Investigations into Society
Course Description:
Investigations in Society challenges students to explore real-world social issues using inquiry-based learning. Through research, data analysis, and project-based assessments, students will identify societal problems, evaluate sources, develop solutions, and present findings to real-world audiences. The course fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills while engaging students in ethical reasoning and stakeholder perspectives. Aligned with Michigan K–12 Social Studies Standards, this course empowers students to investigate, analyze, and advocate for meaningful change in society.
Course Details:
| Course Title (District): | Investigations into Society | ||||||||||
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| Course Title (NCES SCED) : | Social Sciences—Independent Study | ||||||||||
| Course Provider : | Michigan Virtual | ||||||||||
| Content Provided By : | Michigan Virtual | ||||||||||
| Online Instructor Provided By : | Michigan Virtual | ||||||||||
| Standards Addressed : | Michigan K-12 Social Studies Standards | ||||||||||
| Alignment Document : | https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ESOr5YwFW4IqFoa2hQXYKNtTE3qi0petI7PoAafYCnY/edit?usp=sharing | ||||||||||
| Academic Terms : | Semester | ||||||||||
| NCES SCED Code : 04297 |
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How To Enroll:
| Enrollment Website : | https://slp.michiganvirtual.org/ |
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| Email : | [email protected] |
| Phone : | (888) 889-2840 |
Students and Parents: It is important to work closely with your local school counselor or registrar to follow the school's enrollment procedures. By clicking the "Start Registration Request" button below, you will be able to notify the school of your interest in registering for the online course. However, it is the responsibility of the district or school to review the registration request and approve or deny the request. Please make a note to follow up with your school after submitting a registration request.
Additional Course Information:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (888) 889-2840
- Investigate real-world problems, challenges, or unanswered questions
- Examine key causal or contributing factors to such problems or challenge
- Generate solutions to overcome such factors
- Design a model for testing solutions
- Produce artifacts that support proposed solutions (e.g., a piece of explanatory and argumentative writing, a visual and auditory presentation with appropriate accompanying media, a physical or illustrated model, a computer program or algorithm, data visualizations, original maps or graphics, or a physical product of another form suited to the topic investigated)
- Report the proposal and its supporting evidence to a real-world audience
Additional Cost Description:
The course has no material cost requirements. However, students' individual projects may require that they acquire necessary materials of their choice.
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to...
NSQ National Standards for Quality Online Courses: Fourth Edition (2025)
| Rating | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| A1: A course overview and syllabus are included in the course. | Fully Met | |
| A2: Minimum computer skills and digital literacy skills expected of the learner are clearly stated. | Fully Met | |
| A3: The instructor’s biographical information and information on how to communicate with the instructor are provided. | Fully Met | |
| A4: Learner expectations and policies are clearly stated and readily accessible within the introductory material of the course. | Fully Met | |
| A5: Minimum technology requirements for the course are clearly stated, and information on how to obtain the technologies is provided. | Fully Met | |
| A6: Grading policies and practices are clearly defined in accordance with course content learning expectations. | Fully Met | |
| A7: The course instructions articulate or link to a clear description of the technical support offered and how to obtain it. | Fully Met | |
| A8: Learners are offered an orientation prior to the start of the course. | Fully Met |
| Rating | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| B1: The course objectives or competencies are measurable and clearly state what the learner will be able to demonstrate as a result of successfully completing the course. | Fully Met | |
| B2: Where applicable, the course content is aligned with accepted state and/or other accepted content standards. | Fully Met | |
| B3: Digital literacy and communication skills are incorporated and taught as an integral part of the curriculum. | Fully Met | |
| B4: Supplemental learning resources and related instructional materials are available to support and enrich learning and are aligned with the content delivered. | Fully Met | |
| B5: The course content and supporting materials reflect different perspectives and provide non-stereotypical forms of representation. | Fully Met | |
| B6: The course materials (e.g., textbooks, primary source documents, Open Education Resources “[OER])” that support course content standards are accurate and current. | Fully Met | |
| B7: The course is free of adult content and avoids unnecessary advertisements. | Fully Met | |
| B8: Copyright and licensing status for any third-party content is appropriately cited and easily found. | Fully Met | |
| B9: Documentation and other support materials are available to support effective online course facilitation. | Fully Met |
| Rating | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| C1: The course design includes activities that guide learners toward promoting ownership of their learning and self-monitoring. | Fully Met | |
| C2: The course’s content and learning activities promote the achievement of the stated learning objectives or competencies. | Fully Met | |
| C3: The course is organized by units and lessons arranged in a logical sequence. | Fully Met | |
| C4: The course content is appropriate to the reading level of the intended learners. | Fully Met | |
| C5: The course design includes introductory assignments or activities to engage learners within the first week of the course. | Fully Met | |
| C6: The course provides learners with multiple learning paths as appropriate, based on learner needs, that engage learners in a variety of ways. | Fully Met | |
| C7: The course provides regular opportunities for learner-learner interaction. | Fully Met | |
| C8: The course design provides opportunities for learner-instructor interaction, including opportunities for regular feedback about learner progress. | Fully Met | |
| C9: Course instructional materials and resources present content in an effective, engaging, and appropriate manner. | Fully Met |
| Rating | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| D1: Learner assessments align with stated course, unit, or lesson-level objectives or competencies. | Fully Met | |
| D2: Valid course assessments measure learner progress toward understanding of content. | Fully Met | |
| D3: Assessment practices provide frequent and varied opportunities for self-monitoring and reflection of learning. | Fully Met | |
| D4: Assessment materials provide the learner with the flexibility to demonstrate their understanding in a variety of ways. | Fully Met | |
| D5: Rubrics that clearly define expectations for varied levels of proficiency are created and shared with learners. | Fully Met |
| Rating | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| E1: Course navigation is logical, consistent, and efficient from the learner’s point of view. | Fully Met | |
| E2: The course design facilitates readability. | Fully Met | |
| E3: The course provides accessible course materials and activities to meet the variable needs of learners, following Universal Design for Learning principles. | Fully Met | |
| E4: Multimedia in the course is easy to use. | Fully Met | |
| E5: Vendor accessibility statements are provided for all technologies required in the course. | Fully Met |
| Rating | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| F1: All technologies and tools included for use as part of the course ensure that learner privacy is protected in accordance with the Acceptable Use Policy and applicable law. | Fully Met | |
| F2: The course tools further the learning objectives and course competencies. | Fully Met | |
| F3: The course technology allows for customization and personalization. | Fully Met | |
| F4: The course operates within a platform to score and record assessments and calculate earned course points or grades. | Fully Met | |
| F5: Courses utilize emerging technologies that can enhance the learning experience, prioritizing learners and outcomes. | Fully Met |
| Rating | Comments | |
|---|---|---|
| G1: The course uses multiple methods and sources of input for assessing course effectiveness. | Fully Met | |
| G2: The course is regularly reviewed to ensure that the course is current and relevant. | Fully Met | |
| G3: The course is updated on a continuous improvement cycle for effectiveness based on the findings from ongoing reviews. | Fully Met |
Review Conducted By: Quality Matters
Date of Review:
01/12/2026
Unit 1: Real-World Problems in Social Science
Unit 2: The Process of Inquiry
Unit 3: Project Ideation and Design
Unit 4: Refining Your Project
Unit 5: Engaging in Research or Experimentation
Unit 6: Evaluating Your Results and Drawing Conclusions
Unit 7: Communicating Impact to Stakeholders
Unit 8: Communicating Your Results and Recommendations to a Real-World Audience
| Term Type | Enrollment Opens | Enrollment Ends | Random Draw Date | Enrollment Drop Date | Course Starts | Course Ends | # of Seats | Course Fee | Potential Additional Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 07/01/2025 | 01/16/2026 | 01/02/2026 | 05/22/2026 | 100 | $370 | |
| Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 07/01/2025 | 01/23/2026 | 01/09/2026 | 05/29/2026 | 100 | $370 | |
| Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 07/01/2025 | 01/30/2026 | 01/16/2026 | 06/05/2026 | 100 | $370 | |
| Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 07/01/2025 | 02/06/2026 | 01/23/2026 | 06/12/2026 | 100 | $370 | |
| Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 07/01/2025 | 02/13/2026 | 01/30/2026 | 06/19/2026 | 100 | $370 | |
| Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 07/01/2025 | 02/20/2026 | 02/06/2026 | 06/19/2026 | 100 | $370 | |
| Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 07/01/2025 | 02/27/2026 | 02/13/2026 | 06/19/2026 | 100 | $370 | |
| Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 07/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 02/20/2026 | 06/19/2026 | 100 | $370 | |
| Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 07/01/2025 | 03/13/2026 | 02/27/2026 | 06/19/2026 | 100 | $370 | |
| Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 | 07/01/2025 | 03/20/2026 | 03/06/2026 | 06/19/2026 | 100 | $370 |
| Drop Policy | Completion Policy | Term Type | Enrollment Opens | Enrollment Ends |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. | Michigan Virtual has established that enrollments earning 60% or more of the total course points are considered a course completion. | Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 |
| Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. | Michigan Virtual has established that enrollments earning 60% or more of the total course points are considered a course completion. | Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 |
| Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. | Michigan Virtual has established that enrollments earning 60% or more of the total course points are considered a course completion. | Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 |
| Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. | Michigan Virtual has established that enrollments earning 60% or more of the total course points are considered a course completion. | Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 |
| Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. | Michigan Virtual has established that enrollments earning 60% or more of the total course points are considered a course completion. | Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 |
| Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. | Michigan Virtual has established that enrollments earning 60% or more of the total course points are considered a course completion. | Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 |
| Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. | Michigan Virtual has established that enrollments earning 60% or more of the total course points are considered a course completion. | Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 |
| Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. | Michigan Virtual has established that enrollments earning 60% or more of the total course points are considered a course completion. | Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 |
| Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. | Michigan Virtual has established that enrollments earning 60% or more of the total course points are considered a course completion. | Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 |
| Students have 14 days from the enrollment start date to drop the course and receive a full refund. No refunds are given after 14 days. Drop dates are calculated and what is posted is the last possible drop date for enrollments created within the enrollment window. | Michigan Virtual has established that enrollments earning 60% or more of the total course points are considered a course completion. | Semester | 04/01/2025 | 03/06/2026 |
Students can use email or the private message system within the Student Learning Portal to access highly qualified teachers when they need instructor assistance. Students will also receive feedback on their work inside the learning management system. The Instructor Info area of their course may describe additional communication options.
Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube.
Ensure that your school or district network and device administrator whitelists online resources relevant to the course in which you are choosing to enroll. Ref., Michigan Virtual Course Whitelist
Please review the Michigan Virtual Technology Requirements: https://michiganvirtual.org/about/support/knowledge-base/technical-requirements/