E-LEARNING ONTARIO POLICY DOCUMENT

E-LEARNING ONTARIO POLICY DOCUMENT In additin t the Service Level Agreement (SLA), which is specific t each bard, each participating bard must abide by this plicy dcument. It cntains three sectins: A. POLICIES FOR BOARD DELIVERY OF E-LEARNING PROGRAMS UNDER THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT FOR USE OF LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LMS) AND LEARNING OBJECT REPOSITORY (LOR) B. ACCEPTABLE USE POLICIES C. CONDITIONS OF USE The purpse f e-learning Ontari is t meet the needs f a wide range f learners existing acrss the prvince. Learners may be enrlled in e-learning credit curses if they are eligible t attend a prvincially funded schl in Ontari and if they are in need f secndary schl credit curses in rder t btain an Ontari Graduatin Diplma r upgrading secndary schl credits required fr entry int a prgram r the wrkfrce. As indicated abve, e-learning shuld be made available t all learners, and bards must ensure they are placed n the apprpriate register fr reprting. Students under 21 years f age nrmally enrlled in day schl classrm delivered curses and wh chse t btain the credit thrugh e- learning will be reprted n the Independent Study Register fr Day Schl Pupils (See Mem 2002: SB12 frm Wayne Burtnyk, Directr, Transfer Payments and Financial Reprting Branch, July 17, 2002). It is expected that the teachers delivering e-learning curses t day schl students will be regular day schl teachers. A. POLICIES FOR BOARD DELIVERY OF E-LEARNING PROGRAMS UNDER THE SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENT FOR USE OF LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM LMS) AND LEARNING OBJECT REPOSITORY (LOR) A.1. The Deliverables Schl bards delivering prvincially develped e-learning credit curses will manage and deliver them thrugh the prvincial LMS. The LMS will prvide a range f services t supprt e- learning delivery by schl bards, including student authenticatin, curse management, student tracking, learning activities, and cmmunicatin and cllabratin tls. The LMS will als enable lcal custmizatin f curses and resurces t be delivered thrugh the prvincial LMS t meet lcal needs (e.g., the use f bard lgs and lcally relevant learning exercises). Hwever, the impact f any changes t curses and resurces will be the respnsibility f the bard. When schl bards participate in the prvincial e-learning strategy fr the delivery f credit curses, they will have access t e-learning resurces, bjects and curses thrugh the prvincial LMS/LOR. Cntent frm the prvincial LOR must nt be used in any ther LMS ther than the Plicy Dcument e-learning Ontari, Ministry f Educatin January 30, 2006 Page 1 f 10

ne prvided by the prvince. Students frm utside Ontari will nt have access t the prvincial LMS/LOR r its cntent (unless they are registered in their hme schl fr which they are entitled t register under the Educatin Act and participating in a schl prgram that takes them utside f Ontari). All students accessing e-learning curses must d s by applying, receiving permissin frm and enrlling in the curse thrugh their hme schl (as described abve and in the Educatin Act). Students remain a student f their hme schl even if the curse is delivered by a teacher in anther schl. Virtual schls r ttally nline schls are nt allwed t be established using the prvincial LMS and LOR. Any student wh wishes t enrl in a secndary schl e-learning curse that is delivered thrugh the prvincial LMS must be registered with the bard in which he r she is qualified t be a resident pupil under the Educatin Act. A.2. Lcatin f Service District schl bards, upn request t and the apprval f the Ministry, may require cmpnents f the LMS and LOR n their lcal netwrks fr use by their staff and students. Hwever, the installatin, peratin, supprt and expenses f executing this request will be the respnsibility f the individual bards making the request and will be detailed in the e-learning plicies f the respective bard. This will nly ccur in extreme situatins as a result f limited cnnectivity r access issues. Bards requiring this apprach must fllw the same plicies and requirements that they wuld fllw if using the LMS and LOR lcated in a central lcatin. A.3. Milestnes Bards that already have their wn LMS may cntinue t use it. Materials within the prvincial LMS and LOR may nt be used in any ther LMS and LOR and the nly curses delivered thrugh the prvincial LMS will be psted by the ministry. E-learning curses may be ffered in summer schl. Student intake may be cntinuus but timed fr the wrk t be cmpleted within the schl year. A.4. Persnnel This sectin will identify persnnel t be used by the supplier and the district schl bard. Each bard will prvide the ministry with a senir level cntact (Superintendent/Directr) wh will be the liaisn with ministry staff n majr items. In rder t ensure cnsistent cmmunicatins, each district schl bard will als identify ne District e-learning Cntact (DeLC), wh will cmmunicate directly with the ministry liaisn fr the prvincial LMS/LOR. Teachers d nt cntact the supplier r ministry directly (ther than the technical help desk) they cmmunicate thrugh their bard district e-learning cntact. The ministry will prvide the bard with the LMS/LOR cntact persn fr the ministry. A.5. Reprting Requirements The marks reprting schedule will be that f the schl delivering the e-learning curse. The same criteria fr full disclsure that apply t regular curses will als apply t e-learning curses as utlined in the Ontari Student Transcript Manual, 2003. Plicy Dcument e-learning Ontari, Ministry f Educatin January 30, 2006 Page 2 f 10

Assessment and evaluatin will be dne in accrdance with the requirements in OSS and prvincial curriculum plicy dcuments. The teacher f an e-learning curse will infrm participating students f the assessment and evaluatin strategies and schedule fr the curse. The teacher f an e-learning curse will prvide infrmatin n the student s achievement in the curse t the principal t whm he r she reprts, and the principal will ensure that it is sent t the student s hme schl. The principal f the student s hme schl will ensure that this infrmatin is recrded in the Ontari Student Recrd (OSR) and n the Ontari Student Transcript (OST), and that it is cmmunicated t parents by means f the Prvincial Reprt Card. Recrding f the student s achievement in the OSR and n the OST must be dne in accrdance with the Ontari Student Recrd (OSR): Guideline, 2000 and the Ontari Student Transcript (OST): Manual, 2003. Bards will use an apprved URL that will enable the supplier t develp a specific area f the LMS fr bard use. Student infrmatin in the LMS must nt be persnal with the exceptin f the first and last name, e-mail address, Ontari Educatin Number (OEN) and marks. All ther persnal infrmatin must remain in the bard Student Infrmatin System (SIS). A.6.0. Rights and Respnsibilities f District Schl Bards The district schl bard is respnsible fr all aspects f the lcal delivery f the e-learning prgram as set ut in the E-learning Plicy Dcument cnsistent with the Educatin Act and its regulatins including but nt limited t: cmplying with all prvincial plicies and guidelines related t e-learning; develping guidelines and prcedures fr the implementatin f the e-learning strategy, including academic integrity plicies, student enrlment prcedures, accessibility and equity guidelines, and acceptable use plicies related t bard-based technlgies; maintaining all aspects f delivery f e-learning within the bard, including registering, enrlling and tracking students, granting credits, hiring staff, and setting prgram directin, in accrdance with the Educatin Act and its regulatins, ministry and bard plicy, and lcal cmmunity needs; ensuring that secndary schl curse calendars utline the e-learning pprtunities available t their students within the prvince; assigning persnnel fr implementatin f the e-learning strategy, including ne bard cntact (DeLC) as a single pint f cntact thrugh which all cmmunicatins frm e- Learning Ontari will flw; establishing class sizes and Pupil Teacher Ratis as utlined in prvincial and bard plicies as specified in the applicable cllective agreement; ensuring e-learning curses are part f the teachers wrklad as specified in the applicable cllective agreement, when assigning teacher scheduling; prviding pprtunities fr teachers t engage in prfessinal develpment and/r in-service activities t ensure effective implementatin f the e-learning strategy; Plicy Dcument e-learning Ontari, Ministry f Educatin January 30, 2006 Page 3 f 10

ensuring that students with special needs have equitable access t apprpriate e-learning pprtunities; ensuring that the LMS is used strictly fr: the delivery f e-learning credit curses that are made available thrugh the prvincial e-learning strategy and lcated in the prvincial LMS/ LOR. Only the e- learning curses and resurces psted in the LMS and LOR by the ministry will be eligible fr delivery thrugh the prvincial LMS/LOR; the delivery f prfessinal develpment t teachers and administratrs invlved in the delivery f e-learning credit curses lcated n the prvincial LMS/LOR; the custmizatin f prvincially apprved curses fr lcal delivery and ensuring these changes d nt impact the ability f the nline curse t meet all f the expectatins utlined in the respective Curriculum Plicy Dcument; ensuring that the LMS is nt used fr: the delivery f lcal district schl bard prfessinal develpment ther than utlined abve; the delivery f Ontari credit curses t students utside f the prvince f Ontari unless it meets the criteria utlined in Sectin A-1 f this SLA. the establishment f a virtual high schl; delivery f e-learning credit curses written lcally by district schl bards that have nt gne thrugh the prvincial apprval prcess and are nt stred n the prvincial LMS/LOR; the marketing f district schl bard curses in ther jurisdictins; the cmmercial use r generating revenue fr the bard. The nly fee that can be charged is the "prvincially established fee" the ministry psts fr delivering a credit t a student in anther bard; the string f persnal data n students. Once a district schl bard has been granted access t the LMS and LOR it will establish lcal user authrities. District schl bards will limit their cntact with the supplier t nrmal technical help desk calls. Any ther cmmunicatin with the supplier is t be directed thrugh the ministry cntact prvided t each bard. A.7.1. Rights and Respnsibilities f the District Schl Bard E-Learning Cntact (DeLC) The identified DeLC fr each bard will be respnsible fr: reviewing with the bard s I.T. staff the minimum technlgy standards required t prvide students and staff access t e-learning pprtunities; ensuring the central lcatin fr bards t pst infrmatin n available placements in curses is updated regularly t permit schls t search fr apprpriate curses in which they may want t enrll a student, if they chse t enrll students frm ther schls within their bard r students frm ther Ontari district schl bards; Plicy Dcument e-learning Ontari, Ministry f Educatin January 30, 2006 Page 4 f 10

Initial set up: Optinal branding f the entry page f each bard s envirnment Banner Clur scheme Lg Curse and Teacher Management: Create the cntent fr the next semester within bard area f LMS. Create archived curses area (nt t be cnfused with the vendr s backup prcess). Cpy master curses frm the ministry area f the LMS t the bard area f the LMS. Cpy cntent f a lcal versin f a curse frm the archived curses area fr reuse. Create usernames and passwrds fr teachers ensuring a lcker (file strage area) is autmatically created. Assign teachers t curses within the bard area f the LMS Manage teacher accunts: activate, disable, suspend, remve, change passwrds Clse curses as required. Mve clsed curses t archived curses/semesters area fr future reference in the case f a challenge. Restre archived curses as needed. Zip cmpleted curses and student wrk and mve t an ffline strage area. Manage Bard Accunts: Create usernames and passwrds fr students and teachers ensuring a lcker (file strage area) and access t suitable tls within the LMS are autmatically created. Enrl students in curses. Manage student user accunts: activate, disable, suspend, remve, and change passwrds. A.7.2. Rights and Respnsibilities f the Principal f the Student s Hme Schl The principal f the student s hme schl is respnsible fr: ensuring infrmatin abut e-learning pprtunities is included in the schl curse calendar; ensuring guidance services staff receive training regarding e-learning pprtunities and enrlment prcedures; ensuring that students wh enrll in a secndary schl e-learning curse are registered in the schl fr which they qualify t be resident pupils under the Educatin Act; ensuring adequate prgram supprt fr students, as identified in their Individual Educatin Plan (IEP), is available t students taking e-learning curses and make the delivering schl aware f these needs prir t enrllment in the curse; the enrllment and withdrawal f a student in an e-learning curse; Plicy Dcument e-learning Ontari, Ministry f Educatin January 30, 2006 Page 5 f 10

maintaining student enrlment recrds fr e-learning credits; ensuring that the student s achievement in e-learning curses taken bth in his r her lcal schl and in ther schls and/r bards is entered in the student s OSR and n the OST; granting credits t students wh have successfully cmpleted e-learning curses, n the basis f the final mark prvided by the teacher delivering the curse; prviding a lcatin and prctr fr a final examinatin, if required, and ensuring the return f the cmpleted examinatin t the e-learning teacher by a date pre-determined by the delivering teacher, in cmpliance with teacher wrklad; prviding an rientatin prgram t students taking their e-learning curses t validate the student s suitability fr e-learning and t prepare them fr this style f learning; prviding an rientatin prgram t teachers teaching an e-learning curse thrugh the prvincial LMS; cmmunicating with parents f students taking e-learning curses regarding bard and ministry acceptable use plicies; prviding general infrmatin in schl calendars abut the prvincial availability f e- learning t their students. A.7.3. Rights and Respnsibilities f the Principal f the Schl Delivering the E-Learning Curse The principal f the schl delivering the e-learning curse is respnsible fr: managing the enrlment f students in e-learning curses and ensuring they meet prvincial and bard plicies fr class size; deciding which e-learning curses will be ffered; giving permissin fr an eligible student frm anther bard t take an e-learning curse; prviding an rientatin prgram t teachers teaching an e-learning curse thrugh the prvincial LMS; prviding an rientatin prgram t students taking their e-learning curses t validate the student s suitability fr e-learning and t prepare them fr this style f learning; ensuring that utlines f the curses f study are available fr examinatin; assigning teachers t teach the nline curses and ensuring the curses are included in the required teacher wrklad; prviding disciplinary supprt/actin in alignment with bard plicies when required; ensuring that the teacher f an e-learning curse reprts infrmatin n student achievement t the student s hme schl fr inclusin in the student s Ontari Student Recrd (OSR) and n the Ontari Student Transcript (OST); cnducting perfrmance appraisals f e-learning teachers as is current practice within the bard; mnitring the nline behaviur f teachers and students; Plicy Dcument e-learning Ontari, Ministry f Educatin January 30, 2006 Page 6 f 10

ensuring that suspensin and expulsin rules as utlined in prvincial plicy and district schl bard plicies apply t students participating in e-learning. A.7.4. Rights and Respnsibilities f the E-Learning Teacher The e-learning teacher is respnsible fr: becming familiar with and utilizing teaching tls and cmmunicatin strategies specific t the e-learning envirnment; ensuring that when any mdificatins are made t an e-learning curse, the curse cntinues t meet all requirements f the Ontari prvincial curriculum; prviding the final assessment and/r examinatin t student s hme schl principal fr cmpletin; prviding all recrds and infrmatin n student achievement in the curse t student s hme schl fr inclusin n the Ontari Student Transcript (OST) and in the Ontari Student Recrd (OSR); cmmunicating infrmatin n student prgress t parents and students regularly and in accrdance with the delivering bard plicies; cnducting parent-teacher interviews. Given that face-t-face teacher parent interviews may nt be pssible alternative means may be used, such as telephne, videcnferencing and email. A.7.5. Rights and Respnsibilities f the E-Learning Student The e-learning student is respnsible fr: applying fr an e-learning curse thrugh his/her hme schl; participating in an e-learning rientatin; fllwing all delivering schl plicies with respect t acceptable use and student cnduct; infrming his/her principal and/r guidance cunselr if he/she wishes t withdraw frm an e-learning curse. Nte: Suspensin and expulsin rules, as utlined in prvincial and schl bard plicies, apply t students participating in e-learning. Plicy Dcument e-learning Ontari, Ministry f Educatin January 30, 2006 Page 7 f 10

B. ACCEPTABLE USE POLICIES Fr security and tracking reasns, it is a requirement f e-learning Ontari that students using the prvincial LMS and LOR be uniquely identified within each jurisdictin with usernames and passwrds. Bards ffering e-learning pprtunities t their wn students r t students utside their area will establish, cmmunicate, and implement bard acceptable use plicies. Such bard acceptable use plicies will include clear directins t teachers, students, and parents abut the apprpriate use f: Cmmunicatin tls, such as e-mail, chat, telephny, videcnferencing, web cnferencing, and threaded discussins; Student services, such as libraries, the technical help desk, and extracurricular events; Hardware, sftware, and technlgies assciated with e-learning; Orientatin materials and pprtunities. Students registered in an e-learning curse utside f their hme bard will fllw the acceptable use plicies f the bard delivering the curse. Where a student is taking a curse in anther bard and where the tw plicies cnflict, the acceptable use plicies f the bard delivering the curse wuld take precedence. The LOR is t be used by teachers, students and parents r legal guardians authrized fr use by the district schl bard. Materials n the prvincial LOR are t be used fr teaching and learning in Ontari district schl bards and are nt t be redistributed, sld, r psted n ther web-sites that are nt passwrd prtected. Students using the LOR must be enrlled in a prvinciallyfunded schl. Students wh are being hme-schled can becme an authrized user f the LOR if they apply t their lcal district schl bard fr a user accunt. The LOR will enable teachers t submit and/r access single learning bjects, units f study r remediatin units. These bjects and/r units may be used fr classrm supprt r in cnjunctin with the prvincial LMS by students learning n-line. At full implementatin, this LOR will prvide all students, teachers and parents with access t high quality learning resurces. Fr learning bject submissin guidelines and prcess, refer t the LOR Manual. Materials within the prvincial LMS may nt be used in any ther LMS and the nly curses delivered thrugh the prvincial LMS will psted by the ministry. The Ministry f Educatin has established quality standards and a gvernance structure t manage the prcess f catalguing, meta-tagging, reviewing and psting cntent in the LOR. There will be a prcess thrugh which teachers may submit cpyright-free, quality learning resurces fr review and pssible sharing thrugh the prvincial LOR. Only reviewed and apprved resurces will be placed in the LOR fr prvince-wide access. Plicy Dcument e-learning Ontari, Ministry f Educatin January 30, 2006 Page 8 f 10

C. CONDITONS OF USE Bards must implement the Cnditins f Use plicy related t the use f the prvincial LMS/LOR as set ut belw: Cnditins f Use Agreement It is highly recmmended that each user f this system print these pages and stre them fr easy reference. Intrductin: This dcument, called, A Cnditins f Use Agreement sets frth the terms and cnditins under which students, parents and staff may access and use the nline resurces and services which make up e-learning Ontari. It is expected that everyne wh uses this system will read, remember and abide by the terms and cnditins f this agreement. Failure t d s culd result in disciplinary actin, suspensin r expulsin frm the e-learning Ontari system. Please nte that fr the purpses f the agreement, students, parents and staff members will be described in this Cnditins f Use Agreement as users. General Behaviur Expectatins: The Ministry f Educatin reserves the right t implement mnitring sftware t recrd and identify inapprpriate use f this system. As a user f e-learning Ontari s Learning Management system (LMS) and Learning Object Repsitry (LOR), althugh every effrt will be made by the DELC t cntrl access, users shuld have n expectatin f privacy and shuld behave accrdingly. Users are expected t cnduct themselves in a respectful, respnsible and ethical manner while nline. Because nline cmmunicatin is faceless, users smetimes frget that the persn they are cmmunicating with is als human; Behaviur such as hate mail, harassment, discriminatry remarks, plitical r dergatry cmments t individuals r grups and/r any unethical behaviur will nt be tlerated. Users are expected t carefully cnsider the audience fr a message and target the message using an apprpriate distributin list r individual email accunt. In replying t messages, cnsider whether the reply is best sent t an individual, grup f individuals r all. Hardware, sftware, and ther nline resurces which make up the e-learning Ontari system are prvided fr the exclusive educatinal use f all students, parents and teachers and shuld nt be therwise cpied, used r reused in any way, withut the written cnsent f the Ministry f Educatin. These resurces shall nt be used fr cmmercial purpses, prduct advertising, prduct/service purchasing, plitical lbbying, r plitical campaigning. Users are nt permitted t transmit, receive, submit, r publish any illegal, defamatry, abusive, bscene, prfane, racist, threatening, ffensive, sexual, terrrist, witchcraft r cult-riented materials as set by bard plicy. District schl bards will determine the apprpriate actin t take in the event any f these instances ccur as set by bard plicy Plicy Dcument e-learning Ontari, Ministry f Educatin January 30, 2006 Page 9 f 10

Users shuld nly use apprpriate Internet resurces, which teachers r parents wuld apprve f and t leave an inapprpriate site immediately if they encunter it accidentally. All assignments students submit and all tests students take shall be slely perfrmed by them, except where it is requested that they participate in a grup prject. Students must nt submit wrk that is plagiarized r therwise vilates cpyright laws f Canada. Physical r electrnic tampering with cmputer resurces is nt permitted. Damaging r mdifying cmputers, cmputer systems, cmputer netwrks, r ther users' files r prgrams intentinally, including intrducing viruses, will result in cancellatin f privileges. Using anther user s passwrd r trespassing in smene's flders, wrk, r files is prhibited. Attempts t lgn t e-learning Ontari as smene else may result in cancellatin f user privileges. User accunts shall be used nly by the authrized wner f the accunt. Users are respnsible fr all activity within their accunt. Users shuld nt reveal persnal infrmatin t anyne n the Internet r ver the netwrk unless instructed t d s by their teacher r parent/guardian. Users shuld never agree t meet r cntact anyne they cnverse with nline withut their parents' apprval. Users must respect all cpyright laws that prtect sftware wners, artists and writers. Plagiarism r the theft f intellectual prperty in any frm is unacceptable. E-Learning Ontari makes n warranties f any kind, whether expressed r implied, fr the service it is prviding. We assume n respnsibility r liability fr any phne charges, line csts r usage fees, nr fr any damages a user may suffer. Use f any infrmatin btained via the Internet is at yur wn risk. We specifically deny any respnsibility fr the accuracy r quality f infrmatin btained thrugh its services. This Cnditins f Use plicy functins cncurrently as ther enfrced Acceptable Use Plicies. Students, teachers, and ther emplyees f institutins that are under the jurisdictin f Ministry f Educatin (Schl Districts, Schl Authrities, Prvincial Schls) are als bligated t understand and accept all f the cnditins utlined within yur educatinal institutin s cmputer Acceptable Use Plicy (AUP). Fr Parents/Guardians f Students in Ontari, in additin t the cnditins utlined here it is highly recmmended that yu becme infrmed f the cmputer Acceptable Use Plicy (AUP) f yur daughter s/sn s schl/bard. All Users In n way des this e-learning Ontari Cnditins f Use plicy verride, circumvent, r negate any ther Cnditins f Use r Acceptable Use Plicies (such as each district schl bard s Acceptable Use Plicy). It is a cnditin f use f this site that yu understand fully, and accept all f the cnditins stated within yur institutin s AUP. The Cnditins f Use plicy shall be interpreted, cnstrued and enfrced in all respects in accrdance with the laws f the Prvince f Ontari. Each party irrevcably cnsents t the jurisdictin f the curts f the Prvince f Ontari, in cnnectin with any actin t enfrce the prvisins f the Cnditins f Use plicy, t recver damages r ther relief fr breach r default under the Cnditins f Use plicy, r therwise arising under r by reasn f the Cnditins f Use plicy. Plicy Dcument e-learning Ontari, Ministry f Educatin January 30, 2006 Page 10 f 10