Category: High School

New Ways to Use the Address Bar to increase your Productivity!

If you’ve ever found yourself lost in a sea of open tabs or struggled to locate a bookmark buried in folders, Google Chrome’s latest update is here to rescue you. The Chrome address bar on desktop has received a significant upgrade, empowering users to search through tabs, bookmarks, and history directly from the address bar.

@Tabs: Taming the Tab Chaos

For those moments when your tab count resembles an explosion, the new @tabs shortcut becomes your trusty companion. Simply type “@tabs” in the address bar, hit the “search tabs” button, and start typing the title. Watch as Chrome intelligently sifts through your tabs, presenting matching suggestions. Whether you’re planning a trip with numerous tabs about flights, hotels, activities, and rental cars, or you’re managing work projects, @tabs, coupled with tab groups, simplifies the process and helps you stay organized.

@Bookmarks: Navigating Your Bookmarked Universe

If you’ve bookmarked a crucial webpage months ago and now need quick access, the @bookmarks shortcut is your solution. By typing “@bookmarks” in the address bar, you can efficiently locate the bookmark you’re looking for, even among folders of bookmarks. Whether it’s checking the availability of a hotel or revisiting a bookmarked article, @bookmarks streamlines your browsing experience.

@History: Revisiting the Past

Sometimes, the information you seek might not be bookmarked, but fear not. The @history shortcut allows you to search through your browsing history directly from the address bar. Whether you need to find an old website for hiking trails or revisit a page you stumbled upon, @history comes to your rescue.

In the address bar, simply type the desired shortcut, enter the relevant details, and witness the suggestions appear directly, making your browsing experience more efficient and enjoyable.

The Chrome address bar – now referred to as the OMNIBOX – is no longer just a URL input – it’s your gateway to a more organized and accessible browsing experience. Try out these shortcuts today and take control of your tabs, bookmarks, and history like never before.

Happy browsing!

Grading Periods for New Term

visual organizer of the grading periods transition

Secondary teachers are approaching the end of a new term (semester 1/quarter 2). Here’s what you need to be aware of in Canvas.

Teachers will have access to make edits, give feedback, and grade assignments in Canvas for 1st Semester until 11:59 pm on January 31, 2023. After that date, the grades will not be editable, you’ll need to follow your building’s process for updating a grade on record. Please note change due to snow days.
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. 30 (11:50 pm) OR EARLIER. You can edit those dates in bulk by following the steps here. If you have a year-long course, please look over your assignments and consider what you want to remain available.

Semester 2 is set to “open” on January 30, please make sure any semester courses are published by then. You can filter your grade book to view assignments with due dates in the Semester 2 grading period by following the steps here.

If you have questions, please submit a tech ticket.

Canvas

The First Five

Looking for more ways to connect with students? In need of something to help during transitions? You might consider subscribing to The First Five from EdTomorrow. It provides free daily resources from funny memes to how are are feeling scales. The ideas arrive in your inbox at 7am each morning. They have a PK-5 and a 6-12 edition. Check out today’s selection of activities (choose one to do with your class): Today’s First Five — Edtomorrow- Supporting Today’s Educators through Restorative Practices PD

Get more information: What Is The First Five? — Edtomorrow- Supporting Today’s Educators through Restorative Practices PD

Outdated Google Assignments Deprecated June 2024

The older Google Apps LTI (integration) will no longer be available in Canvas after June 2024. P-CCS turned off the ability to create new assignments with the previous integration in 2021, so a very small number of people will be affected. If you have copied old Google Assignments over from year to year, you may need to convert them to the updated Google Assignment.

What do you do with assignments created with the old integration?

Make a copy of the old assignment
On the right of the assignment, click More>Edit>More Options
Next to “Submission Type,” click the dropdown >External Tool.
Click “Find”, select “Google Assignments (LTI 1.3)”
Link your Google Workspace for Education Account (first time only)
Click Continue, attach the Drive Files needed
Choose your grading tool, make sure to update the due date and points
Click Create.
On the Canvas page, click Select>Save.

Video directions

If you have assignments created with the old integration (this will apply to very few of our teachers), those assignments will NOT BE available after June 2024 UNLESS you update them with the steps outlined above.

What are Google Assignments?

Google Assignments allow you to automatically create a copy of docs/slides/sheets for each student to edit (similar functionality to Google Classroom, if you are familiar with that platform). That document automatically includes their name, is shared with the teacher, is organized in a folder in Drive, and is attached to the assignment for submission. It also allows the teacher to observe student progress and give feedback on their work along the way.

Google and Canvas by Kaelyn Bullock

If you would like to learn how to create a Google Assignment, follow these steps.

Read Google’s guidance for more information about the integration. Please reach out to a TIS if you have questions.

PCCS Introduces Pre-Populated Bookmarks for Enhanced Accessibility!

We’re thrilled to announce a fantastic update for both staff and students at Plymouth-Canton Community Schools (PCCS)! Our commitment to providing a seamless digital experience has led us to introduce pre-populated bookmarks, making it even easier for you to access essential resources. These bookmarks are conveniently organized within a designated folder labeled “PCCS Bookmarks” on any Chrome browser when logged in with your PCCS email.

For Staff:

Clever – Convenient access to Clever services.
Google Dashboard – Aka the Waffle
Mistar-Q – PCCS Student Information System (SIS)
Tech Requests – Submit technology support requests.
Rubicon Atlas – PCCS Curriculum – Explore PCCS curriculum.
Canvas Catalog – PCCS PD – PCCS catalog of PD offerings
PCCS Tech – PCCS technology information and support
NWEA MAP Login – Easily log in to the NWEA MAP assessment platform.

For Students:

Clever – Convenient access to Clever services.
Canvas – Navigate your courses on the Canvas learning platform.
Google Dashboard – Aka the Waffle
Mistar-Student Connection – Access grades, attendance, and other student records
Digital Learning Hub – Explore resources for digital learning.
K-12 Student Handbook – Refer to the comprehensive student handbook.

We want to emphasize that this enhancement won’t affect any bookmarks you’ve already created. You’re still free to add and customize additional bookmarks to suit your individual needs.

These bookmarks will only appear when logged into Chrome with your PCCS email. For those unfamiliar with logging into Chrome with your PCCS email visit this link for support with logging in to your web browser.

At PCCS, we’re dedicated to providing a user-friendly digital environment, and we believe these pre-populated bookmarks will be a game-changer in streamlining your online experience. We hope you enjoy the added convenience and accessibility they bring to your daily routine. Happy browsing!

First Reminder: Close Down Technology for Break

As winter break gets closer, please add the following to your to-do list:

On FRIDAY before you leave…

PLEASE SECURE ALL VALUABLES in the classrooms and office spaces you inhabit. This includes laptops, document cameras, Apple TVs, remotes, and interactive pens.

Further, would you please make sure all iPads and Chromebooks are in their carts and those CARTS ARE LOCKED and plugged in before leaving.

Finally, would you please also POWER OFF any of the following equipment, if it is equipment you handle:

projectors
sound amps
SmartBoards
desktop computers
monitors
printers

THANK YOU for your cooperation.

Tech break checklist

GIFs in Google Slides

No matter where you fall in the GIF camp (hard or soft G), you can be excited about the new update in Google Slides. You can now directly search and add a GIF from the insert menu, no need for any extensions or add-ons.

You will be able to search for the GIF or sticker you want.

You can filter for stickers or GIFs. Enjoy this new feature!

Join this Year’s Ditch Summit

Once again, Matt Miller is putting on the Ditch That Textbook Digital Summit. It is a free online conference for teachers to discuss technology, pedagogy, and more. As usual, you can access the recording, notes, and presentation resources through the end of the summit, January 5, 2024. You will also gain access to videos and presentations from previous summits.

It begins December 11, 2023. Go to https://ditchsummit.com/ to learn more and register.

Create Your Own Connections Puzzle

Many people enjoy playing the New York Times game, Connections. Did you know you can easily create your own Connections puzzle to share with students or vice versa? No log-in is required, just create the puzzle and share the link. This could be a great way to review vocabulary and find connections between concepts.

Try it yourself! https://connections.swellgarfo.com/

November Edtech PD Offerings

This month, teachers are working through the professional development window. You have until November 30 to complete 6 hours of professional development courses. We have over 200 offerings available at Canvas Catalog. We have several new courses to help you utilize the district’s edtech tools including:

Other courses highlight: Canvas, Newsela, Canva, Edpuzzle, Seesaw, WeVideo, IXL, and Read&Write for Google. Search the Catalog for those items to see the options.