Utah Students Connect Disclosure

Learning Management System .....................................................................................................................................2 Log-in to Canvas ............................................................................................................................................................2 First Time Users of Canvas ............................................................................................................................................2 Changing the Students Display Name ..........................................................................................................................2 Contacting the Instructor ..............................................................................................................................................2 Online Conduct .............................................................................................................................................................2 Attendance ....................................................................................................................................................................3 Assignments ..................................................................................................................................................................3 Acceptable Formats ......................................................................................................................................................3 Web Browser, Technology & Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................3 Grading Scale.................................................................................................................................................................4 Due Dates ......................................................................................................................................................................4 Dropping a Course.........................................................................................................................................................4 Final Proctored Exam ....................................................................................................................................................4 Observers ......................................................................................................................................................................4 Cheating/Plagiarism ......................................................................................................................................................5 District Representatives ................................................................................................................................................5 Other Helpful Links .......................................................................................................................................................5

Learning Management System

Our Learning Management System (the system that we use to deliver our content) is called Canvas. Online learning takes a lot of planning, scheduling and self-motivation. It will be beneficial for students and parents to work together to help answer questions, and provide support.

Log-in to Canvas

Always log-in to Canvas by going to our webpage, www.utahstudentsconnect.org. On the top left of the page you will see the Canvas log-in.

First Time Users of Canvas

Review the information titled: Using Canvas, Netiquette Rules, Civic Dialogue, Policies, and Proctored Exams. You will find many questions and answers in the following manuals: USC Student Manual Student User Guide to Canvas

If you are a first time user of Canvas there is some information you need to review before starting your first assignment. Go to our website, http://www.utahstudentsconnect.org/starthere.html

Changing the Students Display Name

When a student first uses Canvas, the name that is displayed for the instructor is the students email address. It is difficult for teachers to match up email addresses with student names when assigning grades, so, one of the first things we ask a student to do is to change their display name. To do this, the student will log into Canvas and click on Settings on the top right purple bar. Click on Edit Settings on the right. In Full Name, delete the email address, and type in your first and last name. You will see the next two spaces fill in with the students name. Click on Update Settings. If your student has taken a previous Utah Students Connect course, it is likely that their name is already displaying correctly.

Contacting the Instructor

Communication between student and instructor is vital. The instructor should always be the first contact when there is a question about the course. Teachers can be emailed through the students Inbox within Canvas. It is located on the top right side of the screen. Remember your rules of netiquette when asking your instructor for assistance.

Online Conduct
Students are expected to follow our Netiquette Rules, and Civic Dialogue guidelines. Please also review our Policies.

Attendance
Students are expected to check into their courses every other day, just as they would during a block schedule in school. If a student has not logged in for an extended period of time and has not completed any work or responded to any emails from the instructor or district representative by midterm, they will be dropped from the course. If a student is dropped from a course, they can re-register for the class at the beginning of the next term. If a student starts the course then gets behind, it is difficult to make-up all of their missed work by the end of the term deadlines.

Assignments

Students are expected to complete assignments to the best of their ability as grades are based on the quality of the work they turn in. It is important that you check the information in each course for current assignment criteria. For example, some instructors require assignments be completed at 70% before the next assignment will be opened. Some instructors will not allow or give credit for assignments turned in after the due date. It would also be up to the instructor whether or not they allow re-submissions of work for more points.

Acceptable Formats

The Canvas System works best with certain file types. If work is submitted in anything other than these formats, it will not be graded. Please submit your work in one of the following formats (.pdf files being the easiest to send and read): Word documents: .doc or .docx files Adobe documents: .pdf Presentation Files: .ppt or .pptx Media Files: .jpg (picture), .mpg3 or 4, .mpeg3 or 4 (audio or video) Google docs: As long as you share it correctly.

These files cannot be opened by your instructors:

Cloud files you have hosted in Amazon, iTunes etc. iWorks files that save as .pages files. Word pad files .rtf files.

Adobe .pdf files will always load in Canvas. To do this in Word, Click File, and Save As. The box to name and select where you want your work saved pops up. At the bottom you will see Save as Type, click on the drop down menu and select PDF.

Web Browser, Technology & Troubleshooting

Find out more information about required technology for completing an online course at our website.

Google Chrome is the web browser that works best with Canvas. Get the free download!

Grading Scale
A 94 and above A- 90-93 B+ B B87-89 84-86 80-83 C+ C C77-79 74-76 70-73 D+ D D67-69 64-66 60-63

Students will receive the grade they have earned at the end of the term, it will be posted on their transcript and will affect their GPA and credit. If a student does not complete a course that is required for graduation, they will be deficient in credit.

Due Dates

Each assignment has a due date. Students may or may not be marked late on assignments depending on the instructor. In some courses all assignments need to be completed by the end of the term before the student can take the proctored final. Also, some instructors will lock assignments after a certain time. If a student stays close to the due dates when completing assignments they will be right on track to complete the course by the end of the term. Students must carefully read the instructors information as the due dates and deadlines are well-defined in each course.

Dropping a Course
Students may drop a course up to the midterm date of each term on our website. If a student does not drop their course by midterm, they will receive the grade they earned when they stopped their coursework, which could include an F. In this case, the student will need to work with their school to see what credit recovery options are available. See the USC Calendar for dates.

Final Proctored Exam

Students will be required to pass (at least 60%) a final proctored exam to earn credit in this course. A proctor is a person who watches over a student during an examination. If a student does not pass a final, the grade will be recorded as an F, and the student will need to discuss credit recovery options with their school. You can find out about proctoring for your district on the Proctoring Information page. The final exam will need to be scheduled with your school or your district testing center the week before your final is due (or earlier if possible). The final must be taken by 4:00 p.m. on the last day of the quarter.

Observers

Parents and counselors can view their students courses as observers, which means they can see how their student is doing in each of their courses. Parents or counselors interested in this option can email their district contact person.

Cheating/Plagiarism
Cheating or plagiarism on a test or assignment will result in an F for that work and possibly the entire course.

Plagiarism is copying anyones words and submitting them as your own. Do not copy information from anywhere, word for word, unless it is credited to the author in your work. Do not cut and paste information from the web and paste it into your assignment. Even paraphrasing without the authors consent is considered plagiarism. Your teachers will be checking your work.

Cheating includes using any information from the course while taking the final proctored exam, using someone elses work and turning it in as your own, or letting parents or others do your coursework for you.

District Representatives

Contact information for each district online coordinator is found on the Contact page of the website.

Other Helpful Links

Utah Students Connect Calendar Canvas Student Quickstart Guide USC Parent Manual