ONLINE LEARNING

Background

The District is committed to providing quality Online Learning opportunities in the Saanich School District. The Online Learning program will serve school-aged and adult students both within the District and beyond District borders, contingent on Ministry of Education funding and regulations that support the program. In addition, the Online Learning program will support students within the prescribed Ministry of Education regulations who are over the age of 19 are cross-enrolled in multiple districts.

A quality Online Learning program requires a commitment on the part of district staff, administrators and teachers to remain current in their knowledge of the operational and regulatory requirements for Online Learning in British Columbia. Additionally, teachers and administrators responsible for an Online Learning program must be committed to expanding their curricular and pedagogical knowledge to include ways of engaging and supporting student learning in an Online Learning environment.

Courses and programs offered through Online Learning will follow best practices and current pedagogical methods in order to ensure that students are given the best possible educational experience.

Procedures

1. All or part of a student’s educational program may be provided by means of Online Learning.
   1. An Online Learning program offered by the District will support fully-registered students  as well as students who remain registered in their neighbourhood school and who wish to enroll in one or more courses to augment their learning.
2. Program Structure
   1. The Online Learning program will be offered primarily through the South Island Distance Education School (SIDES).
   2. Some Online Learning courses offered by the District may be taught from within neighbourhood schools, either as stand-alone courses or in partnership with SIDES.
   3. SIDES will offer course curriculum primarily through online/web-based courses.
   4. In order to ensure best practice standards, course / program content and delivery will be developed and revised within Ministry of Education requirements.
3. Access to Online Learning
   1. Students and their families will be informed of opportunities to access District Online Learning options through the annual course selection process.
   2. School-aged students who are ordinarily resident in BC may register for Online Learning courses/programs at SIDES at no charge.
   3. Adult non-graduate students who are ordinarily resident in British Columbia may register for Online Learning courses that lead to graduation at SIDES at no charge.
   4. Adult students who have already graduated from secondary school may register for Online Learning courses at SIDES. Courses will be offered to such students at no charge to the student pursuant to Ministry of Education permission.
4. Registration and Enrolment
   1. Registration and enrolment in the Online Learning program (at SIDES) will occur at the school level.
   2. Students will be informed of the attributes that are suited to success in the Online Learning model of instruction.
   3. Students will be accepted into Online Learning as capacity permits.
   4. Students may register for individual Online Learning courses or for complete Online Learning programs, as allowed by the Ministry of Education.
   5. Students requiring learning support services will be screened and accommodated according to Ministry of Education Online Learning Policy.
5. Cross-enrollment with neighbourhood schools
   1. As per Ministry of Education regulations, students who are enrolled at a neighbourhood school (either within the District or outside of the District) may enroll in courses in the Online Learning program at SIDES.
   2. Where a student whose School of Record is a neighbourhood school, SIDES will communicate course progress and results with the School of Record in addition to reporting to parents as per the School Act.
   3. SIDES and neighbourhood schools will work together to formalize structures, where resources (i.e., staffing, timetable availability, physical space) are available, to support students in their pursuit of Online Learning opportunities.