Course Syllabus

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Davis Connect 7-12 Syllabus for Online Classroom, Independent Study, and A La Carte Courses

Welcome to Davis Connect!

 

Grades 9-12 Course

We are thrilled to have you join our online learning community! At Davis Connect, our mission is to guide you towards academic success and to ensure you are ready for your exciting journey after high school, whether that's college or starting your dream career. 

We believe in the power of active participation. That is why we encourage you to dive into your courses with enthusiasm! We expect all students to be fully engaged and participate regularly in their courses.  Remember, we are here to support you every step of the way, so never hesitate to reach out if you need help or have questions. 

Let's talk about your courses. Each course you take with us counts towards a quarter of your graduation credit. That's 0.25 (or 1 term) of a credit for either a semester or an entire year's course. To get the best start, take a moment to go through this syllabus. It's your roadmap to understanding how our courses work and what you can expect. 

After you've read the syllabus, kick things off with the introductory module. Then, you'll be all set to tackle your assignments and assessments. We can't wait to see all the amazing things you'll accomplish here at Davis Connect!

 

Grades 7-8 Course

We're super excited to have you with us on this online learning adventure! Here at Davis Connect, we're all about helping you succeed and making sure you are ready for the awesome adventure that is high school. Think of it as setting up the perfect launchpad for your future, whether that's a cool career or heading off to college. 

You might be wondering, "What's the key to doing well here?" Well, it's all about getting you placed into your courses and being part of the action! We believe that when you're actively involved, you learn more and have more fun. We expect all students to be fully engaged and participate regularly in their courses. So, we're looking forward to seeing you participate a lot in your classes. 

Now, let's talk about your courses. Each course you successfully complete is like earning a piece of a big puzzle – each completed course is a quarter (or 0.25) of a credit for a whole semester or year's class. To start off on the right foot, have a look through this syllabus. It's like a treasure map that shows you everything you need to know about our online classes. 

Once you've checked out the syllabus, dive into the introductory module. After that, you'll be ready to tackle all the cool assignments and challenges that await in each module. We're here to help you every step of the way, so get ready for an amazing learning journey at Davis Connect!

 

Davis Connect Enrollment Options

Davis Connect Online School offers a variety of learning programs tailored to fit your individual needs, all while adhering to the Utah State Core Standards for education as prioritized in Davis’s own Dispositions & Essential Skills & Knowledge (DESK) standards. Here is a simplified breakdown of the programs we offer: 

    • Core Classes (Language Arts, Math, Science, and History/Social Studies): Davis Connect offers synchronous and asynchronous enrollment options for core courses.
    • Synchronous Enrollment: These classes have set deadlines given by the teacher, and the course runs within the specific term dates. It’s like being in a traditional classroom but online, where you follow a schedule.  Davis Connect’s Online Classroom (OC) and Independent Study (IS) courses are set up on synchronous schedules.
    • Asynchronous Enrollment: Here, you have recommended due dates, but you get more flexibility. The course runs throughout the school year but must be completed by the last day of that school year in May. This option is great if you need a bit more control over your schedule. Davis Connect’s a La Carte (ALC), State Online Education Program (SOEP) and Credit Recovery (CR) courses are set up on an asynchronous schedule.
    • Elective Classes: These are offered only as synchronous (IS courses) and asynchronous options (ALC, SOEP, and CR), providing you with the flexibility to complete them at your own pace within the school year.

Enrollment/Registration Options

    • For students enrolled entirely, part-time, or through split enrollment in the Davis School District, we offer the full variety of course modes (OC, IS, ALC and CR). Each of these has its own structure and flexibility.   
    • Students from other districts/LEAs can enroll through the Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP) with Davis Connect. 
    • Davis Connect SOEP Courses are not available to students enrolled in the Davis School District through the SOE Program, but similar courses are available through each student’s school of enrollment and can be accessed through their school counselor. 

In summary, Davis Connect provides diverse and flexible learning options, whether you prefer a more structured schedule or need the freedom to learn at your own pace. We’re here to support your educational journey, no matter your personal learning style or schedule needs!

 

Successful Student Expectations

Students are expected to access and engage in their courses regularly throughout the week. It is essential for students to log in consistently to the course platform and engage with the materials and resources. By doing so, students will stay current with the content and actively participate in the learning process. Assignments serve as opportunities for students to apply their knowledge and demonstrate their understanding of the course material. By submitting assignments on time, students exhibit responsibility and a commitment to their academic progress. 

We expect online students to: 

    • Show they are making academic progress toward proficiency of the Davis School District Dispositions, Essentials Skills, & Knowledge (DESK) standards. This is measured in student assessments connected to the priority standards and competencies for each scheduled course. 
    • Participate and show growth for beginning, middle, and end of year assessments. These assessments may include assessments in the online course, software diagnostics, benchmark, and/or end-of-year state and program assessments. 
    • Read the feedback and suggestions given by their instructor. Be motivated to fix mistakes to improve their grade and increase their knowledge. All assignments may be resubmitted to improve scores, except for the Term final/project/assessment.
    • Score proficient (or better) on the priority standards and competencies for each course or showing regular progress toward proficiency. Proficient is a 3+ on a standards-based grading rubric.
    • Achieve satisfactory (or better) grades upon completing the online course. Proficient on a grading scale is a 77% or C+ grade.
    • Communicate with the instructor via Canvas Inbox. Contact the instructor, through the Inbox, if there are personal concerns that may impact their academic success.
    • Visit our tech website Links to an external site. for technical support, common issues, or how to reach a tech aide.

Along with the expectations for an online learner, there are course access expectations based on the work timelines of the course enrollment.

Online Classroom (OC)

    • Log into Canvas courses five (5) days a week (or each school day). 
    • Attend Live Lessons and Support Sessions each week for all OC classes. 
    • Respond to teacher questions during Live Lessons and Support Sessions.  
    • Submit at least 85% of the assigned coursework by the recommended due date and prior to the term deadline. 

Independent Study (I.S.)

    • Log into Canvas courses at least every other day (2-3 days a week). 
    • Submit at least 85% of the assigned coursework by the recommended due date and prior to the term deadline. 

A La Carte (ALC)

    • Log into Canvas courses at least once every ten days and complete the course before the end of the school year. 
    • Submit at least 85% of the assigned coursework by the recommended due date and prior to the year deadline. 

Statewide Online Education Program (SOEP)

    • Log into Canvas courses at least once every ten school days to remain enrolled in the course. While a minimum log in ensures continuous enrollment, students should expect to log in several days a week to keep up with assignments.  
    • Complete the course within a 10-week/20 school day timeframe, as created for each student by the pacing guide. Minimum activity maintains enrollment but is not enough to successfully complete the course by the end of the pacing guide timeframe. 

 

Policies

Active Participation

    • To be considered active in a course, a student must be logging in and spending time in the course, submitting assignments, and communicating with the instructor. Course pacing or due dates set a consistent schedule for students to complete a course within 8-9 weeks or a term. 

    • If a student is inactive for a period of two (2) weeks, it is possible that the student may be: 

      • placed on an Academic Improvement Plan with their counselor, parent, and mentor 

      • dropped from Davis Connect online courses  

Student Expectations and Code of Conduct 

    • The Davis Connect 7-12 Student Handbook Links to an external site. states, “All students at Davis Connect 7-12 are expected to be academically honest and ethical.” Academic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to):  

      • Submitting the words or work of another person as one’s own and without proper citation (i.e. plagiarizing); colluding with others to be dishonest; falsifying information; giving, selling, or receiving unauthorized course or test information; using a tool or other aid specifically not permitted by your instructor such as generative AI (Artificial Intelligence, e.g. ChatGPT) to complete assignments or exams; or infringing on others' copyrights and intellectual property. 

    • The handbook continues, “Academic dishonesty can have serious consequences in the class and/or at Davis Connect 7-12. Be sure, if you borrow an idea, to express it in language entirely your own and let the reader know the idea’s source in a citation note. Students and teachers are expected to perform ethically, transparently, and honestly in all school activities and involvement.

    • Student submitted work, at any time, can and will be viewed by a third-party integration for originality, incorrect use of website resources, and AI generative text.

    • Teachers and administrators will address students who violate this standard in a fair and appropriate manner. Consequences may include, but are not limited to: 

      • Notifying parents, receiving a zero [“0”] on the assignment or assessment, receiving a U for the term from the teacher, and/or receiving an administrative U. The faculty and staff of Davis Connect 7-12 are united in the belief that all students should practice ethical and honest behavior.” 

    • To ensure academic honesty, review the presentation shared in the “Davis Connect Academic Honesty, Policies, and Agreements” assignment in the introductory module. 

Late Work

    • If possible, complete the course activities by the suggested due date, or as soon as possible if a due date has been missed. Once a due date is passed, your instructor will mark your assignment as “missing,” which will count as a "0." The assignment will continue to show a “0” score until a submission is made and is scored by your instructor. Please allow the instructor 48 business hours to grade and score your submissions. You will still have the chance to complete or rework and resubmit assignments until the course deadline. Instructors score/grade submissions based on the quality of student work and not when the work is submitted. 

Instructor Communication

    • Certified instructors have 24 hours or 1 business day to respond to your messages. If you message the instructor later in the school day, in the evening, or over a weekend, it is unlikely you will receive a response that same day.

    • Please be courteous and respectful when messaging instructors. 

Accommodations for Individuals with Disabilities 

Non-discrimination and Equal Opportunity 

    • Davis School District and Davis Connect K-12 Online School are committed to creating an environment free from harassment and discrimination. Incidents of harassment and discrimination will be addressed and corrected when they occur. Discipline will be free from discrimination and is intended to ensure nondiscriminatory access to all opportunities for all student groups. Please review Davis Connect 7-12 Student Handbook policies about Equal Opportunity Links to an external site. and Notice of Non-discrimination Links to an external site. for additional information.

Course Vetting of Online Materials 

    • Davis Connect follows a site-based approval process for supplemental materials used beyond the district-approved, adopted curriculum for the course. Links to resources have not been vetted beyond the original page cited.

 

Procedures

Honors Designation 

    • Core (English, Math, Science, and Social Studies) classes have an honors module within each term. Students do not take a separate “honors” course but should request from their instructor to have the honors module assigned to them within the course. We encourage all students to complete the honors content in the 7-11 grade core courses. 
    • The honors module is the last module of the course. Please review the Honors Policy document in that module for the requirements and suggestions to successfully receive the honors designation. 
    • Once the honors designation is earned by a student, please allow the Davis Connect office time to apply the designation on a transcript after the semester has ended.  

Course Survey 

    • After completing all course assignments and assessments, please complete the brief survey about the course linked in the last assignment called “Davis Connect Content Feedback Survey.” Feedback from student surveys is reviewed and courses are improved. 

Final Deadlines

    • All Davis Connect OC, I.S., and S.S. courses close 24-business hours prior to end-of-term date and all ALC and CR courses close 24-business hours prior to the end-of-school year date. Students are expected to submit any course work by these dates. Any extenuating circumstances that would necessitate an extension, must be worked out with the individual teacher. This information can be viewed in the Student Handbook Links to an external site. or Helpful information Links to an external site. sections, both titled “Due Dates, Pacing Guides, and Final Deadlines”. 

Grade Posting - End of Term 

    • Before submitting the "Course Completion Notification" assignment, verify you have completed all assignments and assessments in the course. 
    • Once you have completed the "Course Completion Notification" assignment, your teacher will know that your final grade is ready to be issued and reported. 
    • For OC and I.S. classes, teachers will inform students of the specific date that the term will end on which all assignments are due. After all student submissions are scored, letter grades will be assigned on report cards and transcripts.  
    • For ALC classes, the grade is recorded on transcripts at the time the student indicates the course is completed or at the end of the school year (whichever comes first).

Dropping a Class

 

Course Activities 

This course was designed to meet the Davis School District DESK Standards which are modeled after the Utah State Core Curriculum for this subject area. DESK standards (priority standards) are covered primarily with supporting standards as time and pacing allows.

Instruction

    • Each module has reading materials, videos, or other instruction.  Make sure to view the provided information before starting an assignment.

Assignments

    • There are assignments in each module designed to help students have a better understanding of the course concepts. Some assignments are designed to be automatically graded in a quiz format, while other assignments are submitted to the instructor for grading. Courses will have a combination of both.

Discussions

    • Replies must be 2-3 sentences minimum. Politeness and grammatical conventions must be followed. Review the specifics on comment requirements in the discussion.

Quizzes

    • This course may have one or more quizzes/tests/assessments that check student mastery of concepts being taught. Unlike student assignments, all assessments are to be completed without help (i.e., other people, the Internet, or materials) unless specifically stated that the assessment is open source.

 

Personalized, Competency Based Learning 

Mastery 

    • This course was designed to meet the Davis School District DESK Standards which are modeled after the Utah State Core Curriculum for this subject area. Priority standards (DESK Standards) are covered primarily with supporting standards as time and pacing allows. 

    • Activities in this course are graded on a mastery, proficiency scale of 4 levels. These mastery scales align with the standard (DESK and/or Utah State Core) being taught, practiced, or assessed. The points associated with the proficiency levels are as follows:

      • Mastery (Level 4) = 4 points

      • Proficient (Level 3) = 3.44 points

      • Approaching Proficient (Level 2) = 3.04 points

      • Beginning Proficient (Level 1) = 2.64 points

      • No Evidence (Level 0 or non-submission) = 0 points 

    • Student activities are categorized and have been weighted as follows: 
      • Learning Activities: Each module has learning activities which can include reading material, watching videos, or completing other tasks as instructed. Please review the information before starting an assignment or complete the learning activity within the assignment to understand a new concept. Learning activities are 15% of the overall grade and can be graded as complete or incomplete or for the mastery level with associated points.
      • Practice/Assignments: After instruction, there will be opportunities to learn more and/or begin practicing applying and analyzing the new concept. Practice assignments are 30% of the overall grade and can be graded by the mastery level with associated points, either by a rubric or a quiz score.
      • Module Assessments/Term Tasks:  At the end of the module, there will be an assessment to check mastery of concepts of the standards taught in that unit. This may be an auto-graded quiz or an instructor-graded assignment (i.e., quiz, project, task, discussion, or assignment). At the end of the course, there will be a final assessment, task, or project (either auto-graded or instructor-graded) to check mastery of the standards taught in the term course. Assessment activities are 55% of the overall grade.

 

Grading Scale

Letter Grade

Grade Percentage (Range)

Mastery Level
A 93-100 4 (Mastery)
A- 90-92 4
B+ 87-89 3 (Proficient)
B 83-86 3
B- 80-82 3
C+ 77-79 3
C 73-76 2 (Approaching Proficient)
C- 70-72 2
D+ 67-69 2
D 63-66 1 (Beginning Proficient)
D- 60-62 1
F 1-59 0 (Did not meet expectations)
F 0 0 (No Evidence)

 

Course Summary:

This course is using Course Pacing. Go to Course Pacing to manage due dates.
Course Pacing