Connect, apply, advance: The immersive KU virtual classroom experience

All students in KU’s online graduate programs use Canvas Student, which is available on home computers and mobile devices. Canvas Student provides access to course videos and readings, and it allows students to experience interactive course materials any time of day, no matter where they are. But it's also far more than a database of coursework. Through Canvas Student, online students can:

• Participate in class discussions
• Collaborate with classmates around the world
• Communicate with instructors
• Complete and turn in assignments
• Access their academic advisor to plan their degree path

(For the online educational administration master’s and PK-12 certificate)

Graduates from KU’s online programs may go on to teach or work in vastly different school environments around the country. Jayhawkville was created as a unique digital space that lets KU students experience the realities of working in varied educational spaces that may be urban, rural, racially diverse, wealthy, low-income and with varying levels of historical academic performance.

Jayhawkville helps prepare you for success with a hands-on virtual school district that simulates real-world scenarios distributed across more than 30 different schools. As you explore the Jayhawkville community and associated school district, you can view each school in depth and access information related to hiring policies, ethnographic and demographic data, number of students, performance on standardized tests, students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, and more. Navigating each of these areas and completing focused assignments with the provided data will help you prepare to face the unique challenges of being an educational leader in your community and learn how to build solutions that work.

(For the master's, graduate certificate and licensure endorsement in special education programs)

Educators work every day to understand and meet their students’ diverse needs. Doing so requires empathy and adaptability, and we need tools and strategies to strengthen those skills.

KU Special Education online coursework features comprehensive, persona-based case studies that reflect diverse populations within the school setting. Designed to provide contexts for hands-on problem-solving and peer discussions, they’re based on—and simulate—real people facing issues that children and teenagers encounter as they move from home to school and out into their communities.

Each unique narrative includes multimedia elements to convey a student’s likes, dislikes, strengths, challenges, attitudes, behaviors, and goals. The students presented in the case studies self-identify. They have voices, family members, friends, and community contacts. We see them across multiple dimensions and hear their stories from varied perspectives. Highlights include:

• Strengths and challenges
• Personality snapshots
• Family and teacher interviews
• Academic background
• Student data (IEPs, report cards, 504 accommodation plans, work samples, and more)

In multiple assignments, KU students review and respond to the students and situations presented in the case studies. They’re encouraged to apply their coursework-gained knowledge to real-world circumstances, developing skills in:

• Prevention
• Designs for learning
• Pedagogies
• Interventions
• Health contexts

This work encourages the creation of schools and other learning environments where all students can learn, thrive, and develop their abilities to the fullest extent possible.

(For the master's in secondary special education and transition program)

Students in the online master's in secondary special education and transition program will ground their studies in eight unique domains, each with a complementary set of competencies that are targeted and strengthened throughout each individual course. While the list of competencies is extensive, domains of study include:

• Transition planning
• Assessment
• Family involvement
• Secondary academic programs
• Community-referenced curricula and programs
• Career development
• Interagency collaboration
• Leadership and policy

As you progress through the program, you will be tasked with developing focused-research projects, essays, learning plans, and more that tie back to a specific transition-related issue, which you will have chosen as your primary topic of interest at the beginning of the program. Each of your deliverables will become a contribution to your online portfolio, and they will help you progress toward greater mastery of one or more competencies. You will also have the opportunity to request professor feedback on your performance in each competency, and you can track your progress from “Novice” to “Expert” in each of the program’s eight domains.

Your final portfolio for the program is presented as a standalone website, which you will design and organize, and which can be shared with current or potential employers as an indication of your strengths in the field of transition.

Theory comes alive through hands-on experience in KU's education programs. Our practica and internship experiences offer structured opportunities to apply your coursework in real educational settings while building professional connections.

For educational leadership students, the 16-week internship places you alongside experienced administrators in your local school environment. You'll tackle authentic leadership challenges, from safety and security to budget management, while building a digital portfolio that showcases your growth. This portfolio becomes a powerful tool for future job searches, demonstrating your practical leadership capabilities to potential employers.

Special education students in the autism and high incidence disabilities programs engage in two focused practica, working directly with children and youth with disabilities in various educational settings. These experiences allow you to implement evidence-based practices, develop intervention strategies, and refine your teaching approach under expert guidance.

Both pathways include:

• Mentorship from experienced field supervisors
• Opportunities to collect meaningful artifacts for your portfolio
• Regular feedback from KU faculty
• Flexibility to complete hours within your current work setting
• Structured reflection activities to deepen learning

These hands-on experiences ensure you graduate not just with theoretical knowledge, but with practical skills and confidence to lead in your chosen educational setting.