Welcome to your Virtual ClassroomWelcome to your Virtual Classroom

A technique that is widespread in education, postsecondary, and business. You’re on the cutting edge.

You have anywhere, anytime, access to your courses and materials

eLearning provides courses that you need or wish to take to support your future plans

These are Ontario courses, developed by the Ministry of Education, and taught by a certified GECDSB teacher

All teaching and interaction takes place within the Learning Management System (LMS)

You have access to technology at school supported by school board technicians

Our eLearning Handbook is posted on line at http://gecdsbelearning.pbworks.com/http://gecdsbelearning.pbworks.com/

Your school guidance counsellor is the contact for elearning

All content for your lessons is in the LMS We will use the Internet for support materials Additional resources may be found in the

Ontario Educational Resource Bank (OERB) Your teacher may provide additional

resources Use the on-line Student Handbook (it shows

you how to access data bases, OERB and how to use LMS tools)

Access your school libraryand the Internet for research

YOU!

You must attend by logging in and working daily. This is no different that any of your other courses.

The course is designed for 110 hours but like all courses, you will need more time for assignments and homework

Time Management – plan how and where you’ll work at your course

Stay in contact with your teacher – they’re online every day too

Stay involved in class with discussions – learn from and with your classmates

Reply to all messages Consider the LMS material as the

minimum…look outside for enrichment!

Contact your teacher beforesmall problems become bigproblems

All software is on school computers Your elearning period is on your

timetable - you have preferredpreferred access to assigned computers in that period ONLY

Report computer problems to your guidance counsellor IMMEDIATELY

There is no support for home computers DO NOT SHARE PASSWORDSDO NOT SHARE PASSWORDS The LMS is optimized for Internet Explorer

compatibility Back up all files for your own protection daily The LMS will work with text to speech readers

Be considerate of others Do not use profane or derogatory language Use full words and sentences in communications Do not give out descriptive info about yourself to

anyone Keep passwords, access codes and security protocols

secret Allow all classmates to have a voice Have a facilitator for all multi-person chats All communication must be held in the LMS Abuse of protocol will result in loss of LMS privileges…

this is VERY problematic…no access to course = no success

Read and abide by the LMS user agreement that you agree to when you log on

Like all courses, there are keys to success. ◦ Back up your work daily◦ Loss is not an excuse◦ Log in every assigned period◦ Connect with your teacher often◦ Watch the Course News for info DAILY◦ Use integrity - do not become involved in academic

dishonesty or plagiarism◦ Read the on-line student handbook◦ Assignments must be handed directly into the drop boxes

ON TIME◦ Report any problems with the course

to your teacher◦ Use the scheduler and be aware

of deadlines

Teacher Guidance Office District elearning Contact Use the LMS Help Desk for problems inside

of the course content only

Your access is the username and passwords provided at this orientation CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD NOWCHANGE YOUR PASSWORD NOW

Attendance is kept and reported by the LMS….you must log in everyday…the LMS keeps track ALL session details

Notify your teacher through the LMS If you cannot log in for a period of 5 consecutive days

Notify your teacher AND your principal if you are not able to login for a period of 10 consecutive days

Your attendance record will be tracked and phone calls to your parents, if necessary, will be made as in any traditional school.

Your home school is defined as the school where YOU are registered

Your host school is the Public Alternative Secondary School (PASS)

Your course contains the following:

◦ Content◦ Expectations◦ Overview◦ Discussions◦ Reviews and quizzes◦ Questions◦ Drop Boxes◦ Assignments◦ Resources◦ Tests◦ Teacher web pages and blogs◦ Chats◦ Email◦ Course Syllabus

Organization Self direction and self motivation Time Management You are responsible for your own success Independent learning Willingness to Learn Problem solving skills Good communication skills Your interest in the subject matter Your interest in succeeding

Firstname.Lastname is your username

“Virtual” is the default password

CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD NOW!CHANGE YOUR PASSWORD NOW!

Log in and complete the LMS training before

February 16, 2010February 16, 2010

Your teacher may conduct virtual learning sessions with you through the GECDSB Adobe Connect service.

The address is: http://connect.gecdsb.on.cahttp://connect.gecdsb.on.ca