Updates Happen! - Blog

Updating your stuff

8/5/2020

PC's	Chromebooks (and Chrome)

Part A - Windows update

Click on the Windows icon (#1 below) and start typing u-p- d-a... (updates) "Check for Updates" should pop up.
Click on the "Check for updates" box
Restart when or if it tells you to.

Click the 3 dots by your name.
Click on "Help"
Click on "About Google Chrome"

It will then say what version of Chrome you are using and if there is an update. Different devices can only run certain versions of the software so I cannot tell you the latest version.

Part B - Update GSD "stuff"

Click the Windows Icon. Click All Apps.
Scroll Down to the I's and click "Ivanti Management"
Click “Security Scan”.
Lock your computer. (Windows key L)
Go home! ;) Or do something else while the updates run...

However it may be best to have us re-provision your computer.

Other software

Normally you can check for updates in any software under a "Help" or "About" tab (or menu). It all depends on which software you are using. Perhaps it is settings as well and when the software starts there is a message that tells you there is an update. You can turn that off (or on) by checking some box in settings (preferences) for that software.

ScreenCastify is out - Loom is in

8/3/2020

Oh well!

I love ScreenCastify - it is a great tool and has great features....

Unfortunately they are not able to keep up with a competitor and our district will not support the purchase of this tool when there is a comparable tool that is free "for life - for educators".

It is sad to see see it go. Of course I am only talking about the paid/pro version that we cannot purchase. Teachers are more than welcome to use the free version or use their own money on it. I am NOT recommending that! Loom is good... and free!

Welcome Loom!

Details and instructions will be up soon.

OneDrive

8/3/2020

As you come back to school this year you may notice that no longer have an M:Drive. This was laid out to you earlier in the year via and e-mail from the district...
Double Click "This PC" and look ASAP.

If it is NOT there you can click here to download OneDrive and log in. It will know who you are work... Supposedly!

Flipped

7/28/2020

Students do what they can at home. PreRead, Read instructions. Watch a lecture. Do the pre-reqs - then come to the classroom for help, and ask questions of the professional teacher and work with classmates. In the classroom students do the "activity" depending on your topic or class. It has a name - The Flipped Classroom.

When I was in the science classroom students would come in with the "pre-lab" questions completed as homework. Then they could get started right away on the lab. If they did not have the pre-lab done they did not have time to do the lab (the fun part) during that class period.

Obviously some classes or lessons work much better than others but they say any classroom can be flipped. And yes there are variations of a flipped classroom. The age 0ld problem as always is getting kids to do their homework.

A few years ago I was involved in a conference called #FlippinUtah. Some of the links gathered at that time are still relevant and some are gone. But the Flipped classroom is still here and will be making a comeback during COVID-19.

Cameras

7/28/2020

I am getting asked a bunch about cameras and filming (recording teacher) lessons. So here are my thoughts....

You do not need a camera. Use your chrome book or laptop. If you need one please come see me.
Use ScreenCastify. Instructions are here on the blog somewhere! When opening it, chose "Camera Only" and it does not capture your screen.
When recording be sure to stay in the recording screen.
Have a helper watching to move or point the laptop (as you would a camera).
Edit it if you feel the need.

More thoughts!

I believe in making things simpler for classroom teachers. You already have a camera and software to make videos.
Don't use video editing software such as iMovie or Adobe's Premier. See above. KISS etc. Stick to YOUR content, you are not making professional videos - you're teaching math or other content!
Sure, go ahead make a few good ones to see that it can be complicated and time consuming.

If you did (do?) have a camera...

Where does the video save? Disk, "phone"
Do you need to get it to your computer?
Will you edit it?
How will you get the video to Canvas?

Yes, I have answers to all those questions but....

A laptop and screencastify is pretty much... 2 clicks!

Click the copy sharable link button in screencastify
paste it into Canvas.

Clearing the Cache

7/15/2020

Steps to go with pics!

Top right click the 3 dots
Click on Settings
Search for "Cache"
Click on "Cache"
Be sure the boxes are checked (feel free to click the advanced tab and see your other options)
Click the "Clear data" button.

Great Extensions

5/15/2020

Attendance, Reactions, Grid view

Yes, we are getting close to the end of our quarter of Covid19 but I don't think this teaching style is going to go away. Here are a few extensions that you will probably love after you use them.

Grid view - is mentioned in another post but shows up again here.
Nod Reactions https://chrome.google.com/webstore/
Great feedback from students. They can raise hands and send emojies. Students will need to download extension and install on their end too. Give them the link to download it.
Attendance. Two options:
- Google Meet Attendance - https://chrome.google.com/webstore/
  Very simple to use right click on the Users and select Meet attendance to download a spreadsheet of who is in your meet.
- Meet attendance https://chrome.google.com/webstore
  Many more options but that makes it more cumbersome too. I thought it was too much and did not review it in the video.

Communicate!

4/24/2020

Three Great WAYS!

In Canvas go to Grades. At the top near the Assignment title click the 3 dots and chose... "Message students who..."
Pros - perfect for specific/individual assignments!
Cons - does not send to parents
In Grade book
Go to your class. Top left click the e-mail icon. Chose recipients Include Progress reports, attendance...) Pros - can include a progress report, include "parents"
Cons - No record of it as it comes from grade book
In Grade book
Go to Reports, chose GSD Preferred Student e-mail
Three options of student e-mails "preferred", GSD, Google e-mail address in pdf or xls formats
Pro - Clicking on the @email.com opens YOUR e-mail program to send. There will be a record of it.
Cons - It's another file for you to keep somewhere. Do not add them to your contacts - there's too many!

All three of these methods have video instructions here! The page is password protected as I don't have time to edit out student data. Teachers may ask me for the password.

Canvas Notifications

4/21/2020

How to set your contacts (for notifications) in Canvas. By default it is set to your @graniteschools.org account. YES, students have one of those too. Log in to www.office.com to check it. However add whatever e-mail want but make sure it is one you do check. I HIGHLY suggest your @granitesd.org acct. since you log in to Google quite often.

My suggestions!

In the Notifications area Conversation = inbox = "e-mail" As in, check your inbox for a conversation. Many users send conversations to their e-mail and then say student's have e-mailed them...
Do NOT send your Conversations to your e-mail. Just have the conversation in Canvas. Skip the middle software! Check your inbox, respond in your inbox.
Add a phone number too and get texts.
Get a text when there is Conversation and know to check your inbox!
You can decide what other notifications you want and where you want them sent. You could chose to not be notified or not to check your e-mail but those are YOUR <bad> choices.

Canvas - Embed videos

4/17/2020

Videos should be embedded into canvas! That "forces" the students to watch the video in your Canvas page. If you just put a link to a video for students to click on... you just sent the kid the movie theater and expect them to come back!

1. Find the embed code.

You may need to find the SHARE button. On the left from a Library of Congress website it is under the video. At YouTube (2 pics below) it is a two step process.

Click Share,
THEN embed
then copy the code.

2. In Canvas....

Create your page or assignment, then click the video icon in the edit box and select embed. Paste. Click OK. this will keep you students in "Class" and not wandering around the "theatre"... aka being sent to YouTube!