2005-2006 GRADING RATIONALE


Rules & Consequences Grading Scale Daily Procedures


Attendance

Technology education is about process and problem solving. It is essential that each student be present for each class. In an effort to stress this with students, I have developed the following attendance policy as part of their daily participation grade: every day a student is present and on task, they earn three points; an excused absence only earns one point; after they make up missed work, they may earn the other two points. Additionally, an unexcused tardy costs them one point.



Required Course Materials

Acceptable Use Policy - A signed copy of the schools AUP
(can be found here) on file in the Media Center
Writing Utensil – Every day some written work will take place without the computer
Student Planner – Used during the class for record keeping
Novel – Currently being used in language arts class



Student Evaluation

During the course of the marking period there are a few different types of assignments that will be required.

Every day the first ten minutes of class will be devoted to developing keyboarding skills. Once a week, average typing speed and accuracy for that days work is recorded. Students are expected to keep their accuracies above the 90 percentile. Minimum speed requirements for each grade: Sixth = 15 AWPM; Seventh = 20 AWPM; Eighth = 30 AWPM. Keyboarding will account for 20 points each week.

Planners will be checked to verify they are being brought to class and used correctly. The planner may be worth up to 25 points per week. A student earns 10 points for simply bringing the planner to class as required. An additional 10 points is earned if the planner is filled out correctly, for class with the required details. The final five points will be awarded if the student has information filled out for three or more other classes.

Another weekly assignment is a participation grade (worth 25 points.) The aspects that are graded include student effort; class contribution; effective use of time; business like conduct; as well as, those already mentioned in the attendance section above.

Additionally, students will be completing design challenges (projects) that have been designed to introduce students to the way technological cultures solve problems, as well as other Technology Education topics depending on the focus of the class. (10-100 points each)

Students may be required to complete a lab report, which will give them the opportunity to review, document and present the steps they needed to go through in order to complete the challenge. (100 points each)

Upon completion of a project, a professional presentation of solutions to the class may be required. This is accomplished in varying degrees of complexity, ranging from a simple “show and tell” format to an elaborate PowerPoint presentation. (25 to 100 points)

All assignments may be turned in late until the end of the marking period. Late assignments will be reduced by no more than 10% of their original points.

Students may resubmit any assignment after fixing mistakes and/or errors to receive credit for the corrections.





GRADING SCALE

100-99 A+
98-94 A
93-90 A-
89-87 B+
86-84 B
83-80 B-
79-77 C+
76-74 C
73-70 C-
69-67 D+
66-64 D
63-60 D-



Final Examination

Each marking period students are required to complete an evaluation of the class and the materials covered during the class. This evaluation is used to assess the effectiveness of the class units and make changes when necessary. It may be graded for a maximum of 50 points.



Extra Credit

Extra credit is available on every part of each challenge, allowing everyone the opportunity to excel in the areas they are good at, and make up for areas they are still working to improve. Additionally, any progress report issued to the student that is brought back signed will earn them extra credit.



Academic Dishonesty

Any student caught cheating will receive no credit for the assignment and will be referred to the office for discipline.













CLASSROOM RULES

1. Do what the teacher asks, when asked.

2. Be quiet when a student or teacher is presenting or talking to the class.

3. Keep your hands, feet, and body off other people and their “stuff.”

4. Do not treat others in a manner that makes them feel less than who they are.
”Treat others like you might need something from them tomorrow.”

5. Use tools and materials in the manner you are expected.

6. Situations that are way out of the line from normal school behavior will be dealt with immediately.



CONSEQUENCES

Failure To Be Reliable
  • First Tardy = Standing (15 minutes)
  • Second Tardy = Standing all hour (Parent contact)
  • Third Tardy = Referral to the Office
Failure To Be Respectful or Follow A.U.P.
  1. Student-Teacher Conference
  2. Student Selected Consequence
    Sentences, Written Apology, Etc.
    and Parent Contact
  3. Referral to Office
Steps may be skipped if the situation is extreme.
Failure to be Safe

If at any time a student performs in a manner that jeopardizes their safety or the safety of the class they will be referred to the office and in some cases be removed from the class.













DAILY PROCEDURES
BEFORE WE WORK
  1. Wait in the hall (CALMLY) until you are invited in
  2. Enter quietly, sit in your seat, and turn on your computer
  3. FIRST 10 MINUTES
    • Fill in your planner
    • Mavis Beacon
    • I take attendance
  4. Instruction
    This is where you have to pay attention to me.
    (Monitors off, no touching computers!)
  5. Questions
    I answer any (all) questions.
    If there are no questions, we get back to work.
BEFORE WE LEAVE
  1. Start cleaning up when asked,
    • or when you notice it is time.
  2. Put away your stuff
  3. Save your work, put away your materials
  4. Shut down the computer, turn off the monitor.
  5. Straighten your space
    • Line up the keyboard
    • Center the mouse
    • Push in your chair Clean Up
    • Clean up around your desk and chair
    • Pick up your stuff and get ready to go Quiet
  6. I can only dismiss you if you have been quiet for at least 5 seconds.



May also include Acceptable Use Policy pages.
















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