Welcome to the Technology Design Team Weekly Lessons Learned! This is a recurring feature on Friday afternoons where the Technology Design Team will share top of mind resources and learning. Each week, we will post a few key things we hope you may find useful. We look forward to sharing our learning with you. We look forward to sharing our learning with you.
Some of the content may be specific to the realities of Austin ISD though, we hope, much will be useful to viewers worldwide. The Weekly Lessons Learned Archive contains a list of topics from and links to previous updates.
What is the difference between “Short Term Sub” and Co-Teacher in BLEND? How do I grant a colleague access to my courses?
The linked document below explains how you can grant a colleague access to your BLEND course(s) and what a “Short Term Sub” can do compared to a “Co-teacher”.
Adding a Temporary Co-Teacher in BLEND
Recent Updates to BLEND/Canvas
The January 15, 2022, Canvas update included several new features:
- Course Navigation Menu – When you expand or collapse the Course Navigation Menu in one course, it will be same in all of your courses. You will no longer need to change it in every course!
- Missing Status Removal – When a grade is entered manually for a missing submission, the missing status is removed. Previously, missing status had to be removed manually.
- Module Links – When External URL and External Tool (LTI) links are added to a module, the Load in New Tab checkbox is retained for all additional link entries. You will no longer need to set it for every link!
- Speedgrader – Graders will now get an Unposted Comment Warning if a comment have been created but not posted.
How can I import my BLEND content from previous courses?
- How to Manage Your Classes and Dashboard in BLEND Canvas should help you find your Past Enrollment and Concluded Courses in BLEND. Go to “Courses” and then “All Courses.” Your past enrollments and concluded courses show up toward the very bottom of that list.
- How to Import Content into BLEND / Canvas demonstrates importing content into BLEND.
- IMPORTANT: The import process can take up to several minutes depending on how much content is being imported. Please wait for the content to import.
How do I set BLEND notifications at the course level?
- Use this Canvas Guide: How Do I Manage Notifications in a Single Course? to learn more.
- If you prefer a screencast, watch this tutorial on setting notifications for a single course.
How can I have student’s record themself for oral language practice and submit or share it?
- As an instructor, you can create an assignment in BLEND/Canvas with an option for students to upload media (video or audio) when submitting their assignment. This Canvas guide demonstrates how to create an assignment with a media upload option.
- This BLEND/Canvas guide shows how students can upload a media recording to an assignment. Students have the option to record video or record audio when submitting a media upload.
- Students also record in Google Slides as this video demonstrates: Using Record To Slides Extension to Make A Student Group Video Grid
- This silent screencast from the TDT that you can include in your BLEND assignment for students to reference.
Is there an easy way to to have students share their Adobe Spark posters for peer review?
A new TDT YouTube video, “Using Adobe Spark Downloads with Canvas Discussions”, demonstrates how a teacher can create a Spark Template from within BLEND and have students submit their work in a BLEND Discussion post. This time, the Spark Download option provides a file to be uploaded by each student. The images will be visible within each post.
How can I ensure the instructional videos I want to use from YouTube are viewable by students?
Your Technology Design Specialist is able to verify and approved YouTube video so they are viewable for students. Students (and staff) will need to be signed in to their AISD accounts for youtube videos to play on district devices.
Speaking of YouTube, did you know you can limit YouTube access and students will be able to watch videos embedded in BLEND?
- On Chromebooks: If a video is embedded on a BLEND page, YouTube.com can be blocked in GoGuardian AND students can watch the embedded video.
- On iPads, use Jamf Teacher “whitelist” site for students. If YouTube is not on the whitelist, students can view embedded videos in BLEND/the Canvas app, but will be unable to go to YouTube in their browser.
How can I tell who has accessed my Google doc, slide deck, or spreadsheet?
- You can see activity from Austin ISD users (views and edits) and the people you see in Share>Advanced.
- The linked page has additional information: View the activity on your Google Docs, Sheets & Slides
How can I check to see if my students’ iPads are registered and updating correctly?
The linked videos demonstrate how to verify registration on an iPad.
How to Tell if your District iPad Needs to be Registered
iPad Management – Locating a Student Name in the Jamf Student Control Center
How can I use MAP Growth data to support my students in their other digital tools?
The MAP Growth Reading and Math diagnostic assessments will take place at the beginning, middle, and end of the year, as designated in the district assessment calendars, for all Kindergarten through 8th grade students. It is not a program with weekly practice requirements.
Upon completion of the MAP Growth assessment, a RIT score will be generated for each student. Based on their RIT score, teachers will have access to a learning continuum which pinpoints the TEKS that must be reviewed with students to accelerate their content knowledge. Teachers will be able to develop intervention lessons, or refer to the AISD Blueprints, for intervention lessons in the identified area of need.
Additionally with the RIT score that is generated, teachers are able to place students on the appropriate pathway with other digital learning programs our students use, such as IXL, Newsela, Imagine Learning, DreamBox and Khan Academy.
Click here to view how to integrate IXL and MAP.
Click here to view how to integrate Newsela and MAP.
The MAP Growth FAQ contains additional information.
Updated: Technology Design Office Hours
The Technology Design Team is excited about assisting campuses and subbing throughout the district. For this reason, we must suspend office hours for the time being. We have enjoyed the opportunity to meet and collaborate with so many teachers in Virtual Office Hours.
Please reach out directly to your Technology Design Specialist.
If you have a technical support issue (device repair or setup, access to systems, etc), please create a ServiceNow ticket to have a technician address your concern.
Connect. Design. Learn 