Month: September 2021

Print Canvas New Quizzes

If you would like to have a paper copy of a Canvas quiz for certain students, you can easily do that in New Quizzes. Just click the 3 dots (or TimBits) in the upper, right corner to reveal more options.

After selecting the print option, you will be able to choose the preferred text size.

One other enhancement with New Quizzes is that you can bypass the assignment details screen and get right into building question when you are designing a unit in modules. See below.

If you like these enhancements but mostly have Classic Quizzes in your course, you can begin the process of migrating them to New Quizzes with these directions.

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New Nightly MiStar/Canvas Grade Auto-Syncing

Steps for setting up grade sync each night

If you would like your Canvas grades to automatically sync with your MiStar gradebook each night, that is now possible with just a few clicks.

Make sure Grade Sync is enabled under Settings/Navigation

Showing grade sync enabled — Students do not have access to this page.

2. Once enabled and saved, you can navigate to the Grade Sync from the Course Navigation menu and toggle the option on.

If you need more information about the necessary set up for your Canvas Grades to sync with MiStar, take a look at the resources on the P-CCS Tech website.

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Quick Tip: Create a QR code for any site you open in Chrome

You can now quickly and easily generate a QR code for any site you have open in Chrome. Just click the URL bar (omnibox) and then click the QR code button to the right. Download it, and place it where you want people to scan it!

Google’s .NEW domains make for some great quick access to various sites and services

Since our last blog post about Google’s .New domains, they have since opened registration up to 3rd party developers, allowing you to quickly jump not only into several Google services just by typing into your browser’s address bar things like docs.new, sheets.new, slides.new, etc. but hundreds of other services etc. In another post our today, we mentioned spark.new. Below are just some of the other shortcuts you might appreciate knowing about — also consider visiting the domain directory to review the comprehensive and growing list:

sign.new – sign PDFs with acrobat on the web
lessonplan.new/lessonplans.new – Create simple lesson plans for kids using templates from Canva
worksheet.new – Create a worksheet for a classroom lesson or assignment using a template from Canva.
citation.new — Add a citation to your bibliography with BibGuru.
code.new – Learn to code with real-time interactive coding sessions.
scan.new – Scan a QR code on scan.new.
track.new – track your shipments across various couriers
surveymonkey.new – Create a new survey using SurveyMonkey
logo.new – Create a new logo for your business with Adobe Spark (Freelance graphic designers)
add.new – Explore math using ClassCalc’s cheat-free calculator app.
diagram.new/diagrams.new – Create a flowchart diagram to map processes.
photo.new/photoshop.new – Quickly edit a new image on Adobe Photoshop online
podcast.new/episode.new – Record a new episode of your podcast using Anchor by Spotify
prezi.new – Design beautiful presentations using Prezi.
canva.new/design.new – Create a new Canva design with your team.
board.new – Collaborate remotely on an online whiteboard.
score.new – Write music online with this collaborative score editor (Flat)
medium.new/story.new – Create a new story on Medium.
stream.new – Upload and edit your video online
post.new – Create a new blog post on your WordPress blog with one click
bitly.new/link.new – Create memorable, short links to your website with Bitly.
board.new – Collaborate remotely on an online whiteboard.
paper.new – Start a new workspace with Dropbox.
docs/sheets/slides/sites/cal/meeting/meet/forms/keep/note/notes.new / jam.new– Open new Google service files with one click!
excel/ppt/pptx/docx/word.new – Open blank Microsoft Office Online files with one click!
mindmap.new – Create a new mindmap and share your ideas on MindMeister
text.new – Quickly write a note in this online text editor.
zip.new – Create a new zip archive to easily store and share files.
kahoot.new/quiz.new – Create an online quiz using Kahoot.
pen.new– Learn to code with real-time interactive coding sessions.
vue/ts/js/ng.new – Create a new Vue, Javascript, Typescript or Angular project online with CodeSandbox

Updates to Adobe Spark for Education Plan

Beginning in late October 2021, the K12 Adobe Spark for Education plan will start to include two additional applications, Adobe Photoshop Express and Adobe Premiere Rush. In or shortly after late October 2021, our users will have access to these applications.

Adobe Photoshop Express enables image editing and collage making and is available on both iOS and Android devices. To learn about this application’s capabilities, system requirements, and device compatibility, please visit the user guide.

Adobe Premiere Rush enables video editing and sharing and is available on both iOS and Android, as well as desktop devices. To learn about this application’s capabilities, system requirements, and device compatibility, please visit the user guide.

As a reminder, simply type spark.new in the Chrome browser and review these steps on how to access Spark for Education.

And for more ideas on Spark, revisit our last blog post about it HERE.

Some Chromebook Usage Tips

The slideshows below offer some helpful tips and tricks for more effective Chromebook usage.

Link to slideshow

Link to slideshow.

Monday Tech Coffee Chat: Supporting Absent Students

This Monday, September 27, we will be holding another TIS Coffee Chat on the topic of Supporting Absent Students. We will talk about how to add an Absent button and set up your information page for Absent students. Sessions are only about 20 minutes long and take place over Zoom.

Start Times (feel free to attend at a time that works best for you):

High School: 7:00 am Add to Calendar
Middle School: 7:45 am Add to Calendar
Elementary: 8:15 am Add to Calendar

Feel free to browse the Session Resources which includes a helpful, technical document for broadcasting your class via Zoom: https://wke.lt/w/s/jd6oHX

Check out the recordings of previous sessions.

Canvas Camp 2021 and Tech Coffee Chat #1 Recordings

Thanks to all who were able to join us during Canvas Camp 2021! We are happy to continue to support you with our Monday Morning Coffee Chats. Below you will find links to recordings from our August sessions.

Studio Q & A-This session covered a lot of the basics of Studio and looked at some more advanced features. The trainer also provided great ideas for how to use Studio as the teacher and how students can use it.

Canvas Q & A– In this session we talked a lot about copying course content. Toward the end, Cory gave a really great introduction to Groups.

Canvas Course Design Considerations– Here’s the session agenda. This training is great for all grade levels and also had a few good nuggets for elementary teachers.

TIS Face Off: Canvas Tips- Matt and Kaelyn face off about their favorite Canvas tips. Recording coming soon.

Last week we had our first Tech Coffee Chat centered around the Canvas Best Practice, Simplifying the Course Navigation Menu. Check out the recording and join us Monday, September 20 for tips on creating an informative, welcoming home page.

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New Assignment Enhancements in Canvas

Canvas has made several adjustments and improvements to the student assignment experience. Take a look below.

If you choose “Text Entry” for the student turn-in option, student work will auto-save and they can submit directly on the page.

Scroll through the gallery below to see other assignment options.

Ability for students to start new attempt

If you feel these enhancements will not serve your students, you can toggle them off under Settings/Feature Previews.

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2020-2021 Course Clean Up

Please make sure your 2020-2021 courses are closed. We have heard from a few students and parents that are still seeing their 2020-2021 courses. You’ll want to ensure your courses are closed or unpublished.

Navigate to https://pccsk12.instructure.com/courses or click on the “Courses” icon on the Course Navigation Menu and click “All Courses” You’ll see a list of your courses that are still published.

If you notice any from the 2020-2021 school year in your current enrollments you will need to take action.
If you see 20-21 published courses under Past Enrollments, that is as it should be and no action is required.

You may be able to open the course and click “Unpublish.” If you are unable to do that, please submit a tech ticket.

Also keep in mind that any manually-created courses like a counseling group, club, or media center course should be closed out if they are no longer needed. Or students that have moved up to a new building level should be removed from the course.

These closed courses will still be accessible in a view-only format to students in “Past Enrollments.”

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