https://blogs.4j.lane.edu/hadleyherald/2024/08/27/back-to-school-2024/
Back-To-School 2024/2025
Contents:
- Canvas Course Population Info and New Accounts
- Canvas Training Course (Instructional Tech Hub)
- Updates
- Help!
- Course Templates
- Key Tasks
- Cross-Listing
- Synergy Grade Sync
- Importing Content
- Parent/Guardian User Update
Welcome Back Everyone!
I hope you all were able to rest and rejuvenate a bit over the summer. Canvas has quite a few new features this year, and new features are coming up later this fall and winter! I’m excited to get to share them all with you as well as some new AI items, Google News, and other digital platform and curricula integrations.
Canvas Course Population and New Accounts
Please note that course population and new Canvas account population is dependent upon course schedules pushing from Synergy, for that timeline, please reach out to your building Registrar. Once they are released from Synergy, they are picked up in the overnight sync. If after the overnight sync, you do not have your course in Canvas, please file a ticket here.
Canvas Training Course (The Instructional Tech Hub)
I have worked hard over the summer to ensure that most resources needed are available in the Instructional Tech Hub in Canvas. This is your one-stop-shop for all things Canvas-related. For most of our educators, the Mid/High Classroom Teacher option will have the majority of items needed to get started in Canvas as well as advanced topics. If the Hub is not on your dashboard when you log in to Canvas, you can follow this link: https://4j.instructure.com/enroll/XTTX9Y and it will auto-enroll you.
New Topics include:
– Canvas Browser Extension
– AI Tools
– and More!
How do I get Help??
You can always email 4jdesktop@4j.lane.edu and your ticket will be created automatically and routed to the correct department. This can take time though. For direct Canvas help you can visit this link to file a ticket. Additionally, you can book time with me via: https://calendar.app.google/HmscdCarvUywFgWC8
Canvas Course Templates
In an attempt to better support our DLI programs, I have managed to create templates with differentiated languages. Please note that the naming convention- 4J S1 A/B English (Spanish, French, etc) Template, indicates the language of the template itself. Also, note that many of these translations were done with the assistance of AI/Online Translation, and would be good to have an additional eye before publishing. You can find all these templates and more in the Commons link (lower-left hand side of Canvas). They can then be imported directly to your courses or to your sandbox courses. (Remember a sandbox course is a practice course you can create any time by clicking Start a New Course, on the right side of your Dashboard.)
Key Tasks
Be sure that the first thing you do before creating templates, importing materials, creating materials, etc is Cross-listing. Cross-listing is the combination of preps (similar classes) into one localized course. This will save you time from needing to create and copy materials.
If you are interested in syncing your grades to Synergy, our SIS, you can do so by following the directions here.
You can import content from course to course a few different ways, for more info on how to do this see here.
Lastly you’ll need to Publish your course by going to the Home page, and selecting Publish in the upper-right corner. This will allow the course to be visible to students and parents.
For a full walkthrough of a course setup see here.
Canvas Parents and Observers
This summer we were able to auto-enroll (no more pairing codes) all of our parent and guardian users as Observers in Canvas. This will allow all parent users from Synergy (with an active email on file).
All parent users (past and new) must claim their new account by going to our Parent user login page and selecting Forgot Password and entering their email on file with the school. If they need to update their email, they can do so by contacting the school directly.
Use your LightSpeed Microphone in your classroom today! Easy as a one-push button!
Lightspeed training resources and FAQ
Lightspeed Instructional Audio training & troubleshooting videos
Lightspeed Video library on YouTube