Online Learning

Collaborative Licensure Programs

The Collaborative's educator preparation programs offer a practical, rigorous, and cost effective route to initial Licensure in Massachusetts. We offer teacher and administrative programs in a variety of learning formats including traditional face to face and hybrid online to ensure that every course site throughout the state gets the benefit of our understanding and knowledgeable instructors. All Collaborative licensure programs have been approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

For more information, visit: Teach in Mass.org

776 Algebra Online

Through the Differentiated Algebra Online: A Blended Model Utilizing the Learning Coach to Promote Individual Student Growth project, the Collaborative has been working with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to create, implement and evaluate two online courses: an Algebra Online course targeted to high school students, and a Learning Coach (LC) course designed to provide school staff with the tools and strategies needed to prepare and motivate students to master the content of the online algebra course.

The program is intended to:

• Provide flexibility, intensity, and expanded learning time for high school students who have failed Albegra to attain sufficient growth to gain the credit and MCAS math scores necessary to graduate
• Provide a differentiated environment and content to allow individual students use their abilities to build intellectual capacity at their own pace
• Improve existing school-based programs to engage and motivate students to achieve high standards through professional development and capacity building
• Provide additional instructional elements following a Universal Design for Learning, learner-centered approach to allow students with diverse learning styles and various learning disabilities to achieve learning goals
• Provide sufficient data to make effective use of data to drive improvements

The 776 Algebra Online project is funded by a federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Title II-D Technology Grant-Priority 1 awarded through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

For more information, visit: 776algebraonline.org

Adult Basic Education Distance Learning

This federal grant program aims to provide access to educational services by delivering Adult Basic Education instruction through distance learning to adult learners who cannot enroll and/or participate in classroom based instruction, or who must interrupt their classroom based instruction because of barriers such as transportation, childcare, or work and family schedules. Throughout the 2.5 year project, the Collaborative provides:

• Ongoing technical assistance to ABE Distance Learning programs as needed;
• Professional development trainings in distance learning methodology/ tools and teaching/learning strategies;
• Facilitation of and collaboration with a statewide Distance Learning Advisory Board;
• Coordination of outreach and capacity building to strengthen programs.

For more information on Adult Basic Education Distance Learning, visit: doe.mass.edu

Massachusetts Distance Learning (MassDLN)

This website, which is hosted by the Collaborative, utilizes the Moodle open source Course Management System (CMS) to provide an Online Learning environment for Professional Development programs, Educator Licensure courses, and other projects. Collaborative member districts are encouraged to use this system as test site to create their own online courses on our Moodle server, at no cost. In addition to functioning as a test site, students and teachers will find Moodle-related resources to support or inform any user, not just those involved with courses hosted by the Collaborative.

For more information about Massachusetts Distance Learning and to learn more about Moodle, visit: moodle.collaborative.org

Virtual High School

The Collaborative has established a consortium model with Virtual High School (VHS) to offer high-quality online high school courses to students. VHS offers a wealth of 140 unique elective, core, technical, Advanced Placement and Pre-Advanced Placement level courses to meet individual student needs. This partnership is intended to significantly enhance the curricular offerings of our member districts while integrating technology skills development into their academic curriculum.

VHS is unique because:

• Courses are delivered by certified instructors and are designed to ensure a high level of peer-to-peer interaction so students learn from their peers as well as their instructors.
• The asynchronous schedule enables students from around the globe to participate in working groups and class discussions.
• Students gain a global perspective. Course enrollment is highly diverse and may have students from multiple countries representing different cultures, difference educational experiences and varied socioeconomic backgrounds. These experiences prepare students for learning and working in a global community.

For more information about VHS, visit: goVHS.org

To learn how your school or district can enroll students in VHS, please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it