Increase the Quality of Discussion Posts

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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 Post Guidelines

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.

Sample Discussions

Consider importing the Sample Discussion Post from the Hall County Canvas Commons to customize. Link your Discussion Guidelines and then duplicate for multiple modules:

To Grade or Not to Grade?

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.

 

 

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Two Fresh Resources for Canvas Training

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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.

Teachers with some Canvas Training:

  1. Use this Canvas Field Guide registration link to create your Canvas Network Account using your HallCo email address. Use the Join code below to enroll in the Canvas Field Guide course.  What is the Canvas Network?
    The Join code is: ****** (see your BLaST leader for the code)
  2. Once, registered, click HERE to access the Canvas Field Guide Course.


Teachers new to HallCo/Canvas:

  1. Access the Help>Training Services Portal. If you are new to this, find a Canvas Guide HERE.
  2. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Under Learning Library complete the learning pathway “K12 First Day Ready.” A series of four badges will be generated for the participant. One certificate will be generated upon completion and could be collected by the school.

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2020 Summer Courses

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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!

 

 

 

 

 

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Immersive Reader

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Microsoft’s Immersive Reader

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.

 

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Creating on Chromebooks

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We were fortunate to host Brian Buffington, Director of Instructional Technology at Pioneer RESA.
Brian joined us October 16th & 18th at the Hall County Instructional Support Center to work with us on Creating with Chromebooks.

Brian shared a Google Doc with the group which contained our agenda:

 

 

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