This is a working draft for our Summer Success Orientation to share with teachers

1. Welcome to Virtual School
Summer Success 2012 Student Orientation!

2. MNPS VIRTUAL SCHOOL MISSION
MNPS Virtual School is
committed to a student-
centered environment that
allows students to learn 21st
Century skills and knowledge
enabling success in higher
education, work, and life.

3. ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Name
Title:
Email
Address:
Phone
Number:
Dr.
James
Vince
Wi/y
v-­‐Execu6ve
Principal
james.wi/y@mnps.org
(615)
463-­‐0188
Ext.
3900
Sco/
Merrick
v-­‐Learning
Specialist
sco/.merrick@mnps.org
(615)
463-­‐0188
Ext.
3100
Kelly
Brown
v-­‐School
Counselor
kelly.brown@mnps.org
(615)463-­‐0188
Ext.
3920
Michael
Terry
v-­‐Registrar
emichael.terry@mnps.org
(615)463-­‐0188
Ext.
3901
Sherry
Hill
v-­‐Senior
Secretary
sherry.hill@mnps.org
(615)
463-­‐0188

4. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES AND
STUDENT CENTER HOURS

5. Mandatory Attendance Dates

6. Testing Protocols
• Unit tests and quizzes may be taken offsite
on your own.
• Final exams must be taken at Virtual School
under an adult proctor’s supervision—they
are password protected for that reason.
• Exam dates are in the previous slide
• Virtual School students may bring ONE
handwritten (not printed or typed) notecard
no larger than 5x8 inches into any final
exam—Hint: Take good notes!!!

7. 3 things:
• Strong start
• Stay on pace
• Communicate

8. Strong Start
Take a solid look at your pace guide.
Understand it. It lays out every single
assignment and its due date for your entire
course.
You may work ahead,
but you must not fall
behind: Assignments
keep coming...

9. Stay on pace:
Promise yourself to meet these assignment
due dates. This is called "staying on pace"
and is key to your success.
http://thementalpausechronicles.blogspot.com/2010/04/high-fives-all-around.html

10. Communicate:
I am available to you and I will
return any email, text message,
or telephone call within 24
hours. I will have every
assignment graded in your
gradebook within 48 hours.
Your end of the bargain is to stay
on pace and to return my emails,
text messages, or phone calls
within 24 hours. Diligently http://blog.westinteractive.com/tag/customer-communication/
schedule your discussion-based
assessments as well.

11. Virtual Netiquette
• Those 24 hour turnaround response
times are an essential element of
good manners in an online class.
What are a few others?
o Politeness at all times
o YOU initiate your DBAs with a phone call or email
o Learn and abide by the following netiquette
requirements:

12. v-Netiquette for v-Students
• Always use correct spelling and grammar—do not use acronyms
associated with social media.
• Keep messages brief and to the point.
• Do not discuss multiple subjects in a single message.
• Address your contact with the appropriate level of formality.
• Reread your email for tone before hitting “send” and avoid
sarcasm.
• Do not write in ALL CAPS.
• Remember that email is NOT private and you are representing
yourself as a MNPS Virtual School student.

13. Academic Integrity--ESSENTIAL
• DBAs, “Discussion Based Assessments” occur
approximately every module (think “chapter”)
in your online course.
• DBAs are conversations about what you’ve just
learned. If you do well in the work assignments
and quizzes but can’t talk about what you’ve
learned, we may have a problem. Is it really
you doing the work? Pay attention to what
you’re learning and complete these on time so
you don’t forget the content!

14. Discussion Based Assessments:
brief conversations to demonstrate
understanding

15. Issues (Technical or Otherwise)
I (your teacher) am your first point of contact
for any issues you may encounter.
File a help ticket for ANY Blackboard issue:
http://helpdesk.idlearningtech.org/
File a help ticket for ANY BrainHoney issue:
email scott.merrick@mnps.org
If I cannot resolve your issue, I will relay it to
Virtual School staff.
You are welcome to work at MNVS or a public
library if you are unable to work at home.
Connectivity problems are NO excuse for
failing to stay on pace.

16. Required Exit Survey
We appreciate your completing the required
Exit Survey assignment thoughtfully and
honestly at the end of the course.
It is embedded in the Blackboard Courses as
a final assignment. Students using either of
the Brainhoneys must access it at
http://surveymonkey.com/s/vsclassexit
The survey will be activated upon the first
student’s completion of the first course. We
will give away nifty MNPS Virtual Learning
stainless steel water bottles to 5 lucky
winners. Enter at the end of the survey!

17. Access your Learning Management
System:
• Blackboard: http://mnps.blackboard.com
• BrainHoney: http://mnvs.brainhoney.com
• Sociology only: http://mnps.brainhoney.com

18. Get started.
• Set up a schedule for yourself based on
your Pacing Guide. Blackboard Course (insert
• Complete your online orientation in
course name) is on your
http://mnps.blackboard.com
Blackboard or BrainHoney. Dashboard
• I will call you at your home to introduce
myself to your parent or guardian and
to welcome you to the course.
• Email me or call me with any questions.
• Complete your first week of work. Learning with BrainHoney
course is on your
• Repeat weekly. http://vlearn.mnps.org
• Succeed!
Dashboard

19. Start Your Engines!
“What is not
started today
is never
finished
tomorrow.”
--Johann Wolfgang von Goethe