• Reminder: New Schoology User Interface
• Reminder: Update your Test/Quiz in Schoology before July 1st
• PowerSchool, Schoology and Curriculum Dates
• TK-6 Report Card Refresher
• PowerTeacher Pro 7-12 Final Grade Processes
• Schoology EOY
  
• Schoology Summer Setups
• New to Schoology for Teachers: Lesson Planner
• Esports Tournament Review
• Digital Learning Academies for 24/25
  
• Upcoming EdTech PD in June
• Assessment & Evaluation News
• MCS Course & Grade Roadmap Website

July 1st Schoology is updating its image and with that comes some new icons and graphics. The top toolbar will get a modern update and icons in the course will have a new refreshed look. You will now be able to easily “Import from Resources” or “Find Resources” directly using your “Add Materials” button.

👇Updated Toolbar

👇Updated Icons

👇Preview of Schoology Course with the New Schoology User Interface

As it is shared above, this summer, Schoology is getting a makeover! One change we want to be ready for is the sunsetting of the Test/Quiz feature. Schoology has been hinting for years that this feature will be removed in favor of the Assessments tool. And, that time is finally upon us.

But, fear not! All of your existing content will stay, and you keep using it. You just won't be able to make new content. Check out the video below for some tips on how to manage this change.

Too long, didn't watch? Here's the key highlights:

• Over the summer, the Test/Quiz feature will be removed
• You will be able to keep using Test/Quizzes you already made
• You can convert your Test/Quizzes to Assessments
• You cannot make new Test/Quizzes after the update
• Test/Quiz and Assessment will have the same new icon, so labelling will be key

The new Schoology UI and Test/Quiz Material changes won't affect your ability to import Blackboard Files to Schoology. You can still import Examview and Word Document quizzes by following the steps shown in this video:

Ending School Year 2023-24

• 6/30/24 - K-6: T3/T4 Courses will archive on June 30 at midnight
• 6/30/24 - 7-12: S2/Q4 and S3 Courses will archive on June 30 at midnight
• 6/30/24 - K-6 and 7-12 Courses have been extended for term in Schoology to archive at the end of the day on 6/30/24 due to being active for intersession and remediation opportunities.

Back to School 2024-25

• Ongoing - Digital Curriculum will still stay available for Teachers to see the course materials if you were already teaching using the curriculum at the end of 2023-24 school year
• 7/15/24 - ISTA available for 7-12 students to begin to take for 2024-25 school year
• 7/30/24 - Teachers: PowerSchool and Schoology setup available for 2024-25 school year
• 7/31/24 - most adopted Digital Curriculum will be available for Teachers others such as: McGraw Hill, SWUN, and VHL - Vista Higher Learning will be available on 8/5/24 after 4pm
• 8/12/24 - Students and Parents/Guardians setup in PowerSchool and Schoology after 4pm available for 2024-25 school year
• 8/12/24 - adopted Digital Curriculum will be rostered with Students
• 8/13/24 - adopted Digital Curriculum will be available for Students

Use these resources below to enter your TK-6 Standards Based Final Grades in PowerTeacher Pro:

Use the resources below to enter your 7-12 Final Grades in PowerTeacher Pro:

It's that time of the year again! Summer is calling. But, before you go, take a few minutes to wrap up things in your Schoology courses and set yourself up for success next year! Check out the resources below:

VIDEO: End of the School Year - Teacher Schoology End of the Year Tips

Video Covers: Part 1: Save Course to Resources; Part 2: Save items in your Courses; and Part 3: Using Archived Courses

GUIDE: Schoology End of the School Year Checklist for Instructors

• Archived Courses
• Final Grades
• Saving and Sharing Courses
• Saving Rubrics

That time of year is fast approaching - Summer Break! And while that may mean beaches and sunburns, it also means the start of summer school and summer work. If you are interested in creating a course for Summer School or assigning summer work, check out the video below!

Please note that Summer courses are not auto-rostered. Teachers must manually create summer work courses and there is no access to digital curriculum for students, i.e. StudySync.

Here are some other resources to support getting summer school up and going:

• VIDEO: Teachers How to Create Schoology Course for Summer
• VIDEO: Teachers How to Add Students to Created Schoology Course via Email
• VIDEO: Students How to Join a Created Schoology Course

Teachers can access the Lesson Planner tool from the left side menu in any Schoology course. This tool is a free addition to Schoology, as the company has purchased and integrated Chalk Gold and Planboard under the name "Lesson Planner." Lesson Planner is available now in Schoology.

Lesson Planner in Schoology Provides:

• A customizable digital planner that can be accessed directly from Schoology Courses
• The ability to reuse content from one year to another and shift lessons throughout the week when unexpected events occur
  
• Access to standards that can be aligned directly into lessons allows teachers the ability to track how often those standards are being taught
• Teachers only have access to their Lesson Plans and can choose to share them with other colleagues or substitute teachers

Check out this Lesson Planner Presentation here for how to get started!

More training on Lesson Planner coming soon to the PD Catlog for 24/25 school year.

We’re thrilled to celebrate our teams' remarkable achievements at the CCEL Championship Tournaments and the first MCS Junior High Esports Tournament on May 11th! 🖥🎮

🎮 At the Central California Esports League (CCEL) Championships in Stockton:

• Beyer Esports won the Valorant championship, expertly coached by Amado Corrales, beating 20 other high schools in Northern California with their exceptional skill and teamwork.
• The Downey Rocket League team made it to the finals, defeating 11 schools with fierce gameplay. Despite narrowly missing the title to Lincoln High, their determination and spirit made us immensely proud.

🚀 At the Jr. High Tournament at Gregori High School:

• Mark Twain Esports claimed the inaugural MCS Junior High Rocket League Championship, led by Coach Paul Gorman. They triumphed over La Loma, Hanshaw, and Tuolumne in a thrilling tournament.

🌟 A huge round of applause to all our teams, players, and coaches for these monumental achievements. Your commitment and victories have made our district proud. The future of Esports at MCS looks brighter than ever! 🌟

We are excited to offer two different options for teachers to join Digital Learning Academies. Check out the flyers below for more details on MCS Ed Tech Explorers Leveraging AI with Schoology and Rock the Classroom & Cybersafety Mission

Check out the flyer below for this Digital Learning Academy

Fill out this interest form to join MCS Ed Tech Explorers Leveraging AI with Schoology!

Only 15 spots in Fall and 15 spots in Spring Cohorts

Check out the flyer below for this Digital Learning Academy

Fill out this interest form to join this mission!

Only 20 spots available.

Join us for a transformative workshop that will reshape the way you approach grading and unlock the true potential of your students. In this engaging one-hour training, you'll dive into the world of Standards-Based Grading (SBG), an innovative approach that puts student learning at the forefront.

Discover how SBG empowers you to provide accurate, bias-resistant, and motivational feedback that truly reflects your students' mastery of academic standards.

Preview how SBG is supported in our PowerSchool and Schoology platforms. If interested in SBG grading, you will be able to sign up for our pilots running 24/25 school year for S1 and S2.

Participants will:

• Learn about Standards-Based Grading (SBG) and how it is supported in our PowerSchool and Schoology platforms
• Option to sign up for piloting SBG in 24/25 school year for S1 and/or S2

Wed June 5th 9:00am-10:00am in Microsoft Teams

Wed June 12th 9:00am-10:00am in Microsoft Teams

Tues June 18th 9:00am-10:00am in Microsoft Teams

Schoology is a learning management system (LMS) that has all the tools your institution needs to create engaging content, design lessons, and assess student understanding. 7-12 Grade Educators will review the Semester setups for course and gradebook sync. What this course covers: -Grade Sync Reminders -Archiving or Saving Work -Managing Resources -Creating Courses for Summer Work -Q&A

Tues June 4th 9:00am-10:00am in Microsoft Teams

Padlet is an online collaborative interactive multimedia bulletin board you can create for a variety of purposes. Padlet is a great place for gathering ideas, sharing them, and modifying them later. Users can add links, YouTube videos, files, and images to Padlet notes. They can move and arrange them. A link to a Padlet can be shared. In this session, you will learn how to use this web app that lets users post notes on a digital wall. The uses for this site in the classroom are virtually endless!

Thurs June 13th 9:00am-10:00am in Microsoft Teams

Participants will learn about Office 365 and cloud storage. Participants will sign into their Office 365 accounts to learn about the online versions of the Office apps. Participants will also sign into OneDrive to see their files and learn how cloud collaboration works.

Thurs June 13th 5:00pm-6:00pm -IN PERSON CIPD Rm 10

Thurs June 20th 5:00pm-6:00pm -IN PERSON CIPD Rm 10

Nearpod’s 21st Century Readiness Program provides a single solution to embed 21st century learning

into everyday instruction. Featuring ready-to-teach lessons, videos, and activities for digital citizenship,

social-emotional learning, college & career readiness, and financial literacy.

Mon June 17th 9:00am-10:00am in Zoom

Discover the power of the new report feature in Performance Matters! Dive deep into your students' progress and growth throughout the entire year. This tool isn't just for numbers; it's your secret weapon for identifying students who may benefit from extra resources or one-on-one support to enhance their skills. Plus, it's the perfect way to seamlessly transition students to their next grade level, ensuring their success continues to soar.

Unlock the gateway to your CAASPP scores and delve into student results on CERS. It's all at your fingertips!

Discover a treasure trove of educational riches at your fingertips! Dive into our digital realm, your sanctuary for all things classroom. Unearth standards, chart your course with pacing guides, and navigate curriculum maps seamlessly. Explore our website oasis; journey awaits in your app portal!

Bits and Bytes published six times a year: August 1st (Back to School Edition), October 17th (Fall Edition), Special Edition December Semester Change 7-12, January 17th (Winter Edition), March 26th (Spring Edition), and May 22nd (Summer Edition), Archived Issues