Terms of Use
SkillBott Virtual School AUP/CIPA /Anti-Bullying Policy-Students
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Access to the technology utilized by SkillBott courses imposes certain responsibilities and obligations. Appropriate use is ethical and honest, and demonstrates respect for physical and intellectual property, system security protocols, individuals' rights to privacy and to freedom from intimidation and harassment.
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1. Exercise responsible, ethical behavior.
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The Internet is a global network of information. Information available may be useful and scholarly, but it may also be incorrect, plagiarized, or offensive. There are no gatekeepers or systems of censorship in place on the Internet. Students need to learn and exercise sound judgment in using this material.
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2. Respect individuals' freedom from harassment.
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Students will protect the privacy of their classmates. Students will not publish any names, passwords, e-mail addresses, or other information pertaining to other students or staff. SkillBott courses require the creation and use of an independent g-mail account and discussion boards for communication and learning; students will respect the technology as a means of instruction. Students will not use any e-mail account as a means to harass, intimidate, or offend others, including SkillBott students and staff.
3. Use the technology and the SkillBott format in a respectful manner.
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Students will not use the SkillBott network for financial gain or for any commercial or illegal activity. Students will follow rules, written and unwritten, pertaining to Internet etiquette, and communicate respectfully to all people. Students will not attempt to bypass security protocols on servers or workstations.
4. Use only legal versions of copyrighted software in full compliance with licensing agreements.
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Students will respect the work and creativity of software developers and not download or duplicate licensed software. Students may download public domain programs and will pay for shareware programs. Students assume all risks in regard to programs which are public domain, shareware, or licensed.
5. Use SkillBott course resources only for authorized purposes.
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Students will respect the work and creativity of the authors of materials that are viewed on the Internet. Therefore, students will not copy files from the Internet for any use other than for personal use, unless the webmaster explicitly states that the page may be copied indiscriminately.
6. Actions that constitute inappropriate use include, but are not limited to:
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Use a login or password other than their own without permission
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Use files or data other than their own without permission
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Attempt to break in to system operations of the network or servers
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Attempt to decode or circumvent security protocols
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Engage in activity that exposes the systems and residing information to any level of harm or danger
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Make illegal copies of software
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Use the SkillBott network, e-mail, discussion boards for partisan political purposes, harassment, or commercial venture
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7. All students will adhere to and be protected by the Children Internet Protection Act (CIPA) and Internet Safety Procedures.
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Technology Protection through Internet Filtering - SkillBott Curriculum is delivered through an Internet interface called Puffin Academy which is a secure, safe mobile Internet. Puffin Academy browser is a mobile browser designed specifically for K-12 students; and Puffin Academy can only access web sites designed for K-12 e-learning.
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Inappropriate Matter - Instructors and staff will model and prevent minors from inappropriate matter on the Internet and the World Wide Web
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Safe Communication - Instructors and staff will model and instruct students on safe and secure use of electronic mail, chat rooms and of other forms of direct electronic communication.
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Unauthorized Access - Instructors and staff will prevent minors from “hacking” and other unlawful activities by minors online.
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Unauthorized Disclosure - Instructors and staff will model, instruct, and prevent the unauthorized disclosure, use and dissemination of personal information regarding minors.
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Reasonable Efforts - Instructors and staff will develop and implement measures designate to restrict minors’ access to materials harmful to minors.
8. All students will read and adhere to the SkillBott Prohibition against Bullying Policy.
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“Bullying” means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have one or more of the following effects:
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placing the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person of property;
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causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health;
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substantially interfering with the student’s academic performance; or
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substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by SkillBott.
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All students shall immediately report incidents of bullying, harassment or intimidation to the SkillBott Coordinator and Home School Authority. No student who witnesses bullying may stand by or participate in the bullying. Anonymous reports will be accepted by SkillBott Coordinator and no disciplinary action will be taken on the sole basis of an anonymous report.
Behavior, such as bullying and intimidation that infringes on the safety of any student will not be tolerated. Disciplinary action will be taken following each confirmed incident of bullying.
Students who violate any part of this agreement or engage in any other activity which school
authorities consider inappropriate will be subject to disciplinary action consistent with SkillBott
academic honesty policies and procedures.Discipline could include, but would not be limited to:
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Immediate suspension or termination of my Internet access to the SkillBott courses.
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Any attempt to break into or tamper with the system operations, including any student records or grades, will result in cancellation of privileges.
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By enrolling in this course, students accept the terms of this Policy and acknowledge and hold the LEA and SkillBott harmless for any injury or offense that may be suffered by accessing information on the Internet.
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10. Credit will be granted by SkillBott in accordance with district/LEA policies.
11. On-Line courses are approved for credit by the LEA consistent with any other instructional delivery. Therefore, all district policies related to academic honesty, participation, and attendance will apply to on-line courses.
12. The pace at which the student progresses within a class may be determined by the student's school and the pacing policies of the teacher. If there are no such policies in place, the student will complete a semester class in six months from the date the class is begun. A year long class must be completed in twelve months.
Disclaimer
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Any inappropriate use of the Internet is strongly discouraged by SkillBott. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
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Plagiarism
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Fabrication of information or citations
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Submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor and securing written approval, or
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Tampering with the computer files and/or academic work of other students.
A student charged with academic dishonesty will be given oral or written notice of the charge by the instructor. By participating in discussion boards, you agree to allow others access to your SkillBott course email address.
As in any course of study, student success in on-line courses is dependent on the amount of attention given to each assessment, study skills, experiences brought to the course, and the help you receive while taking the course. SkillBott encourages students to give each assessment close effort and seek assistance from your instructor regarding course content.
Parent Section
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As the parent or legal guardian of the student, I understand that it is impossible for SkillBott to monitor student access to controversial material while using the Internet and that I accept responsibility if and when my child’s Internet use is not in a school, his/her enrollment may be terminated and he/she may face other disciplinary measures.
Please sign below to attest that you have read and agree to the SkillBott Student Contract and Drop Policy.
Student Contact and Drop Policy
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Only through continuous communication can students be successful in an online course. Within each course, the instructor outlines the weekly minimum work requirements. It is essential that the student and instructor maintain regular contact. To ensure that our students are aware of the commitment, the process below will be followed:
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Attendance is taken via student logon records.
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If the student does not submit the expected number of assignment(s) within a period of five (5) consecutive days, the student and parent will receive an email notifying them of the student’s unacceptable pace for submitting assignments.
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If the student does not respond to the email by submitting assignments within twenty-four hours, the instructor will make a telephone call to the student/parent.
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If missing assignments are not completed within twenty-four hours of the telephone call to the student/parent, SkillBott will assume that the student does not intend to remain in the course and the student will be administratively dropped from the course with a grade of “F.”
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The parents and student will receive a Final Grade Report notifying them that the student has been dropped from the course with a grade of “F.”
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An official final grade report will be mailed to the student and his/her school upon completion of the course.
Student Contract
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SkillBott provides on-line courses that would allow both students and parents aware of the standards expected of students enrolling in such courses.
As a student taking a SkillBott course, I am aware that certain standards are expected of me including:
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Inappropriate use of the Internet of any kind will not be tolerated.
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Inappropriate language or messages will not be tolerated.
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Because of the technology, anything I do in the course could be retrieved and printed by the teacher at anytime.
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The student and school are responsible for providing the technology required to perform basic course functions. If this technology is not functioning properly, it is the responsibility of the student and the school to make appropriate changes.
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Students must follow all other rules as specified by the teacher.
The following procedures will be followed for students who do not or can not abide by the above listed rules:
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First Offense: The students will be given an email warning and told that his/her parents and the local contact will be notified by letter and/or email of the infraction.
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Second Offense: The student will be removed from the course. The student may also face disciplinary action from the local, at that school's discretion.
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SEVERE MISCONDUCT: Regardless of whether the offense is a first or second offense, the student will be removed from the course. The student may also face disciplinary action from the local school, at that school's discretion.
I have read and I understand the policy above and agree to abide by the rules of this contract.
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**Students must accept this policy electronically before they are granted access to their first online course