Using Google Classroom

As we prepare for the possibility of moving to some sort of 'online learning' for a week, or a couple weeks, or more... (who knows?)

I thought I would share a quick post on Using Google Classroom.  I know that we have a few staff members who already use Google Classroom (Mr. Mitchell is one that immediately comes to mind.

All Elkton Teaching Staff have a Google Account that comes with your K12 account that is provided to you from the K12 Data Center.  That Google Account gives you the opportunity to create and use a Google Classroom.

I have been using Google Classroom with my Computer Applications class for the last several years.  In fact, we use it to do ALL of our assignments.  I like it for a number of reasons, including:

1. It organizes all your assignments...they are right there.  There is no "losing" one, or searching through folders to find an assignment.  The Google Classroom automatically puts the submissions from each into a separate Google Drive folder.  You can access them directly from the Classroom itself...or you can go into your Google Classroom folders on Google Drive.
2. It is accessible online from anywhere.  You don't need to be at school to Grade assignments, you can do it from anywhere with an internet connection.  THIS is also a positive for the students, as they can turn in assignments from anywhere, at any time.
3. YOU can include all kinds of materials to your students via Google Classroom, including papers, notes, worksheets, etc.
4. You can include links to anything you would want the student to do.  You can even do your tests on Google Classroom using "Google Forms".
5. Although there isn't a "video" portion to record yourself... you can include links to videos, including Youtube, but you can also make a brief video of yourself using your computer webcam, and simply upload it to google drive, where you can include a link to it in a post.
6. Audio - you can do similar with Audio files.  Record yourself, either on your computer, or even on your phone, if you like... then upload the file into a Google Drive folder and share it...and anyone with the link can listen to it.

My last 4 Semesters of classes on Google Classroom

Over the past few years, I have had the students do all types of assignments and upload them to the Google Classroom... some of them have been online work, where they have to post the link.  Some of them have been work on Microsoft Office Products where they upload the actual file that they created, and some of them have been Google Products that they created right in the Google Classroom (there is an option that says 'create' when they look at the assignment)
-I even have the students upload Microsoft Publisher files into Google Classroom... there is no Google equivalent for 'Publisher' on the web, but the files are there, and I can access them by downloading them on my computer and opening them in Publisher. (they appear like BLANK files in Google Drive)

A Google Classroom is a very simple and effective way to get information and assignments to students, AND gives them the opportunity to submit things back to you.
-You DO need to have an internet connection to access Google Classroom.

If you have further questions regarding Google Classroom, or would like help setting one up, please let me know. 

State E-mail change

Greetings everyone.

The K-12 Data center is migrating the state's e-mail service to Microsoft's servers.

Basically, all this means is that the webmail will have a little different look, and that the email servers will not be physically located at the K12 Data Center in Madison.

Note:  The K-12 Data Center will still manage the e-mail system.

The new link to access State Webmail is this:  https://outlook.office.com/owa/?realm=k12.sd.us

To log in, use your full e-mail name as your username, such as: mark.harming@k12.sd.us

The "new" e-mail looks something like this.

I recommend saving this link, and putting in your favorites or bookmarks.

If you are an Outlook User... Outlook will probably ask you to restart, and should connect for you.

However, if you have trouble re-connecting with outlook, here are some steps you can follow:

1) From the Control Panel, double-click Mail
2) In the Profiles section, click Show Profiles
3) Select any profiles listed and click the Remove button to remove them
4) Click OK

Then, attempt to set up Outlook again either through the wizard or the Control Panel. 

K12 Websites change

The K12 Data Center will be moving all State Hosted websites to new servers this summer.

I will plan on migrating all our websites (that would include the school site, and the staff sites), next Tuesday, May 26th.

The new servers will no longer support "Front Page Extensions" and will not use Front Page as web development software.

What does this mean for you?
1. You can NOT use Microsoft Front Page 2003 to edit your webpage any more.
2.  To edit your webpage, you will need to use either Sharepoint Designer 2007 or Expression Web 4.

• Both are a free download from Microsoft
• Sharepoint Designer 2007
• Expression Web 4

3. Once you install them, you can open your website by following the directions on this FAQ from the K12 Data Center Members Site:  FAQ 187 Open Web Site Using Sharepoint Designer 2007
(you will need to know your K12 Credentials to log into the Members site)

Will this affect your webpage?
Not much... there are only a few features that will be affected in the migration.
Those will include: (This is copied from FAQ 1316)

If your website included these FrontPage features, you can expect the following after your site is migrated:

• FrontPage counters
  • These counters will break. They can be replaced with an alternative (e.g. StatCounter).
• FrontPage forms
  • These forms will no longer work. Any form that you would like to continue using will need to be replaced with an ASP.NET form.
• FrontPage discussion boards
  • Users will still be able to view the discussion boards but will be unable to post new content.
• FrontPage page includes
  • Changes to the included page will no longer update across the connected pages. Future edits will need to be made on each individual page.

So... In Conclusion... If you use Microsoft Frontpage for Webpage editing... you will need to install either Sharepoint Designer 2007 or Expression Web 4, for editing your webpage.