K-12 Blended and Online Learning

Syllabus Outline for an Online Unit of Instruction

Template Self-Check

Course Creekland Middle School Did you include course title,

Information Blended STEM class instructor information, grade level,
6th grade subject area, office hours and
Mrs. Elizabeth Huffaker required textbooks or resources?
Office Hours 8:30-3:30
Required Resource: Learning Device (any portable, personal device that
has Wi-Fi access) for face-to-face sessions.
There is not a textbook for this course.

Expected Middle school students Is the expected student audience

Student Grade 6 described? (Are your students in
Audience Cherokee County, GA, USA the USA?)

Teacher Elizabeth.huffaker@cherokeek12.net Did you provide at least two forms

Communication Phone: 770-704-4460 of communication are included in
the syllabus?

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Course Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) class will focus on the Does this clearly identify the
Description grade level standards in science and math through a technology and broad goals or topics to be
engineering approach. covered? Does it outline the
general topics, concepts and skills
Students will learn how to apply problem solving techniques to concepts in to be covered?
the earth, life, physical and chemical sciences.

Through the instruction of the engineering design cycle and the science
contents per grade level, the course will focus on combining those items into
a project/problem-based learning environment while also focusing on
personalized learning.

CHEROKEE COUNTY STEM VISION GOALS

1. INQUIRE, LEARN, APPLY:

Learners will build science and engineering skills through an
ACTIVE process.
2. COLLABORATE, REASON, COMMUNICATE:
Learners will utilize a problem-solving approach
and engage in productive teamwork to solve content-rich real-
world problems.
3. INTERPRET & INTEGRATE:
Learners will link concepts that integrate STEM across all disciplines
guided by the Engineering Design Process.
4. COMMIT:
Teachers will commit to implementing projects that challenge,
engage, and support students while integrating technology tools.

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Learning The students will understand the human challenges associated with space, Are these measurable and/or
Outcomes specifically our solar system, earth, earth’s moon and sun. Students will be observable? Do they describe
able to identify each celestial object with a comprehension of how they what students must know and be
compare to each other in size, habitable environment, atmosphere and able to do? Do they involve some
behavior. Students will address challenges to space travel, life on other cognitive challenge and active
planets and solar power on Earth. learning?

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Topics by Week Did you list the topics to be

Week 1- Introduction to Problem Solving and Engineering covered each week?
Design Cycle (EDC)
Week 2- Continue steps of EDC; including- research and
design.
Week 3- Continue steps of EDC; including- building, testing
and improving.
Week 4- Use EDC to address a problem within the inner
planets of our solar system.
Week 5- Use EDC to address a problem within the outer
planets of our solar system.
Week 6- Earth
Week 7- Earth’s Moon
Week 8- Solar Power
Week 9- Solar Power

Expectations of Students are expected to participate through the Canvas Learning Did you outline class participation
Student Management System daily, including: with descriptions of how it is
Participation  Monday- Access weekly learning content through Canvas LMS and measured (expectations for
follow instructions; evidence of learning. discussion forums, number and
 Tuesday- Participate in weekly discussion through Canvas LMS form frequency of logins, amount of
regarding content; evidence of learning. time in online class, group project
 Wednesday- Participate in lab at school with assigned lab group. participation, synchronous
 Thursday- Submit lab report utilizing OneNote collaboration features sessions, etc.)?
through Canvas; assessment of standards.
 Friday- Complete and submit weekly summative challenge;
assessment of standards.

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Student 1. “ Be respectful. Did you describe the expectations

Communication 2. Be aware of strong language, all caps, and exclamation points. for student behavior when
Expectations 3. Be careful with humor and sarcasm. communicating online?
4. Grammar and spelling matter.
5. Cite any sources.
6. Don’t post or share (even privately) inappropriate material.
7. Be forgiving. “

Borrowed from the Achieve Virtual school in Indiana, see resources.

Please respect one another’s time. All communication should occur within a
week’s time. This is inclusive of peer communication and instructor
communication.

Late Work Policy According to the Creekland Middle School handbook, all late assignments Did you explain the consequences
will be a deduction of 10 points each day late. for not submitting assignments on
If you are aware of upcoming absences or a busy time of year, please time?
request access to upcoming modules so you may work in advance.

Grading Policy According to the Cherokee County School District, our grading policy is as Is a grading policy defined with
follows: point distribution or weighting
90-100 A scheme? Is the grading scale is
80-89 B included?
74-49 C
70-73 D
69 and below F

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Assessments According to the Cherokee County School District, our assessments are Area a variety of assessment
categorized into two categories: types included? Is at least one
assessment requiring either
Evidence of Learning- content activities in Canvas, project research and applying, analyzing, evaluating, or
design, journaling of actions. 50% These will all be graded by participation. creating?
Assessment of Standards- building, testing, evaluating and improving
designs, final products. 50% These will have rubrics provided for grading.

I will return weekly work by Monday of the following week.

Academic Cherokee County School District has a zero tolerance policy for cheating and Do conduct and academic
Honesty plagiarism. The first offense will result in a zero for the assignment. The honesty requirements clearly
second, and subsequent offenses, will result in disciplinary action. explain the policy on cheating and
plagiarism. Are consequences for
Behavior is expected to follow the discipline expectations in the Cherokee inappropriate behavior included?
County School District handbook as well as on the LMS Discipline Course.

Acceptable Use “Acceptable Use -- The purpose of the school Network/Internet is to support Is the Acceptable Use Policy
Policy research and education in and among academic institutions in the United (AUP) described or linked? Are
States and the world by providing access to unique resources and the consequences for noncompliance
opportunity for collaborative work. The use of the network must be consistent described?
with the educational objectives of the School District. Transmission of any
material in violation of any U.S., or state regulation or School District policy is
prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to the following: copyrighted
material, threatening or obscene material or material protected by trade
secret. Use for commercial activities or product advertisement is not
acceptable unless approved by the School District. Use for political lobbying
is prohibited, however, users may communicate with elected officials to
express an opinion on political issues. All users will follow Internet Safety
Guidelines developed by the School District.” (CCSD, 2019).

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Student Right to “The Student Data Privacy, Accessibility, and Transparency Act is a Georgia Did you include the conditions for
Privacy State law that is designed to ensure student electronic data is kept private sharing or not sharing student
and secure from unauthorized access. Any parent or eligible student information?
(“Complainant”) may file a complaint with the local school system if that
individual believes and alleges that a possible violation of rights under the
federal or state privacy and security laws has occurred as a result of the
action or inaction of any School District employee. The complaint form is
available as Appendix M in the Discipline Code Handbook. The complaint
must be submitted in writing to the School District’s Chief Information Officer
as soon as possible upon suspecting a data privacy violation. The Chief
Information Officer or his/her 15 designee will investigate your complaint and
endeavor to provide a response within 15 school days. If a data privacy
violation is confirmed and not resulting from a violation of the Acceptable Use
Policy (IFBG) by a student, the response shall include a plan to address the
data privacy violation.” (CCSD, 2019).

FERPA outline as provided by GaDOE

Technology Devices must have a working wifi connection. CCSD provides the protected Do the technology requirements
Requirements internet access and will alleviate technical problems on their behalf if they outline technical specifications for
should occur. Students/parents are required to maintain satisfactory working student computers? Did you
progress of their own personal devices. describe the procedures to follow
when technical problems occur?
Students should have a basic understanding of Office 365. Please see the
module in Canvas regarding readiness for online learning.

Copyright This course is managed by Elizabeth Huffaker; however, the Cherokee Did you provide a copyright
Statement County School District owns all content. statement and disclaimer that
identifies the owner of the course?
https://www.nextgenscience.org/
https://www.georgiastandards.org/Georgia-Standards/Pages/default.aspx

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Students with Mrs. Huffaker is trained in abiding by and implementing strategies outlined Did you indicate your willingness
Disabilities legal documents, including: Individualized Education Plans (IEP), 504’s, to provide reasonable
Other Health Impairment Plans (OHI), Response to Intervention Plans (RTI), accommodations to a student with
Gifted and English Language Learner (ELL) plans. a disability?

Additionally, Cherokee County School District abides by the special

education laws determined and described through the Georgia Department
of Education. (GaDOE)

Extra Resources:
Microsoft Word dictation
http://www.readwritethink.org/
https://www.khanacademy.org/
https://www.discoveryeducation.com/
https://learninglab.si.edu/
https://gpb.pbslearningmedia.org/student/
http://bjpinchbeck.com/
http://www.gameclassroom.com/
*This document pairs with Designing a Syllabus for an Online Unit of Instruction (Peer Evaluation Checklist) by Lokey-Vega
(2014).

Resources:

Achieve Virtual. “7 Rules for Online Etiquette”. Retrieved from https://achievevirtual.org/7-rules-for-online-etiquette/.

(2019). Cherokee County School System (CCSD) Student/Parent Handbook. Retrieved from
https://www.cherokeek12.net/userfiles/5/my%20files/student%20parent%20handbook%20sy18-
19%20final%207.26.pdf?id=2812.

“Special Ed Services and Support”. Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE). Retrieved from
https://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Special-Education-Services/Pages/default.aspx

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