Changes to SJK's Video Conferencing Practices (April 9, 2020)
When we began our remote learning program we created some video conferencing practices and made our faculty aware of them. Since then, we asked our provincial association to research best practices along with a leading law firm, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP. They have come back to the CIS Ontario schools with a series of recommendations. We have therefore revised our practices to align with their advice.
What parents need to know is that teachers now have the option to record sessions involving multiple students and make them available to students afterwards, if they so choose. If a recording is being made, teachers will inform students before the recording starts. Students have the option to turn off their cameras during the recording to avoid being seen on the recording. Parents whose children are on the No Photograph/Video List are asked to instruct their children to turn their cameras off. This recorded material may be made available to students who are unable to attend the session.
Also, teachers will now no longer record sessions with an individual student, but instead will keep a log of all communications. Reasons for a 1:1 conference may include: guidance counselling, learning support, mentoring such as extended essay support and advising. The exception to this rule is for assessments. Please note the following advice from the International Baccalaureate about assessments:
Maintaining academic integrity is paramount in the completion of IB assessment and examinations. Therefore, teachers conducting any of the assessments listed above, must ensure that they are conducted in full adherence to the guidelines described in the relevant subject guides and assessment procedures when trying to replicate the conditions followed when completing such tasks in the school.
Students can be asked to show their rooms with their mobile phone cameras (walls and areas underneath their desks) to confirm that no unauthorized materials are visible/hidden.
For oral assessments being conducted over Skype (or similar), it is recommended that an external recording device is used.
Teachers and students should only use Google Hangouts Meet with the exception of students residing in another country. In that case, teachers are permitted to use Skype.
Thank you very much for your attention to these matters. If you have any questions regarding these changes, please contact Mrs. Karen Baird, Director of Teaching and Learning.
St. John's Kilmarnock School
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