Mentee Minute
August 23, 2013, vol. 3
August Focus: Course Homepage
Thank you for your feedback last week. We decided it was important to follow up on your questions in this mentee minute edition. Mentors will continue to "walk through" your course this month looking at your homepage, but we understand the necessity of needing answers to questions quickly too. We hope this smore is a great resource for you. Enjoy!
Please read to the bottom and fill out the response form. Thanks!
Focus: The Homepage
Evaluation Rubric for the Course Homepage
Homepage
Statement: The Homepage is the gateway for student/teacher interaction. The classroom homepage is a welcoming, interactive, timely and informative environment.Organization and information are keys for success in online education. Homepages need to be organized according to Georgia Virtual Learning guidelines. They need to be professional and well maintained. Homepages represent the quality of the program and the instructor.
* In the Fall 2013, the Georgia Virtual Mentors will assess the indicators and ratings for this category to reflect best practices and specific expectations.
Indicators of Success:
Format
Widgets on the homepages conform to GaVL guidelines.
Links on the Homepages are active. Broken links should be fixed quickly.
Fonts, images, audio and video meet accessibility standards
News
Announcements are posted weekly
Start date included
End date included if appropriate
News announcements are current, inviting, and informative
New announcements are varied -- text/images -- so that they are not confused with older announcements
News is used to communicate clear and concise information as well as provide additional materials, resources, and opportunities for students
Conditional release is utilized to customize the classroom for different groups of students
News announcements should be created in a way that does not distract from the learning environment. It is important to be cognizant of the varying Internet connections and devices students use to access the LMS.
MASTERY - Meets Expectations:
Weekly announcement posted each week.
Start date is indicated on all announcements.
When necessary for clarity and to remove clutter, ending dates are set.
Announcements are current and interactive (contains resources), display valuable information, and/or offer students additional learning opportunities.
Information is easily identified and found in the appropriate widget on the homepage.
- Directions that navigate the student away from the homepage or learning management system are clear.
ATTENTION NEEDED - Below Expectations:
Homepage is orderly, but is not inviting or engaging for students
News announcements contain minimal information or do not convey timely or relevant information; they are not updated each week.
Starting date is not indicated.
Announcements are distracting due to the content presentation. The image size and font size distract from the information being presented.
- Information or directions within announcements, information within widgets, or course syllabi and/or convey incorrect information or contain typos.
You asked... We listened.
Mentee Questions addressed in this Mentee Minute
- Suggestions for managing course schedules
- Communication log: who, what, where?
- Course Update examples
- Grading... what to do if?
Reminders
Respond to emails and phone calls within 1 school day.
Update your communication log.
Release eyeballs.
Email course updates to students, parents, mentor, QAS, and courseupdates@gavirtualschool.org.
Set up accommodations for SPED or 504.
Read & respond to discussions daily.
Grade within 3 days.
Open the grade book after grading (let it load fully).
Call failures after due date Fridays.
Suggestions for Managing Groups
Communication Log 101
What to include in communication log?
Student issues (illness, continual technology problems, extensions, accommodations)
Failures phone calls, emails to parents and facilitators
Any communications with parents
Course calendar schedule changes
Communication with Department chairs, SPED leads, or CI about student situations
Here's a short Communication Log Tutorial. Thanks, Alan!!
http://screencast.com/t/8IvYy2JChj
* One Very Important Note *
The communication log is for FACTUAL information only. Please do not include your opinions about parents, students, facilitators, or other instructors. Your entries should communicate the facts.
Course Update Samples
Smore Course Update Email
https://www.smore.com/smsj-mrs-gardner-s-news-reminders?ref=email
Grading... what to do if?
- Your student accidentally selected the wrong course schedule calendar? Use this video to manually enroll: http://screencast.com/t/qoEdyyQP9yT
- Your student did not plan enough time to take the quiz/test? Here's how to reset the quiz: http://screencast.com/t/NAayljUrjl2
- Your student has technology problems and was not able to meet the grade deadline? Here's the policy from the student handbook:
Technical difficulties are not an excuse for assignments to be late. Students must have computer access to complete GaVS work. It is the student’s responsibility to secure backup computer options when technical difficulties arise. Many public libraries offer computers with internet access. Additionally, GaVS courses can be accessed on a variety of mobile devices so it may be that a mobile device could be used to complete some coursework when there are computer problems.
- Your student wants to change course schedule calendar? Document in communication log, call parents, use this video: http://screencast.com/t/qoEdyyQP9yT
- Your student did not submit work for their first benchmark? Email the student, call the parent, recommend course calendar schedule change (only 1 time a semester, document in com log).
- Your student can not find the feedback for quizzes? Here's how to see teacher feedback: http://www.screencast.com/t/NMUwFb61eewf