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Virtual Learning Student Guidelines 

Hopewell Crest Middle School 

As HCS moves forward with virtual learning, the middle school team of teachers have collaborated to create a list of what is believed to be BEST student practices. These practices share the goal of empowering students to achieve success in each of their middle school classes, by providing them with a list of suggested behaviors that lend themselves to becoming responsible digital citizens.  

  1. Join all virtual sessions on time.  

  2. Mute your computer microphone as soon as you enter the meeting. Only unmute your mic when called upon by the teacher to do so and mute the mic again immediately after answering the question.  

  3. Only join meetings using a computer or device approved by the district. Cell phones are not approved to be used during the scope of the school day, as per the student handbook. Therefore, they should NOT be used for class meetings.  

  4. Work in a space that is conducive to concentrating on class discussion and activities. This space should NOT encourage distraction, invite noise from others in the home, or lend themselves to taking a rest during class instruction/practice.  

  5. Be prepared with ALL class required materials (pencils, notebooks, textbooks, folders, etc.), as outlined by the teacher for each course, ahead of joining each meeting.  

  6. Address questions by raising your hand. Wait for the teacher to acknowledge you by name and invite you to unmute your mic.   

  7. Students’ videos should be on the entire meeting. This allows the teacher to see students, in order to both monitor engagement and check for signs of questions or concerns.  

  8. Given that students will be participating in classes as HCS students (whether virtual or in-person), it would be best practice for students to abide by the school dress code during all meetings. 

  9. Practice good digital citizenship always. Use the THINK model when constructing any response online (whether verbal or video presentation): 

  10. True – all content should be true to the best of the student's knowledge.

  11. Helpful – all responses should be helpful for the good of all in the class.

  12. Inspiring – all responses should seek to inspire others.

  13. Necessary – all responses should apply to the problem/topic in question.

  14. Kind – all responses should speak kindness to all in the class.

  15.  Only attend teacher-led virtual sessions. Only attend virtual meetings announced and initiated by a HCS teacher.