Innovations in Online Education | IOE Faculty Handbook
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IOE Faculty Handbook

Faculty/Staff Handbook

            Innovations in Online Education Faculty/Staff Handbook

 

Mission Statement:

 

  • to offer academically rigorous online courses that challenge students to take intellectual risks in the context of a 21st century learning environment that extends beyond the four walls of the traditional classroom into the global learning community via the Internet.

 

  • to introduce 21st century digital literacy and to advance digital citizenship  immersion in Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 environments in a culture that fosters integrity through ethical standards of collaboration, communication, and critical thinking

 

  • to connect state certified teachers to students in real time in the virtual classroom at a standard of excellence ratio of 24 students to 1 teacher.

 

Innovations in Online Education offers 21st century learning strategies to public school districts:  to integrate technology into course design for authentic, meaningful, and academically rewarding learning experiences.

 

Innovations in Online Education, Inc. connects the student to the specialized content instructor (State Certified/Highly Qualified in the content area) in the virtual classroom.  IOE offers a unique synthesis of education and technology.  Knowledge of technology is not acquired merely for its own sake, in isolation – instead, technology facilitates content knowledge:  this is the perfect synthesis of education and technology.

 

Standards of Excellence in Instruction                             

 

  1. To provide an academically challenging environment for authentic intellectual risks and inquiry based learning in all subject areas
  2. To foster students’ innate curiosity and to promote original thinking with students as creators, rather than as passive learners
  3. To immerse students in a global community that enriches and extends cultural experiences through collaboration with
    other learning communities
  4. To allow for collaborative experiences which foster a sharing of responsibilities toward solutions of real world problems
  5. To model critical thinking through teacher role modeling and to foster application of critical thinking through students’ exploration of
    and critical discrimination among e-resources
  6. To allow for failure which is part of intellectual growth and to promote self-motivation and self-expression
  7. To encourage appreciation for the humanities, the sciences, the social sciences and world languages as each contributes to the
    totality of the human experience
  8. To model ethical behavior and to hold students to standards of academic honesty and respect for others and to cultivate
    empathy and understanding toward action and change
  9. To encourage individual expression through written and verbal communications and through creative works

 

Course Offerings                        

                                                                                             

Course offerings and course syllabi are provided on Innovations in Online Education’s website:

 

http://innovationsonlineed.com/CoursesOffered.html

 

Log-on Procedures for IOE Students

 

IOE online class schedules are sent out weekly (on Sunday evening) via email. Questions/concerns about the schedule should be addressed to the IOE Administrator via email or phone:

 

fred.desena@innovationsonlineed.com

 

973-726-0820 (office)

 

To configure your computer, please follow these easy instructions:

 

If you have a computer headset for audio, plug it into the computer before powering up your computer so that your computer recognizes the hardware.

 

  • Click on the link below, which will take you to a support screen. JAVA script files may need to download. This will take a few minutes and you should “allow”(run) for any popup windows that emerge on your screen.

 

http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8336&task=knowledge&questionID=1473

 

  • In Step 1 of support you should see 2 green checks on the screen for “operating system” and” Java files.” Please proceed to Step 2, following the on screen instructions “Configuring your system” and select v12 configuration room.” Follow all instructions.

 

  • After successfully configuring your computer and virtual classroom please proceed to Step 3 and select Online Orientation. This is a short 15 minute pre-recorded tour of the online virtual classroom and its tools.

 

  • After successfully completing Steps 1-3, you will be all set and ready to instruct your online lessons. It will only be necessary to move on to Step 4 if you require technical support.  Keep this link handy in the event that you need future technical support. Tech support is available to you  24/7. Most tech issues are resolved within 15 minutes or less.

 

  • Go to Tools (located in Blackboard Collaborate Banner) to  Audio to

 

Audio Setup Wizard to test your audio tools (mic and speakers) before beginning your online session.

 

*For further tutorials you have the option in Step 3 of selecting “On Demand Learning Center.” This will take you to a page with several options. Please select Web Conferencing, which will provide you with these options:

 

Attendance Policy for IOE Students                                                                                                     

    

Student attendance must be taken by the IOE teacher for each session.  Innovations in Online Education provides students their schedule of classes on a weekly basis. Students are responsible for keeping track of and attending their scheduled sessions.

 

Report every student absence to the IOE Administrator via phone call 973-726-0820 so that the IOE Administrator can make every attempt to contact student and student’s parent/guardian to have the student log-on for class.  Take attendance for every scheduled session and record the attendance in the online grade book. 

 

 

Academic Full Year and Semester Course Attendance Policy

 

 

Absences are not to exceed 8 days for a semester course and not to exceed 16 days for a full year academic course.  Excused absences are counted. The teacher strictly adheres to the attendance policy.  Students will not pass the online course unless student attendance meets Innovations in Online Education’s Attendance Policy.  The Attendance Policy is not subject to appeals.

 

 

Homebound Instruction Attendance Policy 

 

 

Class sessions must be attended: only 2 consecutive absences in a course are permitted.  If a student misses the next scheduled session (third session), the student’s district guidance counselor/liaison. The student may be dropped from IOE’s homebound program due to excessive absences to be determined by IOE Coordinator of Curriculum and/or student’s district guidance counselor/liaison.

 

For homebound instruction students only, a make-up class will be scheduled for a missed session. Scheduled make-up classes will be mutually convenient for both IOE teacher and student.

 

 

Summer School Attendance Policy 

 

 

Class sessions must be attended: only 2 absences/course are permitted for credit.

 

*Late Policy                                                                                               

                     

A student who logs on  20 minutes after class starting time is deemed absent, not late.  The IOE teacher should always log-on in timely fashion and wait up to 20 minutes for the student. If the student does not log-on within 20 minutes, the IOE teacher should log off and record the student’ s absence in the online grade book.  The student is considered a no-show and the IOE teacher is compensated for the online session. Teachers record lates to class in the online grade book.

 

In the case of technical difficulties, the student is advised to contact Innovations in Online Education’s  Administrator: 973-726-0820fred.desena@innovationsonlineed.com for assistance in logging-on and attending class.  The IOE Administrator will inform the IOE teacher if the student is having technical difficulties so that  teacher will wait online for the student and so that the late is excused.

 

 

Academic Full Year and Semester Course Late policy  (3 – 19 minutes late)

 

 

  • 3 lates:   a warning will be issued to the student via email
  • 6 lates:   parent will be notified by phone
  • 9 lates:   student’s district school will be notified – loss of credit for      semester course
  • 12 lates:  student’s district school will be notified – loss of credit for an academic course

 

*Entering the virtual classroom 20 minutes after starting time is an absence.

 

 

Homebound Instruction Late Policy (3 – 19 minutes late)

 

 

Only two (2) late log-ons are permissible. The teacher must report two late log-ons to the IOE Administrator:  973-726-0820. The IOE Administrator will report the third late log-on to the student’s district’s guidance counselor/liaison. The student may be dropped from IOE’s homebound program due to excessive tardies — to be determined by IOE Coordinator of Curriculum and/or student’s district guidance counselor/liaison

 

*Entering the virtual classroom 20 minutes after starting time is an absence.

 

 

Summer School Late Policy (3 – 19 minutes late)

 

 

Only three (3) late log-ons are permissible. Students will lose credit for the course (and will be dropped from the course) if they are late a fourth time.

 

*Entering the virtual classroom 20 minutes after starting time is an absence.

 

Student will not receive credit for the online course if they do not meet Innovations in Online Education’s Attendance Policy and Late Policy.

 

*Discipline Policy                                                                                        

                             

Inappropriate and disruptive behavior is prohibited. A student may be dismissed from an online class session for disruptive and insubordinate behavior at the IOE instructor’s discretion.  Removals from the online class because of unacceptable, unsafe, disruptive behavior will count against the student’s attendance.  If a student is behaving in a disruptive manner, the IOE teacher should immediately contact the IOE Administrator 973-726-0820 to describe the behavior.  At the end of the online session, the IOE teacher should document this behavior in an email to the IOE

 

Administrator fred.desena@innovationsonlineed.com  The student’s parent will be contacted by the Innovations in Online Education’s Administrator in order to discuss a plan for changing the inappropriate behavior of the student, utilizing parent, teacher and student input toward change and improvement.  The IOE Administrator will also contact the district guidance counselor/liaison to inform the district of the behavior issue.  If the student continues to behave inappropriately, disrupting instruction, the student will be expelled from Innovations in Online Education’s program.

 

Students will be accessing online courses through the virtual classroom using a computer in their home.  The are directed to select a quiet workspace that is appropriate for learning.  We ask that students do not “hang out” with others while instruction is taking place.  All other media should be turned off so that the student’s attention is focused on the lesson. IOE teachers should contact the IOE Administrator via phone or email if they have concerns regarding the student’s lack of focus during the lesson.

 

Incurring a major disciplinary violation may result in the student’s immediate removal (suspension) from Innovations in Online Education’s program with  a report issued to the student’s home district. Suspensions from the online class because of unacceptable, unsafe, disruptive behavior will count against the student’s attendance.

 

Major disciplinary violations that may result in expulsion from Innovations in Online Education’s program include, but are not limited to:  pattern of insubordination, verbal threats, cyber-bullying, and bomb threats.  If the behavior is of a criminal nature it will be reported to the local police authorities and the student will be immediately expelled from Innovations in Online Education’s program

 

A “no-refund” policy applies if a student is expelled from the course

 

*Innovations in Online Education’s Discipline Policy is not subject to appeals.

 

Academic Full Year and Semester Courses                                                         

 

Innovations in Online Education partners with districts to supplement their course catalogue with semester and full year academic courses. The state certified teacher follows Common Core State Standards in designing the course for the district. The instructor generates a course syllabus. The teacher who is also the  instructional designer assists in developing the unique course shell, but the coursework itself takes place in real time in the virtual classroom with the instructor present for every online lesson at a ratio of 24 students to 1 teacher.  Archived recordings are provided to students as study artifacts.

 

*Archiving Lessons

 

IOE teachers must record every online session.

 

Archived lessons:

 

  • document that the online session took place/document no-shows
  • document student attendance and participation/document no-shows
  • protect the IOE teacher from any unwarranted student and/or parent accusations
  • allow the IOE Administrator to generate payroll and proper invoicing of districts for the month

 

Lessons are archived so students can access and review them independently, reinforcing academic concepts that may be difficult to grasp the first time. The student may replay the lesson as often as he/she needs to assimilate the content information or learn the skill.

 

*These recordings remain the property of Innovations in Online Education, Inc and may be used by Innovations in Online Education, as it deems fit, which may include —  but is not limited to —  promotional purposes.

 

*Course Withdrawals                                                                          

                               

Students may not withdraw from a course after the deadlines indicated below:

 

  • Full year academic courses: after 11 school days from the beginning of the course.
  • Semester Courses:  after 11 school days from the beginning of course.

 

Following the 10 day course withdrawal period, students must remain in the course until its conclusion.  No refunds will be issued.

 

*Course Withdrawals do not apply to homebound students.

 

*Homebound Instruction Program                                                     

                

Innovations in Online Education mainstreams homebound students: students keep up with their peers in content instruction that parallels instruction received in the brick and mortar school. The state certified teacher’s syllabus is aligned with Common Core State Standards so that students out for the short-term or the long-term receive the full course content for the academic year.

 

Districts may enroll homebound students in Innovations in Online Education’s program at any time during the academic year.  The district may place students in Innovations in Online Education’s program for all subject areas or for select courses. Homebound students are no longer in isolation in a traditional homebound setting:  they are mainstreamed, interacting with their peers, engaging in critical discourse with their teacher in the virtual classroom. The social element of learning is not compromised in a synchronous online course.

 

Lessons will be archived so students can access and review them independently: this reinforces academic concepts that may be difficult to grasp the first time. The student may replay the lesson as often as he/she needs to assimilate the content information or learn the skill.

Note:  These recordings remain the property of Innovations in Online Education, Inc and may be used by Innovations in Online Education, as it deems fit, which may include —  but is not limited to —  promotional purposes.

*Course Withdrawals do not apply to homebound students.

 

Summer Courses        

 

Innovations in Online Education offers a primary school, middle school and secondary school summer program of remedial and accelerated courses. Students may earn credits toward graduation requirements or prepare for higher-level courses through enrolling in Innovations in Online Education’s program of synchronous online instruction.  Students in the summer program complete a 60 hour program of study for each online course in the selected subject.

 

Lessons will be *archived so students can access and review them independently: this reinforces academic concepts that may be difficult to grasp the first time. The student may replay the lesson as often as he/she needs to assimilate the content information or learn the skill.

 

*These recordings remain the property of Innovations in Online Education, Inc and may be used by Innovations in Online Education, as it deems fit, which may include —  but is not limited to —  promotional purposes.

 

Special Education                                                                  

 

Innovations in Online Education adheres to state and federal laws and regulations governing special education to ensure that all students with disabilities receive full educational opportunities.  The student’s home district school will provide necessary information on modifications for learning (as documented on student’s IEP) to Innovations in Online Education for all Special Education students enrolled in our online education programs.  The  Innovations in Online Administrator will disseminate modifications as indicated on  the IEP to the IOE teacher, who will follow all modifications to instruction for students with an IEP enrolled in Innovations in Online Education courses.  Innovations in Online Education will work with district’s CST/Special Needs Services to implement IEP’s.  Innovations in Online Education’s Administrator will be available for conferences in the virtual classroom — as deemed necessary and at the request of the district’s CST/Special Needs Services — to discuss implementation of a student’s IEP.

 

  • Modifications to pacing, such as extending time permitted for completion of assignments
  • Modifications to the virtual environment such as consistently prompting student’s participation (comparable to preferential seating in brick and mortar environment)
  • Modifications to presentation of subject matter, such as emphasizing visual materials in instruction and in assignments
  • Clarification of directions on examinations/assignments
  • Modifications to testing techniques, such as extending the time in which the test must be completed

 

504 Plans            

                                                                                                                      .

Innovations in Online Education will adhere to the 504 plan of an enrolled student as specified by the student’s home district.  The student’s district will provide the student’s 504 plan modifications to Innovations in Online Education.  IOE’s Coordinator of Curriculum will review modifications and then disseminate the modifications to the IOE teacher, who will modify instruction for  the IOE  enrolled student with a 504 plan.

 

Innovations in Online Education will work with the student’s district liaison to implement 504 plans.  Innovations in Online Education’s Coordinator of Curriculum will be available for conferences in the virtual classroom — as deemed necessary and at the request of the student’s district liaison — to discuss implementation of students’ 504 plans.

 

ELL Students

 

Policy for Teachers

 

Innovations in Online Education’s program works with ELL students to ensure that they receive full educational opportunities.  The student’s home district will refer ELL students using effective and valid assessments and Innovations in Online Education will work on the following facets, as ELL students are mainstreamed into our synchronous online classes:  professional knowledge of the online teacher, including effective instructional practices and valid assessments (formative and summative); interventions and consistent feedback.  Innovations in Online Education teachers will be able to actively monitor student’s integration into our program during the live online class sessions.  Innovations in Online Education will model its school wide policy for ELL instruction on National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) recommendations for teachers found on page 5 of the document, English Language Learners: A Policy Research Brief produced by the National Council of Teachers of English

 

http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Resources/PolicyResearch/ELLResearchBrief.pdf

 

NCTE recommends teachers set high expectations and offering challenging curriculum – which benefit all students enrolled in the online course, integrate technology for such uses as publishing on the Internet via blogs and discussion boards, recognize context in terms of cultural background and home environment including student’s native language and early literacy experiences as educational resources to enrich the ELL students academic experience, teach academic literacy – the jargon of the subject area, which will benefit all students in the online class.  Innovations in Online Education instructors will work toward meeting NCTE recommendations for teachers to effectively address the learning needs of all students, particularly the ELL population.

 

  • Follow the curriculum framework established by NCTE.
  • Use a variety of assessments within the categories of formative (for feedback regarding instruction and for student’s self-assessment) and summative (for culminating experiences and to provide data on student achievement)
  • Set ethical principles (accommodations if necessary) for testing ELL students to achieve fairness

 

Gifted and Talented  Students

 

The home school district will refer GT students to Innovations in Online Education’s program and Innovations in Online Education teachers will follow standards established by the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) and utilize Resources for Educators available on the NAGC site  http://www.nagc.org/index.aspx?id=652  in meeting the needs of those students with exceptional aptitude.

 

All Innovations in Online Education teachers are required to cull enrichment materials for GT students:  academic subject area teachers will collect enrichment  materials — e-resources (websites – Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 sites) for GT students –- to be included on UDL template for each unit lesson for the academic/semester course.

 

Teachers will direct GT students to supplemental enrichment materials to challenge students with exceptional aptitude and high performance skills.

 

 

Grading  System                                                                                         

                                                    

Numbers are attached to a letter system, which is applied uniformly to all courses:

 

A+    98 – 100
A       93 – 97                  
A-     90 – 92                
B+   87 – 89              
B     83 – 86                
B-    80 – 82                
C+   77 – 79
C     73 – 76
C-    70 – 72
D+   67 – 69
D     63 – 66
D-    60 – 62
F     Below 60

 

*Note:  All grades are final and not subject to change once they have been recorded by the instructor.

 

Incompletes are not awarded under any circumstances.

 

GRADE REPORTING

 

IOE teachers are expected to keep their online grade books (including attendance)  up-to-date.  IOE Students and parents/guardians are given access to these grade books to monitor IOE student progress. IOE teachers must advise the IOE Coordinator of Curriculumlaura.desena@innovationsonlineed.com  if the IOE teacher believes the student is likely to fail – applies to a summer course,  a MP for the homebound student, MP for the academic course (semester or full year).  IOE Coordinator will contact student’s parent/guardian.

 

 

Grade Reporting for Full Year Academic Courses.

MP 1                                       Nov

MP 2                                       Feb

MP 3                                       April

MP4                                        June

Final Exam                            June                

Final Course Grade             June

 

Cumulative average of numerical grades for four marking periods and the final examination equals the Final Course Grade.

 

Grade Reporting for Semester Academic Courses.

 

                                                    Fall Course                      Spring Course

MP 1                                                   Nov                                        April

MP2                                                    Feb                                         June

Final Exam                                       Feb                                        June

Final Course Grade                       Feb                                        June

 

Cumulative average of numerical grades for two marking periods and the final examination equals the Final Course Grade.

 

Grade Reporting for Homebound Instruction Students

 

IOE teachers are expected to meet the precise district deadlines for grade submission.  If you have students from different districts enrolled in your course, you are expected to meet each student’s district’s deadline for grade submission.

 

For homebound students enrolled in IOE , precise deadlines for grade submissions are available on the  IOE Student Information Sheet.  IOE teachers must be aware of and adhere to these deadlines.

 

Grade Reporting for Summer School

 

Summer Coursework Grade      Final Exam      Final Course Grade

80%                                                       20%

 

 

Final course grades for students in Summer School must be submitted within 72 hours of end of summer course.

 

LearnBoost Instructions for Online Gradekeeping:

 

Upon receiving a course assignment the IOE Administrator will:

 

  • List your student(s) in our online grade book account, LearnBoost.  starting an account for you.
  • Send you an  email via LearnBoost alerting you to the new assignment.

 

You should then:

 

  • Go to https://www.learnboost.com/
  • Sign up for a free Teacher account using the email address that IOE has on file for you.  LearnBoost will ask for a password you do not yet have: so, click on “forgot password” and then check your email for a reset link and then establish a password for this free LearnBoost account.  Please keep the password in a safe place.
  • Fill out course info using IOE Student Information Sheet: “Add Class” tab

 

Class Name

Subject

Course Number:            IOE Course Number is the Marking P Number
Examples: English MP1, Chemistry MP3

School Session

Grade level

Start Date

End Date

Save Information

 

  • Click on Class Roster and populate your course. When you click on the first letter of the first name of your student, all student information should come up as it is preloaded by the IOE Administrator
  • Click on Access.
  • Click on Enable Student Access and Go.  The email address of the student should show up immediately.
  • Check enable and then click on Distribute Access to student and parent.

 

IOE Teacher MP Grade Reporting:

 

You will be sending a grade report for each of your students from LearnBoost to the guidance contact (available on Student Information Sheet) at the student’s home district via email; cc fred.desena@innovationsonlineed.com

 

Directions for MP grade submissions:

 

  1. Go to your Learnboost Gradebookand then
  2. Click on Reportingtab above
  3.  Click on Student View
  4. For each individual student on your roster click on Print

 

(you may need to click on print on your computer as well)

 

  1.  Once the print screen opens — Cancel Print
  2.  Right click on page andSelect All
  3. Right click onCopy
  4. Paste onto a Word Document
  5. Send grade report document as an email attachment toGuidance

 

Contact for Student’s Home District (on IOE Student Information

Sheet).  CC email to  laura.desena@innovationsonlineed.com

   

 

Note: If you have a Mac and Adobe Program on your Mac, you can do this more easily following this flow chart:

 

LearnBoost Gradebook > Reporting > Student View > Click on Individual Student’s name > Print > Print Screen > PDF > Mail PDF > Guidance Contact email for Student’s Home District (on IOE Student Information Sheet)  and CC email tolaura.desena@innovationsonlineed.com

 

Academic Integrity Policy for IOE students                                                             

                    

Innovations in Online Education cultivates a school cultural context of  integrity and respect.  Cheating and plagiarizing will not be tolerated because they undermine original thinking, student integrity, ethical conduct, a culture of respect, and –ultimately — education itself.

 

IOE teachers should document any instances of student cheating via detailed email to laura.desena@innovationsonlineed.com — IOE’s Coordinator of Curriculum.

 

Consequences for Breach of Academic Integrity                                                            .

 

Students will receive a non-negotiable grade of zero on an assignment  if it has been established by the IOE teacher to the satisfaction of the IOE Coordinator of Curriculum that plagiarized material has been embedded in their written responses (essays, exams, projects, homework,. . .).

 

Students will receive a non-negotiable grade of zero on exam/quiz, if it is established by the teacher to the satisfaction of the IOE Coordinator of Curriculum  that they cheated to achieve a dishonest score.  Cheating includes copying the work of another student.  The student who shares work with another student for the purposes of cheating, will also receive a non-negotiable grade of zero on the exam/quiz.

 

If a student plagiarizes or cheats a second time, as established by the IOE  teacher and confirmed by IOE’s Coordinator of Curriculum,  the student will be expelled from Innovations in Online Education’s program of study.

 

Innovations in Online Education’s Program for Preventing Plagiarism                        .

 

Strategies to prevent plagiarism in an online environment include:

 

  • Teachers create assignments that foster original thinking, not cutting and pasting – teacher generated topics/prompts that cultivate critical thinking skills
  • Open-Book Exams, or more precisely in the online environment, Open E-Resources Exams are given in place of exams that do not allow resources to be consulted. These Open E-Resources Exams assess students’ higher level thinking skills – their critical assessment of sources and application of knowledge.
  • Critical discourse is used as formative assessment:  dialogue that occurs among students in asynchronous (discussion board postings, blogging, Google documents, prezi) and synchronous environments and dialogue between teacher and students in the virtual classroom and on asynchronous sites.  Teachers should be able to compare critical thinking skills documented by student’s verbal participation in class with the ideas this student shares in her/his written assignments.
  • Collaborative projects, which encourage students’ sharing of ideas toward problem solving – where individuals contribute toward an authentic project or solution – are assigned.

 

Teachers emphasize primary sources at the outset in the research process moving toward secondary sources after immersion in the first hand materials.

 

Teachers instruct students in MLA documentation style for correct source documentation.  Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) is an excellent resource for source documentation styles and will be used by faculty in teaching research skills in all subject areas.http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

 

Communication Protocol                                                                                              .

 

Access to Student Grades/Academic Progress/ Attendance                      .

 

For monitoring student’s academic progress,  Innovations in Online Education uses an  online grade book and attendance roster.  IOE teachers must provide student and student’s parent/guardian password-secured access to the online attendance and grade book.

 

Academic Concerns:  Communication with IOE Instructors   .

 

Students will have the IOE teacher’s email contact information and may expect that the IOE teacher will respond to their emails within 48 hours.

 

Because classes are live in the virtual classroom, IOE students are encouraged to communicate  — in real time — their immediate needs and concerns in the virtual classroom.  Students’ asking questions and responding to IOE teacher’s prompts should be encouraged as these actions will favorably impact student’s participation grade for the course.

 

*Information Gathering Disclosure and Dissemination Practices   

    

All student academic data is confidential with the exception of IOE’s online gradebook access for student, parent, and the student’s home district  Final grades will be disseminated to district for student’s receipt of credit for the course.

 

Any student data will be provided in keeping with FERPA specifications as enumerated by the US Department of Education —  “Parents and students put their trust in the stewards of education data to ensure students’ personal information is properly safeguarded and is used only for legitimate purposes and only when absolutely necessary. The Department deeply values this trust and strives to ensure it is doing all it can do to protect the privacy of our students as the uses of their data to improve education increase.”

 

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

 

As regards social personal issues, student personal information will be provided to local police, ambulance, emergency personnel in the event of an immediate or potential crisis impacting the physical or mental health and general safety of a student.

 

*All recorded classes are copyrighted and remain the sole property of Innovations in Online Education and may be used as it deems fit including for promotional purposes.  Student identity is not disclosed in recordings, as students log on with first name and first initial of last name only.

 

 

Student Emergency                                                                                   

 

For an Emergency Crisis situation, such as a student medical or safety emergency (including but not limited to student’s displaying suicidal tendencies or threatening suicide directly in the virtual classroom, substance abuse of alcohol or drugs), the Innovations in Online Education teacher will:

 

 

  1. Verify the student’s brick and mortar location by asking student for physical address and by checking the Student Information Sheet. Call district first responder number, which will be found on Student Information Sheet, immediately for Emergency Services police/ambulance/fire to report to student’s brick and mortar location/physical address. Remain in the session with student until Emergency Services respond unless student reports a fire/danger in the home and student should then be directed to leave the home immediately and report to a safe location outside of the home to wait for Emergency Services to respond.
  2. Call the parent/guardian to inform them of the crisis. If no one answers the phone, leave a voice mail message for
    parent/guardian. Information is available on Student Information Sheet.
  3. Call and email to inform student’s home district guidance counselor/liaison. This information is available on Student Information Sheet.

 

  1. General Personal and Social Concerns

 

 

For non-emergency personal/social concerns and for student career counseling, the IOE student will be referred to their district’s Guidance Department.

 

The IOE teacher should inform the IOE Administrator fred.desena@innovationsonlineed.com  of any personal and/or social concerns the IOE student may be experiencing.  The IOE Administrator will contact the district Guidance Department so the district counselor is made aware of these concerns.

 

Summer School Program

 

For Innovations in Online Education’s Summer Program only, students will have access to the Innovations in Online Education’s guidance counselor via phone number and email address.  Students may contact the counselor to set up a conference in the virtual classroom or a phone conference at a mutually convenient time.  All issues are open for discussion including personal and social, academic, career options, and any other concerns a student may have. The Innovations in Online Education guidance counselor may refer them to additional support services as deemed necessary by the counselor.

 

Child Abuse Hotline

 

As per the CP&P website:

 

Child Protection and Permanency, CP&P (formerly the Division of Youth and Family Services, DYFS), is New Jersey’s child protection and child welfare agency within the Department of Children and Families. Its mission is to ensure the safety, permanency and well-being of children and to support families.

 

If you suspect child abuse, you must report it immediately to CP&P using the contact information for the Child Abuse Hotline provided on the CP&P website – click on the link below.

 

http://www.state.nj.us/dcf/about/divisions/dcpp/

 

STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM                                    

                                              .

Prevention of addictions is the province of IOE’s Student Assistance Program (currently the province of the IOE Administrator).  Early identification of high risk students and intervention services are at the center of this program.  Referrals for student assistance may come from the student him/herself, teachers, academic guidance counselor, parents, or other concerned individuals. IOE will communicate student assistance needs directly to the student’s district for the district’s  recommendations to student of  local rehabilitation and treatment facilities.

 

For Innovations in Online Education’s Summer Program only, students needing assistance will be referred to the Innovations in Online Education’s guidance counselor and may be directed to local rehabilitation and treatments facilities.  The student’s district summer contact person will be informed immediately by IOE for recommendations/instructions.


FACULTY GRIEVANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURE                         .

 

Formal grievances should be registered with an email to Administrator of IOE
fred.desena@innovationsonlineed.com and it will become an item at the next
monthly administrative meeting for a hearing.  The Administrator will review and respond with an answer to your grievance.

 

 

Innovations in Online Education Technology Plan                                              .

 

 

The ultimate goal of Innovations in Online Education’s Technology Plan is students becoming creators, contributing content, shaping their online learning through the research process in accessing e-resources, moving from digital literacy to digital fluency. Digital citizenship – ethical use of content (respect for copyright),  online etiquette in communicating with others remotely, globally, practice with curation (discriminating among sources of information; determining credible sources – both primary and secondary; culling sources; identifying relevant e-resources; critically analyzing e-resources) are important expected learning outcomes. The objective is to cultivate authority in students’ assessment of e-resources and to master researching skills – with an emphasis on students’ discriminating among sources of information available on the Internet in this Digital Age to personalize their academic learning experience.

 

Students will experience the flat classroom: exchanging ideas with content experts and other students remotely and globally.  Ultimately, a fostering of 21st century fluency and digital citizenship are the educational benefits of  Innovations in Online Education’s Technology Plan. In addition, in this Digital Age students are overwhelmed with sources, not all of them credible. Learning how to use critical thinking skills to determine source credibility is necessary for careers in the 21st century and for higher education.  Students will benefit in that they will be encouraged to become creators rather than merely passive learners.  They will be anthologizing source information – creating a resource for future use on a particular research topic in all fields of study:  Mathematics, English, World Languages, Science, Social Studies.

 

Innovations in Online Education integrates technology in meaningful authentic ways to increase students’ digital literacy and move them toward digital fluency as they begin to master the tools of the 21st century, including the online classroom Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 tools.  Students will gather but also discriminate among sources in the Internet environment.  They will become curators of credible e-resources using social media sites and academic sites, by using strategies such as writer’s background, reliability of website/journal – popular or peer-reviewed, date of web publication, bias/slant of language, logical soundness). Students will be required to curate two projects: one for primary sources and the other for secondary sources of information. The project will emphasize personalized learning: students will self-direct in integrating Web 2.0 and Web 3.0 tools into their research process – allowing for personalized learning and students as curators of information/content knowledge.  Students will use Web 2.0 tools for curating primary sources (interactive sites like Skype to interview content experts and access firsthand information; discussion boards to glean first hand source information from content experts; Survey Monkey to cull statistical data). Students will use Web 3.0 tools like Diigo and Pinterest to curate secondary source information. Students will share e-resources with each other and collaborate on process and product.

 

 

Technology Skills for Enrolling in Online Courses                                              .

 

 

IOE teachers will need to be familiar with use of computer headset with microphone, or with use of built in speakers and microphone.  Competency in using  own device (laptop/computer) is required.  Basic web navigation skills are also necessary for online courses.

 

The IOE teacher is given a link to tutorials instructing him/her  in the use of the tools of the virtual classroom.  A one hour live, online orientation conducted by the IOE Coordinator of Curriculum is mandatory for the new IOE teacher.  Teachers also have technical support contacts in the event that technical difficulties arise over the course of instruction. (Refer to Technical Issues section.)

 

Professional Development in the Pedagogy of Online Instruction is required.  IOE teachers must attend 2 one hour online sessions of PD every year or 1 one hour session for a single teaching assignment.

 

The IOE teacher will be provided a link to the virtual classroom, which he/she should bookmark for the duration of the course.

 

BLACKBOARD COLLABORATE WEB CONFERENCING SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

 

Information is available by clicking on the link below:

 

Web Conferencing – System Requirements for Blackboard Collaborate Web Conferencing 12.5

 

*Log-on Information for New IOE Teachers

 

To get started we must first configure your computer. Please follow these easy instructions.

 

If you have a computer headset for audio, plug it into the computer before powering up your computer so that your computer recognizes the hardware.

 

 

  • Click on the link below which will take you to a support screen. JAVA script files may need to download. This will take a few minutes and you should “allow”(run)  for any popup windows that emerge on your screen.
    • http://support.blackboardcollaborate.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=8336&task=knowledge&questionID=1473
  • In Step 1 of support you should see 2 green checks on the screen for “operating system” and” Java files.” Please proceed to Step 2, following the on screen instructions “Configuring your system” and select v12 configuration room.” Follow all instructions.
  • After successfully configuring your computer and virtual classroom please proceed to Step 3 and select Online Orientation. This is a short 15 minute pre-recorded tour of the online virtual classroom and its tools .
  • After successfully completing Steps 1-3, you will be all set and ready to instruct your online lessons. It will only be necessary to move on to Step 4 if you require technical support.  Keep this link handy in the event that you need future technical support. Tech support is available to you  24/7. Most tech issues are resolved within 15 minutes or less.
  • Go to Tools (located in Blackboard Collaborate Banner) to  Audio to

 

Audio Setup Wizard to test your audio tools (mic and speakers) before beginning your online session.

 

*For further tutorials you have the option in Step 3 of selecting “On Demand Learning Center.” This will take you to a page with several options. Please select Web Conferencing, which will provide you with these options:

 

For IOE Teachers:  Log-on Procedures for Every Online Session

 

At Log-on:

 

Click on Blackboard Collaborate Moderator Link (bookmark the link

for future use)

 

https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/launch/dropin.jnlp?sid=vclass&password=7TJN6K73OI5Z2T735JZJ

 

Archive:  Begin recording the lesson by clicking “Start” in response to the

prompt:  Recording not started. Start recording now?  It is essential that you record the session, as it is a document that the session took place (for payroll and invoicing purposes) and it serves as a study artifact for students.  If you miss the initial prompt, you may hit the Record button (right hand area above the whiteboard) to begin recording immediately.

 

No-shows (first 20 minutes) must be recorded to document the no-show for payroll and invoicing purposes.  If student is not logging on at the start of the session, call the IOE Administrator 973-726-0820 and the IOE Administrator will call the student’s contact information to determine why the student is not logging on for class and to assist them in logging on for the class.  IOE Teacher may log off if student does not show up within the first 20 minutes of the session.

 

Clear the Whiteboard  immediately (remove the advertisement for Blackboard Collaborate) by clicking on New Page in the upper left hand area directly above the whiteboard.  Post your NJ CCCS on the whiteboard to begin the lesson with a focus.

 

http://www.state.nj.us/education/cccs/

 

Welcome the students via the Video cam so that they can see you.  This humanizes the cyberspace and is an important part of IOE’s unique online program:   a teacher is actually instructing students in real time. Click the Video button next to the Talk button.

 

Establish Connectivity:  Test that the students can hear you by asking them to click on the Smiley Face emoticon or the green check mark. For students’ microphone use, make certain you have Maximum    Simultaneous Users set to the number of students in the class plus the teacher (up to 6 microphones at once).  Go to Blackboard Collaborate banner to Tools>Audio>Maximum Simultaneous Talkers and set the number on the sliding scale. Also have students test their microphones. Direct them to Blackboard Collaborate banner to Tools>Audio>Audio Wizard to follow prompts to check microphone and speakers.

 

To avoid an echo when there are several talkers using microphones, students should be directed to turn the talk button off when they are not speaking – this includes IOE teacher as well.

 

Take Attendance:  Record attendance in the online grade book attendance roster.
Review tools: For the very first session together (and in the event any new students enroll in the course) offer the students a very brieflesson on the tools of the virtual classroom — show them the whiteboard, the chat box, raised hand icon, and microphone button – the tools you would like them to use in the classroom.

 

Session In Progress:


Interactive Lessons:
  During the session engage the students through question and answer:  encourage them to respond using the microphone; they may also respond with the icons: Yes/No questions (green check/red X) or more detailed questions (chat box responses) so you know students are still present in the virtual classroom and not apparently logged on and actually surfing the web in another window or hanging out with friends in their home.

 

Digital Literacy:  Use interactive asynchronous tools for formative assessments and homework assignments:

 

Web 2.0 tools like Google documents, prezi, wikispaces (discussion board postings) for formative assignments, writing
assignments, presentation assignments

 

Web 3.0 tools like Pinterest for curation/research projects

 

At End of Sessio:

 

Stop the recording of the class by clicking on the Record button and responding “Ok” to Stop/Pause recording?

Log off

 

IOE recommends you keep a personal log/calendar of sessions (date, time, course name) to check against payment received from IOE.

 

Live recordings are copyrighted and remain the property of Innovations in Online Inc. They may be used for course/instructor observations/evaluations  and/or promotional purposes.

 

For IOE Homebound Instruction 

 

  • Reach out via email to your brick and mortar counterpart teacher and cc the student’s guidance counselor and fred.desena@innovationsonlineed.com on this email (all this contact information is on Student Information Sheet)
  • Use LearnBoost for recording grades  https://www.learnboost.com/
  • When reporting student Marking Period Grades, you must include specific comments representing a fully considered evaluation of student’s performance in class, along with student’s numerical score (we need the grade to be a numerical grade)

 

Training for IOE Teachers: Online Tools: Tutorials for IOE Teachers

 

On-Demand Learning: Web Conferencing

 

Whether it’s recorded training on the basics or detailed product documentation, Blackboard Collaborate is committed to providing comprehensive, on-demand resources to meet your learning needs.

 

What’s new >

Free online training >

Documentation and recorded training >

 

Technical Issues                                                                                                                 

 

For level one technical  issues, such as immediate connectivity and audio issues, the IOE teacher will contact the Innovations in Online Education Administrator via email or

phone:  fred.desena@innovationsonlineed.com

 

973-726-0820/office

 

862.258.8352 cell

 

Level one issues are usually resolved in less than 15 minutes.

 

For more involved technical issues, IOE teachers are directed to contact the third party platform provider, Blackboard Collaborate. Blackboard provides 24/7 support.

 

Blackboard support number:  Toll Free: 1 (877) 382-2293

 

Acceptable Use Policy for Technology (AUP)                                                          .

 

Computer Resources/Responsible Internet Use Regulations                                    .

 

When students log on to the virtual classroom they are only allowed to type their first name and first initial of their last name to log on for privacy protection purposes.  They may not use their full name when logging on to Blackboard Collaborate for their Innovations in Online Education course session.

 

The link to the virtual classroom is only authorized for use during the assigned class times officially scheduled by IOE.  These online courses have been requested by the school district.  Upon termination of instruction as determined by the school district this link to the virtual classroom is no longer authorized for further use by the student. The student may not share this link to the virtual classroom with any unauthorized user.

 

Access to our online classroom is provided to IOE students who accept the requirements of behaving in ethical, respectful, and responsible ways. Proper behavior, following IOE’s teacher’s established rules, is expected.  In logging on to the virtual classroom students are agreeing to engage in appropriate communication with the IOE teacher and peers and demonstrate only respectful behavior. All classroom behavior is monitored regularly by Innovations in Online Education’s Administrators through review of a recorded archive of the live session.  Internet access is regulated to the IOE moderator/teacher only so that access of Internet sites is monitored and controlled by the teacher.  If students are given moderator privileges for presentation purposes they will be required to submit website addresses of sites used in their presentation to the IOE teacher prior to presentation for approval.  Only appropriate educational sites will be authorized by the IOE teacher as per the Children’s Internet Protection Act.

 

IOE establishes the following rules for the online education program and may create additional rules as necessary:

  • Students may not use passwords of or share passwords with others for assigned asynchronous sites
  • Students may not log on to virtual classroom using their full name
  • Students may not access/display/view/share offensive, inappropriate material (images, text. messages, videos, documents), including pornographic, obscene, discriminatory, profane, lewd, inflammatory, threatening, disrespectful, or sexually suggestive language or images, or images of exposed private body parts, or material advocating illegal acts or violence, including hate literature.
  • Students may not share personal information including full name, phone number, address or photos
  • Student may not use discriminatory language or in any way insult or harass others
  • Students may not violate copyright laws
  • Students may not use their time on the Internet during online course sessions toward financial gain or fraud or for commercial purposes

 

*Procedures if Student Violates Internet Safety Policies

 

The IOE teacher will immediately remove the following privileges from the student based on inappropriate participation and disrespectful behavior to the teacher and/or to fellow students in the virtual classroom:  microphone privilege, chat privilege, whiteboard privilege. The IOE teacher will issue a report to the Innovations in Online Education Administrator during or immediately after the online session.

 

If a student is in violation of the Internet safety policies of Innovations in Online Education, as documented by report of the IOE teacher and review by Innovations in Online Education Administrator of the recorded archive, the student’s district guidance counselor will be immediately notified via email. If cyber bullying is taking place in the virtual environment, the district guidance counselor and parent of the student will be immediately notified via email and recorded archive documenting the inappropriate behavior will be embedded in the email for their review.  Please see Discipline Procedure section for additional information.

 

Incurring a major disciplinary violation may result in immediate removal (suspension) from Innovations in Online Education’s program and a report tobe issued to the student’s home district. Suspensions from the online class because of unacceptable, unsafe, disruptive behavior will count against the student’s attendance.

 

Major disciplinary violations that may result in expulsion from Innovations in Online Education’s program of study include, but are not limited to: pattern of insubordination, verbal threats, cyber-bullying, and bomb threats.  If the behavior is of a criminal nature it will be reported to the local police and the student will be immediately expelled from Innovations in Online Education’s program

A “no-refund” policy applies if a student is expelled from the course.

Illegal activities are any violations of federal, state, or local laws and include, but are not limited to, copyright infringement and/or illegal file sharing; committing fraud; threatening another person; or intentionally engaging in communications for the purpose of abusing, annoying, threatening, terrifying, harassing, or embarrassing another person.

*Innovations in Online Education’s Discipline Policy is not subject to appeals.

 

Responsible-Use Internet Policy Outside of the Virtual Classroom

 

Innovations in Online Education cannot monitor outside use and outside communication among students.  Cyber-bullying in the virtual classroom or on asynchronous sites utilized by Innovations in Online Education teachers will not be tolerated and is cause for immediate expulsion from the course.  No refunds will be issued if a student is expelled due to breaking with this policyAs we cannot filter content on your home computers/laptops/mobile devices as specified in the Children’s Internet Protection Act, it is incumbent upon parents and guardians to monitor their children’s use of the Internet.  Parents and guardians of minors are expected to establish and discuss and enforce standards that their children should follow in using the Internet – ultimately parents and guardians are accountable for acceptable Internet use.

 

 

Social Networking and Online Communications, including email.

 

Freedom of speech and access to information are highly valued, particularly in an educational environment.  Innovations in Online Education seeks to use the Internet for academic goals, but acknowledge that students may intentionally or inadvertently access inappropriate materials through use of the Internet. Innovations in Online Education believes that responsible use of e-resources are essential for 21st century learners moving toward digital literary and citizenship and that the rewards outweigh the potential disadvantages. As we cannot filter content on your home computers/laptops/mobile devices  (refer to  the Children’s Internet Protection Act) it is incumbent on parents and guardians  to monitor their children’s use of the Internet.  Parents and guardians of minors are responsible for establishing and discussing and enforcing the standards their children should follow in using the Internet.

 

PUBLISHING on the Internet                                                                                  .

 

Students are encouraged to share their original work within the password-protected environment of the virtual classroom. In addition, they will also be asked to use asynchronous elements like wiki, discussion boards, blogs  for publication of their original work.  The rewards of this include sharing their writing with a global audience, receiving feedback from peers and experts,  and collaborating in a global environment. For their protection, students are required to keep all personal information private and are not allowed to share any identifying information including full name, address, phone number, age.  They may not publish work that has been plagiarized from other sources and they  may not embed copyrighted materials without proper permission and/or citation when necessary.

 

Violations will result in disciplinary action that may include expulsion from the course as well as other disciplinary or legal action as warranted.

 

AUP for Staff Members

 

IOE teachers will models in the correct use of e-resources and ethical behavior, and ensure that students read and understand the policies set by IOE. The ultimate responsibility for a student’s actions in using the technological resources resides with the student and student’s parent/guardian.

 

Failure by the IOE teacher to adhere to the requirements of this policy will result in disciplinary actions: suspension of access to the online platform and may involve other disciplinary action, dismissal and/or appropriate legal action.

 

IOE teachers should:

 

  • Integrate e-resources into the content delivery that are educational and appropriate
  • Model and provide instruction in the ethical and appropriate use e-resources toward modeling digital citizenship and digital literacy
  • Maintain a professional and appropriate relationship with IOE students at all times.  IOE teachers should not allow students to view their personal information on social media sites or personal websites (example do not “friend a student” on a social media site)

 

*AUP for all users

 

IOE’s online platform is to be used for IOE instruction-related purposes only.  Acceptable uses of the platform is restricted to responsible and legal activities for educational purposes.  The IOE platform may not be used for commerce or profit or political agenda.

 

Users of IOE platform and other e-resources used by IOE for educational purposes must respect the privacy of others.  When students log on to the IOE platform they are only allowed to type their first name and first initial of their last name to log on for privacy protection purposes.  They may not use their full name when logging on to Blackboard Collaborate for their Innovations in Online Education course session.  When using email, social media sites or other e-communication sources,  IOE students and teachers are not allowed to reveal personally identifiable, private or confidential information, including the home address, telephone number, credit or checking account information or social security number of themselves or other users of the IOE platform.  IOE teachers and administrators  will follow the guidelines of the (FERPA) Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.   Users also may not forward or post personal communications without prior consent of the author of the communication. In addition, views may be expressed as representing the view of the IOE program only with prior approval by the IOE Administrator.

 

Users of the IOE platform or other e-resources used by IOE  for educational purposes such as email may not engage in creating, sharing, intentionally accessing, or transmitting images, graphics (including still or moving pictures), sound or text files, documents, messages or any material that is obscene, defamatory, profane, pornographic, harassing, abusive or that is harmful to minors.

 

Users of IOE platform and other tech resources used by IOE for educational purposes may not send electronic communications, including but not limited to email or via social media sites, fraudulently. Users of the IOE platform or of other tech resources used by IOE for educational purposes may not  misrepresent their identity.

 

All IOE policies as presented in the IOE handbook must be adhered to.  All applicable laws, including those relating to copyrights and trademarks, confidential information, and public records, apply.  Any use of the IOE platform or any tech resources used for the IOE program that violates state or federal law is strictly prohibited.  All rules of the Acceptable Use Policy apply to students’ and teacher’s use of the IOE platform, the Internet and other tech resources utilized by IOE for educational purposes.

 

IOE technological resources may not be used to distribute advertising, distribute personal or private information about the user or other people in the IOE program, propagate computer viruses, arrange or agree to meet with someone the user has met in the IOE program other than official IOE business that must first be requested as an email document to be approved or denied by IOE Administrator; posting information that could be disruptive, cause damage, or endanger IOE students or teachers and accessing chat-rooms or instant messaging software, unless for a valid educational purpose or official IOE business.

 

*IOE Administrators may review files, monitor all communication, and intercept e-mail messages to ensure adherence to IOE policy and applicable laws and regulations.  IOE will take appropriate disciplinary action in response to a user’s inappropriate or illegal use or use that violates the IOE AUP.  Illegal activities will be reported to the appropriate authorities (federal, state, local).