Classroom Observations
To see firsthand how students are progressing as teachers, faculty members will observe students' classrooms multiple times over the course of the program to provide formative feedback. For example, faculty members may conduct three observations during the students’ first year and two observations during the students’ second year, depending on their program. Students’ faculty advisors will provide specific information about the minimum number of observations to be conducted throughout the program. Individual faculty members may choose to observe more often and to provide coaching and feedback. All observations are announced and scheduled in advance. After each observation, faculty members share data collected during the observation and discuss students’ strengths and areas of growth in person, over the phone, through video conference, or in writing. Observations may be conducted in-person, via video recording, or synchronously online, depending on program modality and state requirements for observations of clinical experiences.
Professionalism
Each term, Relay students will be scored on several key elements of professionalism by their instructors. Professionalism will be a portion of each course in which students are enrolled. Instructors will evaluate professionalism based on two main areas: (1) online work completion, including preparation for synchronous online sessions, and (2) attendance and engagement at synchronous online sessions. In most courses, professionalism will count as 10% of the course grade.
Attendance
Consistent attendance at class during which students are actively engaged, whether online or in-person, is vital. Missing class content will result in reduced ability to execute the effective teaching methods taught. It will also trigger a lower attendance score for professionalism. Students should make their best efforts to attend and actively engage in all classes.
Relay excuses absences only when they are related to extreme circumstances outside of students’ control (e.g., religious holiday, death in the family, being under the supervision of a doctor for illness or injury, maternity leave, military responsibilities, jury duty). In such cases, students should contact their faculty advisors or content professors directly, depending on the class to be missed, as well as the Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation.
Relay does not grant excused absences for school-specific conflicts. These types of conflicts are the most challenging because professional teachers always want to attend both school events and Relay events, even when they conflict. Because Relay values students’ attendance, active participation, and contributions so highly, we publicize our class dates to the schools in which our teachers are placed as early as possible so that they are able to avoid scheduling conflicts to the best of their abilities. Instructors post all synchronous online session materials on Canvas soon after class days so that students can get caught up on the content of classes they missed.
In some cases, should students have an unavoidable weeknight conflict or a school-specific conflict, the student may request, if available at their program, to attend a different section by emailing both their assigned faculty members and the faculty members whose classes they wish to attend. Confirmation of this is considered on a case-by-case basis and is at the discretion of the faculty member(s) of the class. In the case of any absence, we strongly recommend attending an alternate class session in order to learn the material. Students should not accrue multiple absences, as that will endanger their success and may lead to administrative withdrawal from the program.
For absences (excused or unexcused) on the day of a synchronous online assessment, students will earn a zero. Students have one week from the due date to review class materials to submit the assessment onto Canvas for a score to replace the zero.
Students who demonstrate persistent absence — failure to attend synchronous online class sessions and/or to complete asynchronous online coursework and actively engage in coursework for 30 consecutive days — are subject to an administrative withdrawal. Once these students are identified by faculty members, the Registrar’s Office and Office of the Provost of Teacher Preparation will contact these students to determine their intention to remain enrolled and provide necessary support. Students who continue to demonstrate persistent absence after they have been contacted may be administratively withdrawn from Relay. See Persistent Absence policy for additional details.
Timeliness
Relay expects students to be on time to ensure they are not missing essential course material. Students who are late to class will receive 80% credit for attendance.
Preparation
Any assigned pre-reading or pre-work for courses must be completed before class. The syllabus in students’ Canvas course will indicate the preparation required for class that enables meaningful engagement with peers.
Engagement
Classes are designed for discussion, collaboration, feedback, and practice; please minimize potential distractions during class so you and your colleagues can get the most out of the experience.