Welcome to Virtual High School

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Welcome to Virtual High School

• Orientation - Spring 2008

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VHS Website http//www.ccsdde.net

• Start each day by visiting the VHS website

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Check School Announcements

• Check the announcements on the website for
  important information
• Registration
• System Upgrades and Outages
• School District Bulletins

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Blackboard

• Blackboard is the Virtual High School building.
  
• Click the Blackboard icon on ccsdde.net to login
  and attend school.
• Login to Blackboard everyday to
• Go to Your Classes
• See Student Reminders
• Message Your Teachers
• and More

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Blackboard Login Screen
Username Password First 4 numbers of student
number First 2 letters of last name First
letter of first name
ExampleUsername 1234doj (student number
1234567, Doe, John)Password same as username
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TIPCant Login?Visit the Request Tech Support
Page
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Inside Blackboard

• Walking around your virtual school

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Blackboard TabsEach tab is a different section
of the school.

• Virtual High School Main tab with all classes,
  student reminders, and school wide information.
• Instructional Support Sessions Live online
  discussions help from your teacher.
• Student Help and Resources FAQs, How Tos, and
  other resources to help you.

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Blackboard Browser Test

• Do the browser test on all computers you use to
  make sure you can go to class!

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Browser Test Results

• Must have all three Required Components
• Red Xs on Optional Components are still ok

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Virtual High School Tab

• VHS Tab will display
• School-wide Announcements
• General Information
• Student Reminders
• Access to your classroom
• Browser Test
• Whats New
• Remember to SCROLL the entire page for
  information

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Instructional Support Session Tab

• Instructional Support Session Tab will display
• Login screen to attend your weekly live chat
  with your instructor

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Student Help and Resources Tab

• Student Help and Resources Tab will display
• VHS Student FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
• Cant remember how to Submit an Assignment
  read directions shown in the Blackboard Quick
  Start Guide
• You may want to print the Quick Start Guide and
  post by your computer for easy access

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My Courses

• Step into your classroom

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My Courses Your Virtual Classroom

• Click each course link everyday to check your
  announcements and attend class.
• Just like stepping into your brick mortar
  classrooms, you must go to each classroom!

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Dont wander in the halls and skip class by not
clicking each class link daily.
TIP
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Wrong Enrollments?

• Inform us during orientation OR
• Talk to a VHS Counselor about the mistake OR
• Use the Request Technical Support page to contact
  us about the problem

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Course Menu

• Review your online class by clicking into each of
  the options on the left side of your classroom
• Announcements, read announcements each day for
  directions
• Introduction to Blackboard is your First
  Assignment
• Course Information outlines what you will be
  learning
• Quarter Three displays the lessons to be covered
  during this time
• Quarter Four displays the lessons to be covered
  during this time
• Discussion Board, post or respond to discussion
  items here
• Assessments, after you have completed the
  lesson, take the test or quiz
• Textbooks Resources, find the e-materials you
  need for your class
• My Messages, keeps you and your teacher in
  contact via message system
• My Grades, keeps you and your parents informed of
  your grades
• Tools
• Communication, an option way to access different
  communication tools
• Course Tools, gives you optional access to
  calendar, glossary, grade book
• Course Map, displays the course outline in a
  folder view

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Course Menu - Course Announcements

• Read your course announcements daily for complete
  instructions from your teacher, just like in the
  beginning of class in your brick mortar
  school
• Follow instructions given by your teacher
• Course announcements are for your specific class
• Announcements change from class to class

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Course Menu Introduction to Blackboard

• Read how your classroom and your virtual school
  works
• Identify objectives that will be taught
• Follow lesson instructions
• Note when assignment is due, and pace yourself
• This section is your first task!

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Use the Introduction to Blackboard section often
to help you find your way around your virtual
classroom.
TIP
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Course Menu - Lesson Materials

• Quarter units and lessons
• Access class lessons
• Follow directions for each lesson
• Discussion Board
• Post a threads to the discussion forum
• Communicate with classmates
• Assessments (Tests Quizzes)
• Complete lessons first
• Tests and Quizzes made available after

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Lesson Materials (cont.)Units and Lessons
Read directions to access lessons e.g. Click on
Unit 01
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Lesson Materials (cont.)Units and Lessons
Once the Unit is open lessons will be
displayed Click on the lesson and follow
directions
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Lesson Materials (cont.)Units and Lessons
Follow directions for each lesson. Pace yourself
to complete lessons on time!
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Course MenuPersonal Items

• Textbooks Resources
• Access your e-book from here
• Access other class material from here
• My Messages
• Just like e-mail
• Check send messages to classmates and teachers
• Message your teacher if you have any problems
• My Grades
• Check grades for assignments assessments

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About My Messages

• Check your message box daily
• If you have a message it will show in your Inbox

• Inbox will display messages
• Click on subject to open message

• View message and read

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If you have lesson questions, technical problems,
or other issues, first message your teacher.
Its just like raising your hand in class.
TIP
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My Grades
Identifies class Identifies Item Name
(assignment) Identifies Due Date Displays Your
Grade Displays Points Possible Displays Average
Score
Symbols allow you and the teacher to see status
of assignments
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Use the My Grades section as a checklist to help
you complete your assignments.
TIP
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Instructional Support Session Tab Centra

• What is ISS? Interactive lessons from teachers.
• Check the announcements in your class to see when
  your Instructional Support Sessions are
  scheduled.
• Watch the ISS playback if you cannot make the
  session.
• Instructional Support Sessions become MANDATORY
  if you are in jeopardy of failing your class!

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Instructional Support Session Centra Login

• Your instructor will tell you when to login for
  your ISS class
• Use your Blackboard login and password to enter
  the session
• Show up about five minutes early
• Check your headset for sound
• Join your teacher and classmates for an
  interactive session
• You will need to download the CENTRA software to
  your machine prior to the session

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Instructional Support SessionCentra Tabs

• You have accessed your ISS
• Click on the event you will attend
• Select Upcoming Tab for your future schedule ISS
• Select Ongoing Tab for current ISS schedule
• Select Past Tab for prior ISS playbacks (these
  can be listed to at anytime)

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Attend all Instructional Support Sessions to get
to know classmates, participate in lessons, and
talk to your teacher.
TIP
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Start Now!

• Complete the Introduction to Blackboard section
  in each class.
• 1 Assignment (worth 5 points)
• 1 Discussion Board Forum (worth 5 points)
• 1 Test (pass/fail)
• Use this lesson as a reference all semester

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Need Help?

• Try the following
• Use the Introduction to Blackboard and Course
  Information sections
• Check the Student Help Resources Tab
• Message your teacher
• Attend Instructional Support Sessions
• Use the Request Technical Support page

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VHS Office Schedule

• Office Hours 800 a.m. 400 p.m.
• Office 855-8435 Fax [phone]
• Tech Support vhs.support_at_interact.ccsd.net
• VHS Address Virtual High School
  2501 Vegas Drive Las
  Vegas, NV 89106

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More Tips for Success

• Be able to communicate through writing
• Be self-motivated and self-disciplined
• Be willing to "speak up" if problems arise
• Be willing and able to commit to 5 to 10 hours
  per week per course
• Accept critical thinking and decision making as
  part of the learning process

• Be able to think ideas through before responding
• Feel that high quality learning can take place
  without going to a traditional classroom
• Participate!
• Make sure you have a private space where you can
  study
• Log on to your course every single day
• Be polite and respectful

Adapted from the Illinois Online Network
(http//illinois.online.uillinois.edu)
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GOOD LUCK!Remember to login and attend each
class on January 22nd to start second semester!