REMOTE LEARNING GUIDE

GULF ASIAN ENGLISH SCHOOL - SHARJAH

GULF ASIAN ENGLISH SCHOOL VERSION 1.0 29 MARCH 2020

A. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................. 2
B. GENERAL ADVISORY .................................................................................................................... 2
C. TIMING ............................................................................................................................................ 2
GRADES 10 AND 12: ............................................................................................................................................... 2
GRADE 9 AND 11:................................................................................................................................................... 2
D. TIMETABLE .................................................................................................................................... 2
E. SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS ............................................................................................................. 2
STUDENTS - ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES .............................................................................................................. 2
PARENTS – ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES ................................................................................................................ 3
F. LEARNER REFLECTION AWARDS ................................................................................................ 4
G. ACCESS TO LEARNING ENVIRONMENT ...................................................................................... 4
H. HELP DESK CONTACT .................................................................................................................. 4
I. MINIMUM DEVICE SPECIFICATION ............................................................................................... 4
WINDOWS ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
MAC ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
LINUX................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5
ANDROID ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
IOS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5
CONNECTIVITY................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
J. APPLICATION YOU MAY REQUIRE............................................................................................... 5
K. REMOTE LEARNER AGREEMENT ................................................................................................ 5
L. FEEDBACK / REVIEW .................................................................................................................... 6
M. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .......................................................................................... 6
N. THOUGHTS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES ............................................................................... 9

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A. INTRODUCTION

Transitioning to a remote learning environment—especially on short notice and in challenging

circumstances—can take some adjustment for both you and your children. PACE Education
group is moving to remote learning as per MOE instructions, here we present this comprehensive
guide for your understanding and support.

B. GENERAL ADVISORY
Children are advised to be safe and be at home during this difficult time. This is also a good time
to encourage them to focus on their exercise routine and reading habits. Do set aside a
distraction free workspace for your child to engage with the learning during this time. School will
conduct the lessons both synchronous and asynchronous manner. We are keen to use this period
to get the students to self-regulate as much as possible. So, parents, as much as you are tempted
to, refrain from hovering around and trust your children to learn what has been set out for them
by their teachers. They will surprise you with their maturity! Regular attendance for the classes
will be marked. If your child is unable to attend the remote learning on a day due to illness, you
are requested to inform the respective class teacher.

C. TIMING
Grades 10 and 12:
Remote Learning for Grade 10 and 12 will commence from Sunday, 29th March 2020.
Grade 9 and 11:
Remote Learning for Grade 9 and 11 will commence from Sunday, 05th April 2020.

D. TIMETABLE
The day has been structured to keep students on track and organize themselves. Grade wise
timetable is being sent along with this document. Please refer to the document – ‘REMOTE
LEARNING TIMETABLE – Gulf Asian English School’

Timetable is scheduled for 5 periods a day and covers all the major subjects including Ministry
Subjects

E. SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS

STUDENTS - ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

 Find a comfortable place at home where you can study and learn.
 Dedicate appropriate time to learning, as guided by the lessons provided by your teachers.
 Check emails daily for updates.

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 Submit all assignments on time.
 Follow the timetable provided by the school.
 Login to your devices and be ready with your books and stationery in advance to avoid any
distraction in between the session.
 Take notes during lessons as in the regular classes. Separate notebook for each subject to be
maintained.
 Your teacher may ask for your notebooks for submission once regular classes are reinstated.
 Contact the concerned subject teachers for the clarification of doubts.
 Utilize minimum 5 hours per day for effective learning of the digital lessons.
 Missing the sessions would affect your overall attendance percentage and overall
performance.
 Be safe and responsible online. Do not share your password with anyone.
 Disturbing online session behaving inappropriately during question session or posting
inflammatory messages is against the UAE Cyber Crime Law.
 All communication on the online platforms is considered as private conversation and if shared
publicly is a violation of school policy.
 All content published on the google platform or the content sent to the student is the
ownership of PACE Group of Schools and cannot be shared, copied or distributed.
 Any misdemeanor will lead to strict sanctions as per school policy.
 Interact patiently and respectfully with teachers and peers.
 Convey any difficulty that you may face by responding through digital platform.
 Explore and use the platform only for educational purpose.
 Use the internet facility judiciously for the purpose of learning.
 Challenge yourself to learn something new every day.
 Always remember to practice digital citizenship.

PARENTS – ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

 Earmark a designated work area for your child, away from distractions.
 Ensure that your child has access to a suitable device like a laptop/ tablet with the necessary
technical requirements.
 Ensure that your ward logs in at the correct time for the scheduled sessions.
 Monitor the students for the judicious use of the internet.
 Ensure that the given timetable is followed.
 Ensure the child is attending all the sessions and submitting the assignments and quiz on
time.
 Your child’s attendance is marked daily. Missing the sessions would affect his/her overall
attendance percentage and performance.
 School will monitor the progress of the ward periodically and assessment will be done based
on the assignment completion.
 Set time aside during the day to Reflect/ have a conversation with your children to speak
about any difficulty that he/ she may have faced during their remote learning sessions.
 Please encourage your child to clarify doubts and don’t hesitate to escalate it to the
concerned Supervisor or contact the Help Desk. Please note that every query may not be
responded to immediately, but it will be responded with in due time.
 The overall wellbeing of your ward is also a key priority. Please ensure the students have
good routine for their physical and mental wellbeing. This can be achieved through limiting
screen time for educational purpose only supported by a healthy routine with proper balance
of sleep, water, food and exercise including breaks during the learning sessions.

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F. LEARNER REFLECTION AWARDS
Reflection is an important element of learning and gives students an insight into how they can
improve their learning. The expectations standards are clearly defined as:

Well Above Expectations

Above Expectations
Meets Expectations
Below Expectations
Well Below Expectations

We will award these reflections to students on bi-weekly basis based on punctuality, timely
submission of assignments and the assessments. We wish all students to achieve Well Above
Expectations.

G. ACCESS TO LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

You must have an active internet connection to sign in. PACE Group of Schools will use Google
Classroom and Zoom as the digital platforms for the Remote Learning.

Sign into the Google Classroom can be accessed through the following URL:

https://classroom.google.com

Access Zoom app through the URL mentioned in respective Google Classroom session.

Please use the credentials (Shared separately through your email) for accessing the classroom.
For detail steps to access the platform, please refer to the ‘Sign-In Guide – Gulf Asian English
School’ shared along with this guide.

H. HELP DESK CONTACT

For academic or technical support, refer to the contact list below:

CONTACT LIST TELEPHONE EMAIL ADDRESS WhatsApp CONTACT

IT Help Desk
Learning / Curriculum
+971 6 5438000 rl@gulfasian.com +971 6 5340000
Non-Attendance
Emergency Matters

I. MINIMUM DEVICE SPECIFICATION

Your computer should meet the minimum system requirements before you install and run Google
Classroom and Zoom app for Remote Learning. It's possible that application may install on other
platforms or versions not listed here. However, the application support is limited to systems that
meet the minimum requirements.

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 Windows
To use the digital platform on Windows, you'll need:
 Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10 or later
 An Intel Pentium 4 processor or later that's SSE2 capable
Mac
To use the digital platform on Mac, you'll need:
 OS X Yosemite 10.10 or later
Linux
To use the digital platform on Linux, you'll need:
 64-bit Ubuntu 14.04+, Debian 8+, openSUSE 13.3+, or Fedora Linux 24+
 An Intel Pentium 4 processor or later that's SSE2 capable
Android
 Android 6.0 Marshmallow and Later
iOS
 iOS 10.0 and later or iPadOS 13.1 and later, with an Apple ID and Safari enabled
Connectivity
 Internet connection speed with 2 Mbps

J. APPLICATION YOU MAY REQUIRE

As part of learning process, you may require some scanning tools to scan your child’s work for
submitting the assignments. We recommend using mobile scanner applications for the purpose.
Some of free mobile applications are listed below for your information. Please get it installed from
either Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

 CamScanner from Instig

 OfficeLens from Microsoft

K. REMOTE LEARNER AGREEMENT

At all times, you as a learner are required to be safe, be responsible and behave appropriately.
This agreement will give you the right perspective as we expect you to follow the same behavior
norms online that you would in your regular classroom. We encourage you to reach out for help
only after you have explored and exhausted your own lines of inquiry – this will enhance your
ability to be a self-learner, a desirable skill for the future.

As a responsible Remote Learner, I agree to:

 Log in at 7:45 am and be physically engaged with the learning planned by my teachers.
 Check my assignments, complete and submit what is expected of me daily.
 Ensure my passwords are known to me alone and kept secure.
 Be a reflective learner and learn from my daily reflections.
 Always have healthy online conversations with students and teachers and maintain online
decorum.
 Use language that is not offensive, derogatory or discriminatory towards anyone.
 Submit work that has been done by me and has not been plagiarized
 Demonstrate online behavior that will enhance the positive learning experience of my peers
 Download or forward material only if it is educational and contributes to learning
 Use the school’s remote learning platform for educational purpose alone.

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L. FEEDBACK / REVIEW

Student feedback will be taken on daily basis.

M. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Is PACE Group ready to provide remote learning to our children?

Yes, the staff members have undergone intensive training and are well equipped to carry out the
Remote learning programme.

2. How will the Remote Learning be delivered?

We will be using Google Classroom for Education and Zoom application as the Remote Learning
platform. It provides a safe way for us to connect, share content, access homework, participate in
discussions and receive class information. Using Google Classroom allows you and your child to
have access to course work at any time and is accessible online through any mobile devices with
Internet capabilities—including Laptops, iPad and Android devices.

Additionally, the use of Classroom will help keep students and parents informed of due dates,
assignments and grades. Google Classroom and Zoom app is used as an educational tool.

3. How can my child access Google Classroom?

Please refer to the Sign-In Guide shared along with this comprehensive Remote learning guide.

4. What should we do if we cannot connect?

Please refer to the ‘Help Desk’ section of this document and contact the mentioned number.

5. What should I do if I don’t have internet at home?

Considering the directions stated by Ministry of Education, Postpaid and prepaid customers of
both Etisalat and Du can access school websites and educational platforms without data charges.
Please refer their websites as listed below:
https://www.du.ae/distancelearning
https://www.etisalat.ae/en/c/learning-together.jsp

6. When will work be set?

There will be a timetable for each class and is shared along with this guide. The students are
suggested to follow the given timetable.

7. Will my child need to sit in front of a computer all day?

Absolutely not. Your child is required to follow the timetable.

8. How will work and attendance be checked?

Classwork will be checked each day by respective teachers and attendance will be marked.

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9. Will my child get homework?

Yes, in addition to classwork, homework assignments will also be set during the online period.
This may take the form of follow up or preparatory work for lessons, or extended projects to be
completed over a longer period.

10. What will happen if my child does not do their work?

We rely on your support as always in helping to monitor the work and progress of your child. The
non-submission or late-submission of the given assignment will impact overall performance of
your child.

11. What are the general rules around working online?

The basics are…..

Be respectful.
Be aware of strong language, CAPS, and exclamation points.
Be careful with humour and avoid sarcasm.
Use correct spelling and grammar.
Don’t copy or plagiarise
Don’t post or share (even privately) inappropriate material.
Be forgiving.

12. Should I be worried about the safety of the chat function?

Not at all. All sessions are recorded in Google Classroom and is open and transparent, and
available for review. Chat functions can be blocked The conversations are typed versions of
regular conversations in class.

13. Which all subjects will be covered during these classes?

All major subjects, including MOE subjects will be covered.

14. What do I have to do as a parent?

 Please check for emails daily, including in your spam folders.

 Please help us to ensure your child is using their time productively. Setting up a routine is
very important for effective teaching and learning.
 Provide a suitable environment for working and remove distractions such as TV and Phones.
 Encourage them to interact with their teachers and peers using the chat function. It can help
to reduce a sense of isolation. Collaboration is a key element to maintain motivation in
distance learning.

15. How many chapters will be covered per week?

It depends upon the length of the chapter.

16. How can the doubts of my child be clarified?

Doubts can be cleared by sending personal messages to the teacher concerned through google
classroom.

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17. Will there be any examinations during this online course? If not, how will my child be
assessed?

If the online course extends to more than a month, Periodic Test will be conducted. Besides this,
the child will be assessed on a regular basis by the assignments and quiz submitted.

18. As a parent, do I need to sit with my child throughout their lessons?

Not necessary, but the child can be monitored by the parent. Kindly ensure that the assignments
are submitted on time.

19. Is it mandatory for my child to mark his attendance?

Yes, it is mandatory for the child to mark his/her attendance in the beginning of the session.

20. Will the notes and worksheets be provided?

Yes. The study material along with the worksheets & assignments will be provided for the subjects
taught.

21. Will these lessons be taught again once the school reopens?

No, the lessons won’t be repeated.

22. How can I purchase my child’s Book set?

You can pay online, and the books will be couriered to you.

23. How can I pay the School fees?

You can pay the school fees online.

24. If I face any technical issue, what shall I do?

You can contact the technical support team. Please refer to our Help Desk section of this guide.

25. Can I access the material on a future date?

Yes, the materials will be saved in your google drive.

26. Can I access the google classroom through any other mail id?

No. It can be accessed only through the mail id provided by the school.

27. I have only one computer shared by three children. How will I resolve?

Google Classroom & Zoom both can be accessed through tablets, i-pads and the smartphones as
well.

28. If my child needs help with a concept / assignment. What should I do?

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 Contact your child’s teacher via email and they will respond.

29. If my child is unable to complete the assessments because he is sick. What should I do?

Report the child’s absence to the respective teacher, in case of genuine reason, teacher will help
the student.

30. If my child or I need assistance from a specific staff member (Counselor, Registrar etc)
What should I do?

You are required to inform the respective class teacher; she will ensure that you get the required
support.

N. THOUGHTS FOR STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

 Be kind to yourself and your families. Everyone is stressed, even if they’re playing cool. That
includes your teachers.

 We will strive to provide the quality education to your ward. We look forward to your
continued support to make this programme a success.

 Your classroom will not be recreated, so you can’t hold yourself to the same standards. Try
your best, but don’t be too hard on yourself. Communicate your struggles.

 Stay in contact with teachers and School Counselors. Ask questions and express your
concerns. Staff are here to support you. Your questions and concerns will certainly be
addressed, but don’t worry if it takes a little bit of time to receive an answer. Teachers and
Counselors are doing their best and will connect with and support all their students.

 Focus on your learning. At the end of the day, you worked to gain more knowledge than you
had the day before. Be proud of that.

 While grades feel very important, they are not the current focus. Grades will be fairly
considered and managed once we begin adjusting back to more normal routines. Please have
faith that your teachers, counselors, and administrators have your best interests in mind
throughout this entire process.

 Consider how you will work best on your schoolwork at home. Think about setting aside
designated learning time, consider what breaks may look like and for how long, and create a
positive learning environment for yourself. Also - think balance. You are not expected to work
on schoolwork all hours of every day.

 Even though we are not currently all in the same building, we will continue to support each
other. You are not alone. You may experience waves of different emotions - fear and panic or
maybe even relief and joy to have a break from your normal routine. There are no wrong
feelings. Be kind and gentle to yourself and to those around you. Be safe but show love and
kindness always. We are in this together.