Digital Learning Department

Our credit retrieval courses have been designed to be completed within a 6-week session. Although we encourage all students to formulate a plan to complete the course within six (6) weeks, we do allow students up to a maximum of twelve (12) weeks to complete the course.

This is a six-week credit retrieval course for students who have already taken this class and not earned credit. A diagnostic assessment, given at the beginning of the course, indicateswhat standards have been met, and what skills need to be practiced and demonstrated. Based on the results of the diagnostic assessment, an individual plan for completing the course is developed by the teacher and communicated to the student. Upon successful completion of the course, the student earns a passing grade (C) and .5 credit in History of Pacific Region 1 (Pacific Northwest History).

This course is designed to meet the state requirements for students to take a Pacific Northwest History (PNW) course. This course is designed to develop your awareness, appreciation and understanding of the regions of the Northwest. You will study the geography, the government, the people, the economy and the cultural aspects of the Pacific Northwest. Assignments are based on the Washington State Essential Learnings. Upon completion of this class students may have an interest in taking History Pacific Region 2 which focuses on the Pacific Rim countries.

This course helps meet the state minimum requirements of 2.5 Social Studies credits in addition to completing the requirement for Washington state histroy. Please check with your district for more specific requirements.

State Standards and Learning Expectations [top]

Objectives stated within course lessons. Washington State Standards guided the design of the course. Learning expectations are found within the course itself.

History EALR 1: The student examines and understands major ideas, eras, themes, developments, turning points, chronology, and cause-and-effect relationships in U.S. history.
1.1 Understand and analyze historical time and chronology
1.2 Understand events, trends, individuals, and movements shaping United States, world, and Washington State history
1.3 Examine the influence of culture on United States, world, and Washington State history

History EALR 2: The student applies the methods of social science investigation to compare and contrast interpretations of historical events.
2.1 Compare and contrast ideas in different places, time periods, and cultures, and examine the interrelationships between ideas, change, and conflict
2.2 Understand how ideas and technological developments influence people, culture, and environment

Social Studies EALR 1.1: The student understands the origin and impact of ideas and technological developments on history and social change.

Civics EALR 1: The student understands and explains the core values and principles of the United States democracy as set forth in foundational documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
1.3 Examine representative government and citizen participation

Reading EALR 1: The student understands and uses different skills and strategies to read.
1.1 Use word recognition skills and strategies to read and comprehend text
1.3 Build vocabulary through wide reading

Reading EALR 2: The student understands the meaning of what is read.
2.1 Demonstrate evidence of reading comprehension
2.3 Expand comprehension by analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing information and ideas in literary and informational text

Reading EALR 3: The student reads different materials for a variety of purposes.
3.1 Read to learn new information
3.2 Read to perform a task

Writing EALR 2: The student writes clearly and effectively.
2.2. Writes for different purposes

Writing EALR 3: The student writes in a variety of forms for different audiences and purposes.
3.1. Develops ideas and organizes writing

Course Outline [top]

The study of Pacific Northwest History consists of 5 Units covering the geography, government, people, economy, and culture of this three state region, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. In addition to the Units, students will study Current Events in the news and complete a Book Review.

Unit 1 Geography
Unit 2 Government
Unit 3 People
Unit 4 Economy
Unit 5 Cultural Aspects
Current Events - 10 Current Events - one completed each week for 10 weeks.
Book Review - to be completed anytime throughout the course and turned in by the end of the 17 weeks.
Culminating Project Explore and research your hometown. Create and turn in a project by the end of the 17 weeks.

The course work as stated in this syllabus and the checklist will remain the same throughout the semester. The teacher, however, will have the right to modify the checklist as needed for further individualized instruction to meet the needs of the students. No changes will be made without full notification of all students impacted by a change to the checklist. Common Reasons for a Checklist change would be:

• Modifying the assignment list for a completion grade of “C”.
• Substituting an assignment for another activity that would result in the same learning experience.
• Other reasons may occur and will be considered on an individualized basis.

Course Work [top]

Assignments are to be submitted, electronically, through e-mail. Use Word or other word processing programs to prepare your assignments, spell and grammar check, then copy and paste the assignment into an e-mail. If a word processing program is not available, assignments can be completed within a First Class e-mail. Assignments such as graphs, charts, and maps can be sent as attachments if the formatting does not allow them to be pasted into an e-mail. If you are not sure whether your teacher will be able to open an attachment, send an e-mail and ask. Assignments that cannot be sent electronically may be mailed to or dropped off at the Internet Academy. E-mail your teacher to let them know that you have sent or dropped off work at IA. Follow the checklist for e-mail subject line formats.

Work that needs to be mailed can be sent to:

Your Teacher's Name
Internet Academy
32020 1st Avenue South Suite 109
Federal Way, WA 98003

To complete the course, you are encouraged to visit your local library and take advantage of the many references and resources that are available there. Internet resources are provided with each unit to get you started with your assignments. You are also expected to do searches on the Internet for additional resources. E-mail your teacher if you need help searching for resources.

Grading Description [top]

The goal is for students to meet standards and earn credit for this class. Assignments that meet standards are marked as passing in the gradebook. If needed, the student is given instructions to revise an assignment in order to demonstrate that standards have been met. Grades are regularly posted online for student and parent access.

Completion of all required assignments in a satisfactory manner, within the six week session, results in a passing grade (C) and .5 credit earned.

Policies and Requirements [top]

 

Establishing a consistent schedule to work daily provides the student the opportunity for maximum teacher interaction, revision, and successful completion of their learning plan and earned credit.

Academic integrity is essential to learning. Students are expected to complete their own work. Copying, plagiarizing, cheating or other methods of intentional deception are prohibited and may result in loss of grade or credit for the assignment or the course.

Expectations for assignment and course completion: IA students assume the major responsibility to be self-motivated, and to stay on target with the class. All work for the course must be completed at a passing level to earn credit, and must be completed within the 6 week session. Students are expected to work consistently with their instructor and their individual learning plan, to successfully complete the class. Successful students use their online gradebook and checklist to determine required assignments.

Students are given the feedback needed to revise assignments to meet standards. Students who wait until the end of the session to turn in the majority of their assignments lose this opportunity and risk successful completion of the course.

E-mail and software agreements: Students agree to maintain electronic integrity and face disciplinary measures if they do not abide by their promise.

Teachers reserve the right to make adjustments to the course content and expectations.

 

 

Expectations [top]

Students taking this class are expected to:

1. Stay in contact with their instructor daily. This lets the Internet Academy, parents and guardians, the school district, and the state know that students are attending class. It also helps students move at a steady pace toward completing the class within the six week timeframe.
2. Have the computer hardware and software necessary for the class work.
3. Communicate with the instructor in a clear, friendly, courteous manner. This includes signing communications with their full name and the name of the class they are in.
4. Communicate in Standard English. "e-english," the informal, lower-case, run-together communications used in chat rooms, is appropriate for the audiences and purposes of some e-mail. It is not appropriate for communicating with an instructor in class.
5. Turn in original work. Internet Academy teachers monitor for intentional deception through the use of an on-line subscription service and IA email archives. The consequences for intentional deception (copying, plagiarism, cheating, using someone else's work) may result in:
   • No credit for the assignment
   • Parent contact
   • Proctored testing
   • Failing the course
6. Do their very best work at all times.
7. Proceed at a steady pace toward finishing the class.
8. Have fun writing, reading, and learning!!

The instructor of this course is expected to:

1. Know the course material.
2. Communicate at least weekly with students and guardians in a clear, friendly, and courteous manner.
3. Respond to emails within a reasonable amount of time. It is your instructor's goal to answer QUESTIONS and HELP requests within 24 hours during the school week. Assignments will be graded and returned within two-three school days of receipt.
4. Be available for appointments and return phone calls promptly..
5. Keep accurate records.
6. Encourage and maintain high standards.
7. Help make learning fun!

Tech Support:

• Tech Help
  • 253-945-2249
  • helpdesk@iacademy.org

Weekly Contact Requirements: Students are expected to submit work each week following the provided checklist. They are also expected to maintain weekly communication with their teacher, ask for assistance when needed, and respond to e-mails from the teacher. If they are having trouble keeping up with the checklist, they should email their teacher immediately. The teacher is flexible and willing to work with students to meet their needs as they are communicated. If students are unable to meet these expectations, they will be dropped from the class for lack of attendance.