by certified Midlothian ISD teachers but not necessarily a teacher from your student’s home campus. In turn, students in your child’s Virtual Learning class may or may not be limited to students from your child’s home campus.
 

Virtual Learning will be taught by certified Midlothian ISD teachers. Your student’s teacher may or may not be from your student’s home campus, but because MISD has phenomenal teachers working across the District, students and parents can expect the same caliber of teacher and a consistent experience. In turn, students in your child’s Virtual Learning class may or may not be limited to students from your child’s home campus.

The District will provide students with some necessary instructional materials as needed, but it will vary based on the grade level and coursework of the student.

Virtual students will need to purchase the school supplies they feel are necessary to be successful in the virtual learning environment.

The District does have the ability to offer virtual synchronous options, but copyright and best practices prevent the District from doing as much virtually as we would like. This service is one in which students would participate in real time whether virtual or face to face.

MISD is working through this fluidly.  Parents have up until 2 weeks before school starts to finalize their instructional delivery method (F2F or Virtual).  Until those final selections have been made, it is difficult to determine this.  If there are 7 second grade students from one campus and 7 second grade students from a second campus desiring virtual learning, those students may be taught by the same teacher.  Secondary campuses are working to develop master schedules for both virtual and face to face students.  It is the desire of MISD to keep students at their home campus, but until final instructional methods are selected, this remains fluid.

As in the answer above, it is difficult to answer until parents make their final decision 2 weeks before school starts. We are looking to pair neighboring schools as much as possible as explained in the answer above. If there is a low number of students wanting virtual at two campuses, those will be paired into one virtual class. A teacher from one campus might teach all subjects, or in the upper grades, one teacher from a campus might teach the ELAR/SS and one teach the Math/Science to the same group of students. 

Virtual learning will follow the same Scope & Sequence and Pacing as face to face instruction.  MISD is working diligently to provide additional training for teachers during M*Powered Summer Academy (more than 60+ sessions) and in Back to School PD in regards to virtual learning, instructing in a virtual environment, progress monitoring, providing virtual feedback and more. Teachers will be conducting the live, direct instruction sessions (synchronous instruction) in the virtual environment to ensure students receive the instruction they need to maintain the level of rigor in the virtual learning. Asynchronous instruction will match the independent, self-paced lessons that would be done in the classroom independently. The schedule is set up for virtual learning to align with the Face-to-Face instruction as much as possible, but all instruction will be aligned to the same scope and sequence.  

UIL has provided guidance that students enrolled in the ISD virtual learning may participate in UIL events and activities. On July 20, the MISD school board voted to allow students enrolled in MISD for virtual learning to participate in UIL and non-UIL events and activities. 

 The district is researching the best options for synchronous instructional time. Training will be provided before school starts on that particular tool.

The virtual live instructional time will be recorded for those students who may have missed that instruction one day. However, we do encourage that students are in these live instructional times as often as possible to have the teacher/student interaction needed for the most effective instruction. 

The virtual schedules have multiple brain breaks built in.  The PreK and ESCE virtual schedule does not have students on the computer for more than 30 minutes at a time.  The K-5 and Secondary virtual schedules do not have student students online for more than an hour at a time.  Breaks and asynchronous learning are built in to give students time away from the screen.