In August, we published the P-CCS Canvas Best Practices. We now have a YouTube Playlist that covers each practice. Each video has timestamps in the description to help you find the information you need. Additionally, each video has a link to resources that includes examples and tutorial links. We hope this will be a helpful resource for you.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUkRcu_FW1d_rMIzP3riN3cVIm_Swl_BM
On November 4 from 1:00-1:30 PM EST, Flipgrid Live will be hosting Amanda Gorman and Loren Long. Amanda Gorman will read from her new picture book Change Sings and discuss the ideas in it. The illustrator will also talk about his creation process. You can go here to sign up to watch with your class live or on-demand.
Check out the Flipgrid’s Discovery Library to find a number of topics to help your students prepare for the event. You can also see other upcoming events or access past events here: https://blog.flipgrid.com/upcomingflipgridliveevents. Many of the presenters help provide “windows and mirrors” for the students in our classrooms.
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About Flipgrid Live Events – Take your learners on an adventure with Flipgrid Live Events without ever leaving the comfort of your classroom, home, or wherever you learn! These free virtual field trips feature authors, scientists, humanitarians, and creators sharing their passions from all over the world, even from the bottom of the sea!
Over the weekend, you may have noticed a few updates to Canvas:
To keep up-to-date on upcoming Canvas updates or to view more information about these updates, visit this website: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-Releases/tkb-p/canvas-release
Canva is a free online tool that educators can use that has an extensive library of images, templates, worksheets, presentations, etc. Recently they announced the ability to not only add video, but also the ability to edit videos and collaborate on videos. If you are interested in more information on Canva, and/or if you are interested in learning more about Canva, there will be an asynchronous course available to learn Canva on the PD day(November 2nd).
For a brief tutorial on the video editor, and its capabilities, we are including a video down below – see also our last blog post about Canva and how to access it HERE:
October is Cybersecurity month. How can you facilitate student learning about this topic? BrainPOP has videos and accompanying lessons for grades 3-12. Teachers of younger learners can check out BrainPOP Jr for more appropriate videos and lessons. P-CCS has a K-12 subscription to BrainPOP products and they are accessible via Clever. Check out this lesson on information privacy.
The TextHelp PDF Reader has officially been reborn as OrbitNote!
Earlier this summer, the Texthelp PDF Reader was updated and became OrbitNote. This update included a new look & easier onboarding. P-CCS students & staff have access to all the PREMIUM features of OrbitNote detailed below.
If you’re not familiar with it yet, OrbitNote allows staff & students to transform and interact with PDFs and digital documents in a completely different way. It helps to create an accessible, dynamic and collaborative space that works for everyone.
You & your students can use OrbitNote to:
There is NO ACTION required for students or staff who were already using the PDF Reader; the new OrbitNote extension auto-updated. Students and staff may have to update permissions with the first use of the new tool.
Staff who have not used the Texthelp PDF Reader in the past will need to install the extension here.
For more information about using OrbitNote, including Canvas LMS integration, go to the RW4G@PCCS website: https://bit.ly/PCCS-OrbitNote
The new OrbitNote Quick Reference Guide is available here.
Videos: https://text.help/orbitvids
Technical Support: https://support.texthelp.com
You might also want to check out this video of OrbitNotes used in Canvas and/or a comprehensive overview of many of TextHelp’s features:
OrbitDoc (now OrbitNotes) used in Canvas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmEWuu-YxoY
October is a month to take special note of cybersecurity. This week we would like to highlight some basics of cybersecurity.
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.
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.
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.
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):
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.