Do you have teachers who need to be brought up-to-speed on the requirements of the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC)? Do your teachers have a full understanding of the High School Content Expectations and their connection to the MMC? Do you deliver professional development to your staff and need to learn more? In an attempt to assist school districts and their teachers to gain a better understanding and grasp of these new requirements, Michigan LearnPort ® has developed and launched nine new online courses.

Each high-quality course addresses the “challenging concepts” in the new High School Content Expectations (HSCEs) in each of the core content areas (English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies) and includes significant elements for teachers to incorporate into their classroom instruction. “We gathered input from Michigan-based experts with ample classroom experience so that these new courses would directly address challenges teachers would face,” says Greg Marks, Director of Product Development at Michigan Virtual University ®.

These instructor-led courses were offered in for the first time April. The courses will be offered again in June. At other times in the year, professional development staff at Michigan intermediate school districts are encouraged to offer sections of the courses to teachers and other interested members of the district staff. The new courses are:

• Algebra 1
• Algebra 2
• Geometry
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• U.S. History & Geography
• World History & Geography, and
• English Language Arts, 9-12

Each of the courses is content specific and is for all teachers, not just online teachers. In addition to emphasizing the relevant HSCEs, these courses reveal how technology enhances content and how teachers can engage students when technology is used to help deliver course content. These online professional development courses will help teachers gain a deeper understanding of the new High School Content Expectations so that they are better equipped to assist their students.

Because Michigan LearnPort is supported by federal ESEA Title II, Part (A) funds, there is no cost for these MMC online courses which are taught by experienced, Michigan certified teachers. Participants may earn from 2.5 to 3.5 SB-CEUs, depending on the specific course. Marks adds, “Resources and tools in the courses were selected both to make the learning efficient and powerful for teachers, as well as offer them resources they could make use of with their students in the classroom.”