Student Handbook

Continuous Intake, Non-Semestered Courses

All AMDEC courses with the exception of CHV2O and GLC2O run on a continuous entry, non-semestered basis. Students may begin courses at any time from the first day of school in September until February 14, 2020 with some restrictions. Your local school may require that your courses are completed on a semestered basis. You are required to begin working on your course material as soon as you have been granted access to your course(s) and meet your deadlines by regularly submitting completed modules. While continuous entry provides AMDEC students with a great deal of scheduling flexibility, students must stay focused and organized in order to keep up with work. Once you have been admitted to a course you must:

• regularly login and complete work in your course(s) - at least once weekly per course;
• complete and submit course work within or ahead of your posted deadlines, and
• read all Course News and AMDEC General News posted in your course website.

Semestered Courses

For the 2019-20 school year, CHV2O and GLC2O will be run as semestered courses. Students in these courses have more structure with regard to due dates, report card dates, and exam dates. These students will follow a due dates schedule provided by their teacher and unique to their course.

Once you have been admitted to a semestered course you must:

• login and participate in your course every school day
• complete and submit course work by the deadlines posted by your teacher, and
• read all Course News and AMDEC General News posted in your course website.

Regardless of whether you are registering for a continuous intake or semestered course, if you register for a course that is full, your name will be placed on a waiting list. The student and the enrolling school will be contacted if/when a seat becomes available before the final registration deadline.

When your registration is complete, you will be provided with a Username and password that will allow you to complete the Orientation process. Once you have completed Orientation, you can work on course material at any time of day, and from anywhere, provided you have a computer and Internet access.

There are two components to your online course:

1. Your course website is where you will find announcements from your teacher, access your course material (lessons, assignments, and readings), and participate in class chats and online discussions. You will also find announcements from the AMDEC principal and AMDEC guidance on your AMDEC School page of your course website. Note: The address for your course website is https://amdsb.elearningontario.ca/ All assignments will be submitted to your teacher through your course website.
2. Front Desk (Red Apple Office) is AMDEC's web-based student tracking system that students, parents and schools can use to access the following information:

• Student Details: Review student details including course enrolment, personal and parent/guardian contact information.
• Attendance: Review weekly attendance records for students.
• Module Completion: View which modules you have submitted (S), which modules have been marked (M), and which modules are incomplete or still in progress (I). Please note that there will be a time lag (usually a couple of days) between the time you submit work or receive a returned assignment and the time your teacher records it in this system.
• Achievement: Review report card marks, comments and learning skills. Your midterm and progress 2 report cards will be emailed to your course email. Your final report card will be mailed to your home address via Canada Post.

To access Front Desk, go to https://rao.amdsb.ca/frontdesk/login.asp   Follow the instructions for First Time Visitors in this pdf. The student and parent email addresses that you enter a must match the addresses you provided on the student registration. This is how the system verifies your account and sends an email to your external email address with your Front Desk login information. External email refers to your non-course portal email account that you provided upon registration. Note: Students in the Avon Maitland board will use their GAFE email accounts as their external email.

Students register to take AMDEC courses with the permission of the Ontario secondary school where they are enrolled. The registration process will be completed by the student and the student’s guidance counsellor. Once the student has registered online, a confirmation email will be sent attached to which is the Application for Registration and AMDEC Registration Agreement. The Application for Registration form must be downloaded, printed and signed by the student, the parent/guardian (if the student is under the age of 18) and the principal of the enrolling school and faxed or emailed back to the AMDEC office. Registrations will not be processed until all required paperwork (including school board permission, if required) is received in our office.

Students not currently enrolled in a secondary school, who wish to take AMDEC courses, must first enrol at their local Ontario secondary school. Questions regarding the registration process can be sent by email to AMDEC.guidance@ed.amdsb.ca

Students may be responsible for purchasing hardware, software, texts or supplies. Check the course description under the "Courses" tab above to determine required and recommended supplies for each course.

A successful online student will be:

• Computer literate
• Organized
• Self-directed
• Able to manage his/her time
• A problem solver
• An effective communicator
• Responsible
• Honest
• Willing/able to access textbooks (if required), a working computer and Internet connection.

Regulations made under the Education Act include the following requirements for pupils:

• the student must be diligent in attempting to master such studies as are part of the program in which the pupil is enrolled;
• the student must be courteous to fellow pupils and teachers;
• the student must take such tests and examinations as are required by or under the Act or as may be directed by the Minister.

Summary of Important Dates – Continuous Intake Non-Semestered Courses

 

• September 4, 2018: First day AMDEC classes can begin
• February 15, 2019: Last day to register for these course(s)
• June 7, 2019 (3:00 pm):Final day of the AMDEC non-semestered school year - last day students will be allowed to submit course work (assignments, tests, etc.)
• June 11, 2019: Last day a final examination can be written for these AMDEC course(s).
• June 13, 2019 (3:00 pm): Last day hard copies of examinations will be accepted by AMDEC. Examinations received after 3:00 p.m. on June 13th may not be

Important Dates-Semestered Courses

 

Semester 1

• September 4, 2018: First day AMDEC Semester 1 courses begin
• September 14, 2018: Last day to register for AMDEC semester 1 course(s)
• January 24, 2019 (3:00 pm): Final day of the AMDEC semester 1 - last day students will be allowed to submit course work (assignments, tests,etc.))
• January 28, 2019: Last day a final examination can be written for AMDEC semester 1 course(s).
• January 30, 2019 (3:00 pm): Last day hard copies of examinations will be accepted by AMDEC. Examinations received after 3:00 p.m. on June 31st, 2018 may not be marked.

Semester 2

• December 3, 2018: Registration for semester 2 courses opens for Non-Avon Maitland DSB schools
• February 4, 2019: First day AMDEC semester 2 courses begin.
• February 15, 2019: Last day to register for AMDEC semester 2;
• June 11, 2019 (3:00 pm): Last day a final examination can be written for AMDEC semester 2 course(s).
• June 13, 2019: Last day hard copies of examinations will be accepted by AMDEC. Examinations received after this date may not be marked.
• June 14, 2019 (3:00 pm):Final day of the AMDEC semester 2 - last day students will be allowed to submit course work (assignments, tests, etc.)

• September 28, 2018 PA Day
• October 8, 2018 School Holiday
• November 2, 2018 PA Day
• December 7, 2018 PA Day
• December 24, 2018 to January 4, 2019 School Holiday
• February 1, 2019 PA Day
• February 18, 2019 School Holiday
• March 11, 2019 to March 15, 2019 School Holiday
• April 5, 2019 PA Day
• April 19, 2019 to April 22, 2019 School Holiday
• May 20, 2019 School Holiday
• June 7, 2019 PA Day
• June 28, 2019 PA Day

As an AMDEC student you will spend at least as much time with your online courses as you would expect to spend in a 'face-to-face' course. Each course requires approximately 110 hours of 'classroom' time (reading, learning, corresponding, doing experiments, etc.) with additional 'homework' time (studying and completing assignments). Students need to ask for assistance when it is required by emailing their teacher or attending class chats.

Realistic expectations and solid work habits allow students to enjoy their learning and their interaction with their teachers and peers. Students often require a few weeks to adjust to the online environment and the need to structure their own time.

When your registration is complete, you will be provided with a Username and password that will allow you to complete the Orientation process. Once you have completed Orientation, you can work on course material at any time of day, and from anywhere, provided you have a computer and Internet access.

There are two components to your online course:

1. Your course website is where you will find announcements from your teacher, access your course material (lessons, assignments, and readings), and participate in class chats and online discussions. You will also find announcements from the AMDEC principal and AMDEC guidance on your AMDEC School page of your course website. Note: The address for your course website is https://amdsb.elearningontario.ca/

All assignments will be submitted to your teacher through your course website.

2. Front Desk (Red Apple Office) is AMDEC's web-based student tracking system that students, parents and schools can use to access the following information:

Student Details: Review student details including course enrolment, personal and parent/guardian contact information.

Module Completion: View which modules you have submitted (S), which modules have been marked (M), and which modules are incomplete or still in progress (I). Please note that there will be a time lag (usually a couple of days) between the time you submit work or receive a returned assignment and the time your teacher records it in this system.

Achievement: Review report card marks, comments and learning skills.
See Ch. 3 of this student handbook for more report card information.

Your teacher will regularly post announcements and/or instructions in the Course News area. These postings may include instructions for submission of work, chat cancellation, attendance reminders, etc. It is your responsibility to read these messages and follow the instructions contained within.

Your teacher will normally answer your emailed questions within one school day (not including weekends or holidays) and will normally be able to assess or evaluate the work you have submitted within a week. Occasionally, your teacher may not be able to return marked assignments within a week because of reasons outside of his or her control. If you do not receive feedback from your teacher within two weeks of submitting an assignment, it is reasonable to email him or her to find out the status of your assignment.

Attendance - Non-Semestered Courses

You must login and work on your Non-semestered course at least once every week. If you have more than one Non-semestered AMDEC course, you must login and work on each course at least once weekly.

In order to be recorded as 'present' in your online class, you must do at least one of the following each week in each of your AMDEC courses:

• Submit work to a dropbox in your course or complete an online quiz or test
• Login and complete work in your course (i.e. review your lessons, attend a class chat, participate in an online discussion or email your teacher, etc.)

If you will be away or unable to login to your course(s) for seven consecutive days or more, you must receive approval from the AMDEC vice principal at least three school days before a planned absence. In order for the administration to consider your request, you must be up-to-date with module completion. Use the link found in the Contact AMDEC drop-down on your 'Course Home' page to email the vice principal.

Attendance - Semestered Courses

You must login and work on your Semestered course every school day. If you have more than one Semestered AMDEC course, you must login and work on each course every school day.

In order to be recorded as 'present' in your online class, you must do at least one of the following each day in each of your AMDEC courses:

• Submit work to a dropbox in your course or complete an online quiz or test
• Login and complete work in your course (i.e. review your lessons, attend a class chat, participate in an online discussion or email your teacher from your course email, etc.)

If you will be away or unable to login to your course(s) for seven consecutive days or more, you must receive approval from the AMDEC vice principal at least three school days before a planned absence. In order for the administration to consider your request, you must be up-to-date with module completion. Use the link found in the Contact AMDEC drop-down on your 'Course Home' page to email the vice principal.

General announcements for all AMDEC students are posted on your AMDEC School page. Course specific announcements are posted by your teacher on the ‘Course Home’ page.
It is your responsibility to read all messages posted.

Module Completion Requirements and Due Dates - Non Semestered Courses

Students are responsible for establishing a schedule that meets both AMDEC’s due dates (outlined in the chart below) and their own needs (e.g., completing the course by the end of first semester or meeting post-secondary mark submission deadlines). Your schedule should always keep you well ahead of the due dates given below. Students are encouraged to complete their course(s) prior to the final due date.

Except in exceptional circumstances (e.g., illness) and where an extension has been granted by the AMDEC vice principal, if a student fails to participate in their course(s) weekly, and/or fails to meet the due dates posted below, the student risks being removed from the course(s).

Due Dates and Information for Non-Semestered Courses Due dates are determined by the month when the student is granted access to the course.
Modules up to and including	September Start Date	October Start Date	November Start Date	December Start Date	January Start Date	February Start Date
Module 5	Oct. 26/18	Nov. 23/18	Dec. 21/18	Jan. 25/19	Feb. 22/19	Mar. 8/19
Module 10	Dec. 22/18	Feb. 8/19	Feb. 15/19	Mar. 1/19	Mar. 29/19	Apr. 4/19
Module 15	Mar. 22/19	Apr. 12/19	Apr. 18/19	Apr. 18/19	Apr. 26/19	May 3/19
Module 18	May 24/19	May 24/19	May 24/19	May 24/19	May 24/19	May 24/19
Module 20	June 7/19	June 7/19	June 7/19	June 7/19	June 7/19	June 7/19
Exam	No later than June 11	No later than June 11	No later than June 11	No later than June 11	No later than June 11	No later than June 11
Report cards will be issued after Module 10, 15, and when the course is completed or when the due date has passed, whichever comes first. Interim Progress information will be available for viewing after Module 5
The last day to register for non-semestered AMDEC courses for the 2018-2019 school year is February 15, 2019. All required paperwork must be submitted before 4:00 p.m. on February 20, 2019.
Regardless of start date, all students must have a minimum of 18 modules per course completed by May 24, 2019.
June 7, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. is the last day on which submissions of term work will be accepted.
The last day to write a final exam for a non-semestered course is June 11, 2019. Completed final exams must arrive at the AMDEC office no later than 3:00 p.m. on June 13, 2019..

Maximum module submission per week for non-semestered courses
Sept 4, 2018 - May 24, 2019	2 modules per week per course
May 25, 2018 - June 7, 2019	1 module per week per course

Note:  For GLC2O & CHV2O, students are expected to complete at least half the number of modules for each due date listed above.

Module Completion Requirements & Due Dates – Semestered Courses

While your teacher will provide you with reminders regarding your due dates through News postings and/or emails, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that you are meeting your deadlines
If you submit assignments after their posted due dates, possible consequences of submitting late assignments could include mark deductions, limited or no feedback being given or the assignment being checked for completion only.

It is very important that you are aware of your due dates and plan your time accordingly so that you are able to meet them.

Late Assignments– Non Semestered Courses

While AMDEC will provide you with reminders regarding your due dates through News postings and/or emails, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that you are meeting your deadlines, and you are not submitting more than the maximum number of permitted modules per course, per week (that is, two modules per course, per week between September 5 and May 25 and one module per course, per week between May 28 and June 8).
If you submit in excess of the permitted number of modules per course, per week (without the permission of your teacher), the extra assignments may be returned to you for submission the following week, or the teacher may hold onto the extra assignments to assess the following week (up to the permitted number of assignments per week).

If you submit assignments after their posted due dates, possible consequences of submitting late assignments could include mark deductions, limited or no feedback being given or the assignment being checked for completion only.

It is very important that you are aware of your due dates and plan your time accordingly so that you are able to meet your due dates without submitting in excess of the maximum number of permitted modules per course, per week.

Late Assignments– Semestered Courses

While your teacher will provide you with reminders regarding your due dates through News postings and/or emails, it is ultimately your responsibility to ensure that you are meeting your deadlines
If you submit assignments after their posted due dates, possible consequences of submitting late assignments could include mark deductions, limited or no feedback being given or the assignment being checked for completion only.

It is very important that you are aware of your due dates and plan your time accordingly so that you are able to meet them.

Report Cards - Non-Semestered Courses

AMDEC will issue three reports on your achievement.

Your early progress report will be available for you to view in the Front Desk tracking system only. Your Midterm report cards will be sent as an email attachment to your assigned AMDSB GAFE email. Your final report card will be mailed to your home address. All reports may be viewed in Front Desk.

• Interim When you have completed the first 5 modules of the course, or you have reached your Module 5 due date (whichever comes first), comments regarding your progress will be posted in Front Desk.
• Midterm When you have completed one half of the course work, or you have reached your Module 10 due date (whichever comes first), you will receive your first Ontario Provincial Report Card.
• Progress Report # 2 When you have completed 15 modules of the course work, or you have reached your Module 15 due date (whichever comes first), you will receive your second Ontario Provincial Report Card.
• Final Report When you have completed all of the course work and the final examination or assessment, or the school year ends, you will receive your final Ontario Provincial Report Card.

Note:  GLC2O & CHV2O, students will receive only a Midterm report after the completion of Module 5 or after their Module 5 due date (whichever comes first) and a Final report after the completion of the course or the end of the school year (whichever comes first).

Using their professional judgment, teachers assign progress marks and final grades that represent the student’s most consistent overall level of achievement with emphasis on the more recent assessment. They then convert the levels to percentage grades.
Level 4            80% - 100%
Level 3            70% - 79%
Level 2            60% - 69%
Level 1            50% - 59%
R         failing grade of less than 50%
Mid-term, Progress 2 and final reports will also include grading of student learning skills and work habits. Instead of receiving numerical grades in these categories, students will be given descriptors, from “needs improvement” to “excellent.”

Report Cards - Semestered Courses

AMDEC will issue three reports on your achievement.

Your early progress report will be available for you to view in the Front Desk tracking system only. Your Midterm report cards will be sent as an email attachment to your assigned AMDSB GAFE email. Your final report card will be mailed to your home address. All reports may be viewed in Front Desk.

• Early Progress Report On October 6^th you will recieve your Semester 1 Interim Report Card
  On March 9^th you will recieve your Semester 2 Interim Report Card
• Mid-Term Report On November 14^th you will recieve your Semester 1 Ontario Provincial Report Card.
  On April 24^th you will recieve your Semester 2 Ontario Provincial Report Card.
• Final Report On February 6^th you will be sent your Semester 1 final Ontario Provincial Report Card.
  On June 21^stth you will be sent your Semester 2 final Ontario Provincial Report Card.

Using their professional judgment, teachers assign progress marks and final grades that represent the student’s most consistent overall level of achievement with emphasis on the more recent assessment. They then convert the levels to percentage grades.

• Level 4 - 80%-100%
• Level 3 - 70% - 79%
• Level 2 - 60% - 69%
• Level 1 - 50% - 59%
• R - failing grade of less than 50%

Mid-term, Progress 2 and final reports will also include grading of student learning skills and work habits. Instead of receiving numerical grades in these categories, students will be given descriptors, from “needs improvement” to “excellent.”

Each learning skill will be evaluated as: excellent, good, satisfactory or needs improvement.

Responsibility

The Student

• fulfills responsibilities and commitments within the learning environment;
• completes and submits class work, homework, and assignments according to agreed-upon timelines;
• takes responsibility for and manages own behaviour.

Organization

The Student

• devises and follows a plan and process for completing work and tasks;
• establishes priorities and manages time to complete tasks and achieve goals;
• identifies, gathers, evaluates, and uses information, technology, and resources to complete tasks.

Independent Work

The Student

• independently monitors, assesses, and revises plans to complete tasks and meet goals;
• uses class time appropriately to complete tasks;
• follows instructions with minimal supervision.

Collaboration

The Student

• accepts various roles and an equitable share of work in a group;
• responds positively to the ideas, opinions, values, and traditions of others;
• builds healthy peer-to-peer relationships through personal and media-assisted interactions;
• works with others to resolve conflicts and build consensus to achieve group goals;
• shares information, resources, and expertise and promotes critical thinking to solve problems and make decisions.

Initiative

The Student

• looks for and acts on new ideas and opportunities for learning;
• demonstrates the capacity for innovation and a willingness to take risks;
• demonstrates curiosity and interest in learning;
• approaches new tasks with a positive attitude;
• recognizes and advocates appropriately for the rights of self and others.

Self-regulation

The Student

• sets own individual goals and monitors progress towards achieving them;
• seeks clarification or assistance when needed;
• assesses and reflects critically on own strengths, needs, and interests;
• identifies learning opportunities, choices, and strategies to meet personal needs and achieve goals;
• perseveres and makes an effort when responding to challenges.

All assignments will be assessed either formatively or summatively.

Formative assignments are used as part of the learning process. These assignments give you the opportunity to receive feedback on your learning. They are a required component of the course and must be submitted for teacher feedback, but they will not be assigned grades. Students who do not complete formative assignments will not be prepared to complete summative work.

Summative work includes assignments and tests that are assigned a grade.

All formative and summative work, including any tests, must be completed in order for a module to be considered complete. You may not put off writing a test and continue working on subsequent modules.

All summative assignments are assigned grades based on levels in all or some of the four categories (Knowledge/Understanding, Thinking, Communication and Application). The weighting of each category in the final grade is outlined on the Assessment and Evaluation page in the Course Information unit in each course. In all courses, term work is worth 70% of the final grade and the final evaluation (culminating activity and/or exam) is worth 30%.

In an online discussion, students will be required to post messages, and/or provide constructive feedback to the posting of a fellow student. Check the Assessment and Evaluation schedule to find out which online discussions are required for your course. Online discussions may be part of the summative or formative work.

A test is one type of assessment that is included in some modules. There are two different types of tests that you may be required to complete: online tests and traditional tests (completed using either a word processor or with paper and pen/pencil). Your teacher will provide you with specific instructions regarding each test for your course(s). Please ensure that you pay particular attention to the test instructions. Your allotted test time begins as soon as you open the test.

Regardless of the test method, to verify that a test has been completed according to the teacher's instructions, you must have a responsible adult (over the age of 21) supervise when you are writing a test. You will be required to provide your teacher with your test supervisor's name and email address, either on the test or via an email to your teacher.

There is one thing that we know about computers; they are not always reliable. As a student taking an eLearning course, computer failure is something you must be prepared to deal with. It is recommended that you create a separate folder on your computer's hard drive for each course that you are taking. Use your 'Locker' in your course website to save any assignments on which you are currently working. Then, once the assignment has been completed and submitted to your teacher, save the assignment in the appropriate course folder on your hard drive. It is your responsibility to save copies of all assignments submitted for evaluation. You must make backup copies of all of your work - both partially completed and completed modules (for example, on a USB drive or a CD). Technical issues or computer failure will not be considered an acceptable reason for falling behind with your work. If your computer malfunctions or if you experience technical issues, the expectation is that you find an alternate computer on which to continue your work. Students normally have access to additional computers at their enrolling school, at a friend or relative's house, and/or at a local public library.

Note: You must have up-to-date virus protection software on your computer.

AMDEC teachers are able to accept the file formats listed below. In most courses, however, the preferred file format for regular coursework submission is PDF. There may be some exceptions if your course requires specialized software. If in doubt, be sure to contact your teacher or tech support for clarification.

Word Processors:

• PDF - Portable Document Format (.pdf)
• LibreOffice Writer (.odt)
• OpenOffice Writer (.odt)
• Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx)
• Rich Text Format (.rtf)

When completing assignments, unless you are using specialized software specifically required for your course, please ensure that all assignments submitted are in one of the acceptable file formats noted above (preferably PDF). When working in a software program you can usually save your document as a new file type by clicking the ... File - Save As - function, selecting an acceptable file type and clicking Save. If you are working in Google Docs, you can save your document in an acceptable file type by clicking the File - Download As - ... function, selecting an acceptable file type and saving the document to your hard drive. You can then upload the document to the dropbox from your hard drive.

When creating files to send to your teacher, your files should have meaningful names which reflect the contents of who you are and what you are sending.

Example: Jane Doe has completed the assignment for Module 4 in her ENG2D class. The assignment is from Unit 2, Activity 1, Assignment 3. The file name she will give this document is janedoe-eng2d-m4-U2A1A3 (StudentName-Course-Module#-Assignment). If your name is longer than Jane’s, use the first four letters of your first name and the first four letters of your last name.

Word Processors:

• Do not use spaces in file names,
• Do not use special characters: Such as ! ~ : $ ( ,
• Files must have the proper extension assigned by the computer. The extension is the three or four letters that follow the period, e.g. .pdf, .docx, .xls. Never manually change the extension; use the Save As function to assign an extension/file type to your document.

All email correspondence with your teacher or anyone else in AMDEC should take through the assigned AMDSB GAFE email. You can find a link to email anyone at AMDEC, including your teacher, in the Contact AMDEC link in the Nav bar on your Course Home page. Every email you send must contain a meaningful subject line. Each email sent to your teacher must contain your course code and a module number. In order to help your teacher answer your emailed questions effectively you must be as specific as possible when asking your question. For example, if Jane Doe wants to send an email to ask her ENG2D teacher a question about module 4, the subject line will read: ENG2D M4 Question. In the body of the email provide as much detail as possible about what you are having difficulty understanding. Sending an email to your teacher that says, 'I don't understand Module 4' makes it difficult for your teacher to provide a helpful reply. By telling your teacher specifically which Unit, Activity and Assignment you are having difficulty with, as well as a written explanation of what you are finding confusing, your teacher will be able to provide you with an answer that will assist you to move forward with your work.

If you are taking more than one AMDEC course, it is a good idea to create a separate label for each class and move your mail messages into the appropriate class label. This will keep your mailbox organized and will make it easier to locate correspondence with your teacher for individual courses.

All work is submitted to your teacher through the dropboxes within your course. You can access the dropboxes by clicking on the links on the Assignment pages in your course (if available) or by clicking on the My Class icon in the Navigation Bar at the top of your screen and selecting 'Dropbox'. Before submitting each assignment, double check to ensure you are submitting your assignment to the correct dropbox.

Your teacher will provide feedback on your assignments right within the dropbox. You must check the dropbox regularly to review your teacher's feedback. If you have questions about your teacher's feedback, please send your teacher an email. When you have new feedback on your work, you will see a notification in the Updates widget on your Course Home page. When you go into your dropbox, you will also see the bolded word 'View' in the Feedback column beside the assignment that has been given feedback.

Math Courses

The technology surrounding math courses presents a unique challenge to our students. Therefore, students taking math courses must have access to a scanner so their assignments can be scanned to PDF and submitted to the dropboxes for their course.

Science Courses

Students may be required to perform scientific experiments or work on laboratory type tasks. Parents are required to ensure that adult supervision is provided for these activities if they are completed at home.

Your course Assessment and Evaluation document will indicate whether your course has a final exam. If your course includes a final examination, you are required to write your exam under the supervision of an approved proctor at your enroling school. Your exam will be completed on paper, not on a computer, unless you have an IEP (Individual Education Plan) which specifies that you require a computer to complete your exam. In this case, with prior approval of the AMDEC administration, you will be permitted to complete your exam on a computer. Instructions for arranging and completing your exam can be found later in this chapter.

Non-Semestered Courses

You are encouraged to complete your non-semestered course(s) and write your final exam(s) before the final exam date in June.  All exams for non-semestered course must be completed on or before June 11, 2019.

Semestered Courses

Exams for semestered courses will be written on or before June 13, 2019 on the date specified by your AMDEC teacher.

Your exam proctor is an OCT qualified teacher at your enroling school who will supervise your exam. In most cases, this will be your guidance counsellor or school contact at your school.

Your proctor is responsible for ensuring that your examination is conducted with integrity and in a manner consistent with AMDEC's expectations. Your school contact is responsible for downloading and printing the exam, ensuring the integrity of the exam is maintained as well as returning the original, written copy to our AMDEC office within 3 business days of writing the exam and no later than 3:00 pm on June 14, 2019.

Your exam proctor must be an OCT qualified teacher and must not be:

• your parent or relative, or
• living in the same household as you, or
• your current or previous tutor in the course for which the exam is being written

1. When you are at Module 15 for your course, or at least three weeks prior to examination date (whichever comes first):

• Non-Semestered Courses: Contact your school contact at your enroling school to make arrangements for writing your exam(s). Your school contact is found in the Front Desk tracking system by clicking on Student Details and looking at the School Guidance Contact Email field. Then, send your AMDEC teacher an email indicating the name of the school contact you spoke with at your school to make your exam arrangements and the date you have arranged to write your exam.
• Semestered Courses: Contact your school contact at your enroling school to make arrangements to write your exam(s) on the date specified by your AMDEC teacher. Your school contact is found in the Front Desk tracking system by clicking on Student Details and looking at the School Guidance Contact Email field. Then, send your AMDEC teacher an email indicating the name of the school contact you spoke with at your school to make your exam arrangements and confirm the date you have arranged to write your exam is on the date your teacher has set.

2. One to two weeks prior to the examination date:

• Non-Semestered Courses: Confirm your exam date and time with your proctor. If there are any changes to your originally scheduled exam date, send an email to your AMDEC teacher indicating the revised date you will write your exam.  Be sure to give your AMDEC teacher at least one week's notice of the revised exam date. Please remember that the official proctor for your exam is the person AMDEC has on record as your school contact. This is the only person to whom AMDEC will email your final exam.
• Semestered Courses: Confirm your exam arrangements with your proctor.

3. Two days before the examination is scheduled to be written:

• Both non-semestered and semestered courses: Your teacher will email your exam (including a page of instructions for your exam proctor) to your school contact, who will print the exam for you to write. Contact your school contact/proctor to confirm that the examination has been received. If your school contact has not received your examination, please notify your teacher immediately.

4. The day of the examination:

• Both non-semestered and semestered courses: Arrive at the examination location at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of the examination. If the proctor does not know you, bring photo identification to verify your identity.

Your school contact is responsible for sending the completed examination and the Examination Declaration form to AMDEC (sending by trackable courier is highly recommended).  Instructions for doing so are included on the page of instructions sent to the proctor along with your exam). AMDEC will not be responsible for any expenses incurred for writing your exams or sending your exams to the AMDEC office. The final day on which students may write an exam is June 11, 2019. Your written examinations must be received in our AMDEC office no later than 3:00 p.m. on June 13, 2019.

Your Final Report Card

Your final mark will not be awarded unless our office has received both the original, written copy of the examination and the signed Examination Declaration Form.

Students from AMDSB who plan to write their final AMDEC exam before June 1 will follow a different set of procedures than an AMDSB student who plans to write their AMDEC exam between June 1 and June 12.

If you plan to write your exam before June 1 follow the 4 steps below.  If you plan to write your final exam after June 1, scroll down to find your instructions.

Writing an AMDEC exam before June 1 (non-semestered courses only):

1. When you are at Module 15 for your course, or at least three weeks prior to examination date (whichever comes first):

• Contact your guidance counsellor to make arrangements for your AMDEC exam(s). Then, send your AMDEC teacher an email indicating that you have contacted your proctor and made arrangements to write your exam. Then, send your AMDEC teacher an email indicating the name of the school contact you spoke with at your school to make your exam arrangements and the date you have arranged to write your exam.

2. One to two weeks prior to the examination date:

• Confirm your exam date and time with your proctor. If there are any changes to your originally scheduled exam date, send an email to your AMDEC teacher indicating the revised date you will write your exam.  Be sure to give your AMDEC teacher at least one week's notice of the revised exam date.

3. Two days before the examination is scheduled to be written:

• Your AMDEC teacher will email your exam (including a page of instructions for your exam proctor) to your AMDSB AMDEC exam contact, who will print the exam and give it to your exam proctor.
• Contact your proctor to confirm that the examination has been received. If your school contact has not received your examination, please notify your teacher immediately.

4. The day of the examination:

• Arrive at the examination location at least 15 minutes before the scheduled start time of the examination. If the proctor does not know you, bring photo identification to verify your identity.

Your AMDSB AMDEC exam contact is responsible for sending your completed examination to the AMDEC Office in the AMDSB courier.

Writing a final exam between June 8 and June 11 (both non-semestered and semestered courses):

The AMDEC office will print your exam and send it to your school.  Your school will make arrangements for you to write your final exam(s) at your school on June 11,2019.  You are responsible for contacting your guidance counsellor or your AMDSB AMDEC Exam contact to determine the date, time and location of your final exam. Your written examinations must be received in our AMDEC office no later than 3:00 p.m. on June 13, 2019.

Your final mark in your AMDEC course will not be awarded unless our office has received both the original, written copy of the examination and the signed Examination Declaration Form (for exams written before June 1) or the exam sign in page (for exams written after June 1).

All AMDEC students have access to the AMDEC Guidance Office. Students can access the Guidance Office, by clicking on the 'Guidance' link in the AMDEC - General Information and Resources widget on their 'Course Home' page in their course. Students can use this area to access Guidance-related information as well as other resources and tips to help them be more successful completing courses within the AMDEC environment. Students who are registered with AMDEC concurrently through their home school should always speak with their home school guidance department regarding personal issues, post-secondary options and career choices. If required, private guidance chats with the AMDEC guidance counsellor may be requested by email using the ‘Contact the Guidance Department’ icon found in the 'Contact AMDEC' drp-down on their 'Course Home' page in their course.

Course Information

Information About Graduation Requirements

• Inquiries about transcripts
• Course selection questions

Career Exploration

• Regular postings bout career exploration resources
• Information about fields of work
• Information about government programs
• Educational Opportunities

Post-Secondary Exploration and Information

• Information on application and mark submission procedures to OCAS and OUAC
• Scholarship Information
• Information about post-secondary pathways

Please note: When applying to post-secondary institutions, it is the student's responsibility to ensure that s/he has met diploma requirements and completed the prerequisites for the program to which s/he is applying. For students registered concurrently with their local school, it is the local school’s responsibility to submit marks to OUAC and OCAS for their student’s AMDEC courses. If you are registered only with AMDEC, you must inform AMDEC's guidance counsellor of your post-secondary plans and work with the Guidance Office to complete the application process.

Students must earn 30 credits in order to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma: A) 18 compulsory credits as follows:

• 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade, must have course codes beginning with “ENG”)
• 1 credit in French as a second language
• 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
• 2 credits in science
• 1 credit in Canadian history
• 1 credit in Canadian geography
• 1 credit in the arts
• 1 credit in health and physical education
• .5 credits in civics
• .5 credit in career studies

Plus one credit from each of the following groups:

• Group 1 credit: additional credit in English, or French as a second language,** or a Native language, or a classical or an international language, or social sciences and the humanities, or Canadian and world studies, or guidance and career education, or cooperative education***
• Group 2 credit: additional credit in health and physical education, or the arts, or business studies, or French as a second language,** or cooperative education***
• 1 Group 3 credit: additional credit in science (Grade 11 or 12), or technological education, or French as a second language,** or computer studies, or cooperative education***
• A maximum of 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English literacy development (ELD) may be counted towards the 4 compulsory credits in English, but the fourth must be a credit earned for a Grade 12 compulsory English course.
• **In groups 1, 2, and 3, a maximum of 2 credits in French as a second language can count as compulsory credits, one from group 1 and one from either group 2 or group 3. ***A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education can count as compulsory credits.

B) The 12 optional credits may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit courses

C) Other diploma requirements

• Complete 40 hours of community involvement activities
• Successfully complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

Once you have started with AMDEC, any timetable/course changes must be made through the school where you are registered. You can access the AMDEC Timetable Change form from the Students Page or Guidance Counsellors page of our http://www.amdec.ca/ website.

You will be able to add additional courses until

Semester 1 September 14, 2018

Semester 2 February 15, 2019

If:

• there is space available in the class, and
• you are keeping up with your module completion schedule/due dates, and
• you have the necessary prerequisite course, and
• AMDEC receives an AMDEC Course Add/Drop form from your local school, complete with all required signatures before 4:00 p.m. 3 business days following the last possible registration date..

To withdraw from a course, you must complete the AMDEC AMDEC Course Add/Drop form and take the form to your school contact to be signed. Your school must fax the completed form, with all required signatures, to our AMDEC office. No requests to withdraw from a course will be processed without a completed form. This form is available on the Guidance Counsellors section of our http://www.amdec.ca/ website. It is good etiquette to inform your teacher of your decision to drop the course.

If a student withdraws from a grade 11 or 12 course within five instructional days following the issue of the second provincial report card (module 15 report), the withdrawal is not recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript (OST). If the student withdraws from a course after the time allowed, the withdrawal is recorded on the OST by entering a “W” in the “Credit” column. The student’s percentage grade at the time of the withdrawal is recorded in the “Percentage Grade” column.

There is a fee of $10 when you ask AMDEC to issue an official transcript. The $10 fee (per transcript) must be submitted, along with your written transcript request, as a money order or certified cheque made payable to Avon Maitland District School Board. Please make sure to include in your written transcript request the specific information of where you would like the transcript sent (contact name and department, name of institution, exact mailing address, if applicable, a reference number or student number, etc.).

Please mail your transcript request and money order or certified cheque to:

Avon Maitland District eLearning Centre Box 729, 165 Princess Street East., Clinton, Ontario, N0M 1L0

Email and chats (public and private) may be read by your teacher, the guidance counsellor, the AMDEC vice-principal, the AMDEC principal, other Avon Maitland District School Board administrators, and/or the AMDEC technicians.

Information acquired through phone conversations, in person, or contained in emails sent to to AMDEC, will be stored, either electronically or on paper, in the administrative system of AMDEC, or in the student’s file. This information may be retained as long as the student attends AMDEC and for the following five years. This information will remain confidential within the AMDEC office.

Staff may be required, by law, to report to the proper authorities when a dangerous or illegal situation involving a student is suspected.

"Students who are at risk for imminent self-harm may need to have a mental health assessment and information may need to be shared without their consent. A counsellor who possesses information about a student who poses a physical threat to another person may also need to act without the consent of the student."

(OSCA Ethical Guidelines for Ontario School Counsellors, 2014)

In addition, Bill 157 was enacted into law on June 1, 2009, as the "Education Amendment Act (Keeping Our Kids Safe at School), 2009", and came into force on February 1, 2010.

Under the new legislation:

• all school staff are required to report serious student incidents, such as bullying, to the principal, so the principal can respond appropriately;
• principals are required to contact the parents of victims of serious student incidents;
• school staff who work directly with students are required to respond to incidents that could have negative impact on school climate (e.g., racial or homophobic slurs), as well as to those that could lead to suspension or expulsion.

Begin your post-secondary research by exploring the many resources offered through the Ontario College Application System (OCAS) and the Ontario University Application Centre (OUAC). Be diligent in your attention to detail and your communication with the Guidance Office at your enrolling school in order for your university or college application process to proceed accurately.

When applying to a college or university in the province of Ontario, you will apply through OCAS or OUAC. It is very important that you understand the application process, that you observe important dates, and that you communicate your plans with the guidance office at your home school. If you are applying to college or university for the upcoming winter or fall session, you should make sure to inform your AMDEC teacher(s) that you have, or plan to apply for college or university acceptance.

Please understand that it is your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of all OUAC and OCAS mark submission dates. It is also your responsibility to make sure that all required work is completed and submitted at least 2 weeks prior to OUAC/OCAS mark submission dates so your mark will be available in time for the mark submission dates.

Concurrent (shared) registrants: AMDEC students who are registered with AMDEC through their local secondary school must apply to OUAC or OCAS through their local/ home school. Your local/home school will submit your information and marks (including marks in your AMDEC course) to OUAC or OCAS.

Non-concurrent registrants (students whose Ontario School Record is being held by AMDEC): It is important that you inform the AMDEC Guidance Office as soon as you start your AMDEC courses that you have applied, or plan to apply, to OUAC or OCAS. AMDEC is able to electronically transmit transcripts and mark updates to OCAS and OUAC only for students who are enrolled directly with AMDEC, and not enrolled concurrently with another school. Students need to watch the Guidance Office area found in the AMDEC - General Information and Resources widget on their 'Course Home' page of their course for postings about the application process.

Students with special learning needs are responsible for reviewing with the principal of the home/enrolling school any special needs before registering in eLearning courses.

It is the responsibility of the principal of the home school to recommend to the student whether an AMDEC eLearning course is appropriate for the student and to correspond with the principal or vice principal of AMDEC regarding any special needs. Differentiated instructional practices are employed as appropriate to individual courses.

The provision of accommodations for a student with an existing Individual Education Plan (IEP) is limited, and restricted by the nature of the program. For those students whose local/home school provides accommodations based upon those assessed needs described in the IEP (e.g., extra time, quiet assessment setting, access to technology such as a computer and software), it is the responsibility of the home school in which the student is registered to consult with the principal or vice principal of AMDEC and to provide these accommodations as deemed appropriate.

In the case of students who are not registered in a secondary school other than AMDEC, consideration of accommodations detailed in an existing IEP is the prerogative of the principal of AMDEC. The online learning environment does not allow for courses to be modified, for the provision of additional staff, or for the provision of equipment supports.

Avon Maitland District School Board’s Statement on Academic Honesty The Avon Maitland District School Board values the highest standards of academic conduct. Research for essays, assignments, and projects is an important part of the academic process. We want our students to learn proper procedures for citing the work of others and succeed by being honest about the work that they submit. A variety of research methods which are appropriate to the subject, grade and course type are taught to help students avoid plagiarism (the uncredited work of someone else from sources such as the Internet, books, magazines and other sources), a kind of fraud. Students are strongly encouraged to work with their teacher to ensure that the work submitted is honest and reflects the student’s best work.

AMDEC prohibits dishonesty in connection with any school activity. Cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the school are examples of academic dishonesty.

More specifically, the following are a few examples of academic dishonesty:

• substituting on an exam for another student
• substituting in a course for another student
• paying someone else to write a paper and submitting it as one's own work
• copying with or without the other person's knowledge during an exam or test or on an assignment
• doing class assignments for someone else
• plagiarizing published material, class assignments, or lab reports
• turning in a paper that has been purchased from a commercial research firm or obtained from the Internet
• padding items of a bibliography
• obtaining an unauthorized copy of a test in advance of its scheduled administration
• using unauthorized notes during an exam
• collaborating with other students on assignments when it is not allowed
• fabricating data
• giving an assignment, test, test answers, exam, or exam answers to current or potential students

Plagiarism is a specific kind of academic dishonesty in which one person steals another person's ideas or words and falsely presents them as the plagiarists' own product. This is most likely to occur in the following ways:

• using the exact language of someone else without the use of quotation marks and without giving proper credit to the author
• presenting the sequence of ideas or arranging the material of someone else even though such is expressed in one's own words, without giving appropriate acknowledgment
• submitting a document written by someone else but representing it as one's own

Careful attention to your own academic duties is the best way to avoid allegations of academic dishonesty. If you are asked to do something that you feel is wrong or unethical, it probably is. Aiding someone in committing an academically dishonest act is just as serious as receiving the aid. The following tips may help you avoid problems:

• Protect your computer login identifications and passwords.
• Since it is impossible to write everything with complete originality, use quotation marks, footnotes, and parenthetical textual notes to acknowledge other peoples' words or ideas employed in your paper.
• Check with your teacher for proper techniques for citations and attribution if you have any doubts.
• Do not include sources in a bibliography or reference list if you have not used the sources in the preparation of your paper. To list unused sources is called padding the bibliography.
• Do not acquire previous papers, lab reports, or assignments used in a course with the intention of copying parts or all of the material. Consult with your teacher on how such materials may be used as general guides.
• Keep rough drafts and copies of papers submitted in courses.
• Do not share your current or former assignments, projects, papers, etc. with other students to use as guides for their work.
• Check with your teacher before turning in a paper or project you submitted in another course.

All instances of academic dishonesty will be investigated thoroughly and reported to AMDEC’s principal, vice principal, the student's parents (if the student is under the age of 18), and the enrolling school as necessary. Students who are found to have violated AMDEC's academic honesty policy will receive a consequence as determined by AMDEC's principal and/or vice principal. These consequences may range from having to redo the original assignment, completing an alternative assignment, receiving a mark penalty on the assignment to ultimately being removed from the course.

Improving communication skills is a key focus for the Avon Maitland District School Board. Therefore, all AMDEC communications should reflect the writer’s best use of writing rules and conventions. Each student is unique and different from every other person. In order for students and teachers to work together successfully, given our individual differences, we must practice common courtesy and display good manners in all our interactions with each other and this is even more important in an online learning environment. In order to be a successful online communicator, keep in mind the following:

• You are expected to be courteous and considerate in your dealings with others.
• You are not permitted to harass others verbally or physically nor are you allowed to use profane or improper language during chats, email or any other personal or electronic communication.
• While personal email communication often involves short forms, creative spelling and slang, you are reminded that AMDEC is a school. Any and all communication with your teachers, the principal, the vice principal, the coordinator, the Guidance office, the office, and/or tech staff must be in full sentences and include appropriate grammar, punctuation and correct spelling. Include a meaningful subject line with every email that you send.
• You are not to give any personal information to your classmates. As with any online environment, you should never give out your address, telephone number, personal email address or descriptive personal information about yourself. Whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information online (e.g., on social networking sites, blogs, through email, or in chat areas) that information can be collected and used by others. In short, if you post personal information online that is accessible to the public, you may receive unsolicited messages from other parties in return. Ultimately, you are solely responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your passwords and/or any account information. Please be careful and responsible whenever you're online.
• You are required to communicate with your teacher with the same degree of respect that is required in a traditional classroom setting. If you are disrespectful in an email, a chat, or in the discussion area, a copy of the email or chat will be forwarded to AMDEC's principal, vice principal and/or coordinator. Where appropriate, your school and parent(s)/guardian(s) (if you are under 18) will also be informed. You will be warned about unacceptable behaviour and in some cases suspended. If the behaviour persists, you will be removed from the course.
• Class chats and discussions are places for discussion related to the course, not for conversations of a personal nature. "Spamming" is strictly prohibited; that is, you are not allowed to send messages to all people in the class or others within our communication system.
• Signature lines are sometimes used to add “personality” to emails. AMDEC is a public secondary school, and staff and students are expected to be empathetic and respectful toward one another. Therefore, you should avoid including an opinion or sentiment in the signature line of your emails. If you use a signature line, it should be restricted to your name and a list of your AMDEC courses. The privilege of adding a signature line to your emails may be taken away if it is misused.
• Students are not permitted to email, chat or correspond with other students within their course unless under the direct supervision of an AMDEC teacher or administrator.

The following statements below highlight acceptable email practices that you are expected to follow

• Do keep messages short and to the point.
• Do review messages before you send them to make sure they are clear.
• Do be as polite as possible; terseness can be taken as hostility.
• Do give correspondents the benefit of the doubt; try not to assume the worst. Do be patient with inexperienced email users.
• Do be sure to include the portion of the message you're replying to in your reply - people often forget the original context.
• Do be sure that the subject line reflects the subject of your message.
• Do read your email often.
• Do answer your email promptly.
• Do use abbreviations and emoticons cautiously. Abbreviations and emoticons may be a way to save keystrokes, but if the person receiving the email doesn't understand, the point to the email may be lost, or worse yet, misinterpreted.

The following statements summarize unacceptable email practices which you should avoid.

• Do not send a message when you’re angry; cool down, look at the message again and then decide whether you really want to send it.
• Do not copy an entire, large message in your response just to add a line or two of commentary.
• Do not reply to “all recipients” unless they all need to see your reply.
• Do not type in capital letters; this is SHOUTING and is considered rude.
• Do not use unusual fonts and text colours which can make your message difficult to read.
• Do not send off-topic messages to mailing lists.
• Do not “spam” (broadcast messages to multiple lists and/or individuals regardless of their interest in your message).
• Do not send chain letters or messages. This not only violates AMDEC policies, but may also violate federal law.
• Do not edit quoted messages to change the overall meaning.
• Do not forward a personal message without the author's consent.