Need to quickly change a course due date? Head to the Calendar in Canvas (on the far left of your screen on the Global Navigation Menu). From there, you can drag and drop an assignment due date to a new day.
Canvas Quick Tip: Drag and Drop Due Dates
Be Alert: Google Forms Phishing Scam
Be on the lookout for scammers trying to impersonate Google. The spammer will take advantage of the option for “Response Receipts.” These emails are sent from the email address “forms-receipts-noreply@google.com.” which is the official, legitimate email.
The spammer pretends the user has filled out something with Google when they have not and requests that the person fill out their email address and click to verify. See an image example below.
While the email address may be official, those links could lead to anywhere and could ask for more information. Keep in mind, if you are getting a response receipt you likely have already completed what you need and should not need to send any new information.
If you think you have received one of these scam emails, you can click “Report Abuse” at the bottom of the email.
If you would like more details about this scam, please read this post, where we sourced the information for this blog.
Two Great Google Updates
Easy Share Button
In the latest update for Chrome, you’ll now see a share icon in the link address bar. Click that “sharrow” and you be able to copy the link or get a QR code with a few less clicks.
Go Pageless in Google Docs
More and more teachers are going “paperless” in their classrooms. As a result, you might not like making formatting adjustments when an image, table, or something else falls right around a page break. Google Docs now gives you the option to “pageless.” View the video below to find out how and see why it might be helpful.
More information from Google on this update.
New Laptops Coming Very Soon
Please be aware that some schools have already been notified that their laptop exchange will be taking place next week (email from Andrew Morris). If you have been putting off backing up your files, now is the time to do that.
Here are some links for a successful laptop exchange:
- Backup your files to Google Drive
- Read the FAQ page
- Check out the Staff Handbook for the New Laptops
Canvas Tip: New Analytics to Support Students
Did you know that New Analytics provides detailed reports about grades, activity in Canvas, and missing assignments? Take a look at the information below to learn more. This can be used to support your teaching with data and an easy way to communicate with students and families that need support.
*Credit to Nicole Pate of Del Sol Academy for the informational slides. Link to slides.
Submit a tech ticket if you have questions about this feature.
Elementary Teachers – Using IXL with Canvas
In addition to accessing IXL via Clever, we have recently integrated IXL with Canvas to provide the following functionality (and more) within Canvas courses.
Quick Launcher
Allows student to quickly access a few of the most valuable areas of IXL.com
Activity Selector
Allows teachers to create a direct links to an IXL skill, or the Diagnostic, from within Canvas
Activity Viewer/Launcher
Allows students or teachers to access an assigned IXL skill or Diagnostic
In sum, IXL’s integration with Canvas allows teachers to access IXL through Canvas and create activities using IXL skills or the Real-Time Diagnostic. Students can also access IXL through Canvas and navigate directly to certain sections of IXL, including skills or the diagnostic as selected by their teachers.
Check out the resources below to help you take full advantage of the integration features:
**Be on the look out for a synchronous, virtual training on IXL for our March 7 Professional Development day.**
(Thanks Bentley educator Kayleigh Gilo for the idea/encouragement to explore setting up this integration!)
Friendly Reminder: Back Up Your Files
Here’s another friendly reminder that new laptops will be distributed this spring. Be sure to save any files you wish to keep. See our original post for directions.
Wordle in the Classroom
2022 has brought on the Wordle craze. If you or your students have caught Wordle fever, you might consider how to incorporate it in the classroom. Check out the ideas below (including some math versions).
Other Wordle spinoffs to explore include:
PCEP Year-Long Courses now with Grading Periods
High School teachers of PCEP year-long courses, please be aware that Grading Periods will be set up in your Canvas courses denoting each semester.
Year-Long PCEP Courses
- Teachers will have access to make edits, give feedback, and grade assignments in Canvas for first semester until 11:59 pm on February 2, 2022. After that date, the grades will not be editable.
- Students will continue to have access to submit assignments with due dates in the first semester UNLESS YOU HAVE AN AVAILABLE UNTIL DATE OF JAN. 28 OR EARLIER. You can edit those dates in bulk by following the steps here.
Semester 2 began January 31st, 2022. You can filter your grade book to view assignments with due dates in the Semester 2 grading period by following the steps here.
The information above was also noted in our January 18, 2022 blog post.
If you have questions, please submit a tech ticket.
Zoom Features for your Virtual Classes
There have been some updates to Zoom that help facilitate online learning for teachers and students. Check them out below.
- Save Zoom recording directly to Canvas. You can now save your Zoom recordings directly to Canvas Studio to easily integrate and share with your students. It just requires a few clicks to set this up in Canvas. Video tutorial.
- Create a seating chart in Gallery View. In your account settings, you will need to enable, “Allow host to save video order.” When you are in your meeting, arrange the students as you would like while in Gallery View and click save. If it is a recurring meeting, the video order will be saved for future meetings. More information.
- Turn on Focus Mode. This mode allows you to see all the student screens, but students only see the teacher’s video. You can even set it up for your meeting to being in Focus Mode. More information OR check out this 5 minute explanatory video
- More polling and quizzing options. Zoom has expanded their polls to eight different question types and added the ability to add images. You can also set up the poll to be a quiz. More information.
- Add video to the Waiting Room. Maximize instructional time by adding a video to play while participants are in the Waiting Room. Unfortunately, this is a general setting to be applied to all your waiting room and not tied to a specific meeting. You can customize this when logged in to your web portal at www.zoom.us Video tutorial.
- Zoom Learning Center. Zoom now offers a free educational platform for all new and existing users, including on-demand courses, live trainings, and short videos designed to give you just what you need when you need it to know how to best use their service. Login at https://learning.zoom.us/
