MS/INT/HS: Schoology - Linking Sections 09-30-16

If you use Schoology Enterprise, you have the option to link the sections of any course together. Course section linking is a great way to manage all sections of a course more efficiently.

When sections are linked, they all share the same set of materials and grade setup. This means you only need to create materials and set up your gradebook once, even when you teach multiple sections of the same course. Linked sections also have toggles you can use to switch between each section instantly, so you can keep the sections separate while enjoying a more streamlined workflow.

The linked sections feature was designed to improve the instructor's experience. Your students will continue to see and experience Schoology in the same way they always have.

Here is a link to the instructions.

EL/MS/INT: Istation - Lexile with Tier Level Report 09-30-16

Scenario:
Teacher or Peer Facilitator wants to get a list of student performance with Lexile Levels, Tier Levels, and Assessment Scores all in one document.  How do you do this?

Solution: 
You might consider running the Lexile Trend Report

Instructions - 
https://pasadenaisdorg.sharepoint.com/sites/InstructionalTechnology/handouts/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B5CE03F96-3883-4417-98A5-97ECB861D19C%7D&file=06_REPORTS-Running%20the%20Lexile%20with%20Tier%20Level%20Report.docx&action=default&IsList=1&ListId=%7BCFFA7323-85D3-4C10-A1C5-DA16278C723B%7D&ListItemId=1346

EL/MS/INT: Istation - Report on Instruction Completed by Student 09-30-16

When students work with the Instructional part of Istation (after they complete the test), a report can be generated that shows progress and any written items that they complete in the Writing Rules module. Here's how:

• Click Reports
• Under Products – Click Instruction Istation Reading (or Spanish)
• Click Classroom Summary Report
• Click Customize Report (if you are the manager)
• Click Run at the Classroom level

This report will group students by tier level.  

EL/MS/INT: Chrome Not Loading Properly 09-30-16

Scenario:
When opening Chrome the page would not always load and I would get a black or partially loaded page.  Closing Chrome and reopening would sometimes resolve the issue or typing in another web address in the URL would correct the issue.  

Possible Solution:

• Open Chrome
• Click the Menu button (3 dots at the top right)
• Click Settings
• Click Advanced Settings
• Under System: Click the check box by Use hardware acceleration when available

Thanks Marie Alanis and Tom Deibel!

EL/MS: Learning.com Coding Lessons 09-30-16

Check out Learning.com's new Coding Lessons!

Getting your Students Coding in 3 Steps

• Step 1: Watch the EasyCode trailer
• Step 2: Check-out our Coding resources:
  • EasyCode overview document
  • EasyCode sample lesson plans
  • Computational Thinking video (ISTE)
• Step 3: Log in to Learning.com and assign your classes curriculum from the EasyTech & EasyCode Computational Thinking & Coding Basics unit within EasyTech.

EL/MS: Istation 4th & 5th Grade New Spanish Assessment 09-30-16

Istation Releases New Spanish Assessment for 4th and 5th Grade

2016-2017 School Year

Press release from Istation:

DALLAS, August 23, 2016 — Today, Istation announces the release of its new Spanish assessment for 4th and 5th grade, ISIP Lectura Avanzada. The assessment will be available as a free pilot for educators during the 2016-2017 school year.

https://www.istation.com/About/Press20160823

Email sent from Instructional Materials Department 

(Pasadena ISD)

From: Instructional Materials Digital Management (Pasadena ISD)
Sent: Friday, September 30, 2016 1:50 PM
Subject: RE: I Station

We discovered yesterday that Istation released a Spanish Assessment as a free pilot for this year.  When students take the assessment however, even if they complete it, the report will still show as incomplete.  The company is not showing the data because they are still fine tuning things.   

EL: Seesaw Professional Development Opportunities 09-16-16

Join Seesaw this September for an online training session (or two!) and learn how to use Seesaw from the comfort of your couch. We have more than 30 training sessions across all subject areas and grade levels planned. We've also added short, 10-minute "🏃 Sprint" sessions that cover specific Seesaw features. Click on the calendar below to find sessions and register!

PD in Your PJs September Calendar

View Sessions and Register!

Whether you're a Seesaw beginner or a total pro, you'll leave with teacher-tested tips and lesson ideas to use in your classroom tomorrow! If you're not able to attend but are interested in the topic, please register and we'll send you the recording automatically. We also share all recordings in the Seesaw Help Center. —The Seesaw Team

EL: Dreambox - Setting Student Language to Spanish 09-16-16

Question: How does a teacher change the student language to Spanish in Dreambox Math?

Answer:

Changing student language to Spanish in Dreambox (using the Teacher Dashboard):

1. Go to https://play.dreambox.com/play/login
2. Log into Dreambox using your teacher credentials
3. Click your class name on the left
4. Click Edit at the top middle
5. Click Roster near the top
6. Under the Language column, click the drop menu by the language (English by default) to change it
7. Click Save at the top right

Contact Janet Nuzzie or Emily Bourgeois if you need assistance.

EL/MS/INT: Purchasing Projector Bulbs with Campus Funds - 09-16-16

Can the campus purchase projector bulbs with their own funds? - YES 

And if so, what vendors should they use?

From: Michael Rodriguez
Sent: Thursday, September 08, 2016 8:17 AM
Subject: RE: Purchasing Projector Bulbs with Campus Funds

Bulbs can be purchased from the following vendors.

• CDW-G - https://www.cdwg.com/
• ProComputing - Michael Kelly (kelly@procomputing.com)

EL/MS/INT: Shortcut to Lawson that Opens in Internet Explorer 09-16-16

Shortcut to Open a URL with IE When Chrome is Default

1. Click Start
2. Click Programs
3. Click-and-drag Internet Explorer to your desktop
4. Right-click the new shortcut and select Properties
5. On the Shortcut tab, click the Target field and move the cursor to the end of all the text
6. Enter a single space and then enter your URL  
7. Click Apply
8. Click the General tab
9. In the text field at the top, give your shortcut an appropriate name
10. Click OK

Making Chrome my default browser:

1. Open Chrome
2. Click the menu button at the top right (3 stacked dots or lines)
3. Click Settings
4. Scroll down if necessary
5. Click Make Google Chrome the default browser button

EL/MS/INT: Istation Question of the Week – Identifying ISIP Test Completion 09-16-16

Scenario:

From the class view in Istation, the teacher can see all the student names and the completion status. 

Question: 

Sometimes teachers say the following:  “My student completed the test and has been working in the instruction portion of Istation, but my class list doesn’t indicate they have completed it.  What is the problem?”

Possible answers: (There have been some discrepancies in reports this week that Istation has had to investigate. Contact Emily Bourgeois or Candice Arthur if you have questions.)

•    If the grade is PK-3^rd, the teacher may need to click “Istation Espanol” button at the top of their class list.  This will show all students who have been working in the Spanish version of the test.  (see image below)
•    If the grade is 4^th-8^th, the teacher or peer facilitator can contact Emily Bourgeois for some assistance.  In addition, Istation Customer Help might need to get involved to determine the issue.  

MS/INT/HS: Schoology - Merging Accounts 09-23-16

Schoology - Merging accounts

If you have a duplicate account on Schoology, you can merge your old account into your current account. Keep in mind that by doing this, the merged account will be deleted and your created content will be moved into the current account.

To merge an account, follow these steps:

1. Log into your district account
2. Select the arrow in the upper right corner of the page and click Account Settings.
3. Scroll near the bottom of the Account Settings page.
4. Click the Merge Accounts button.

         You will get a Warning - that is OK. Keep going.

    5. Enter the Email or Username and the password of the desired account.

    6.Click Validate Account, and wait for the merge to complete.

Note:
• You can merge two free accounts, or you can merge a free account into an Enterprise account. It is not possible to merge an Enterprise account into another account from Account Settings.

If you  need help, contact Lori Muirhead or Sherrie Grounds

ALL: Lanschool: Voting 09-23-16

Have you tried out Voting in Lanschool?

Voting replaces the need for the traditional “clicker” classroom response system. Teachers can get a quick pulse on whether or not students understand a concept. A True/False or Multiple Choice question can be answered and the results shown immediately to the teacher. Here is a link to a handout: Lanschool - Voting. Start with the "Vote" button.

EL/MS: Learning.com Webinars for September 09-09-16

Learning.com is committed to providing you training sessions that easily and effectively implement solutions with teachers and students.  In September, 2016, you can register to attend our free training webinars: Getting Started with EasyTech  *New!* EasyTech Foundations of Coding  Getting Started with Inquiry  Getting Started with My Resources Tools

Click here to register

Istation Question of the Week - Prep For Teacher Training 09-09-16

Question: We are hosting an Istation training at the campus.  What preparations do we need to do before the training to promote success?

Answer:

·        Teachers can/should bring netbooks/laptops. So, if the training is at the start of the year, (a day or two beforehand) they will want to turn on their computers and (while on the campus) log into it with their PISD network password to make sure all updates have run and their login works.

·        Nice for them to also have Istation Desktop Application installed on the device.  Instructions here: https://pasadenaisdorg.sharepoint.com/sites/InstructionalTechnology/handouts/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B872A8830-2173-426F-8A1D-AA559F3180E5%7D&file=01_Downloading_Installing_Desktop_Application.docx&action=default&IsList=1&ListId=%7BCFFA7323-85D3-4C10-A1C5-DA16278C723B%7D&ListItemId=787

·        Also nice for them to retrieve their Istation password and know it before they arrive.  Instructions here: https://pasadenaisdorg.sharepoint.com/sites/InstructionalTechnology/handouts/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B9097E049-93DE-44DC-8394-D016FDD3DD92%7D&file=00_Teacher_Retrieving_Istation_Password.docx&action=default&IsList=1&ListId=%7BCFFA7323-85D3-4C10-A1C5-DA16278C723B%7D&ListItemId=786

·        If a teacher does not have rostered classes (from Chancery), such as Dyslexia, SPED, Intervention, etc., they might not have an Istation account.  I can create those for the teachers before the training, if you let me know who they are.  

Istation Question of the Week - Can A Class Be Renamed? 09-09-16

·     No, unless it is a class that was manually created, such as an Intervention class, PIE Time class, etc.

Does the district want to keep a uniform format? – Not necessarily.  This name comes directly from Chancery, so we have no control over how it appears in Istation.

Istation Question of the Week - Student Can't Log In! 09-09-16

There are several things to check if a student cannot log into Istation:

• Make sure they are typing in the correct username and password.
• Contact your campus manager, technology liaison, Emily Bourgeois or Technology Applications Teacher for this information.
• Make sure the campus domain name is correct.  
• If a tablet or laptop came from another campus or if a lab was used for training teachers from other campuses, the domain may be configured for a different campus.  
• Follow these instructions to change the campus/domain configuration:  https://pasadenaisdorg.sharepoint.com/sites/InstructionalTechnology/handouts/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=%7BDA909703-599A-4830-8516-F6A8185B37FB%7D&file=02_Student_Application_Configuring_Domain.docx&action=default&IsList=1&ListId=%7BCFFA7323-85D3-4C10-A1C5-DA16278C723B%7D&ListItemId=788
• The student might not be enrolled in Istation, yet.  Remember these things:
• Istation requires that a TSDS number be assigned to the student before auto-enrollment occurs.
• If the student came from out of district or out of country, the TSDS # assignment can take much longer. 
• Also, a possibility is that the attendance clerk may or may not have completed all the necessary fields for the student yet.
• You can check on the status of the TSDS number by following these directions: https://pasadenaisdorg.sharepoint.com/sites/InstructionalTechnology/handouts/Shared%20Documents/Istation/25_Viewing_Student_TSDS_Number.pdf
• If you feel enough time has passed, you can also contact Charlene Strickland at x-70143 or cstrickland@pasadenaisd.org regarding student accounts.

NOTE:  It is not advised that the campus manager create a new student account.

• Reason: Once the TSDS number is assigned, the student account will appear overnight in the Istation system.  If a campus manager creates a student account without the TSDS number, there will be two of the same student with the same ID number and with two distinct sets of data.

If this information does not bring a resolution, contact Charlene Strickland or Lori Muirhead at x-70143.

Istation Question of the Week - Deleting Test Session Results 09-09-16

Question:  Is there a way to delete a student's testing session?

Examples of reasons for needing this: 

Student mistakenly takes a test for a peer by accident, and the teacher would like to delete that session to get good data on the correct student.

Student has a bad day (dog dies, shoes too tight, etc.) and performs uncharacteristically low on the test.

Answer:  There is no way to delete the test session.  However, the teacher can go to the website and do an On-Demand assessment for that one student (see instructions below).  This will ensure that the next time the student logs into the desktop application, he/she will be presented with the test again.  The latest test data will appear on the report that is pulled after that timeframe.

Instructions for assigning on-demand assessment:

https://pasadenaisdorg.sharepoint.com/sites/InstructionalTechnology/handouts/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B65B1E221-586B-45A3-9AA4-F339AF3FC5A0%7D&file=04_On_Demand_Assessments.docx&action=default&IsList=1&ListId=%7BCFFA7323-85D3-4C10-A1C5-DA16278C723B%7D&ListItemId=813

Istation Question of the Week - Turning Off Password Requirement for Student Books - 09-09-16

Question: How do you turn off the student password requirement for the Books module when the student logs into the Desktop Application? (see picture below)

Answer: This can only be done for individuals teachers by a campus manager or campus peer manager.  (see instructions below)

Instructions:

https://pasadenaisdorg.sharepoint.com/sites/InstructionalTechnology/handouts/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B72CEDD56-7CCB-4839-91F3-DC7F3A73ADFD%7D&file=23_MANAGER.ONLY-Turning_Off_Password_Requirement_for_Books_And_Libros.docx&action=default&IsList=1&ListId=%7BCFFA7323-85D3-4C10-A1C5-DA16278C723B%7D&ListItemId=803

Istation Question of the Week - Assigning Interactive Lessons from the Teacher Station - 09-09-16

Question:  In the Teacher Station (green apple icon) from the Istation Desktop Application, how can the students see and/or get to these lessons?

Answer:

·         These interactive lessons from the Teacher Station are not (by default) available under the student login.

·         However, the interactive lessons from the Teacher Station (green apple) can be assigned to students.

·         The interactive lessons in iPractice in Espanol are not available for assigning to students….yet…I hope they will be.

·         Students will be able to see the lessons from the Teacher Station when/if the teacher(s) create an assignment and assign the lesson(s) to individual students or to a whole class or group. (see instructions below)

·         The student will see the assignment as a number (1,2,3, etc.) on the gray book bag icon when they log into the desktop application.

Question: How do teachers assign these interactive lessons from the Teacher Station?

Answer:  Here are instructions for teachers on how to assign these lessons to students from the istation website: https://pasadenaisdorg.sharepoint.com/sites/InstructionalTechnology/handouts/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=%7B1F2507E4-A1B2-4A0B-8F4A-970A503BA5D4%7D&file=13_Creating_Assignments-PK-8th.docx&action=default&IsList=1&ListId=%7BCFFA7323-85D3-4C10-A1C5-DA16278C723B%7D&ListItemId=799

Istation Question of the Week - Can I Delete Students from a Class? 09-09-16

Scenario: Students have been unenrolled from a teacher's class, but they still exist on the roster in Istation.  Can they be deleted or removed from the class?

Deleting students – In Istation, any campus manager can remove students from rosters, but no one ever really deletes them.  When students are no longer in a class, they don’t automatically get removed.  Any manager can do this for a teacher.  Most teachers like them removed from their class roster because it is irritating to them and it skews report results. 
Directions for managers - https://pasadenaisdorg.sharepoint.com/sites/InstructionalTechnology/handouts/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=%7BD3B37183-07E3-43D5-82BF-F1BF98FC47CE%7D&file=19_MANAGER.ONLY-Removing_Students_From_Classes_In_Istation.docx&action=default&IsList=1&ListId=%7BCFFA7323-85D3-4C10-A1C5-DA16278C723B%7D&ListItemId=800

Websites of the Week! (WOW!) 09/02/16

Build Mouse Skills With Young Students!
http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/techappsmouseskills


I will be adding these to the symbaloo soon!

Flower Catcher 
http://static.uptoten.com/swf/coordination/coordination_games/en/flowerCatch.swf

Take A Trip
http://media.abcya.com/games/take_a_trip/flash/take_a_trip.swf



Free Online Products

Teach Your Monster To Read
www.teachyourmonstertoread.com

Up To Ten
http://www.uptoten.com/

Think Through Math Maintenance 09/02/16

TTM Maintenance

TTM will be performing routine maintenance on Friday, 9/2/16 at 4:00 AM ET / 1:00 AM PT. This will last approximately 15 minutes. During this time, all users will be unable to log in and will receive a message indicating that TTM is currently in “Maintenance Mode.” We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact TTM Customer Support at support@thinkthroughmath.com.

Appraise: Can't See the Toolbar When Using Chrome 09/02/16

Can't see the toolbar in Appraise when adding Goals?
Are you using Chrome browser?

If so, doing the following may correct this situation:

• Click the Menu Button at the top right of the Chrome Browser (3 horizontal lines)
• Change the Zoom to 90% or 75%

This might correct the problem.