Rezzly Guildsite

In your situation, what is an example of a policy, a procedure and a skill?

• Policy: Students must use their Maricopa Google account (not personal) to create assignments for this course.
• Procedure: Learning how to Share Google docs correctly for this course. Students must share so that "Anyone at Maricopa with the Link can edit." This is different than how many teachers ask students to share docs so it is a tricky point for my students who have used Google docs in other courses or hs.
• Skill: Understanding how sharing works in Google Docs and knowing which type of sharing is best for any given situation.

For me the procedure is most important, but for the student it's probably always the skill. Now that I see these written together, I realize that I'm focusing on the procedure, but might have better luck with students by focusing on the skill.

This is something that I introduce and teach in my getting started module. I reinforce on every assignment by linking back to the instructions in the getting started module.

Update:

What are the most important procedures at your schools?

We are asked every semester to remind students to register for the next semester. This very important step is sometimes confusing to students and can be completed in different ways. Students can register online, but many students don't know how to do this and register through an adviser. Some students I've talked to don't even pick their own courses, they go see an adviser and the adviser does everything for them.

Other important procedures would be how to print and how to get computer help.

How do students learn to navigate these ropes, even when the procedures are sometimes unwritten?

Most students just ask someone. They may ask me and if I don't know, I'll ask the class. Sometimes information about procedures can be found on the school website.

What happens when students are unsuccessful at picking up important procedures?

Students who can't figure out important procedures usually are unsuccessful.

Policy: Refund Policy for students with Financial Aid
Procedure: Registering for classes online
Skill: Accessing and using Canvas, our LMS

I think these are all valuable for me, and for students as well. The specific examples I gave, however, may not be applicable to all students. (For instance, if students are not receiving Financial Aid, they will not be interested in the policy for Refunds!) The most important for me personally (simply because this is where a lot of my work lies!) is accessing and using Canvas. As we move toward more on-ground classes using Canvas, even if just to post a Syllabus, and increase our number of hybrid and online courses, it is extremely important for students to know what Canvas is, where to find it, and how to use it.

These could be introduced in different ways. For example, as it is now, our Refund Policy is presented to students in written form, discussed in a workshop during the on-ground orientation, and included in a video presentation in the online orientation. Registering for classes online is discussed during the on-ground orientation, and included in a video presentation in the online orientation, but there is currently not any guided practice for students. I would love to see and "If/Then" type activity for students included, as well as a sample registration activity for students to complete on top of the written and video walk-throughs.

In your situation, what is an example of a policy, a procedure and a skill? Which is the most important and valuable for you? For the student? How do you introduce it? Teach it? Reinforce it?

Identify one policy, one procedure, and one skill and discuss which is the most important for you and why.

Identify one policy: We have every student become familiar with our acceptable use policy. This covers the guidelines for any and all computer usage throughout the district. Typically, we have them receive the overview during computer class.

Identify one procedure: Because I run a gamified classroom, almost all classroom procedures are new to the students. I rarely lecture and students are responsible for starting and finishing lessons on their own. When finished, they sign into the "waiting room" and start the next quest. When their turn comes, I call names from the waiting room and we assess the lesson together and reward various XP points. it takes a while for the kids to grasp it, but later in the year it becomes a well-oiled machine.

Identify one skill: A skill that is taught is a reading comprehension strategy called R.A.C.E. This strategy is spiraled throughout the year and pops up in many quest-lines. I also have my lessons online, so students need to know how to access them at my site, patientnumberzero.com

My spreadsheet stage 1