Learning Support Agreement

Description:

A learning support agreement establishes roles and responsibilities of the facilitator, learner, and other members of the online community.Assignment: Revisit the article Learning Online Facilitation Online and read the section on Learning Support Agreements. Look at the sample Learning Support Agreements in the second item in this folder.

Design a Learning Support Agreement (20 pts) that you feel would be suitable for the grade levels you teach and save it as a Google Docs word processor file.

Invite your group from Module 5 and the instructor to make editorial suggestions for your Learning Support Agreement on your Google Docs page (5 pts). Once you have invited the instructor to join your pages, I can view "Revision History" for each document to check for participation. Also, for this assignment's "peer interaction" post comments in the LSA discussion forum to those LSA's in which you served as peer editor.

When your Learning Support Agreement is finished, attach it to the LSA Discussion Forum posting and post responses to the LSA's in which you served as peer editor.

My Work and My Scenario:

Learning Support Agreement

Welcome to 21st Century Learning: Online book discussions, also called "Literature Circles" for third and fourth graders! Before we begin, we will discuss the roles and responsibilities of the students, the parents, and instructor. We will all be reading novels selected by you, the students. We will respond to the literature with online projects as well as participate in rich discussion about our thoughts, reactions, and wonderings about the stories and characters from the selected books.

Of course, access to a computer and the Internet is necessary for participation in this online course. During our face-to-face orientation, students will learn how to navigate through our Sakai Learning Management System. (Parents are encouraged to attend!) Our communication through discussions, email, chats, wikis, and blogs, as well as assignments and grades, are all managed through Sakai.

Before our class begins, I would like you to take the SORT Assessment to determine learner readiness for online learning. Please email your results to me prior to our face-to-face meeting.

Student Roles and Responsibility

• Online participation for this class is required. In addition to time spent on the assigned reading, you should expect to spend between 3 and 5 hours per week working on assignments for this class.

• You should log into Sakai nearly every day. If you do not log in for more than 3 days, I will contact you.

• Participation in all discussions is mandatory. Once you have posted a comment, it is always your responsibility to respond to the postings of three of your classmates. Suggestion: Ask a question in your response to continue the conversation! Don’t forget to also read the replies to your own posts in case someone has asked you a question and to see what others think about your ideas!

Parents Roles and Responsibility

• Provide your child with computer and Internet access.

• Help your child navigate through the Internet and generally be available to support and encourage your child.

• If necessary, help your student make a time for learning plan each week so that he or she does not fall behind on our assignments.

• Please don't fret or worry about your child's assignments for this class! If you have a question, just ask! I am merely a click away via email. Most questions or problems take just a moment to ask and to answer, and I want our energy spent on helping your child learn and enjoy this experience.

Instructor Roles and Responsibility

• I will monitor student progress as I watch the discussion board, group work sites, and the posting of assignments.

• I will contact students who are not meeting expectations personally, and post grades and comments within 5 days of all due dates.

• I will monitor student activity based on work done on the Sakai site or non-Sakai worksites.

• I will help with any problems students (or parents!) may encounter. I check my email often, and will get back to you as soon as possible. If your question can't wait for my response, you may call me between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. at the number provided.

Statement of Understanding and Commitment:

Student:

I understand my responsibilities outlined in the Learning Support Agreement. I will work responsibly and turn my work in on time. If I have questions or if I need help, I will ask for it without delay. I will cooperate with my instructor and I will be helpful and kind to my online classmates. I understand that, if I fail to meet the expectations of this agreement, I may be dismissed from this program.

Student Signature ­­­­­­­­­­__________________________________________

Date _____________________________________________________

Parent:

I will provide my child with computer equipment and a reliable Internet connection capable of supporting online coursework. I will provide transportation for my child to the orientation meeting at school on 9/13/12 at 3:30 p.m. I understand that I have been encouraged to also attend. I will regularly monitor the progress of my child and provide support and encouragement as I ensure that my student is on track with his or her assignments. I will contact the instructor if I have questions or concerns.

Parent Name Printed­­­­­­________________________________________

Parent Signature­­­­­­____________________________________________

Date______________________________________________________