- LANGUAGE
Assessment & Evaluation Policy
Purpose: The primary purpose of assessment is to improve student learning. Assessment relates directly to the expectations for the course. A variety of assessments for and as learning are conducted on a regular basis to allow ample opportunities for students to improve and ultimately demonstrate their full range of learning and in order for the teacher to gather information to provide feedback. Assessment tasks relate to the success criteria set out in lesson plans. Success criteria allow students to see what quality looks like.
Evaluation is the process of judging the quality of student work in relation to the achievement chart categories and criteria, and assigning a percentage grade to represent that quality. Evaluation is based on gathering evidence of student achievement through products, observations and conversations.
Grading Policy
The final grade is based on performance in 3 areas: products, observations, conversations. 70% of the grade is based on evaluations conducted throughout the course. 30% is based on a final evaluation.
Weighting of Categories:
- Knowledge & Understanding = 30%
- Thinking = 20%
- Communication = 20%
- Application = 30%
Academic Honesty - Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism occurs when someone presents the work of others as their own. This would include copying large amounts of text from the Internet or other written texts without crediting the original author. Plagiarism also occurs when someone copies the work of other students, pretending it to be their own. Surprisingly, the third instance of plagiarism occurs when a student copies an assignment from one course for use in a different course, pretending it to be original work. All three of these instances constitute plagiarism and are very serious breaches of academic honesty.
In many post-secondary institutions, students who are found to be guilty of academic dishonesty (plagiarism) are forced to withdraw from the course and/or the university.
At TIOS, we consider the issue of academic honesty to be very important. Since our goal is to inspire academic excellence for students, we believe that academic honesty is an important lesson to learn during high school. For this reason, teachers in each course will review the correct methods of footnoting sources so that students can avoid any suspicion of copying from outside sources. Using someone else’s ideas to support your own is not the crime – but when you pretend that someone else’s ideas are yours, that becomes the problem! Teachers throughout Ontario have access to online software that easily detects plagiarism, so it is important for students to pay careful attention to this issue.
As outlined in Growing Success, students must understand that the tests/exams they complete and the assignments they submit for evaluation must be their own work and that cheating and plagiarism will not be condoned.
Responsibilities of TIOS Students: When the teacher asks you to use your own words and ideas, it means that you should use your own words and your own ideas. You must demonstrate to the teacher that you are capable of submitting work that is your own. When a teacher asks to put your ideas into your own words, it does not mean that there is a correct answer for the assignment. It means that you have to come up with your own ideas to give to the teacher.
Responsibilities of TIOS Teachers: Teachers will help students avoid plagiarising by using some of the following strategies:
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defining the term “plagiarism” and reminding students of the policy when setting out an assignment; |
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giving students examples of what plagiarism looks like; |
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emphasizing the importance of using process skills to arrive at a product; |
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teaching students research skills so they can avoid plagiarising: note taking, paraphrasing, summarizing; |
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teaching students how to make an outline for a report or research essay; |
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having students keep a learning log to reflect on what they learned through the process: how research and organization skills helped with the project, how could the product be improved, how can the research and organization skills be improved |
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assessing the process steps: notes, outline, summary, bibliography, drafts, etc.; and/or |
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informing students of the consequences of plagiarism. |
Consequences for Academic Dishonesty at TIOS: Students found to have plagiarized assignments at TIOS will be subject to a series of escalating consequences:
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Instance #1: When plagiarism has been detected, the teacher will discuss the matter with the student. Both parents and the Principal will be informed of the details and the student will have the opportunity of redoing the assignment in a way that avoids plagiarism. |
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Instance #2: When plagiarism is detected a second time, the student will receive a mark of zero for the assignment. Parents and the Principal will once again be informed and the Principal will note this in their school record. |
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Instance #3: Repeats instances of plagiarism may result in withdrawal from the course and/or the school without refund of tuition. Similarly, students who are guilty of cheating on tests of examinations will receive a mark of zero on the test or examination and these details will also be noted in their school records. |
Appeal
- A student may appeal the teacher's decision to the Principal after discussion with the teacher.
Policy on Late/Missed Assignments
Students are responsible for providing evidence of their achievement of the overall expectations within the time frame specified by the teacher and in a format approved by the teacher. There are consequences for not completing assignments for evaluation or for submitting those assignments late.
LATE AND MISSED ASSIGNMENTS: The Ministry of Education’s policy states “the primary purpose of assessment and evaluation is to improve student learning”. Submitting work late is a learning skills and work habits issue and may impact the student’s grade. The Ministry requires teachers to separate evaluation of achievement of the curriculum expectations from the development of learning skills and work habits (Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, Self-Regulation).
Students submit work late for many reasons and teachers should take time to understand the reason for a late assignment. Reasons could include:
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Legitimate explanation; |
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Poor time-management skills; |
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Poor academic skills; and/or |
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Poor understanding of the assignment. |
Responsibilities of TIOS Teachers: Students should be expected to submit work on time. The teacher must inform students of the due date of an assignment and the ultimate deadline, which is the last opportunity for students to submit the assignment for evaluation. This deadline is set at the teacher’s discretion.
Where, in the teacher’s professional judgement, it is appropriate to do so, a number of strategies may be used to help prevent and/or address late and missed assignments. These can be found on page 44 of Growing Success.
Missed Evaluations: Students who do not submit assignments may be given zero. A mark of zero will normally result in a gap in the record of achievement of curriculum expectations because the teacher lacks evidence of the student’s knowledge or skills. The student might have missed tests, not handed in assignments, or might have been absent for presentations. Students are responsible for providing the teacher with evidence of their learning.
Attendance Policy
Courses at Toronto International Oslife School are "asynchronous" - you are free to log in and work on your course materials at your own pace. Courses are designed to take 110 hours to complete and, unless otherwise specified, all course assignments, including the final exam, must be compelted within 6 months from the start of your enrolment in the course.
In many cases, your teacher or Academic Monitor will provide you with a Suggested Schedule in order to complete the course. Students should consult this schedule and use it as a guideline in order to stay "on track" in their course commpletion.
Regular attendance in your course is critical for your learning and will positively impact your achievement in the course. As a result, TIOS maintains an attendance policy and it is important for students to note this policy and adhere to the login requirements:
- Students are required to log into the TIOS course site a minimum of once every three days. By doing so, students have the opportunity to submit assignments and tests on an ongoing basis.
- Students should not “save up” their completed work and hand it in all together at the end of the course. Doing so would prevent the teacher from providing ongoing feedback for improvement.
- Regular logins to the TIOS course site ensure that students are available for live teacher conferencing, group work and presentations.
- If a student fails to log in a minimum of once every three days, they will accumulate one (1) absence for each failed login. Although these absences will not cause a loss of marks, they will show up in the final report card.
- When the Academic Monitor, Teacher and/or Principal feel that the student is repeatedly failing to log in according to the schedule above, school staff will arrange to meet with the student and parent/guardian to explain the potential consequences of ongoing absences, including failure to earn credits, and discuss steps that can be taken to improve attendance.
Truancy Policy
Truancy is defined as an absence from school without an approved excuse, and can be either part of the day or the entire day. Parents are required by the Education Act to report the appropriate cause of school absences to the TIOS administration.
Students are required to attend school until they reach the age of eighteen (18) or graduate. Reaching the age of majority does not imply any specific rights. If a student is eighteen (18) or older and chooses not to follow the rules, regulations, and/or policies of the school, that student can be asked to cease attendance in school. Regular attendance at school is critical for the student’s learning. To encourage regular attendance by students, TIOS staff will ensure that students and their parents are informed about the school’s policy on attendance. Where, in the Principal’s judgement, a student’s frequent absences from school are jeopardizing his or her success, TIOS staff will meet with the student and the parents to explain the potential consequences of the absences and discuss steps to be taken to improve attendance.
In the case of online learning, students are expected to log in a minimum of three (3) times each week for the entire duration of their course. If a student fails to do so, an absence will be recorded on their midterm and/or final report card. If this happens two (2) weeks in a row, a message will be sent to both the student and the parents requiring an explanation and the immediate resumption of online attendance. If the student continues to be truant from their course then the student and parent will be contacted directly. If the student fails to attend classes for 59 days running, their online account will be suspended and they will be withdrawn from the course without tuition refund. All student work will remain intact and resumption of the online course will be determined by the Principal in consultation with the student, teacher and parents (if applicable).
Policy on Instructional Approaches
TIOS students will learn in a variety of ways:
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individually |
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cooperatively |
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independently with teacher direction |
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through investigation involving hands-on experience; |
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through examples followed by practice; and |
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by using concrete learning tools & manipulatives in Mathematics such as connecting cubes, measurement tools, algebra tiles and number cubes. |
TIOS Teachers will employ a variety of strategies to promote student learning:
1. Clarify the purpose for learning;
2. Help students activate prior knowledge;
3. Differentiate instruction for individual students and small groups according to need;
4. Explicitly teach and model learning strategies;
5. Encourage students to talk through their thinking and learning processes;
6. Provide many opportunities for students to practise and apply their developing knowledge and skills;
7. Encourage students to gain experience with varied and interesting applications of the new knowledge.
8. Recognize the "big ideas" in mathematics to promote reasoning skills;
9. Apply effective teaching approaches that involve students in the use of higher-level thinking skill; and
10. Encourage students to look beyond the literal meaning of texts
Policy on Accommodations for English Language Learners
TIOS Teachers will use appropriate strategies for instruction and assessment to facilitate the success of the English language learners in their classrooms. These strategies include (but are not limited to):
- modification of some or all of the subject expectations depending on the level of English proficiency;
- use of a variety of instructional strategies (e.g., extensive use of visual cues, graphic organizers, scaffolding;
- previewing of textbooks;
- pre-teaching of key vocabulary;
- peer tutoring;
- strategic use of students' first language;
- use of a variety of learning resources (e.g., visual material, simplified text, bilingual dictionaries and materials that reflect cultural diversity;
- use of assessment accommodations (e.g., granting of extra time); and
- use of oral interviews, demonstrations or visual representations or tasks requiring completion of graphic organizers and cloze sentences instead of essay questions and other assessment tasks that depend heavily on proficiency in English.
Equity & Inclusion Policy
At Toronto International Oslife School, our mission is to inspire academic excellence for students and strong confidence for parents.
The following statements of belief are excerpted from the Peel District School Board document entitled Empowering Modern Learners (Addendum 2020) and help us to shape a foundation that determines our school’s belief system about our students.
As a school, we are committed to ensuring that each student is represented and reflected in the learning experiences and learning environments we provide. This means that teachers and administrators at TIOS celebrate and value unique student interests, backgrounds, cultures and prior experiences. Our beliefs as a staff are founded on the following belief system that we bring to classrooms every day:
- We must actively confront inequities and barriers that uphold racism and other forms of oppression so learners of all identities are empowered through education that embraces their identities and lived experiences.
- Each learner is curious, competent and able to take an active role in his or her own learning.
- Effective educators empower all learners to achieve personal excellence by being open, flexible and responsive to their needs.
- A positive, innovative learning environment empowers all of us to grow through rich, authentic relationships both locally and globally.
- Together as a community of families, educators and leaders, we share responsibility to inspire our modern learners to be active, critically engaged, global citizens.
Culturally responsive pedagogy and modern digital tools offer unprecedented opportunities to empower historically under-served learners by providing barrier-free access to information and learning networks. This access generates new opportunities for learners to explore their passions, share their voices and consider diverse perspective.
Being an educator that embodies Modern Learning is more about the journey than the destination. As we acknowledge our past and commit to a new future, we will focus on instructional strategies that take in consideration student learning needs, and assessment practices that are equitable, transparent and focus on student achievement. Our classroom must foster critical thought, adaptability and innovation and understanding that these concepts look different and have different implications for each learner.
*** Thanks goes to the Peel District School Board, Empowering Modern Learners (Addendum 2020) for this groundbreaking work. (www.peelschools.org)
Policy on Literacy and Inquiry/Research Skills
TIOS emphasizes the importance of the following:
- using clear, concise communication in the online classroom involving the use of diagrams, charts, tables, and graphs;
- emphasizing TIOS students' ability to interpret and use graphic texts;
- acquiring the skills to locate relevant information from a variety of sources such as books, newspapers, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, interviews, videos, and the Internet;
- learning that all sources of information have a particular point of view; and
- learning that the recipient of the information has a responsibility to evaluate it, determine its validity and relevance and use it in appropriate ways.
Digital Citizenship Policy
At TIOS, technology is used to enhance learning, access information and communicate freely. Technology is used in a variety of ways.
TIOS students use multimedia resources, databases, Internet websites, digital cameras and word-processing programs. They use technology to collect, organize, and sort the data they gather and to write, edit, and present reports on their findings. Students are encouraged to use technology to support and communicate their learning. For example, students working individually or in groups can use computer technology and/or Internet websites to gain access to museums and archives in Canada and around the world. Students use digital cameras and projectors to design and present the results of their research to their classmates.
At TIOS, technology is used in positive ways to connect students to other learners and to bring the global community into the classroom. Using the TIOS Digital Citizenship Policy, students are made aware of issues of Internet privacy, safety, and responsible use, as well as of the potential for abuse of this technology, particularly when it is used to promote hatred.
Students and parents are required to review and sign the following TIOS Digital Citizenship Policy prior to starting all online courses. The purpose of this policy, and the accompanying signoff, is to keep students safe at all times while learning in a digital environment.
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All TIOS students are required to read the following Digital Citizenship Policy and agree to abide by these rules and principles. Students are also asked to share this document with parents/guardians. |
PERSONAL USAGE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- I will treat others the way I wish to be treated when I use technology. I understand that my language and actions while using technology affect others. I will be accountable for my online behaviour. I will not use my technology in a manner that is unlawful, unethical, unkind, or immoral.
- I will not respond to any messages that are mean, threatening, or in any way make me or others feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message that is not appropriate. I will report any situations that resemble this behaviour immediately to a responsible adult.
- I will be open and honest with my parents and my school about my online friends and activities. Mutual trust and openness with parents and school staff is essential in ensuring proper usage at all times.
- I will not use electronic devices belonging to other students nor will I lend my electronic device to other students. Each student is accountable for the activities that their own personal devices are used for in addition to the activities in which they are personally engaged.
- I will remember that I need to balance technology use with other activities.
PRIVACY
- I will protect my personal information and that of my family and schoolmates. I will not do anything to jeopardize our safety and privacy. This includes not posting full names, school name, addresses, phone numbers, emails, or any information that would indicate specific people, times and places. It also means that I will not photograph or audio and/or video record teachers or students while at school or on virtual school calls or meetings without their expressed permission.
- I am personally accountable for the technology that I bring and or use at school and the passwords that I use to gain access to technology and applications. I will not share my technology or passwords with other students, nor will I use the technology and passwords of other students or staff members.
- I recognize that by law my parents and school administration have the authority to access all information and applications used on all electronic devices that I use at the school. If TIOS staff have reasonable grounds to believe that an electronic device contains evidence pertaining to a breach of the Student’s Student Behaviour and Conduct Policy and/or the School Behaviour Policy, it is the expectation that students make available to school administration the unaltered contents of the permanent and/or removable memory of their cellular phone or electronic device. Failure to make the contents available can be considered willful disobedience and is grounds for disciplinary action.
CONTENT
- I understand that some material online is protected and cannot be copied without permission. I understand that this material is owned by others and that they have the right to be protected.
- I understand that information found online may not be accurate and should always be verified using multiple trusted sources.
- I will only view material at school that I would feel comfortable viewing with my teacher or parents. I will tell a responsible adult immediately if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable or that is inappropriate.
- I will check with my parents or teachers before downloading or installing software or hardware. I recognize that these actions may be harmful to the computer or portable device.
STUDENT & PARENT/GUARDIAN ENDORSEMENT
I have read, am aware of, and will abide by all the acceptable use requirements set forth in this agreement. I agree that if I fail to keep my commitment to doing those things listed above that I will be subject to the consequences of breaching this policy as explained in this document which may include (but is not limited to) temporary loss of technology privileges or removal from the online course. I understand that there may be other disciplinary consequences if there has been a breach of school rules and a search of the electronic device reveals this breach. I further understand that by clicking “I agree”, I have acknowledged and accepted this policy as binding.
Further, I have reviewed this document with my parent(s)/guardian(s) who fully understand and accept the policy as binding. My parent(s)/guardian(s) fully understand and accept the consequences of not upholding my student responsibilities which may include (but is not limited to) temporary loss of technology privileges or removal from the online course. My parent(s)/guardian(s) understand that there may be other disciplinary consequences if there has been a breach of school rules and a search of the electronic device reveals this breach.
Policy on the Delivery of Career Education
TIOS Students are given opportunities to develop career-related skills by:
- applying their skills to work-related situations;
- exploring educational and career options;
- developing research skills;
- practising expository writing;
- learning strategies for understanding informational reading material;
- making oral presentations; and
- working in small groups with classmates to help students express themselves confidently and work cooperatively with others.
Policy on the Delivery of Financial Literacy Education
The school emphasizes the importance of ensuring that all students, both domestic and international, have the opportunity to improve their financial literacy. Financial literacy is defined as "having the knowledge and skills needed to make responsible economic and financial decisions with competence and confidence". The goal is to help students acquire the knowledge and skills that will enable them to understand and respond to complex issues regarding their own personal finances and the finances of their families, as well as to develop an understanding of local and global effects of world economic forces and the social, environmental, and ethical implications of their own choices as consumers. Thus, TIOS try to integrate Financial Literacy in all TIOS online courses.
Policy on the Filfillment of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Requirement
The secondary school literacy graduation requirement is based on reading and writing expectations throughout the Ontario curriculum up to and including Grade 9. Its purpose is to determine whether students have the reading and writing skills required for success at school, at work and in daily life.
Students at TIOS can meet the secondary school literacy graduation requirement in two different ways:
1. They must pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) administered annually in March/April; or
2. Students who do not pass the OSSLT may take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC). The Principal may allow a student to enroll in the OSSLC before they have had a second opportunity to take the OSSLT if the Principal determines that it is in the student's best educational interests. Students who pass the course are considered to have met the literacy graduation requirement. The result is recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript.
The credit earned for successfully completing the OSSLC may be used to meet the Grade 11 or the Grade 12 compulsory credit requirement in English. If used to meet the Grade 11 requirement, the course is coded OLC3O. If used to meet the Grade 12 requirement, the course is coded OLC4O. The credit may also be used to meet the group 1 compulsory credit requirement for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
The reading and writing competencies required by the OSSLT form the instructional and assessment core of the OSSLC. The course differs from other courses in that it outlines specific requirements for evaluation to ensure alignment with the requirements of the OSSLT.
A student cannot be granted credit for the OSSLC through the challenge process described in the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) policy.