Embedding In Schoology Using HTML

 

 Use Fewer Links!

Embedding In Schoology Using HTML

@LisaBerghoff/@JoeTaylorDHS/@MrKimDHS

There have been many articles posted about the three-click rule. The idea is that people aren't willing to click more than three times before they are frustrated and leave a website. Some say it's a myth, that people stay long past three clicks. Others say reducing the number of clicks makes a difference for users. We do know that when it comes to learning activities, eliminating barriers is important, especially for students who struggle. The shorter we can make the line between the two points of access and learning, the better. We have come a LONG way in the past year! We are using Schoology as the digital learning hub for all students and all classes and we hear from students, case managers, counselors, and parents that this is making a difference. When students cannot find their materials, that is the first barrier that can lead them to frustration and shut down. Now that we are using Schoology at the next level, there are some ways to streamline to improve students' access even more.  We know that with some tools we have a way to connect to Schoology using an app, such as Peardeck and Edpuzzle. However, not all tools have this availability. 

I know that some teachers think that html code is only for coders. I am here to tell you that is not true!  When you see the html code available, all you really need to do is copy it and enter it in Schoology and your content will be embedded. That means your students will not need to click on a link! I'm not going to lie, when I first found this feature I felt like I found a super cool secret. Now I'm sharing it with you. That's how much I care!

Here is an example with a Google form that I created for my class.  

Instead of entering the link on my materials page, I put the html code for the google form and now my students can complete the survey without needing to click and be sent to the form on another tab.

This works with any tools that provide html embed code including Google forms and Flipgrid, just to name a few.   Here is how you set it up.  I will use Google forms as an example. It pretty much works the same way with any site. 

Step 1: Set Up Your Form and Grab the Code

When you create your form the way you want, you will then click the Send button and click the html symbol < >. Copy the html code. 

Step 2: Create An Assignment Or Page In Schoology

On your materials page, click add materials and then add assignment or add page. This also works on updates. When you are on the editor, click on the two vertical dots. When you hover it will say "switch to html".  Copy the html code and click Create. 

That's it!! When you are on a site that gives you the option to copy the html, don't be afraid. Just know that all you need to do is copy that code in html mode.  Give it a try and see how it goes. Your students will thank you!

Want some help? I'm happy to walk you through it. Just contact Lisa, Dan, or Joe. 

Shared Teacher Dashboard in Pear Deck

 Work Together From Afar!

Pear Deck Shared Teacher Dashboard

@LisaBerghoff/@JoeTaylorDHS/@MrKimDHS

At a time when we are more physically apart than ever, we are also more in sync with our teaching than ever. Our staff is working together in order to wrap our arms around our students in a whole new way in order to help our kids learn. One of the tools that we have really put to the test is PearDeck. Thanks to a generous grant from the District 113 Education Foundation, we have the premium version of PearDeck. 

I will admit, I have a bit of a history with PearDeck. I love that they promote powerful learning moments through tools that increase student engagement. Their tools are inclusive, accessible, and fun to use. One of the most common requests since March has been the ability to have more than one teacher on the PearDeck dashboard and the folks at PearDeck listened and responded. Whether you are co-teaching, working with teaching assistants, or course team members, there may be times when you want more than one adult holding the keys to your PearDeck assignment. The shared teacher dashboard gives you just that, the ability to give another teacher session controls as well as the ability to view student responses and give feedback. 

I won't keep you waiting any longer, here's how it works.

Step 1: Start a PearDeck Session

You can start a new session by opening your Google slides, clicking on the PearDeck add-on, and then clicking Start Lesson. Or, you can go to PearDeck.com and click Create A Lesson or open an existing session from the Sessions page.

Step 2: Get The Invitation Link To Invite A Co- Teacher

There are two ways to find the invitation link. If you click the 3 vertical dots in your PearDeck dashboard you will see where it says Invite Co-Teacher. Or, click on the Class Roster button and select Invite Co Teacher. 

Step 3: Copy and Send Link

Click copy to copy the link to the clipboard. You can then send it in a email, chat, or Schoology message. Once the teacher joins you will see their avatar in the top right corner.

What If I AM the co-teacher?

If you are already signed in to PearDeck you will see the co-teacher confirmation screen when you click the link. 

If you aren't signed in yet, you will be asked to sign in with Google and choose your school account. Then you're good to go.

A Few Things To Know About The Shared Dashboard:

Co-teachers have the same abilities as teachers but cannot invite other teachers. If you are in Instructor-Paced Mode, the two teacher dashboards will be in sync. If one or the other advances the slides they will advance for everyone. 

Teachers who are invited to the Shared Teacher Dashboard of a Pear Deck Session will be granted the same controls as the host teacher to manage the lesson, including: reviewing student responses in real time, switching from Instructor-Paced or Student-Paced Mode, adding slide timers and locks, inserting new prompts, highlighting or hiding answers on the projector view, providing feedback and comments to students with the teacher feedback feature.

Co-teachers cannot edit the slides. Once the Peardeck lesson has started neither of you can edit slides. If you want the co-teacher to be able to edit, you need to give them editing privileges in Google slides before the session. 

Co-teachers can leave feedback for students and the students will see which teacher is responding. Co-teachers can publish takeaways and can also export responses. 

Want to know more? Here is more information from PearDeck.

Think you have been there done that with Pear Deck? Check this out!

As always, reach out if you would like some assistance.

Digital Media - Searching Creative Commons

 Using Great Digital Images and Respecting Copyright Laws

@JoeTaylorDHS/@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

Search Window from Creative Commons Search

It's the 2nd week of January, and an original version of this post probably exists in the archives of this blog, but I'm actually getting to a point (yes, it takes me awhile). I'll finally really make the point next week.

There have been some very well-meaning and good-hearted teachers that I have worked with over the years that have either not really understood the "Fair Use Exception" to the US Copyright Law, or simply decided it was too difficult to live within those legal restraints. But as we move to a more and more digital world, don't we want to teach our kids to be good digital citizens? Don't we want to teach them to respect digital copyright laws? And more importantly, don't we want to teach them about citation and attribution before they go to college and are really expected to know it?

A full discussion of the "Fair Use Exception" is still coming (mini-dissertation?), but for today, let's just beat one dead horse. I've had teachers say, "Since I'm using it in the classroom, Fair Use allows me to use anything." Um, no. But there are enough resources out there that you can provide your students with several different avenues for finding images and media that they can use in their projects while respecting copyright laws. In previous posts, we told you about Creative Commons Search as a great way to find digital images and media. Today I want to tell you about two more: PhotoPin for digital images and Next Vista For Learning for digital media.

photo credit: pingnews.com
The Capitol (pingnews) via photopin (license)

Photo Pin is an easy to use search engine for Creative Commons licensed digital images. That means you can use them in any classroom product you'd like as long as you cite the source. Go to photopin.com and search for an image or a topic. A pop up box will appear with the different sizes that are available to you. Download the one you want. Then simply copy and paste the HTML Attribution code onto your website, blog, or whatever.  

Next Vista for Learning is actually the brain child of Rushton Hurley, a fantastic speaker I first came to meet at the ISTE Conference last Fall. He talked about the power of using, analyzing, and creating digital media in the classroom. Next Vista for Learning has videos to search and contests to enter. The front page of the website explains that "Next Vista For Learning provides a library of free videos made by and for teachers and students everywhere," and just like most of the images found in PhotoPin, all of the products are licensed as Creative Commons Attribution, which means you can feel free to use them in any project or on any classroom website as long as you cite properly and give credit.

So, while they might not be the commercially created videos or pictures your students would really like to use, Next Vista for Learning and PhotoPin give us access to beautiful digital images and media that can greatly enhance our digital curriculum, and they give us excellent opportunities to teach about responsibility and digital citizenship.

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Have a favorite site or search engine for finding Creative Commons Digital Media? Please share it in the comment box below.

FTT - Share Screencastify Directly to Edpuzzle

 App Smashing with Screencastify and Edpuzzle

@JoeTaylorDHS / @LisaBerghoff / @MrKimDHS

Well, beginning this summer, Illinois is going to make it much harder for teachers to find new Free Tech Tools and try them out in their classes. I'm assuming that you are familiar enough with Illinois that you didn't even both to ask, "Why?" after reading that. You've all met Illinois, so we'll leave it at that.

But you know what? That's ok. The tools you've learned and started practicing with over the last year are really powerful, and they can be even better when you use them in conjunction with one another. Dan and Lisa wrote about our district's premium account for Screencastify (screen recording with personality) in August, and Edpuzzle has been a favorite video delivery tool for a long time. They are even better when used together. 

In the past, it took several steps to record your screen, save that to Google Drive or YouTube, log into Edpuzzle, create an assignment and embed your new video. However, the two companies have found a way to work together for the benefit of teachers and students (a novel idea). Now you can share videos directly from Screencastify to Edpuzzle.

When you make a finish a screen recording in Screencastify, you are taken to a simple-editor that looks like this:

The left side of the screen gives you "share" options:

For instance, you can publish your recording directly to YouTube or send it in email. If you click this link:

chrome-extension://mmeijimgabbpbgpdklnllpncmdofkcpn/ng/app/app.html#/integrations

Screencastify will let you add more share buttons. Just select the "Edpuzzle" slider and refresh the Screencastify edit page. The Edpuzzle share button will be there:

When you click the Edpuzzle button, you may have to grant permission for Edpuzzle to access files in Google Drive, but once you do, your new video will appear in your Edpuzzle library.

Next week, I'll write a little bit about the freedom we have as educators to use copyrighted digital items for teaching and learning thanks to the "Fair Use Exception" to the US Copyright Law - yes, these things go hand-in-hand.

Have a FANTASTIC start to Semester 2!

Joe T