2022 NERIC Regional Technology Awareness Day

The Cooperative Virtual Learning Academy provides an option for students to learn in a way that didn’t exist or was difficult to access prior to the pandemic. It opened eyes to a new way of learning that was successful for a population of students, some of whom struggled in a traditional classroom environment, while others were consistently absent and disengaged. Creating a virtual environment that is inviting, community-centered and addresses the needs of students helps meet them at their level and increases engagement. In CVLA, we have students across NYS who reside in rural, urban and suburban settings. Our classes have students from multiple districts, creating an environment that is intrinsically diverse, equitable and inclusive. Students are encouraged to share experiences, take risks and learn from each other. It is through this organic sharing from students about their varied life experiences that makes CVLA unique and special. Throughout the presentation, we will review our successes and challenges during the first year, lessons learned and how we’ve expanded programming to meet the needs of our students.