Chromebooks:

All students should have their chromebooks in class everyday. The chromebooks must also be charged and ready to be used. Assignments will be assigned on the chromebooks and may need to be completed at home with the use of the chromebooks.

***Misuse or destructive behavior with Chromebook will result in automatic referral. ***

Chromebook Assignments/E-Learning Policies:

• Netiquette:

  • Show Respect

    • Show common courtesy to others when you’re online.

In general, behave as you would if we were in the classroom at Sneed Middle School. The people in your virtual classroom are just as real as the people you see face-to-face in class. They are sitting at their computer, just as you are, trying to pass the 8th grade.

• • • Take Turns

Dominating a conversation, whether face-to-face or online, is rude. Give others a chance to add to discussions and answer questions.

• • • If you lose your temper, don’t act on it

Online communication is so fast that when we’re angry, people sometimes “fire off” an email or post a comment and then later regret how we may have said something. Everyone occasionally becomes angry, so you need to be especially careful not to “flame.” If you do, you will almost certainly cause damage, not only to others, but to yourself as well.

• • Be Aware:

    • Be aware that you will communicate almost exclusively in writing.

      • Unlike in a traditional classroom, most or all communication in an e-learning environment is written, which is not as simple as face-to-face communication. Think carefully about the words you use in your written class messages, and before you post those messages, reread them for unintentional errors in tone, content, and grammar.

      • Most people know that rudeness and loss of temper are simply wrong, but they may not be aware of how much their positive body language - gestures, nods, smiles, a pleasant tone of voice - helps them show respect to others. In almost all online communication, the only language available is written communication. And words by themselves can all too easily convey a disrespectful, unfriendly tone - unless you take extra care that they do not.

    • Be aware that, like words, symbols also matter.

      • Don’t use all caps because it comes across as shouting. Also, sentences that follow capitalization rules are easier to understand because they give readers information about the relative importance of certain words and about their relationships to each other.

      • Be frugal with emoticons, extra exclamation points, and extra question marks to show your meaning or emotion. Save those for when, although you’ve tried, you just can’t find the right words to express yourself.

    • Be aware that everything you write is stored permanently on district servers.

      • Everything you write in emails, discussions, chats, groups, docs, slides, classroom, and in any other G Suite apps becomes a permanent record of you as a student on F1S district servers. Let those words reflect well upon you as a respectful, intelligent human being.

    • Be aware that multiple modes of communication are possible in a virtual classroom.

      • More than email and Google Voice calls are available to you: you might communicate with Google Classroom questions, Google Hangouts, Google Meet, and private comments on Google Classroom assignments. Choose the mode that is most appropriate for the time of day, the message, and the recipient. For instance, an email would be more appropriate than a Google Hangout text late at night, or a Google Meet or Google Hangout text may be the best choice for a detailed discussion. Your teacher will give you guidance on the best way to contact and communicate with them during and after office hours.

  • Communicate Effectively

    • Effective written communication is efficient.

      • If you don’t reread an online message for content and then hastily post it, you may very well leave things out that your reader needs to know. This will result in further communication, which wastes time and energy. Also, if a message contains grammar, punctuation, and other writing errors, the reader may not even understand your meaning. Therefore, efficient communication takes the writer extra time to produce...because it’s the reader’s time and understanding that are important.

• Online Disruptive Behavior Policy

Sneed Middle School strives to maintain a positive learning environment and educational opportunity for all students. Consequently, patterns of behavior which obstruct or disrupt the learning environment of the virtual classroom or other educational facilities will be addressed.

• E-Learning Expectations

  • Students will complete assignments remotely using their district-issued Chromebook.

  • Students will have daily assignments to complete and teachers will be available during posted office hours.

  • Digital instruction and assignments will be provided for each course in which students are enrolled.

  • Students will be responsible for completing and submitting their own eLearning assignments during the eLearning day.

  • The digital platform, Google Classroom, is utilized in all F1S middle schools and will be the method through which eLearning assignments are shared with students.

  • Students who have difficulty completing assignments are responsible for communicating with their teachers via F1S email. Each teacher’s email address can be found on the teacher’s Sneed Middle School website.

  • Parents are responsible for encouraging their students to complete eLearning assignments.

  • In the event of technology issues or concerns, students or parents should contact the technology help line. To do this, go to www.f1s.org. Click on ‘Our District.; Click on ‘eLearning.” Click on ‘I Need Help!’

  • The Florence One Schools website has many resources available to help students be successful. To access student resources, go to www.f1s.org. Click on ‘I AM...A Students.’ Click on ‘Student Digital Resources.’

  • If we experience eLearning, more specific expectations and guidelines will be released at that time.