Online Learning Handbook

A guide for students and their families

Updated 20 March, 2020

A message from our Principal

Our team are deeply committed to the vital role that education plays in shaping the lives of our young people. We understand that at times, even with events out of our control, our young people cannot physically attend school. In these cases, we have prepared Online Learning measures to ensure that our students’ learning is not compromised by the physical distance between students and the school.

I am deeply grateful for advances in digital technology; our hard-working team – including their flexibility and innovation in facilitating this platform – as well as for the families at home who will work with our teachers to support their child’s learning. We thank you for this important partnership.

-- Ms Lyndy Clowry

What does online learning mean?

In the event that a student is unable to attend our physical school environment, we have created a virtual environment using Google Classrooms and our school’s Sentral portal to ensure the continuity of students’ learning. This can also be referred to as ‘Remote Learning’ or ‘Digital Learning’.

Sarah Redfern High has been working closely with the Department of Education and our teaching teams to ensure that online learning spaces have been created for all students, in all courses, across all year groups 7 – 12.

In each virtual classroom, students will be assigned a range of learning tasks by their teachers to complete while they are away from the physical school; these include research, problem-solving, creative and critical thinking activities. In these Google classrooms, students will also have the ability to engage with their teacher, ask questions, collaborate with their peers, submit work and also receive feedback from teachers. On our school’s Sentral Student Portal, students will also be able to access daily messages and resources as though they were at school.

How can online learning be accessed?

By using their Department of Education username and login, students are able to access a large suite of Google Classrooms on their Student Portal. The following codes enable students to enter a virtual classroom from the G-Suite on their Portal. For example, a student in Year 7 will need to access ten (10) curriculum classrooms, plus their Wellbeing page (eg. Class of 2025).

Additionally, students are also able to access the SRHS Sentral Student Portal (accessible through the school’s website: https://sarahredfe-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/) where they can access daily notices.

Online Learning Routine: Remote Timetable

If students are not at school, it’s important to establish a pattern or routine to ensure that students are working in a settled environment for their learning. The following routine, referred to as a ‘Remote Timetable’ is suggested to allow students flexibility and break times that support learning. These times are slightly different from the day-to-day timetable from a usual school day.

Online Expectations of Students

Just like a physical school environment, it’s important that students conduct themselves appropriately when engaging with their learning online. As students within the Department of Education, the principles of the Behaviour Code for Students apply. These are listed below.

As students of Sarah Redfern High, the school rules of being RESPECTFUL, being RESPONSIBLE and being a LEARNER still apply in the digital world.

The following points provide a guide for students engaged in online learning:

Students are to follow a daily routine for learning Students are to contact their teachers proactively if they require support Students are to maintain respectful communication with all teachers and students. This

includes appropriate language in all online posts, emails and submitted work. Students are to enrol in their own Google Classrooms; not entering other courses or groups Students need to do their best in completing work according to timelines and due dates Students are required to complete tasks with integrity and academic honesty (no plagiarism) Students are required to comply with the Department’s Student Use of Digital Devices and

Online Services Policy (https://policies.education.nsw.gov.au/policy-library/policies/pd-2020-0471). Students are required to comply with the Department’s Behaviour Code for Students (included

overleaf).

Please note that if students are not adhering to these rules and codes of behaviour, the school’s regular Behaviour Management system and consequences still apply.

Advice for Parents and Carers

We ask that you support your child’s Online Learning by:

• establishing routines and expectations • defining a space for your child to work in • monitoring communications from teachers • beginning and ending each day with a check-in • taking an active role in helping your children process their learning • encouraging physical activity and/or exercise • checking in with your child regularly to help them manage stress • monitoring how much time your child is spending online • keeping your children social, but set rules around their social media interactions.

Communication It is vitally important to maintain communication when students are engaged in online learning. We encourage you to start and finish each day with a simple check-in. These check-ins need to be a regular part of each day and start straight away. Not all students thrive in a remote learning environment; some struggle with too much independence or lack of structure and the check-ins help keep them on track. For example, in the morning, ask:

• what are you learning today? • what are your learning targets or goals? • how will you be spending your time? • what resources do you require? • what support do you need?

And in the afternoon, ask:

• what did you learn today? • acknowledge one thing that was difficult. Either let it go or come up with a strategy to deal with

the same problem if it comes up again • consider three things that went well today. Why were they good? • are you ok? Do you need to ask your teacher for something? Do you need help with something

to make tomorrow more successful?

These specific questions matter because they allow your child to process the instructions they have received from their teachers and help them organise themselves and set priorities. Older students may not want to have these check-ins with parents (this is normal!), but they should anyway.

Wellbeing Being confined to home for an extended period of time can cause stress and conflict. Tips for supporting your child’s learning at home can include:

• Talking to your whole family about what is happening. Understanding the situation will reduce their anxiety.

• Help your children to think about how they have coped with difficult situations in the past and reassure them that they will cope with this situation too.

• Exercise regularly. Options could include exercise DVDs, dancing, floor exercises, yoga, walking around the backyard or using home exercise equipment, such as a stationary bicycle, if you have it. Exercise is a proven treatment for stress and depression.

• Encourage your children to keep in touch with family members and friends via telephone, email or social media (where appropriate).

Need assistance? If your child requires assistance with their learning, we ask them to contact their teachers through Google Classroom as soon as possible. Just like students will be balancing their learning at home, teachers will also be working with many students online – we ask for your patience at peak times.

In the event that a student is unable to access online learning for any reason, we ask you to contact the school as a matter of urgency so that our team can arrange hard copies of learning tasks.

Similarly, if you have any further queries, we ask you to contact our office during office hours on 9820 1566, or alternatively, send an email to sarahredfe-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au (We ask you to please place the staff member you’re seeking in the subject line).

For further resources and information, please visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/curriculum/learning-from-home/advice-to-parents-and-carers