Guidelines+&+Expectations

//**A copy of this letter was sent home on Thursday, October 22, 2009.**// Dear Students and Parents, I am so excited to have the capability and opportunity to use the internet as an educational tool - in and out of the classroom. I hope that you’ve been able to visit our class website, which is accessible from the Westside homepage or by going directly to [|www.high5math.wikispaces.com]. I have assigned usernames and passwords to each of my students to become members of the website; this login information is kept in the classroom for reference. If parents would like to become members of our site as well, they can go to our site and click “Join” in the upper right-hand corner. This webpage will be used in class to complete online assignments, find useful links, and to post responses to mathematical discussions. At home, the webpage can be used to visit the links, and check homework assignments and announcements. There is also a “Fun Stuff” discussion page that operates the way the math discussion page does. Many students have chosen to use this forum at home to post messages to friends. I realize that different families have different rules for use of the internet, so I would like to be clear about what my expectations are for using our class website. These expectations have also been discussed in class.

· During class, the website is to be used only for educational purposes, including finding links. · All posts on any discussion must be CLEAN and NICE! There will be no tolerance for unkind or inappropriate posts; the student’s account will be deleted if this occurs. · Remember to select “Sign Out” in the upper right-hand corner before leaving the site. ** Some students have expressed an interest in changing their user account information. Again, since different households have different rules for internet use, I have discussed with students that //these changes are to made only at home and with a parent’s permission//. With online security and safety in mind, I have developed these guidelines for at-home use of our class site.
 * · Math discussions take place on the Home page. Many times, these responses will be counted as a graded assignment, so it is important for students to post in the correct place.

· //Locations//: As another security precaution, do not reference exact locations in your discussions. This includes mentioning your address or a specific location with city and state. For example, do not post that you’re going to Crown Sports Center in Salisbury, Maryland at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. · I monitor the activity on our site. I am mainly looking to make sure that everyone is using the site safely and appropriately. Sometimes I might respond to your posts. If you send me messages, I may or may not respond every time. I do not always have extra time after school or at my own home to respond to every single post and message that is added. I have over 70 students who use this site! · Remember, the CLEAN and NICE rule applies at home, too! I am serious about this! ** These guidelines will be posted on our website for reference. If there becomes a concern about online conduct, I will refer to this letter and to the posted guidelines. I am very open to hearing your questions, concerns, and comments. Please feel free to contact me by phone (410-677-5118) or email ( jfenzel@wcboe.org ).
 * · //Usernames//: If you would like to change the username or password I assigned, you may change it in “My Account.” However, please keep in mind that if you post something for an assignment, I need to know who posted it so I can give a grade. If your username is “soccergirl44,” I won’t know who posted the response. Also, please do not use your first and last name a username. Use your initials, or only your first name. This is for your safety. **
 * · //Avatars//: You can choose a picture that appears beside your username when you make a post. I do not recommend using a photograph of yourself as an avatar.

Sincerely, Mrs. Fenzel