Online Participation ContractStudent Name: School Site: Student ID #:

Please read and initial each statement below and return to the Virtual Academy Clerk at either resource center. Please contact your instructor or counseling if you have any questions or concerns.

I agree to ask my teacher questions directly and immediately if I do not understand the instructions or due dates for an assignment.

I agree to organize my time in a way that allows me to thoughtfully and thoroughly complete assignments.

I agree to be responsible for keeping up with assignments, when they are due, and submitting them on time or before they are due.

I understand that technical problems related to computer connections or equipment cannot be used as an excuse for failure to complete assignments or to participate online. I agree to locate the computer hardware, software and Internet connections necessary to stay connected and current with my course work online. I am aware of alternate Internet connections available through the AAV resource centers, my school’s computer labs, the school library, the public library, and any friends, relatives, or neighbors and will access them if my personal computer equipment is not working.

I understand that if I experience technical problems with the courseware, that I must notify my instructor immediately and contact AAV’s PC Tech, Semion Sellers, at 661-943-3031 x118 or ssellers@avhsd.org

I agree to fully participate in online discussion by reading and responding respectfully to my classmates and instructor. I understand that participation is a requirement of this course and that it counts toward my grade.

Parent: Student: _ I agree to check into each class in the online classroom at least 5 days per week and understand that I am expected to be working online a minimum of 5 hours per week, per course.

Parent: Student: _ I understand that each Virtual Academy class is worth 5 credits per semester, and that my grades from each class will be posted permanently on my transcript.

I understand that I cannot drop my Virtual Academy class after 15 days from the beginning of first semester, and after 10 days from the beginning of second semester.

I agree to follow the rules of online learning etiquette provided to me at orientation.

Parent: Student: _ I understand that attendance is required for mandatory meetings at a resource center per instructor's schedule.

Initials

Taking Care of Your DeviceWhether you have a laptop, desktop, or tablet, take good

care of it and it will take good care of you.

Keep work area clean, dry ando dust free

Keep food and drinks away Keep pets away Wash your hands Avoid temperatures above 85° Do not use hand lotion or make-up Avoid touching the screen

Keep cords and cables neat and out of the way Save your work often Don’t block device cooling vents If plugged in use a surge protector Turn off when not in use Don’t set items on top of the device

Special considerations for portable devices:

Store and transport in a protective case Do not store in a car or outside Store in a secure location to avoid theft or unauthorized use

Initials

The Internet is a vast source of information, networking and learning opportunities. But unfortunately we have to be aware that there are people that do not use the Internet responsibly. Here are

some tips to keep you, your information and your device safe!

Use strong passwords that contain upper and lower case letters, numbers and characters and cannot be

guessed easily.Do not share your passwords.

Do not post personal information ANYWHERE even when talking to friends, this includes: Your full name

, your address or phone number.

If you encounter anything that makes you uncomfortablenotify a trusted adult immediately.

Make sure you have anti-virus software installed, up to date and setup to scan email attachments.

This will protect your computer and your information from potential threats.

Initials

Initials

D on ’t s Don’t use bad languageDon’t be a cyber bullyDon’t be criticalDon’t argueDon’t post inappropriate materialsDon’t use text speak

D o’s Do be politeDo be supportiveDo share your knowledgeDo collaborate with othersDo be creativeDo your best work

Do’s and Don’ts of Digital CitizenshipSo you're learning, exploring and collaborating on the Internet, a worldwide electronic neighborhood. Here are some guidelines on

how to be a responsible digital citizen:

REMEMBER, your words are a reflection of

YOU!!!So…how do you want to be seen?

Netiquette:is the correct or acceptable way of communicating on the

Internet including; E-mail and Web 2.0 tools such asblogs, forums, and wikis.

When sending or posting electronic communications, be sureto choose your words carefully, use proper grammar, and

check your spelling. Communicate in a professional positive way and provide relevant clear information.

Getting the Information You NeedYou can use Internet indexes called search engines to find web pages and sites relevant to just about any subject.Some common ones I’m sure you have heard of are:

Google – www.google.com

Bing – www.bing.com

Yahoo – www.yahoo.com

You will need to enter a keyword or words to start the search. Tips for a successful search:

Use words most relevant to the subjectUse nouns (person, place, or thing)Use as few words as possibleUse quotation marks if you want to search those words together

Try using Noodle Quest - http://www.noodletools.com/noodlequest/ it will recommend a search engine site when you tell it what type of information you need!

Initials

Student Signature:

Parent Signature:

Date: