​​​Academic Standards for Peel District School Board AQ Courses​

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AQ Candidate Evaluation

Course Instructors will provide AQ Candidates with course assessment and evaluation practices and policies at the beginning of the course. The quality of candidate assignments will be determined using explicit criteria for all components.  Expectations and success criteria will be made explicit and transparent. Instructors will provide ongoing opportunities for regular feedback regarding candidates' progress on all assignments during the course.

 

A High Pass/Pass/Fail system using a highly qualitative rubric with specific criteria which will be used for final evaluation.

Met Plus: work that is consistently outstanding with respect to stated expectations

Met: work that is consistently meeting course expectations

Not Met: work that is not meeting course expectations

 

Upon completion of the course, each participant will receive a letter confirming whether or not they have successfully completed the AQ course.

 

The expectation is that all candidates will submit original work with appropriate citations (APA).  As an AQ provider, our plagiarism policy (below) will be followed.

 

Academic Penalty in Peel board Additional Qualification Courses

Candidates in Peel board Additional Qualification courses will fail the course and forfeit the credit when the candidate:

  • stops attending classes without notifying the Peel board Additional Qualification Office in writing
  • does not successfully meet all of the outlined course requirements
  • does not submit the culminating assignment/evaluation

 

Petitions based on medical or compassionate grounds must be submitted to the Peel board AQ Manager/Office, with supporting documentation before the course ends.  The course instructor may, through consultation and approval with the AQ Manager, make provisions for an AQ candidate in jeopardy of academic penalty to complete alternative work in extenuating circumstances in order for the course expectations to be met within reasonable timelines.


Peel board AQ candidates will be held accountable to the Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession (OCT).  Breaches to academic integrity will be dealt with seriously.  All cases of academic dishonesty will be reported to the AQ Program Manager and Peel District School Board Teacher Education Advisory Committee (TEAC).


Issues of Academic Dishonesty

Issues related to academic dishonesty may include, but are not limited to: plagiarism, cheating, the citing of fictitious sources within submitted academic work (including online postings, individual and group assignments), submitting assignments for which credit has already been granted in a prior course of learning, or interfering with the academic integrity of AQ peer candidates.


Plagiarism is defined in and Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario Schools (2010) as the use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another without attribution, in order to represent them as one's own original work (Growing Success, 2010, p.151). 


If a candidate is found guilty of academic dishonesty:

  • The AQ candidate will not be recommended to the OCT for course completion
  • Course fees will not be refunded
  • AQ candidates may appeal decisions.  The process for the appeal process is described below.

Course Evaluations

At the end of each course, candidates will be required to fill in a course evaluation.  Each evaluation form will be consistent regardless of the course.  This course evaluation will be done online through the Peel board electronic survey account.  An email will be sent to all candidates.  Anonymous survey results will allow course instructors and administration to understand how the course was administered to better understand how ongoing improvements and considerations can support future offerings.


AQ Candidate Appeal Process

The Peel District School Board has established an appeal process for Peel AQ courses. The appeal procedure may be initiated by a candidate who disagrees with the evaluation of the requirements for successful completion of an AQ course.  The appeal procedure MUST be initiated within 30 calendar days following notice of unsuccessful completion of the course.  The primary purpose of the appeal process for candidates is to offer an opportunity for the resolution of issues that have arisen related to their progress in and/or successful completion of the course.​


Attendance

Attendance expectations will be explained in writing and verbally to all participants on the first day of the course.  Candidates are expected to attend all classes; a negotiated alternative assignment will be assigned to candidates missing a face–to-face class.  Any absence beyond one class will result in a consultation with the AQ program manager.

Online participation, late entry and early departures will also be monitored.  A verbal and written statement of concern will be provided when attendance concerns are evident.  


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