CBe-learn offers a full complement of junior high school courses for full-time online learners. Students have the opportunity to experience a different learning structure, with subject-area specialists teaching each of the core curricular areas.
Technical Help (logging in & passwords)
Students should go to d2l.cbe.ab.ca to log in.
If your student has any technical problems logging in, please contact:
Getting Started
We have a "Welcome and Information Session" document that contains many helpful tips and resources students and families new to online learning have utilized heavily as they prepared for a year of learning with CBe-learn. It is recommended all students in grades 7-9 take some time to review the tips enclosed in this document.
Homeroom
Each student is assigned to a homeroom class. These classes are grouped with students in the same grade (Grade 7, Grade 8 or Grade 9). Their homeroom teacher may or may not be one of their regular academic teachers.
Teachers will meet online with their Homeroom students on Monday at 9:00am every week.
CBe-learn Jr High Program
Students receive instruction and support in learning across the full Alberta Education Programs of Study:
- English Language Arts
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Physical Education
- Health and Life Skills
- Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) components
- Art
While all courses are hosted inside the Brightspace by D2L learning management system, our teachers also use Google Workspace for Education in a variety of capacities, including Google Meet for live sessions.
Parents, Teachers and Student: the Online Learning Team
The key members of the student’s Online Learning Team are the Student, Parent and Teacher.
Increased independence is an important element of the junior high developmental stage. Our experience has shown that students are most successful when independence is built gradually through consistent work habits, mutually supported in both the home and school environment.
Characteristics of a Successful Junior High CBe-learn Student
- Creates and follows their own learning plan with teacher and parent support
- Participates regularly each week by logging in daily, participating in scheduled synchronous learning opportunities, actively engaging with course content
- Demonstrates learning by completing assigned tasks
- Keeps an organized work space and consistent routine
- Communicates with teachers regularly
Parent / Guardian Responsibilities
- Ensure your child has the technical tools necessary.
- Help your child plan and maintain their schedule, adjusting where necessary
- Provide a quiet space for your child to focus on their school work each day
- Regularly review your child’s progress, using many available tools within D2L such as Grades, Assignment feedback, and Discussions
- Communicate regularly with the teacher
- Ensure childcare and learning needs for younger siblings has been addressed
Teacher Responsibilities
- Create dynamic, meaningful course content and design engaging learning tasks
- Support student learning in a variety of ways
- Communicate with students regularly, using both synchronous and asynchronous tools
- Provide timely formative and summative assessment for various learning tasks
- Host regular synchronous classroom sessions
- Communicate regularly with parents
Family Responsibilities
- Jr High Students cannot, and must not be responsible for childcare for younger children in the home during school hours (Monday-Friday 9:00 - 3:00)
- Students must be available for learning throughout the entire school day
- Jr High Students cannot be the learning supports / learning coaches for younger siblings in the CBe-learn elementary program.
A Typical Week
Similar to an in-person school, CBe-learn students at the junior high level can expect to dedicate a minimum of 20-25 hours per week to learning across all subjects. This will be distributed between both synchronous (live) and asynchronous learning activities. In addition to this, students may be assigned up to one hour of homework in the evening. There is a set schedule where students are expected to be online, learning in real time with their teacher.
Google Meet Schedule
Google Meet is an online shared environment where students can communicate with teachers and share information in a visual and auditory way.
- There is a shared whiteboard space where files, drawings or presentations can be uploaded and shared.
- It uses voice technology, so with a headset or microphone, students are able to talk and listen directly to teachers or classmates.
- It can be used with the full class, small groups, or as a one-on-one communication tool when needed.
- It takes place in real-time, and can be much more dynamic than text-based communication methods.
There is a set schedule for when students are expected to be online for real-time learning and interaction, during the school day.
Courses
See below for additional details on some of the junior high courses offered.
English Language Arts (ELA)
Math
Science
Social Studies
Health / Phys Ed (HPE)
Career and Technology Foundations (CTF)
At CBe-learn, junior high students take part in multidisciplinary project-based learning. The projects give students choice and exposure to many of the five occupational clusters:
- Business
- Human Services
- Communication
- Resources, and
- Technology
Within these five clusters, there are a wide range of disciplines, such as foods, coding, 3D/graphic design, fashion, and photography, just to name a few.
Plan, Create, Appraise, and Communicate - The four central CTF processes we use to drive projects are a cycle that can be adapted to any topic of study. Working with these processes allows us to emphasize universal skills which makes learning more meaningful and personalized. Hands-on, relevant, and purposeful learning is important to jr. high school learners.
Art
The Art program at CBe-learn focuses on growing students creative thinking and decision making in addition to building their physical crafting skills. It encompasses a broad variety of ideas and disciplines to allow for student choice with the benefit of expert guidance. Teachers at CBe-learn are committed to showing students the opportunities each project affords as a vehicle for their own interests and ideas.
Art Disciplines (media choices)
- Digital Art
- Sculpture
- Painting
- Drawing
- Photography
- Animation
- Mixed media
Students engage in the creative cycle for each unit: Think & Play > Plan > Create. We believe every student possesses creativity and will benefit from the growth of their own unique abilities. Creative thinking is an asset to every 21st century learner.
Communication
PARENTS: The best way to communicate with school administrators and teaching staff is through email. All our email addresses are available on our website. We do not all work on-site five days a week, and we do not have access to telephones or voicemail.
For any specific questions about online learning, CBe-learn and our Jr High program, your primary point of contact is Monti Tanner, Assistant Principal: (mrtanner@cbe.ab.ca). Specific questions about course content, assessment or reporting can be sent directly to the child's teacher(s).
STUDENTS: Each student has a private discussion in their class. This is a private space shared only with the student and the teacher. Students should be in the habit of checking their private discussions every day.
