Virtual Learning Code of Conduct

Owen J. Roberts Cyber Academy

OJR Cyber Academy provides flexible, personalized learning opportunities for students in grades kindergarten to 12. OJR teachers and Pennsylvania-certified teachers via a third-party provider teach, design, and monitor course content and students' growth and performance. Students who are enrolled in OJR Cyber Academy continue their connections with the Wildcat community, access supportive academic services, and graduate with an Owen J. Roberts diploma. To learn more about OJR Cyber Academy, visit https://sites.google.com/ojrsd.net/ojrcyberacademy/home

From time-to-time and as directed by the Superintendent, students may be required to access their education virtually, online, should the school have to close to in-person learning for any reason. The section of the Student Handbook below outlines procedures that will be in place should the High School be closed to in-person learning.

Owen J. Roberts High School In-Person Learning Code of Conduct

All OJRHS students receiving digital curriculum and direct instruction online are subject to the applicable District policies and this Virtual Learning Code of Conduct. As a virtual learning student, there are rules and expectations regarding online etiquette to protect all students and all staff members. Remote learning must be conducted in a responsible, safe, efficient, ethical, and legal manner. With expanded access to electronic information, the availability of inappropriate material is not uncommon. Some sites contain illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or offensive information. We especially appreciate partnering with parents to teach responsible Internet use.

OJRSD has an important goal: to help each student maximize their potential and meet the highest performance standards through a uniquely individualized learning program. To help students and teachers be successful, this Code of Conduct for online learning outlines key expectations and guidelines for:

  • Attendance

  • Google Meet

  • Academic Integrity

ATTENDANCE:

Students are expected to log into their Canvas course(s) daily starting with period 1 following the same schedule as they would if they were in the building. Official attendance will be completed via a daily question on the first period Canvas page. Students are strongly encouraged to attend classes during their regularly scheduled time (synchronously) so they may benefit from live instruction and the interaction with classmates. If an unexpected situation should arise and there is an extended leave from the course, it is the student's responsibility to report the problem to the teacher, who will then determine alternatives and course of action for meeting class requirements.

GOOGLE MEET:

The Google Meet/remote class sessions are an important component of virtual learning. In large measure they provide the needed interaction of a live traditional class. Given the constraints of the medium, all participants in the Google Meet/live class sessions are expected to adhere to the following rules and best practices in order to ensure the best possible learning environment.

PREPARATION:

  • Students are to enter Google Meet sessions using only their school Gmail account (e.g., 21astudent@ojrsd.net). This permits the teacher to see your full name.

  • Students are to enter only Google Meet sessions that are part of their regularly scheduled classes.

  • Students should not share class meeting links with other students who are not enrolled in the class.

  • The background for a Google Meet session must be an appropriate public space within your home or another setting, such as a home-office desk or dining table. Students may choose to display a school-appropriate Bitmoji or picture of themselves.

PARTICIPATION:

  • Students should avoid distractions and be focused on the content of the Meet session.

  • Students should remember that they are in class; behavior should reflect an academic setting.

  • Arrive on time for the class session. Being late for the Google Meet is like being late for class.

  • Report to a session with all the necessary materials for class as you would any live session.

  • Google Meet is a virtual class. All classroom rules apply.

  • As expected of any class interaction, participants are to treat each other with courtesy and respect.

  • Taking screenshots or screen recordings of virtual classrooms without explicit permission from the teacher and class members is prohibited and subject to disciplinary action.

  • Any one-on-one teacher/student Google Meet sessions will be recorded by the teacher.

  • USE THE TIPS LOCATED HERE for successful Google Meet participation.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION FOR UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR:

  • Disruptions to a Google Meet session may lead to the removal of the student from a remote learning session for part of or the entire session.

  • Students with an unexcused absence or who are removed from a Google Meet session for disruptive behavior may forfeit credit for the class session.

  • Repeated disruption or recurrent unexcused absences will be handled according to the Owen J. Roberts High School Disciplinary Code

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:

Academic integrity is a key to learning and is essential for you to succeed in your environment. It is an ethical code, whereby the student guarantees that all work submitted is the student’s own original work.


Why is academic integrity important?

When students submit an assignment that is not their own original work, they are earning credit for learning material for which they have not demonstrated mastery and they are in violation of the school policies established in the Student Handbook.

The following principles are best practices for maintaining academic honesty:

  • Students must not submit work of any kind that is not their own.

  • Students must not plagiarize in any work (written, multimedia, oral, creative,

etc.). This includes copying a classmate’s work.

  • Students must not post assessments, assignments, answers to assessments or assignments, or any other curricular materials on any media that can be seen by other students or other third parties.

  • Students must maintain the integrity of graded assessments by refraining from behaviors that would qualify as cheating in a traditional setting. This includes giving or accepting answers for assessments from peers or receiving answers or hints on assessments from parents or siblings.

  • Students must not present any forged documents to their teachers.

  • PLAGIARISM & CHEATING:

  • Plagiarism is a serious breach of academic honesty and may result in a failing grade or other disciplinary action.

  • What is plagiarism?

  • According to the Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, to plagiarize means:

  • to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own

  • to use (another’s production) without crediting the source

  • to commit literary theft

  • to present an idea or product derived from an existing source as the student’s new and original work

What is considered cheating?

  • To influence or lead by deceit, trick, or artifice

  • To practice fraud or trickery to violate rules dishonestly

  • Providing questions/answers/ work to another student or third party

  • Receiving questions/answers/work from another student or third party

For help with understanding citation standards as outlined in various guidelines, like the Modern Language Association (MLA) citation style,or the American Psychological Association Publication Manual (APA) please contact your teacher or the high school Librarian, Mrs. Christman, for assistance with this process.

Students will be expected to submit work using Turnitin - a software program that detects plagiarism. Instructions on this will be provided.

Plagiarism.org lists the following examples of plagiarism:

  • Turning in someone else’s work as one’s own.

  • Copying words or ideas from someone else without giving credit.

  • Failing to put a quotation in quotation marks.

  • Giving incorrect information about the source of a quotation.

  • Changing words by copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit.

  • Copying so many words or ideas from a source that it makes up the majority of your work, whether accurately cited or not.

USE OF COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS:

Downloading, copying, reproducing, distributing, or modifying copyrighted content in any way without express written consent is copyright infringement. Music, movies, and books are also examples of copyrighted works. Use of copyrighted materials in connection with your online coursework is strictly prohibited.

A variety of consequences will be administered when students are discovered cheating or plagiarizing. Please refer to the student handbook section for more information. Additionally, final grades may be rescinded if a student is found to have plagiarized or cheated after the grade has been posted. Parents, as partners in supporting student learning, are encouraged to:

  • Ensure that the child’s work is authentic and original

  • Monitor via parent account

  • Ask any questions regarding plagiarism or cheating if you are unsure

  • Report any suspicious activity


PARENT/GUARDIAN EXPECTATIONS


The faculty of Owen J. Roberts High School relies heavily upon the assistance of and partnership with parents in the education of their children . With the many distractions students have today, it can be difficult for some students to set aside time to work on courses when not in school.

Teachers will keep the parent/guardian apprised of the student’s progress and will initiate contact if they fall behind in their coursework. Parents are able to supervise and monitor their student’s progress throughout the duration of the course, just as you would in a regular learning setting. To accomplish this, parents/guardians are encouraged to access the Canvas parental account periodically to monitor student progress. Parents should support the goals of Academic Integrity as it is an essential element to successful learning and a core value as a learning community. You should contact your child’s teacher directly via email to answer questions about the course that you may have.


Works referenced


"Code of Conduct for Online Learning and Safety." Career Path High School, careerpathhigh.org/dynamic/content/1027/107/code-of-conduct-for-online-learning-safety.pdf. Accessed 19 Aug. 2020.

"ELearning Attendance and Code of Conduct." Christopher Columbus High School, "ELearning Attendance and Code of Conduct." Christopher Columbus High School, www.columbushs.com/fall-2020-plans/elearning-attendance--code-of-conduct. Accessed 19 Aug. 2020.