Discussion posts can engage a wider variety of students than in-person, time-driven discussions. The deep thinker, the shy student, the serial responder can all use a discussion post to further engage with your course content – if you correctly set one up. Consider the following tips and use the resources referenced to add a new depth to your Canvas courses.
Discussion Posts benefit from specific guidelines to assure successful participation by students. Provide a link to your Discussion Post Guidelines for every class Discussion Post. The bottom of the RCE is ideal for this or a similar notice:
Of course, that means you need to create a page to link to which contains your Discussion Guidelines – and that you have Discussion Guidelines. Both are easy to accomplish. Discussion Guidelines help students meet instructor expectations and allow the instructor to thoughtfully craft a discussion. Consider the two versions in Commons: Search Discussion Guidelines in Hall County Commons.
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Consider importing the Sample Discussion Post from the Hall County Canvas Commons to customize. Link your Discussion Guidelines and then duplicate for multiple modules:
Graded discussions do not count toward user storage quotas. Also remember that grading can be as simple as complete/incomplete. However, if you want to be more precise – and take advantage of the awesome Speedgrader – consider adding a rubric to your discussion.
Consult the Canvas Guides on Discussions for more specific information.
As Skype for Business is being replaced with Microsoft Teams, we offer training to get you started.
Teachers may be interested in more self-paced Canvas learning management system (LMS) training before August. Share these resources with them while the time is right to learn at a more leisurely pace.
2020 is our 5th year of Blended Learning June offerings, we are excited to offer Hall County teachers access to professional learning around the most effective tools to use in a blended learning setting. Online offerings open for enrollment May 22nd.
All eLearning sessions are online this year.
Some sessions have a synchronous component, please check your calendars in advance of signing up.
As always eLearning keeps a waiting list and strives to fill any vacancies which arise, so please consider signing up for the waitlist if you were not able to get into your favorite offering.
*teachers are not eligible to participate in certifications if they already hold that certification.
Visit Catalog when signed into Canvas to sign up for these courses and more!
Microsoft has a powerful tool that is making it’s way into a platform you may already be using. It is called Immersive Reader and it is freely available in some very popular places. FlipGrid, Canvas, Sway, and Nearpod are examples of Hall County purchases where you can already use the Immersive Reader. Watch future developments at the Immersive Reader blog from Microsoft.
Students can be taught to use this tool for themselves to regulate the support levels they need.
Take this interactive tour of how your students can use this powerful tool in Office 360, Word.
View this video to learn more:
How does Immersive Reader work in Canvas LMS? Pretty well it turns out.
A webinar is a web-based seminar. Since the term was introduced early to the mainstream it is sometimes used to describe any online meeting. Precisely, you could attend a webinar and receive a lecture-type experience, host a webinar and be in charge of delivering information via an online lecture platform, or attend on online meeting and be expected to interact with the host and other participants. Often the term webinar means different things to different people, so it is always good to start with a clarification of your role in any online meeting or webinar beforehand.
Web-based platforms host webinars. Some have different features and benefits from others, but the basics are:
VIDEO, the host shares his/her image and it is polite of you to share your image as well. The exception would be if where you are would be either distracting or has people in the background who should not be on camera (minors).
Participants need a laptop/computer to view the audio portion of a webinar. Participants need a camera to share in the video portion of a webinar.
AUDIO, the host always shares his/her audio. In some settings, your audio may not be turned on at all, or it may default to muted and you may turn it on when you need to speak, or it may default to on. It is courteous to KNOW if your audio is on or muted and to mute accordingly. Unless you are speaking to other participants in the webinar you should be muted.
Participants need earbuds, headphones, etc. to participate in the audio portion of a webinar.
Two popular webinar PLATFORMS in Hall County now are Zoom and Microsoft TEAMS.
The host must set up the webinar within the platform in advance if the audience os unknown or other preparations need to take place in advance (guest speaker). Invitations are often emailed but can be messaged via platforms such as Microsoft Teams.
Visually inspect and test any large displays projecting the webinar and have audio devices ready and tested for large audiences watching one display.
Remind participants if they are viewing individually on their laptop to update their devices, know the time and location of the event, and have the proper audio/visual equipment needed to successfully participate.
All hosts should meet in the webinar platform right before the webinar to test everyone’s access and equipment. Pass the hosting back and forth as a test for the actual webinar.
If you are a participant to a webinar allow yourself plenty of time to be settled in front of your display in advance of the start of the webinar. Know the date, time, and duration of the webinar in advance for your planning. Log in a few minutes early in case there is an update to the platform you need to perform.
Some webinars default participants to audio and or video off. It is polite to turn on your video once the webinar starts and keep your audio muted unless you are speaking.
If your audio is off, look for
other opportunities to participate with the host and other participants. Often there is a chat feature in these platforms; note if the chat message goes to everybody or can go to just certain participants/the host.
The opportunities for webinars is expansive; look for webinars from professional organizations and educational vendors. Happy Webinar-ing!
