Canadian Program Academic Integrity Policy

 

Students will receive a print or digital copy of all academic policies at the beginning of the school year. The print copy may contain further propriety detail. In the event that a disagreement between the website and print copy occurs, the print copy shall prevail.

 

The Qilu Sino-Canadian International School takes Academic Integrity seriously and we expect students in our program to adhere to exceptional standards of honesty and integrity. These qualities are the foundation we use for building and maintaining a good reputation and are the basis of a superior education. This policy has been modeled after Canadian university standards and discipline procedures. Students are responsible for their learning and for making sure assignments, tests and projects are exclusively their original work. Deceitful offences and dishonest behaviors may include but are not limited to the following:

 

1. Using an unauthorized aid such as a cell phone, calculator, iPod, study notes, dictionary, or class notes during tests, quizzes or exams

2. Working too closely with another student on an individual assignment so that the end result is too similar

3. Copying someone’s answers on a test, exam, lab report, or assignment

4. Telling a friend what was on a test that they missed and will still need to take

5. Using someone else’s idea without including a reference to the source

6. “Editing” help that results in the work no longer being your own

7. Copying material with only a few words changed and claiming it as your own

8. Reusing a paper or materials you wrote for another course and claiming it as original material

9. Assisting another student to commit an offence such as:

a. Letting your friend see your completed assignment so they can copy

b. Leaving your test paper visible so your friend can copy it

c. Leaving your notes where a friend can see it and copy

d. Posting the content of a test, exam or assignment on the internet

10. Lying about submitting an essay or assignment electronically

11. Misrepresenting the reason for missing an assignment, test or exam

12. Attempting to do or help someone else do any of the above

 

Reference This policy is adapted from The University of Toronto’s Academic Integrity Policy.

 

Disciplinary Measures Taken for Dishonest Behaviors:

1. First infraction: you will receive a zero on the assignment, an incident report will be written and put in your file and parents will be contacted.

2. Second infraction: you will lose 10% off the current unit in the course you cheated in, you will have a one week in-school suspension and lose all extracurricular opportunities for the remainder of the semester. An incident report will be written and put in your file, and your parents will be contacted.

3. Third infraction: Recommendation for Expulsion from the Program to be determined at a Disciplinary Hearing with the School Principal.

 

Assessment Practices (Updated: 2020)

 

For Parents, Teachers, and Students Context:

During the past three years the Alberta Accredited Schools in Qingdao (QSCIS) have formulated the following assessment practices to suit the needs of all partners in our school community. Many Canadian teachers who have come here note the fact that our students are ELL students who have been learning the language over the past several years. Often their reading comprehension in English is low compared to students in Alberta which is to be expected. However, some teachers have falsely assumed that this gap in learning means that they will not be able to perform well on the Diploma examinations. In fact, many of our students have scored well above the provincial average on Diploma exams, especially in the areas of Math and Sciences and we need to ensure our school awarded marks reflect this. Expectations in the humanities subject areas of English and Social Studies have to be moderated somewhat as, with only three years of study with native English speakers, it is not reasonable to assume the same levels of achievement. However, students in the past have individually scored over the provincial average in this area as well. We also recognize that our schools are in direct competition with other international schools in China for placement in foreign universities. Therefore, it is important that we not disadvantage our students with comparing apples to oranges or, in our context, Chinese students to Alberta students. The diploma exams that students take at the end of their program are the way that we can finally measure ourselves against Alberta students. Up until that time it is important that we measure our students compared to each other to make a fair assessment of their academic growth and to give them a fair advantage in competition with other international school students in China.

 

Assessment Policy:

With the context of our school in mind the following practices will be followed. 

1. Marks Reported on Schoology will be cumulative. The course will not be separated into terms or shorter periods of time in the course settings.

2. Marks are compared to peers in class. Teachers are expected to provide challenging assessment that will give students the skills they need for success on Diploma exams at the end of their High School studies. Teachers will take measures to ensure that even with challenging exams, top students will be awarded marks reflecting this achievement and each assessment will reflect this achievement.

3. Teachers will refrain from giving excessive bonus marks (ie. No student should be able to achieve more than 100% on any given assessment) and ensure their assessments are testing for objectives found in the program of studies.

4. Students will receive an appropriate number of daily assignments, quizzes, and unit tests per report card term. Ie. 2-4 Major tests/projects, 4-8 smaller quizzes, 12-20 daily work assignments.

5. Breakdown of grades shall be within the following guidelines. Daily work 5-10%, Quizzes 20-30%, Major tests or projects- 30-40%. The total percentage of the yearly work will equal 70%. The Final exam will make up 30% of the student grade. (Note: Some CTS and PE classes with no final exam are an exception to this guideline.)

6. Math and Science Teachers will stress English vocabulary and word problems in their lessons and assessments to prepare students for success in facing these types of questions on the Diploma Exams.

7. Teachers will avoid giving marks for “participation”. CTS classes that are more activity based like PE and Drama may want to use “Engagement” rather than participation as an objective to measure.

8. Teachers will use some diploma exam style questions on each Unit Exam to prepare students for answering higher level thinking with challenging questions.

9. Teachers will keep to the time line outlined in the long-range plan for their class.

10. Students are not allowed to use electronic dictionaries during quizzes and tests. Grade 10 teachers may use their discretion to allow students to use these items during the first reporting period of their time at the school.

11. Major assessment will be of sufficient substance/length to approximate final exam times and circumstances. Conditions will be similar to final exams in that talking is not allowed, students are sufficiently spaced to discourage violations of academic integrity policy.

 

Evaluation at Qingdao School is a continuous process that helps the student, the parent, and the teacher.

Evaluation helps the student by building confidence and motivating him or her to continue learning and by identifying areas where help or more study is needed.

Evaluation is useful to the parent in providing information about their child's knowledge and skill level in all areas of the curriculum; providing information about their child's interests, attitudes and behavior; identifying areas where parents can help their child to improve or provide enrichment; and in providing opportunities for parents and teachers to work as partners in the development of the child.

Evaluation helps the teacher in reporting of progress to the student and the parents; determining where students need help or enrichment; and planning teaching programs that best meet student needs.

 

Keeping Track of Marks 

 

All teachers will be using the website "Schoology" to keep track of student’s marks and attendance as per accreditation requirements. This method is also very useful when teachers submit their student marks for student assessments every two weeks. The rational for the two-week assessment stems from parent interest. They are able to access their child’s marks and keep track of their progress in each subject throughout the year. Parents naturally have a deep interest.

 

Grading System and Percentage Breakdown

 

Final Exam: 30%

Midterms and Assignments: 70% (Quizzes, tests, course work)

Large writing assignments should be weighted no more than 25%

 

When students are in Grade 12, they will write an Alberta Provincial Final Examination in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, Social Studies and English. These examinations will count towards 30% of their final assessment in Grade 12. The teacher will assess all grade 12 students based on 70 % of their yearly school work in all subjects. By implementing this grading system in the early grades, it will help the students to be prepared in their final year.

 

Final Examinations (Non-Diploma)

 

Final Examinations for core courses will take place in grades ten and eleven. These exams will be submitted to administration for approval on a date announced as we approach exam time for each semester. These exams should mimic the format of the provincial diploma examinations in grade twelve. Like the provincial diploma examinations, these exams will be weighted at 30% of the overall course grade. Final examinations will take place in room 213 where students will have three hours to complete their exams. Students will be permitted to leave the exam after one hour has passed, however, exams should be challenging enough that the majority of you students should take at least two hours. Administration will create an exam supervision schedule. Teachers need to arrive 30 minutes before the exam to ensure smooth operations and tests need to be printed one week in advance. Exams will be colour coded with a legend on the Sewu that students can reference. At least one TA needs to be available for monitored washroom breaks and students need to have their pockets checked, pencil cases checked, and calculators cleared as they enter the room. Students are also not permitted to where baggy clothing or sweaters with pockets.

 

Diploma Examination Procedures (Updated: 2020)

 

1. Work with TA staff to ensure that students are enrolled in the PASI system and are registered for the appropriate diploma exams by the deadlines outlined in the Alberta Education Guide for Diploma Exam Administration.

2. Download and become familiar with The Alberta Education Guide for Diploma Exam Administration. Specifically study the General Administration Bulletin.

3. Ensure that Alberta software is properly installed on exam computers and that all computers are in good working order and have a reliable internet connection at least a week prior to the commencement of exams. After computers and the lab has been setup, students will not be permitted in the lab.

7. On the day of the exam.

a. Ensure that the exam room is prepared as per instructions in the General Admin. Bulletin. Extra preparations need to be taken for written exams and computer labs need to be booked.

b. Ensure that supervision staff is on time and ready for supervision. 

c. Starting 30 minutes before the exam, monitor attendance and ensure all students are present. If there are students missing, inform an EA and so that they can track them down. 

d. Supervisors may start the software login process prior to the exam without giving the final password until the exam is set to begin. Go over the instructions to the exam with students, including academic intergrity reminders and what to do if the technology fails, if I student needs to go to the bathroom, etc, within the half hour before the exam. Begin the exam at the appropriate time and give notice to students and supervisors on when the exam is to end.

e. After the exam is over, collect all the exam materials as per the instructions in the general bulletin. Make sure all the administration paperwork that comes with the exams is filled out, signed, and stored.

f. Make sure that all the data in the calculators has been cleared before and after the exams.

g. Students may not stay longer than the time allotted by Alberta Education. ESL/ELL students typicall are given additional time as an adaptation.