*There are five items to complete & listed at the end of this page.

Welcome to OnlineHS Fall 2012

We’re excited you’re choosing to join us at OnlineHS- Learning: Anywhere, Anytime!

Online students enjoy the freedom and flexibility of distance learning and the personalization of their education.

The goal of this Introduction is to equip students with the requisite information they need about the OnlineHS program so they can be successful. Students are encouraged to take notes on the items found in this introduction as there is a required quiz over the material they are required to pass.

Instead, what do most students do? They take a whack at the tree, put down the axe, measure the cut, pick up the axe, whack the tree in a different spot, and repeat ad nauseum. Exhausting and frustrating, to say the least.

The point of the Abe Lincoln quote is that it’s important to be PREPARED to do the task; To sharpen your tools before really beginning the job.

The purpose of this introduction is to prepare you for taking your online class.
Take the time NOW to understand what is involved with online learning and required of you as a student, so can be successful and have an enjoyable experience!

Sharpen Your Axe

CALENDAR

• School Starts: September
  Some students may enter or be added at a later date. These student will need to work quickly to catch-up with due dates posted in the course.
• REQUIRED INTRODUCTION due: within 48 hours of your registration and entrance in the class.
• Term ends with all work being due at: 10AM on August 16th, 2012

WITHDRAW & DROP

• Last Day to Drop is July 13th.
• IMPORTANT: Students are automatically dropped from OnlineHS on July 12th at 9AM, if they have not completed their REQUIRED INTRO. section.
• After July 13th, students who do not complete the class receive an “F” grade on their permanent transcript that negatively affects their grade point average (GPA).
• After July 13th, there is NO refund for any fees paid.

GRADEBOOK & ASSIGNMENTS

We recommend that one of the first things you do is to click on the Gradebook hypertext link in the left-margin/main menu. Here you will find every graded assignment in the course AND importantly, the due date for each.

PRINT IT and post the page next to your computer so you can keep track of your progress and time.

If you see a green exclamation mark  this means you have successfully submitted an assignment BUT, your teacher has not corrected it yet. You can expect your teacher to correct your *on-time* work within three school days.

PLAGIARISM / ETHICAL USE

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. Plagiarism is a form of dishonesty that occurs when a student passes off someone else’s work as their own. This can range from failing to cite an author or published work for ideas incorporated into the student’s paper, to handing in someone else’s work as their own.

Plagiarism or cheating of any kind is not acceptable. Students who do so will receive a “0” on the assignment(s) and be put on notice that any further incident will result in a failing grade for the course and an inability to take OnlineHS courses in the future.

We encourage students to use the Internet to research and find additional information on their course. When you do, make sure that you cite it with the web address, then comment on it so you’re adding your voice to a new piece of information that adds to your topic. This is the minimum requirement for using information from the Internet and you’ll want to pay attention to any other specific instructions from your instructor.

We encourage collaboration & cooperation. In instances where students work together on assignments, the teacher must first be notified and the assignment must clearly indicate the contributions of each student.

ASSISTANCE

• Students MUST be problem-solvers. Use the online tutorials available from the “HELP Desk” menu item available at: https://onlinehs.net/helpdesk/
• In all cases, students should contact their teacher immediately if they’re having problems or issues of any kind.
• Teacher contact information can be found from the “Teacher Info.” link in the left-margin, main menu.
• Teachers are available through:
  • Blackboard Instant Messaging– anytime, day/night the teacher is online!
  • Message area within their class
  • Email
• OnlineHS General Contact
  • Email: OnlineHS@EverettSD.org
  • Phone: 425 385-5100

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

• Students MUST have their own valid, personal, email account entered into the Blackboard system. This is NOT a parent email account.
  *Directions for entering your email into Blackboard are available from the HELP DESK.
• Log-in daily
• Complete work weekly and make monthly progress by successfully completing assignments in the course that will ensure you finish the class with a passing grade.
• Communicate with your instructor frequently & often.
  via: email, messages, Blackboard Instant Messenger, and/or phone.
• Interact with your classmates
  via: Blackboard Instant Messenger and Discussion Boards
• Have fun!

FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO DO NOW:

1. Complete the Student Contact Information Form
   Use the link in the Required Intro folder inside the course.
2. Check to see that your correct Email is entered into the Blackboard System
   Use the tutorial in the HELP DESK, if you need to know how.
3. Download and install the Blackboard Instant Messenger
   
4. Take the Introductory Quiz
   10 multiple choice questions. You should earn 100% because it is over the material you’re reading on this page now.
   Use the link in the Required Intro folder inside the course.
5. Go into the Discussion Boards.

• Locate the Introductory forum.
• Read the Instructions about what you’re to do. Click to enter.
• Click the +New Thread button in the upper left of the page to start YOUR new thread
• Introduce yourself to your classmates using the instructions from your teacher
• When finished click submit
• Read all of other classmate introductions. In the lower right, click “reply” and respond to their posts. Do this for many of your classmates as you get to know them and share information in the Introductory Forum

We thank you for choosing OnlineHS to join the millions of students who enjoy the freedom and flexibility of individualized and personalized learning!