FTT - What's on the Roadmap? Updated features in Schoology

 What's On The Roadmap? 

(updated features in Schoology)

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

Lots of technology companies and startups use something called a roadmap. It's a little bit like a visual  curriculum map that explains the company's technology strategy plans. I am someone who likes to know where I'm going. I don't mind if there are detours or if I don't take the most direct route to get there, but knowing my destination is important to me, especially if I am going to invest time and energy into a new tool. Also, I like to know how I will know when I have arrived. Often people ask me about certain features and whether or not they are or will be included in the technology tools that we use. It is exciting to me when I have access to a roadmap and can see that a feature will be added or no, they are going in a completely different direction. 

In this post I want to share some of the recently released features in Schoology and maybe shed some light on where things are headed with our LMS.  Schoology's roadmap can be found here. When you look at it, you can see what features are in research, in development, and completed. It is just a snapshot and not written in stone but it gives you an idea of what is being worked on. 

1. Item Level Teacher Feedback

Teachers now have the ability to give feedback on specific items within assessments. This has been a pain point for a while so it's great that this feature was added. Giving feedback to students is a huge necessity in learning and the more specific we can be with our students, the better. Once you enter feedback, students will be able to see it. All you need to do is click Add Feedback next to each item to enter your comments. You can add text or images. You also have the ability to leave audio feedback! This way, your students will hear your voice explaining your comments. If you want to take it to another level, you can even add video comments. Yes, for those of you who have trouble choosing, you can even use all three in your response. Once your feedback is saved you have the ability to edit or delete it at any time. For students to see it, you will need to enable "Allow students to view results after an attempt is submitted". You can wait to enable this until you are ready for all of your students to have access. 

2. Recurring Calendar Events

Our students are really leveraging their Schoology calendars. When we add due dates to assignments, assessments, or events, they show up on the student's calendar and on the upcoming section of their home page. When I show this to students who are having a hard time keeping it all straight it's like a lightbulb goes on over their heads. I have had students ask me how to get some of their other assignments on their Schoology calendars and giving students the ability to do that has been so empowering for them. One frustration we had in the fall was the inability to make events recurring. For example, if you wanted to add your zoom link to an event in Schoology for every time your class or club meets, you would be unable to do so unless you entered each one individually. Now, you can create recurring events so that you can add those events in batches. 

When you go to your Schoology calendar, you will now see that there is a field that says repeat. There is a dropdown menu for you to choose from and then you can select a date for the recurrence to end. 

3. Google Assignments App

We currently use the Google Drive app created by Schoology. Google recently made an app for use within learning management systems and it has some benefits and of course some drawbacks to the app we are currently using. 

With this app you can assign Google docs, sheets, slides and drawings directly in Schoology just like the Google drive app. The new app will also enable students to generate their own copy of the assignment and submit. You can provide feedback and grade assignments within the app. Here is where there are differences. The Google drive assignments app has a built-in originality checker. You can toggle this feature on and it will use the magic of Google to check for plagiarism.  

Also, when you are selecting your files, it opens just like your Google drive so it's a little easier to find what you are looking for. You can also assign from a shared/team Google drive. In addition, you can copy these assignments to other courses and the Google doc connection will stay. You also have the capabilities to  add multiple files from your Google drive to one assignment. While Google assignments can be copied to other courses, they cannot be saved to resources. It does look a little bit different both on your end and on the student side. 

Before using this app, I highly suggest reading about it here. Feel free to reach out with any questions.

FTT - Strategies for Hybrid Learning

 

 Strategies for Hybrid Learning

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

Take a deep breath

For what seems like the 100th time in the last year, we're experiencing a paradigm shift in the way that we approach teaching and learning in the era of social distancing and video-conferencing. Luckily the vast majority of skills and techniques needed to understand and engage in hybrid learning, have already been in use since we started remote teaching a million years ago last March. You'll be surprised at how many instructional tools and strategies that you mastered this past year will continue to keep you afloat for hybrid. While you may be apprehensive to start, take some pressure off of yourself and your students for the first few days or weeks of hybrid. Don't expect to immediately utilize and excel at every new technology made available. 

Two Challenges in Hybrid

 Alright so half of your rascals are physically in front of you and the other half are still in their PJs on Zoom/Meet. Here are two questions you're probably going to ask yourself:

• How do I get my in-person students and my remote students to see and interact with each other?
• How do I get both groups to see and interact with the same things that I want to show them (whiteboard, PDF, Google Slides)?

Before you get to the following strategies, it would be beneficial to acquaint yourself with the District 113 Technology resource on the new classroom technology. You may also need some assistance for the first few times you try out these strategies. That's OK! The technology staff will be there for you.

Interaction

Option 1: Project your remote students' faces to your overhead projector for your in-person students to see, and point your classroom webcam towards your physical students and share that view for your remote students to see. Students can communicate through the speaker/mic features that also come on the classroom webcam. 

Option 2: While Zoom/Meet chat can be sufficient for text-based communications, consider moving over to Google Chat for threaded conversations. District Google Chats are permanent and will auto-save, and every district staff member and student already has an account. Staff could also open up the chat on their phones to keep up with classroom backchannel talk if your laptop attention is needed elsewhere. 

Presenting

Option 1: You can utilize your whiteboard and have both groups clearly see your work by pointing the classroom webcam towards the board and sharing the camera view on Zoom/Meet. It might also help to think of the webcam operating essentially the same way as a document camera would. This way your in-person students merely need to glance up to view your work, while your remote students can see through the webcam.

Option 2: Share your laptop screen exactly the same way you would during remote. If you have a PDF, YouTube clip, or Google Slides/Powerpoint you'd like to present, share that window on Zoom/Meet the same way you would during full remote. The only difference is that you are also projecting your screen to the overhead for your in-person students to view as well. 

Asynchronous Back-ups

It's also a really good idea just to have a few asynchronous back-up plans for the first few weeks of hybrid learning. Technical difficulties breaking apart your hybrid lesson plan? Feeling frustrated and anxious and lost? Whip out that asynchronous plan and be available on Zoom/Meet or Gmail for questions. 

Just remember: everything is going to be ok! It won't be a seismic shift from fully remote to hybrid, and the entire technology staff will be there for you and your students the whole way. Any questions or concerns? Write below!

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

FTT - Google Productivity Tips

Work Smarter, Not Harder! 

5 Incredible Google Tips For Productivity 

@LisaBerghoff/@MrKimDHS

I have long been interested in the idea of how I spend my time. Time management does not come easy to me but I am very aware when I am not spending my time well. Especially during this pandemic, time and how we use our time has kind of spun us around and made things like predictable schedules and due dates seem confusing. I recently came across this little gem of a video that explains the difference between busy and productive. It's less than 90 seconds so take a look.

I am also a fan of the Eisenhower Matrix. If you are not familiar with it or it's been a while, here it is. Basically you need to determine both the level of urgency AND the level of importance. Despite how it feels, no, not everything is urgent and not everything is important. Take a minute to let that percolate. 

Here is what it looks like. 

Ok. Now that we got the ideas down, let's talk about some tools and how they can be used to help make things go more efficiently for you and for your students. Please share these with them!

1. Group Your Tabs in Google Chrome

It makes me feel better to know that I'm not the only one with 37 tabs open. But it causes clutter and can slow your computer so let's tidy things up with tab groups. First, close out your tabs that you are not actively working on. Then, right click on a tab to create a group. Continue right clicking on tabs to add to that same group. You can then collapse those tabs until you need them. You can also close them in one feel swoop when you are done.  Learn and watch how to do it here.

2. Use Google Keep to Keep Track Of Your Stuff

I love sticky notes! Sometimes I want to create sticky notes for my family members and leave them in strategic places around the house. With Google Keep I don't have to be so sneaky. Google keep is part of our GSuite apps and it is digital sticky notes that will sync across devices, can be shared for collaboration, and can house more than just what you write with a pen.

I personally use Google Keep for grocery and to-do lists with my husband. This way, we can both add to those lists and we have them on our phones if one of us happens to be at the store.

For school, I have suggested that groups of students use Google Keep to stay on top of their project job allocations and also to keep track of what they need to do and when. I showed Google Keep to a group of graduating seniors a few years ago and they were furious that they did not know about it sooner. I wrote two posts just about Google keep. You can find them here for more info.  Also, Google Keep has now been integrated with your Google calendar AND your gmail so you can add items directly from those products. Need to take a note about an upcoming meeting? Need to set a reminder about a certain email? You can do that with Google Keep!

3. Assign Directly In Docs

How many Google docs do you think you have in your drive? My best guess is that I have several thousand since we started using Google docs back in 2006. Google docs have come a long way in terms of the ability to collaborate. Here's one of my new favorites. You can create a comment, add the @ symbol and then type in someone's name. Their email address will pop up and you will see that there is a box that says Assign. If you click that button then an email will alert that person that they have something they need to do in the doc! This also works in slides and sheets. 

4. Schedule Send Your Emails

I was so thrilled when this feature became available. Many of us are responding to emails outside of school hours. If you don't want to give the impression to students and parents that you are always available, consider scheduling your emails to be sent at a later time. Or, if you need to notify students but you know they won't check it until tomorrow during lunch, you can schedule your emails to be sent then.

Here is the post explaining how to schedule your emails to be sent whenever you want. Get all of your emailing done, schedule them to send when you need, and turn off your computer!

5. Quick and Easy Scheduling In Google Calendar Using Appointment Slots

I would love to see the statistic that shows how many email exchanges go back and forth trying to set up and schedule meetings. This is much easier if everyone has their calendar populated accurately but we know that is challenging with some of our school schedule constraints. If you want colleagues, students, or parents to be able to easily schedule a time with you that works for you, try using Appointment Slots in Google calendar. It empowers the other person to set up a time that works for both of you. Here's how it works: When you create an event, you have the option to choose Appointment Slots.

Then, set the time frame and the duration of your slots. Here I have set aside from 1:30 to 3:00 for meetings of 30 minutes in duration. 

Finally, click save and then click to re-open your event. You will click the link that says Go to appointment page for this calendar. That is the link you will share for people to see when the open times are and to book a time for themselves. Once they do, the meeting will automatically appear on both of your calendars and you will receive an email alert.  Here is more information about using appointment slots in Google calendar. 

What are your favorite productivity hacks?

Want more assistance with any of these? 

Reach out. We're happy to help!