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Student Expectations in Virtual Learning

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What HHS parents and students need to know about working virtually and the expectations we have for our students.

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Good afternoon everyone, as the 20/21 school year is underway, Mr. Sosnovik has requested that I create this presentation in an effort to maintain complete transparency with the expectations and procedures we plan to implement for our virtual students. My name is RS and I am the newly appointed AP for HHS. I have had the privilege of working in this district for many years and am very excited to be your new point of contact for all matters related to student conduct. During a typical school year students and parents can learn about expectations by referencing our digital student handbook that is located on the HHS website under both the student resource or parent resource tabs.  The digital handbook is still the main focal point for all information related to our school. It has been updated with key information for our new learning environment which is highlighted in red and it is a strong recommendation that all parents and students review this document. But knowing that everyone’s lives are on overdrive we also decided to make this video to highlight some key guidelines and procedures regarding the virtual code of conduct.

The goal of virtual learning is to as closely mimic the same instructional atmosphere as one would experience during in person learning. We understand that while out of the building we have limited control of a student's surroundings. Our main request is that students enter the virtual world while in a conducive learning environment. Additionally, while on camera students are expected to conduct themselves as if they were physically in the school building. We know this is no easy task and are asking our students and parents to partner with us in an attempt to minimize distractions for all involved in a Google Meet which includes the student, the teacher, and the students peers.

To achieve this, participation is our Foremost concern.  Learning is an active endeavor and participation is the best way to be active. Being active means students are fully engaged.  For ex. When asked questions, students must be responsive either verbally or through the chat feature. We understand that sometimes technology is an issue but we cannot permit unresponsiveness for extended periods of time. If something occurs or if a student needs to walk away from the computer, a quick note should be sent to the teacher in the chat feature. This is very similar to class. Students are not permitted to just get up and leave a classroom, if they have a concern, they should notify the teacher. Students must also contribute to class discussions and at times, may be asked to present work. Once again, this is no different than being physically in the classroom. And just like a normal class period, students are expected to stick to timelines and successfully complete assignments worked on during the period. Participation may come in the form of individual, partner or group assignments.

Regarding conduct, the message is the same. What is not acceptable in a physical classroom is not acceptable in a virtual classroom. Although it may be difficult for our virtual students because they have many distractors at home that can divert their attention, it is the students responsibility to minimize those distractors. That is why we strongly recommend finding a place that helps them focus. We are not looking for students that log in, turn off their webcam, and stay inactive for the remainder of the period. To us, that is unproductive. As a member of the HHS community we expect more and so should all of our students. This environment is new and challenging but it shouldn’t stop students from taking ownership of their education and any help that family members can provide is truly appreciated.

Now let’s discuss Webcam and microphone etiquette. The administration and teaching staff feel the following expectations are transparent and reasonable. When possible, we expect webcams to be turned on for class.  When webcams are used student’s should:
Face the camera. The view you have of me during this presentation is the view your teachers want of you during class. Teachers not only need to see students to keep them actively engaged but also for attendance purposes. Positioning your camera so that your teacher can only see the ceiling of your home or your pet sleeping on the floor are examples that are unacceptable. Students will be asked to adjust the view by their teachers. Those that are unresponsive or do not comply after reasonable requests, will be dismissed from the meet.

As mentioned, students should also be in a conducive learning environment. Just as your teachers try to create a positive learning space here in school, you should create a positive one at home. You should be at table or desk, in a room away from distractions. We understand everyone's living arrangements are different and that in some homes several members may be working at the same time. We know that is not easy. But please work with us to minimize the distractions to you and to those that are also on the meet. Some negative examples include: 
Students from the same class congregating during a class meet on one device from a remote location while not appropriately social distancing.
Family members or friends being in the same room causing distractions. If sharing a room, be sure to turn off your camera if someone enters. 
Students walking, running or riding a bike during class.
Students being in a vehicle while a friend or family member is driving
Students lying down in bed or on a couch. 
Sleeping on camera
Students on their cell phone, at a retail store, shopping, waiting in line at a place of business, traveling to or already at vacation, or sitting in a parking lot.
Students playing video games
And finally, students driving while logged in

These examples may seem silly but they are all nonconductive environments that we have already addressed over the last few weeks. And most concerning, a few are obviously not safe. To put it simply, if you would not be able to do something at school during class, it is not acceptable in the virtual classroom. And if you do please do not be surprised if your teacher dismisses you from a meet.

While on camera students are also expected to monitor their attire and surroundings. Presenting Illicit pictures, images, words or clothing while in the virtual classroom will not be tolerated. These behaviors are not only distracting but can also be offensive to your teachers and peers. I can not emphasize enough the importance of donning proper attire. Students in violation of these protocols will be removed from the meet immediately.

If removed, please expect teachers to email parents or guardians as well as document the behavior with my office.

Regarding your microphone, it is best practice to keep it muted unless directed by your teacher. If for any reason microphones are inoperable, students will still be expected to participate using the chat feature in their Meet. The unavailability of a microphone is not an excuse for a lack of participation.

The best way to minimize confusion is to be transparent and communicate. Any concern during a meet should be shared with the teacher. Our goal is not to remove students from meets but at the same time, there are certain behaviors that we just can’t permit. CLICK5

The faculty and staff here at HHS are not unreasonable, we understand that technological and personal issues are going to happen and webcams may be turned off for a short time or may not be available at all.  We get it and at times we face some of the same technology issues. We also understand that certain instances may prevent students from using a webcam all together. We simply ask that you communicate these circumstances with your teacher, preferably before class. The teaching staff here is always willing to accommodate but communication must be initiated from the student. Failure to effectively communicate creates confusion

Now let’s turn our attention to attendance. Early on our goal was to open the building and get students into school. I am pleased that Hackettstown School District was able to successfully meet that goal. Now, after a few weeks of running our model, we are starting to notice a few patterns with our high school students and more specifically our cohort students. The biggest concern we see are students that are supposed to be in school but are electing to stay home. In fairness, Mr. Sosnovik gave our cohort students significant discretion to stay home if feeling ill to minimize the spreading of germs. With the capability to log in virtually an option to continue education was something we have never had before. But we now are noticing more and more students taking advantage of this leniency and more often than not, there is no notification of illness. This behavior leads us to believe that notification was either forgotten or a student made the decision to stay home without their parents consent. Moving forward, we expect the parents of our cohort students that stay home to notifiy our attendance secretary Mrs. Best to ensure the attendance was marked accordingly. If done appropriately it minimizes the chance of error in the event of a real emergency at HHS. For example, if we conduct an emergency procedure such as a fire, lock down, evacuation and a student was supposed to be in class but worked virtually without notification, it could hinder our response time. As we move forward with the year we will monitor this closely. Please expect that if a cohort student stays home for more than a week without notification, we will transition them to full virtual and they will not be allowed to reenter the building until the start of the next marking period. I know this may seem harsh but once again we ask that you partner with us, be transparent, and understand that our decisions are based on safety and security. Also, please know that if we deem a change appropriate the student and/or their parents will received ample notification prior to the change occurring. This notification will provide an opportunity to address the behavior before a change occurs.

The topic of our final slide pertains to the unresponsive student. Students that do not respond to their teacher’s directives may be deemed unresponsive and could be removed from class. Understanding that students may need to step away from the meet for a few minutes is reasonable, but extended length of time without notifying the teacher is just like cutting a class. We have asked teachers to also do check ins throughout a period. If a student is nonresponsive more than once throughout the class period, there is a chance they will be dismissed. This year more than ever there is a significant amount of personal responsibility for all of our virtual students. Taking advantage of the circumstances and failing to minimize the distractions around you are the two biggest hurdles our virtual students face. Please be mature, responsible, and aware of those in the class. This is not easy for anyone and much time and preparation goes into every lesson. Please respect how hard everyone is working to provide you with the best education we can. Failure to do so will not only hurt your success at HHS but may have a negative impact on those around you.

Thank you for your attention to this presentation. As stated at the beginning of the presentation it is recommended all students review the protocol and procedures with their parents/guardians as outlined in the student handbook.  Please know my office is available for any questions, concerns or clarification. On behalf of our principal Mr. Sosnovik and myself, we wish all of the students here at HHS a memorable school year during these most unprecedented times. Good Luck Tigers!

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Student Expectations in Virtual Learning

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