CHS Online Learning Guide

Cwmbran High School
Online Learning Guide

Contents

1. Guidance to parents and carers to support learners to stay safe and stay learning

2. Online learning expectations

3. Technical support

Guidance to parents and carers to support learners to stay safe and stay learning.

This year’s changing circumstances have required great flexibility and resilience as learning moves from home to school and back again. We are grateful to you for supporting your child’s learning offline or online at this difficult time. Over the coming weeks, we will set work for your child to do, maintain contact and provide you with help along the way.

Any encouragement and support you offer will be very helpful, but you are not being asked to be a teacher. We hope that this leaflet will provide you with some useful information about the way in which your child is currently being asked to learn.

Definitions

Blended Learning: An approach that combines face to face and distance learning experiences.

Face to face learning and distance learning should complement each other and should be driven by a single curriculum.

Remote Learning: This means the same as Distance Learning.

Synchronous Learning: Teachers and learners attend a session/lesson at the same time. This can take place face to face or online.

Asynchronous Learning: Teachers provide learning materials (may include online videos, audio clips and presentations) which can be accessed by the learner in their own time.

Online learning: Is education that takes place over the Internet. It is often referred to as “e- learning” among other terms. However, online learning is just one type of ‘distance learning’.

Different approaches to delivering learning

It is important to note that schools and settings will take different approaches to delivering learning during this period. One model of delivery will not suit all schools or all learners and there are many forms of learning that will be undertaken during this period. It is not helpful to compare how one school approaches distance learning to another as the contexts will vary.

As a school we are trying hard to ensure that we provide the most appropriate approaches to learning that meet the needs of your child and the learning objectives of each activity. It is likely that these will be varied, as there is no ‘best way’ or ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to teaching in this way. Your child(ren) will be in receipt of a variety of methods to engage them in their learning.

This may include:

•      Pre-recorded material from staff to explain and set the scene for learning (asynchronous).

•      Some lessons may be delivered via live streaming (synchronous).

•      Learning tasks which may need completing online, in books, reading books or creatively (building models etc).

•      Shared learning where learners may be able to learn with their peers.

•      Teachers may engage with your child(ren) through a messaging function within their learning platform, for example, Google Classroom, to support them with their learning.

Different approaches to delivering learning

•      Independent activities, for example: researching a subject or topic, completing a practice test or assessment, watching a TV programme for example, BBC have a range of programmes on offer to assist our teachers deliver learning.

•      Your child(ren) may be asked to attend an online check in session which may referred to as an Assembly, Form or Tutor time or Wellbeing Session.

•      Engage in physical activities, for example: Joe Wicks fitness sessions, going for a local walk, outdoor play (in line with Government Guidance).

•      Engage in learning sessions delivered by partnership organisations, for example, careers advisors, colleges and universities or support agencies.

HWB log ins: Rhys.Poulton@chs.schoolsedu.org.uk

What can you expect from us?

1.   Your children's teacher will set work on a daily basis through Google Classroom with clear guidance and appropriate support, for your child(ren) to complete and return their completed work for marking/feedback.

2.   We will provide work in paper format where there is no access to internet or hardware.

3. All live learning lessons will be recorded. A record will be taken of all pupils who attend the live lesson for safeguarding purposes.

4.   Our communication about distance learning to parents/carers will be simple and accessible to all.

5.   We will continue to communicate with you using text messages, newsletters, school website and class charts.

5.   We will regularly ask you as parents/carers to provide views on our learning provision and will continue to refine this giving consideration to your feedback.

How you can help us

1. It is important that you contact us if you have any questions, queries or concerns. Please contact us by telephone or email and not through your child (ren’s) Google Classroom account. Reception: 01633 643950

Year group/Head of Year/Email address

7 Mrs Haynes: Cheryl.Haynes@chs.schoolsedu.org.uk
8 Mr Miller: Samuel.Miller@chs.schoolsedu.org.uk
9 Mrs McHallam: Karen.McHallam@chs.schoolsedu.org.uk
10 Mr Hine: Noel.Hine@chs.schoolsedu.org.uk
11 Mr Chapman: Marc.Chapman@chs.schoolsedu.org.uk

How we will support learners in examination year groups

Online Learning Expectations

The set of expectations expressed below applies specifically at times when learners in years 10 and 11 are required to learn remotely, and for the period of the spring term until half term.

These expectations will be reviewed in February.

•      Learners will receive daily contact from us in support of learning, motivation and well-being.

•   We expect them to receive four hours of meaningful learning per day, which will be an engaging combination of synchronous and asynchronous learning and support, using digital and non-digital means as appropriate to the group and the subject.

•      Learning resources provided by us will be of high quality to enable learners to progress as closely as possible to how they would have progressed if they were in class.

•      Resources and activities will reference widely available content from sources including Hwb, WJEC, BBC, S4C and Universities.

•      We will continue to support digitally excluded learners in accessing remote learning opportunities by distributing school devices with appropriate end user agreements.

•      We will continue to record learners’ engagement with our remote learning offer.

Online Learning Expectations

We expect the very same high standards of behaviour during live online lessons at home, as we would expect during face to face lessons in school.

It is the school's expectation that all pupils engaging in online blended learning follow these guidelines carefully. This will help to ensure that all staff and pupils remain safe online and get the most out of the online learning experience.

Pupil Live Learning Protocols

* Pupils should only access technology if they have permission from parents

* Pupils need to attend lessons ensuring they are demonstrating the behaviour expected in normal school lessons.

* Pupils should enter the lesson and follow the teacher’s instructions for the camera and microphone.

* They should work from a suitable location and ensure that their back ground is appropriate for a learning environment, only the pupil should be visible on screen.

* Pupils should dress appropriately

* Pupils should follow the same protocols as if they are in the classroom using language that is appropriate to a learning environment. They should not shout out or speak over the teacher or another pupil.

Online Learning Expectations

Pupil Live Learning Protocols

* Whilst in the online lesson, pupils should not be using the internet for anything else, e.g. social media, gaming etc

* During the live learning pupils must not deliberately browse, download, upload or forward material that could be considered offensive or illegal. If a child accidentally comes across any such material, they should report it immediately to their teacher or parent / guardian.

* The chat should be used appropriately, using language and comments that are appropriate for lessons and only used when invited to by the teacher. It is not to be used for personal discussion

* Pupils must not screenshot, record or take photos of any part of the lesson, neither should they electronically share any part of the lesson.

* If the pupil does not adhere to these rules they will be warned by the teacher and removed from the lesson.

Rewarding Engagement

Pupils who are working extremely hard to engage with their learning will receive certificates.

A number of pupils with outstanding engagement will also receive an Amazon Gift Card.