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eCourses FAQ

Health
*Semester Course

Personal Fitness
*Semester Course

Spanish 1-2
*Yearlong Course

Spanish 1-4 (Honors)
*Yearlong Course

eCourses build computer technology and higher-order thinking skills that are critical for success in today’s digital age. Students of eCourses are looking for a high-quality, technology-based alternative to their current learning environment, enjoy flexibility in their school schedule, and seek an academically rigorous high school education.

    • Availability
      • Course materials and assignments are available 24/7 with Internet access.
      • All course materials are available in one place, with in Canvas learning management system.
      • Students use communication tools to contact instructor at any time.
      • Instructors have online office hours during class periods and before/after school.
    • Flexibility
      • Students have more options for classes which may not be offered at their school.
      • When face-to-face classes are full, eCourses may still be an option.
      • eCourses are available any period of the day.
      • eCourses can be taken as an extra class, from home.
    • Acceleration
      • Students are permitted to work at ahead of the expected pace accomplish academic goals faster.
      • On an accelerated schedule, students can complete a yearlong course in one semester.  This allows for two yearlong courses to be completed in one year.
    • Preparation for college / workforce
      • Many colleges now use online courses for core classes.
      • Many jobs require online training.
      • Students learn to communicate effectively using Web 2.0 tools.
  • Students in grades 6-12 are eligible to take Modern Language eCourses.  Health and Personal Fitness eCourses are available for students in grades 8-12.

Students who have a high probability of success generally display the following characteristics:

    • Self-motivated and exhibit characteristics of maturity
      • Students must be willing to take responsibility for their learning.
      • Students follow a pacing guide to stay on track.
    • Possess reading and writing skills at or above their current grade level
      • Most communication with the teacher and classmates is written.
      • Students must be able to understand and follow specific written instructions.
    • Willing to ask the teacher for help
      • Regularly scheduled office hours are available for teachers to speak with students.
      • Online class meetings are held for instruction and student questions.
      • Students must actively seek help when there is a question.
    • Exhibit organizational and time management skills
      • Students are required to take notes for use throughout the course.
      • Students must follow weekly plans closely to not fall behind.
    • Basic Technical Skills
      • Students must be familiar with Google Drive, word processing, recording audio, Internet navigation, etc.
    • Access to computer and Internet (outside the regular school day schedule)
      • For students not taking an eCourse during the school day, access to a computer and Internet must be provided by the parent/guardian of the student.
    • Good Study Environment
      • Whether taking an eCourse at school or from home, students must have a good study environment which is quiet, comfortable, and free of distractions.
  • Students of eCourses are expected to attend and participate in their courses as in face-to-face classes.  For optimal success, students should access their course(s) and submit work daily.  Each course contains a weekly plan for students to follow.  Students may work ahead of the expected pace, but must not fall behind.
  • All course work must be submitted by due dates listed in each course to avoid penalty.
  • Students are expected to spend 4-5 hours each week, per course, on coursework.  If students are on an accelerated pace, to enable completion of two semester courses during one semester, 8-10 hours of coursework is expected each week.
  • Students are expected to maintain high standards of academic integrity.  Refer to Academic Integrity section.
  • Personal Fitness only: Students are expected to spend approximately 2-3 hours of physical activity and 2 hours of online work each week.
  • Summer Courses: Due to the shortened nine-week term, summer sessions require 8-10 hours of coursework each week.
  • Yes. eCourse instructors are Hall County teachers.
  • Teachers provide feedback on student work and maintain regular contact with students.
  • Teachers are available in online conferences and via messaging tools to provide one-on-one and small-group instruction.
  • Students will be assigned a location to attend during a provided class period at their school.
  • Scheduling is flexible to allow for students to take an eCourse as an extra class outside the school day.
  • Students may work anywhere there is internet availability (school, home, etc.).
  • All assignments are submitted online and assess the same curricular standards as in other classroom environments.
  • Students complete multiple types of assignments which include, but are not limited to, speaking/writing assessments, quizzes and tests, creative projects and discussion-based assessments
  • Students take a final exam at the end of each course.
  • Personal Fitness only: Students are required to wear an activity tracker on a daily basis. The Polar activity tracker will be on loan to the students. This will track daily physical activity as well as workout sessions. Parents will need to sign an agreement to replace the equipment if it is lost or damaged.

One important aspect of a student’s education process is to learn honesty in all endeavors. This includes academic honesty.  Students are ultimately responsible for ensuring that all work submitted is authentic, with the work or ideas of others fully and correctly acknowledged. Academic dishonesty is giving or receiving information when students are expected to be working individually, plagiarism (to take and use as one’s own writings or ideas of someone else) and other related acts. Repeated violations of the code will result in referral to an administrator.

The following situations are examples of academic dishonesty:

  • Misrepresenting someone else’s work as a student’s own
  • Giving answers to specific questions from a test to others
  • Plagiarism (to take and use as one’s own writing or ideas of someone else which includes use of an online translator)
  • Purposefully looking at someone else’s work while completing an assignment
  • Copying or submitting someone else’s work
  • Furnishing false or unverifiable information
  • Enrollment  in eCourses is free for students of Hall County schools.  There is no cost for eCourses taken either during the school day or after school.  Out-of-district students must pay tuition.  See the Out-of-District Admission Application for more details.
  • Current course average and individual assignment grades are visible on the Student Grades page in Canvas.  At the end of each term, grades are entered into Infinite Campus for reporting on Progress Reports and Report Cards.  At the end of each semester, final grades are calculated.  The final grade is then added to the student transcript in Infinite Campus.
  • To see up-to-date grades and teacher feedback on assignments, parents can create a Parent Observer Account in Canvas.
  • Reliable Internet access
  • Device with word processing and internet browsing capabilities (desktop/laptop computer, mobile device with screen large enough to read long passages of text)
  • Microphone and Headphones/Speakers
  • Updated computer software (internet browser, flash player, media player, etc.)
  • Notebook for taking notes is essential, just as in other classroom settings.
  • Personal Fitness only: Students are required to wear an activity tracker on a daily basis. The Polar activity tracker will be on loan to the students. This will track daily physical activity as well as workout sessions. Parents sign an agreement to replace the equipment if it is lost or damaged.
  • eCourse instructors invite parents to take an active role in the academic success of their children.  As in other learning environments, parents have an extremely important role.
  • Before enrolling in an eCourse, parents should speak with the student’s counselor to determine if an online class is a good environment for the learner.
  • Once enrolled, parents should encourage the student to actively participate in the course and monitor progress.
  • To see up-to-date grades and teacher feedback on assignments, parents can create a Parent Observer Account in Canvas.
  • Health and Spanish eCourses are offered during the summer. The summer term is an intense session which requires students to work at an accelerated pace to complete one semester (.5 credit) during the nine week period.  Students can expect to spend 8-10 hours each week on coursework.  Students may work ahead of the expected pace, but must meet all course requirements before the summer term deadline.
  • Students interested in eCourses need to speak with a Counselor or Assistant Principal at their school.  Once the online environment is determined to be suitable for a particular student, the Counselor or Assistant Principal can complete the enrollment process.
  • Since enrollment occurs at the beginning of each semester, students must speak with the appropriate individual at their school before the semester begins.
  • As with any other Hall County course taken for Carnegie credit, the student has five school days after enrollment to drop an eCourse without penalty. After five days, the course may not be dropped or changed.
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