The EdTech Connection

There are certain times of the year where it seems like everywhere you turn, someone is telling you about the new website or app that they just love and can't live without in the classroom!

Well, before you dive in and start asking students to use it, don't forget to check it out on Education Framework. What's that, you ask? Education Framework is a tool used by Forsyth County Schools to help educators quickly and easily check to see if signed parent permission is needed before students use a new tool, app, or website. Check out the tutorial below!

This year, only a small handful of teachers are actively using Canvas with their students, but everyone in the district can see all of their classes in Canvas. As I start coming around to your school, you'll learn more about the differences between itslearning and Canvas, but one of the major differences is how you are able to organize content. Because of this, you may find it helpful to have more than one sandbox to play in, one for each of the classes you teach.

If you've already started exploring on your own, are maybe in the Growing with Canvas course early, and now find yourself wishing you had more places to play, HERE are the instructions you can follow to cross-list your courses. Since you won't be using these classes with students, (they can't see them anyway, unless they happen to also be in a Pilot Teacher's class), just leave them unpublished.

Have you ever wanted a detailed look at what has been done to or with a Google File, but don't feel like opening it up to see the Version History? It doesn't take a ton of time, but if you're trying to see that detail for lots of files, it can add up.

Here's a quick tip: in your Drive, click on the first file (don't open it). Then press the "I" on your keyboard. It will open the Activity Panel and you'll be able to see when someone edited the item, changed sharing permissions, etc. Especially helpful when a student tries to say that they spent hours on an assignment and "everything just disappeared."