eLearning

Instructions for eLearning - For more details see plan below instructions.

This video is an important message from Dr. Lietz on OLCHS eLearning days.

This video provides instructions on how OLCHS students should sign-in to Skyward on an eLearning day.

If a student is experiencing trouble with the Skyward app, use the web version (Safari).

Skyward student login ID = Student ID
Skyward password = OLCHS password

To change student OLCHS password, follow these instructions.

Still having trouble with Skyward login, please email elearning@olchs.org, or call (708) 424-4740 and leave a message; someone will get back to you that day.

Oak Lawn Community High School District 229

Emergency eLearning Plan

This document outlines the eLearning Day Plan for Oak Lawn Community High School for the

school years 2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022.

These procedures have previously been employed, and were successful, during the 2018-19 school year. Students were able to access their learning, and it proved to be effective overall. After our two eLearning days, the staff, students and parents were surveyed about their impressions and we asked them for specific feedback. 97.2% of staff and 76% of students surveyed responded that they would like to continue to implement eLearning days instead of making up a school day at the end of the year.

Program Description

The Illinois legislature amended Public Act 101-0012 to enable all school districts to take advantage of eLearning. An eLearning day is a virtual school day that can occur when school would otherwise have been cancelled due to inclement weather or for other reasons. eLearning days are similar to traditional school days in most ways: attendance will be recorded, students will engage in learning activities facilitated by teachers, and the discipline code is in effect. Instruction and learning activities will be provided through the use of the school issued iPad and not at the school building.

Statement of Purpose

Virtual eLearning days are an opportunity for learning to continue even when students are not on the OLCHS campus. As an Apple Distinguished School, our students have access to a wide variety of learning resources on the iPad device. eLearning days count as student attendance days and do not require the day to be made up with an emergency day at the end of the school year. Utilizing eLearning days can be advantageous to all students, and there are certain populations of students will especially benefit from the continuation of learning when travelling to campus is not feasible. This includes our AP students, who have a fixed day for when they must take the test; if eLearning is not utilized, they will miss out on a day of instruction prior to the test. Additionally, students who are seniors would not make the day(s) up as they take finals and graduate at a set date, which would not be moved even if we have to make up the day at the end of the year.

Communication/Notification

Families will be notified of eLearning days in the same ways that we communicate school closing information. A notification will be sent through the School Messenger alert system. Information will also be posted to our website at www.olchs.org and on social media. Information will also be shared with the Emergency Closing Center at www.emergencyclosingcenter.com.

Attendance

Students are responsible for signing in to Skyward by 10:00 am on eLearning days. An eLearning day is a regular school day. If students do not sign-in to Skyward to record their attendance, they will be marked absent for the day. After signing into Skyward for attendance, students should then access and complete the day’s assignments. If a student is ill or otherwise would have been absent, parents can still report the absence using the Attendance line at 708-741-5860.

School staff will monitor the attendance on Skyward, process messages from the attendance line, and create a list of students who are “Absent.” Advisory teachers will then contact students/parents in an attempt to address connection issues.

Assignments

Students will access assignments through their teacher’s online course just as they would do while present in school. This could include iTunesU, Google Classroom, Canvas, Showbie, or another app. All lessons and assignments will be posted by 10:00 am. Just as in a regular school day, attendance is separate from academic assignment completion. Students must login to Skyward for attendance separately from assignment access. Assignments for each course will be academically worthwhile and should take students at least 30-60 minutes to complete independently. Each course that a student has on his/her schedule will have an assignment posted.

Teacher Availability

Teachers will be available throughout the day via email. In general, all teachers will be connected between 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. for students to contact and ask questions should they need additional assistance. Emails received by 1:00 pm will be returned by 3:00 pm.

Problems on an eLearning day

For assignment questions, consider what a student would do on a regular school day, such as contacting a classmate or emailing the teacher.

For technology issues, please email elearning@olchs.org, or call (708) 424-4740 and leave a message; someone will get back to you that day.

Connectivity

It is understood that not every student has access to WiFi or internet in their home. For students who do not have WiFi at home, we have Kajeet hotspot devices that can be checked out in our Media Center and taken home for students to use. Additionally, students may, if conditions allow, to go to a friend’s home where WiFi is available, go to one of the public libraries in our community that provides public WiFi, or go to a local business that offers public WiFi. For more information about how to obtain low-cost internet, please visit this website: https://www.internetessentials.com/apply

If students are unable to access the internet due to issues such as power outages or other acts outside of their control, teachers will allow students extra days to make-up their homework/classwork once students are back in the school building.

Students with Special Needs

Every student at OLCHS uses the iPad as a part of their learning, and this will continue on an eLearning day. For students who do not have the ability to access their learning due to their disability, case managers, teachers, or other school staff will reach out to them via phone and provide assignments similar to those the student would be completing if they were in the building. Students who may miss required minutes, such as with social workers or therapists, will have that time made-up once students are back in the school building.

Training for Staff and Students

OLCHS provides a dedicated eLearning webpage with a tutorial video for students, written instructions, and a Q&A video hosted by the principal with all of this information. Staff members were provided professional development on topics such as “appropriate eLearning assignments” and “meaningful homework.” Additionally, students will use the same process to sign-in to eLearning attendance and instruction that they use on a daily basis. No additional training will be required

I am excited about the opportunity for our students to engage on days that would otherwise be missed opportunities for learning. This could be implemented as soon as next week. As always, please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.

Dr. Jeana Lietz, Principal

(708)424-5200