Digital Learning Q&A Emails
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Q. When I click the "Skyward - teachers" link in Classlink, I get the login screen that says "Welcome to Employee Access". Is that what I should be getting?
A: Yes, there are 2 Skyward links. "teachers" takes you to payroll and time off information. "students" takes you to the student side where you can take attendance and enter grades.
Q. Do Edpuzzle videos created from YouTube videos need to be approved for students to view?
A: Yes. We have separate teacher and student Google domains. The student domain YouTube access is WAY restricted. Please email me the URL link to any YouTube video (or YouTube video that you plan to insert into Edpuzzle) that you plan to assign to students. I will approve them within 24 hours.
Q: I was experimenting with Edpuzzle today, and when I go to import classes from Google Classroom, it gives me the screen below. Which applies to CISD?
A: The screen asks you to choose Yes or No. Choose "yes" because we added the Edpuzzle Parental Consent to the Student Handbooks for students under 13. (REMEMBER: Don't try to import Google Classrooms into Edpuzzle yet because ClassLink is creating your GCs this year.)
Q: Will students have the same passwords that they had last year?
A: No. After 4 years, we are resetting the student passwords. They will have a new 5 character word and 3 digit number to MEMORIZE. The memorization of both their password and 6-digit student ID number will be a day 1 "must do" for everyone. (students with a phone can enter the information in their notes/notepad/password keeper, but we must make sure they have this information stored somewhere.)
Q: I don't think my classlink is working, or maybe I am going to the wrong site. It asked me for a code. Should I have a code?
A: Make sure you are browsing to my.classlink.com/commerce. Sounds like you might be going to the main ClassLink page and not the Commerce dashboard. :)
Q: I can't login to ClassLink
A: 99% of the issues come from using the wrong login name. Double-check that you are logging in with just first name.last name (not full email). Then type your network login slowly making sure you're not mistyping it. (It was the email that got you, wasn't it?!)
Q: My new teachers said they do not have access to many things on our Classlink. Should they already have access to everything?
A: No, ClassLink syncs with Skyward and it's still pulling 2019-20 data. When everything seems to be pulling the 2020-21 school year correctly, I will send out an "all call" for teachers to login and double-check their links.
Q: What if the YouTube video is already in Edpuzzle's Content?
A: If you use an existing created Edpuzzle, please send me that Edpuzzle link and I can get the link to the video to approve with no issues.
Q: If a video was approved last year, does it stay that way? Or does that filter reset every year?
A: Yes, it stays. I hope for us to build the repository of videos with less and less approvals each year.
Q: Is there going to be a training/refresher available for GoGuardian?
A: Yes, I have something planned and I will get it created and emailed out ASAP.
Q: Can we create a QR for our students to access ClassLink?
A: We plan to configure the Chromebooks to auto-launch ClassLink after logging in to the device. (yay!)
Q: For the DLC, I promise that I completed both the Level 1 Certification and the Google Classroom Certification. However, I can't get back to my PDF certificate to upload to Classroom. What do I need to do?
A: In Edpuzzle, take a screenshot of the completed modules with your grades showing. This will be sufficient for my needs! I just need proof that you completed it.
Q: Help! I can't access TExGuide. I could a few days ago.
A: Our subscription lapsed. Unfortunately the employee who is in charge of this at Region 13 is out of the office until Tuesday. There is another person trying to help, but said that it could be Tuesday before we get our access turned back on.
Q: I need access to Stemscopes. Can you help me?
A: Yes, I am going to work more on curriculum support resources next week. Setting up and checking access to Stemscopes, HMH, MHE, and Pearson is on my grand-master list.
Q: Did you say that ClassLink will create our Google Classrooms for us? When will that happen?
A: Yes. I have a call with ClassLink to set this up on Friday afternoon. If you are the teacher of record for the course, ClassLink will roster your students for you. From there, you can add co-teachers if needed. When it is set up, I will send an email to the district to let you know. The goal is to have this done by Monday, August 10th.
Q: Do I have to send YouTube links to my own recorded/created videos for you to approve for students?
A: Yes, to be sure that students can access them. However, if you send me the main link to your YouTube Channel, I can approve the channel and all videos you post in the future will be covered.
Q: I was looking through YouTube videos this morning, and noticed that it says the Channel is approved for Commerce. Does that make it unnecessary to approve each video individually?
A: You are looking at the commerceisd.org YouTube domain. All appropriate content on YouTube is open for teachers. Videos assigned to students are blocked on the cisdtigers.org side. This is why I have to approve them for student viewing.
Q: Are we supposed to monitor GoGuardian only while our students are physically in our classrooms? (from a secondary teacher)
A: In the regular classroom environment, yes, you only need to monitor when your students are physically in the classroom. Please set your classrooms to record during the week day from bell to bell. However, if you would like to use GoGuardian to prove the 4 hour engagement while they are at home, you can set the program to record all day.
Q: Who approves a website from being blocked? I have a subscription to a website that is blocked.
A: When you get this screen (see image below) first make sure that your name is listed and not "anonymous." This proves to the filter that you are a staff member. If anonymous, login using your network credentials. If your name is listed and it is still blocked, click on the "Submit for Review" button. Then browse to Eduphoria: Helpdesk and choose "Internet Filter" and "Open a Site." You will need the URL of the site needed and the educational reason why you need it opened either for staff and/or students.
Q. When I click the "Skyward - teachers" link in Classlink, I get the login screen that says "Welcome to Employee Access". Is that what I should be getting?
A: Yes, there are 2 Skyward links. "teachers" takes you to payroll and time off information. "students" takes you to the student side where you can take attendance and enter grades.
Q. Do Edpuzzle videos created from YouTube videos need to be approved for students to view?
A: Yes. We have separate teacher and student Google domains. The student domain YouTube access is WAY restricted. Please email me the URL link to any YouTube video (or YouTube video that you plan to insert into Edpuzzle) that you plan to assign to students. I will approve them within 24 hours.
Q: I was experimenting with Edpuzzle today, and when I go to import classes from Google Classroom, it gives me the screen below. Which applies to CISD?
A: The screen asks you to choose Yes or No. Choose "yes" because we added the Edpuzzle Parental Consent to the Student Handbooks for students under 13. (REMEMBER: Don't try to import Google Classrooms into Edpuzzle yet because ClassLink is creating your GCs this year.)
Q: Will students have the same passwords that they had last year?
A: No. After 4 years, we are resetting the student passwords. They will have a new 5 character word and 3 digit number to MEMORIZE. The memorization of both their password and 6-digit student ID number will be a day 1 "must do" for everyone. (students with a phone can enter the information in their notes/notepad/password keeper, but we must make sure they have this information stored somewhere.)
Q: I don't think my classlink is working, or maybe I am going to the wrong site. It asked me for a code. Should I have a code?
A: Make sure you are browsing to my.classlink.com/commerce. Sounds like you might be going to the main ClassLink page and not the Commerce dashboard. :)
Q: I can't login to ClassLink
A: 99% of the issues come from using the wrong login name. Double-check that you are logging in with just first name.last name (not full email). Then type your network login slowly making sure you're not mistyping it. (It was the email that got you, wasn't it?!)
Q: My new teachers said they do not have access to many things on our Classlink. Should they already have access to everything?
A: No, ClassLink syncs with Skyward and it's still pulling 2019-20 data. When everything seems to be pulling the 2020-21 school year correctly, I will send out an "all call" for teachers to login and double-check their links.
Q: What if the YouTube video is already in Edpuzzle's Content?
A: If you use an existing created Edpuzzle, please send me that Edpuzzle link and I can get the link to the video to approve with no issues.
Q: If a video was approved last year, does it stay that way? Or does that filter reset every year?
A: Yes, it stays. I hope for us to build the repository of videos with less and less approvals each year.
Q: Is there going to be a training/refresher available for GoGuardian?
A: Yes, I have something planned and I will get it created and emailed out ASAP.
Q: Can we create a QR for our students to access ClassLink?
A: We plan to configure the Chromebooks to auto-launch ClassLink after logging in to the device. (yay!)
Q: For the DLC, I promise that I completed both the Level 1 Certification and the Google Classroom Certification. However, I can't get back to my PDF certificate to upload to Classroom. What do I need to do?
A: In Edpuzzle, take a screenshot of the completed modules with your grades showing. This will be sufficient for my needs! I just need proof that you completed it.
Q: Help! I can't access TExGuide. I could a few days ago.
A: Our subscription lapsed. Unfortunately the employee who is in charge of this at Region 13 is out of the office until Tuesday. There is another person trying to help, but said that it could be Tuesday before we get our access turned back on.
Q: I need access to Stemscopes. Can you help me?
A: Yes, I am going to work more on curriculum support resources next week. Setting up and checking access to Stemscopes, HMH, MHE, and Pearson is on my grand-master list.
Q: Did you say that ClassLink will create our Google Classrooms for us? When will that happen?
A: Yes. I have a call with ClassLink to set this up on Friday afternoon. If you are the teacher of record for the course, ClassLink will roster your students for you. From there, you can add co-teachers if needed. When it is set up, I will send an email to the district to let you know. The goal is to have this done by Monday, August 10th.
Q: Do I have to send YouTube links to my own recorded/created videos for you to approve for students?
A: Yes, to be sure that students can access them. However, if you send me the main link to your YouTube Channel, I can approve the channel and all videos you post in the future will be covered.
Q: I was looking through YouTube videos this morning, and noticed that it says the Channel is approved for Commerce. Does that make it unnecessary to approve each video individually?
A: You are looking at the commerceisd.org YouTube domain. All appropriate content on YouTube is open for teachers. Videos assigned to students are blocked on the cisdtigers.org side. This is why I have to approve them for student viewing.
Q: Are we supposed to monitor GoGuardian only while our students are physically in our classrooms? (from a secondary teacher)
A: In the regular classroom environment, yes, you only need to monitor when your students are physically in the classroom. Please set your classrooms to record during the week day from bell to bell. However, if you would like to use GoGuardian to prove the 4 hour engagement while they are at home, you can set the program to record all day.
Q: Who approves a website from being blocked? I have a subscription to a website that is blocked.
A: When you get this screen (see image below) first make sure that your name is listed and not "anonymous." This proves to the filter that you are a staff member. If anonymous, login using your network credentials. If your name is listed and it is still blocked, click on the "Submit for Review" button. Then browse to Eduphoria: Helpdesk and choose "Internet Filter" and "Open a Site." You will need the URL of the site needed and the educational reason why you need it opened either for staff and/or students.
Q: When will students receive Chromebooks? I am getting conflicting information.
A: Beginning on Tuesday, students may bring their completed forms to their campus on their in-person day to check out a Chromebook. Students who were able to print/pick up a form early will get theirs checked out to them on Tuesday and Wednesday and those who picked up a form on their first in-person class day will get their Chromebooks on their next in-person day. We will not check out a Chromebook to a student without the signed permission slip. At-Home (Asynchronous) students (or parents/guardians) can come and check out their Chromebook on Tuesday.
Parent Q: Hi. We have a laptop at home that our kids can use, but we do not want to send it to school with them. Can they check out a laptop while at school and then use the home laptop at home? And are the high school kids just going to be working in google classroom on the 2 days they actually go to school or will the teacher be teaching like it’s a normal class?
My A: Students are more than welcome to use their home laptop to do their homework (or complete work on home days during the hybrid model) but they still must bring the school Chromebook home with them each day to charge it. We have removed all of the chargers from our charging carts to send home with students so there will be nowhere for them to store the devices and charge them overnight. The high school students (and actually everyone 3rd-12th) will be working in Google Classroom all 4 days. The content that is covered in class will be mirrored in the Google Classroom.
Parent Q: Is it necessary for {student} to take the laptop to school from home she will be using to do her homework since the teachers can already see assignments done on non in person days.
My A: Yes, laptops are needed for in person and at home days. The work being done at home will mirror the work being done in class and it will eventually all be computer-based to keep the lectures and assignments equitable.No question, just an awesome answer!
A: I love teacher-created tutorials. Check out our own Matt Brewer (CHS History) as he shows you how to use the Forethought lesson planner! Forethought (Lesson Plans) - Watch Video
Q: Do we always use Edpuzzle? Can we assign videos in Google Classroom and use Edpuzzle if we need to add videos only with the questions?
A: Edpuzzle allows you to see that the students watched the video even if you didn't ask questions. Otherwise, if you assign a video in Google Classroom, you have no analytics telling you who watched it and received the lesson. I recommend that you use it!
Q: Do I need to send a video to you for approval that I had approved in the spring?
A: No, we are going to build a repository of videos from year to year. Anything approved in the spring "sticks." Hopefully each year we will have less and less to approve. :) Send me your YouTube channel link though...I can approve that which will take care of your uploaded videos in one click!
Q: Do videos that are embedded in websites have to be approved in YouTube for student viewing?
A: If the video is truly embedded, then no. If you see a YouTube watermark in the lower right corner of the video, click that to take you to the source YouTube video and send me THAT link.
Q: Do you know when TExGuide will be back up?
A: It's back up NOW! Happy planning! (Thanks Sheila DeMidio for your work in getting this resource going!)
Q: Can you put the Q&A in one place so we can do a keyword search?
A: Of course! I will try to add them to my website tonight and share the link tomorrow.
Q: Do I need to print my Digital Learning Connections certificate? Eduphoria wants me to but it won't print.
A: I haven't completed the course yet because I am still grading. You have been awarded credit but others have not. I should get it closed out tomorrow. However, there is no need to print a certificate unless you want it for your paper records.
Q: How does Edpuzzle assign work in Google Classroom?
A: When you assign something from Edpuzzle to an imported Google Classroom class, it puts an announcement in the stream and puts the assignment in Classwork. HOWEVER, if you delete the assignment from the Edpuzzle side, it does NOT delete it from Google Classroom. It does add "(Inactive)" to the title, but it stays there until you manually delete it.
Q: If a YouTube video is already on EDpuzzle by someone else will it already be approved?
A: No, probably not in our domain unless it was created by another staff member and sent to me for approval. Unfortunately, the videos don't go to an Edpuzzle YouTube channel. The video is still linked to the original video creator.
These are the YouTube Channels that I have already approved:
Khan Academy
Discovery Education
Crash Course
TedEd
Amoeba Sisters
Jack Hartmann Music Channel
Read Aloud Kids Book Time
Common Sense Education
AsapSCIENCE
EdTech Cafe
Centers for Disease Control
Toadstools and Fairy Dust
StorylineOnline
PV Storytime
Q: Is there a grand master calendar for the district?
A: Yes, it is called "District Master" and you should have view rights to it in your Google Calendar. (and you should have received an automated email from Google with access) Principals, some head coaches, and directors have edit access to update it.
https://calendar.google.com/calendar/embed?src=commerceisd.org_q4k1j1t5ahpsvm6eo22sb15s4k%40group.calendar.google.com&ctz=America%2FChicago
Q: I don't have a username or password for Implementing TEKS Resource System. Can I get that?
A: The spreadsheet of new teachers' names were sent to Region 10 for upload. You should receive an email from Region 10 about your account when it is created. (Thanks Cari Sturch for leading the implementation of this resource!)
Q: When will students receive Chromebooks? I am getting conflicting information.
A: Beginning on Tuesday, students may bring their completed forms to their campus on their in-person day to check out a Chromebook. Students who were able to print/pick up a form early will get theirs checked out to them on Tuesday and Wednesday and those who picked up a form on their first in-person class day will get their Chromebooks on their next in-person day. We will not check out a Chromebook to a student without the signed permission slip. At-Home (Asynchronous) students (or parents/guardians) can come and check out their Chromebook on Tuesday.
Parent Q: Hi. We have a laptop at home that our kids can use, but we do not want to send it to school with them. Can they check out a laptop while at school and then use the home laptop at home? And are the high school kids just going to be working in google classroom on the 2 days they actually go to school or will the teacher be teaching like it’s a normal class?
My A: Students are more than welcome to use their home laptop to do their homework (or complete work on home days during the hybrid model) but they still must bring the school Chromebook home with them each day to charge it. We have removed all of the chargers from our charging carts to send home with students so there will be nowhere for them to store the devices and charge them overnight. The high school students (and actually everyone 3rd-12th) will be working in Google Classroom all 4 days. The content that is covered in class will be mirrored in the Google Classroom.
Parent Q: Is it necessary for {student} to take the laptop to school from home she will be using to do her homework since the teachers can already see assignments done on non in person days.
My A: Yes, laptops are needed for in person and at home days. The work being done at home will mirror the work being done in class and it will eventually all be computer-based to keep the lectures and assignments equitable.
Q: How do I add apps for students to use in ClassLink?
A: If you are going to use specific apps in specific classes, you can assign apps in the Backpack. ClassLink has over 6,000 apps (which are weblinks). I can also add Commerce ISD-specific apps to the Teacher or Student App library as suggestions to help narrow down the options. Just let me know what you need!
Q: Do I have to use the Google Classrooms that ClassLink populated for me or can I create my own? I don't want to lose the assignment/grade connection with Skyward.
A1: You can use your own if you want to. I know that some secondary classes are broken out by grade level and each class is a Classroom. Just know that if you create your own then Skyward won't keep them current for you.
A2: The connection with Skyward isn't a two-way street. ClassLink "dumps" the daily schedule changes into Google Classroom. When you create an assignment into Google Classroom and grade it, the grades DO NOT populate back to Skyward. (But wouldn't that be AWESOME?! I'm going to suggest that functionality be added!)
Q: What do I do if it says I can’t add a student in my Google Classroom?
A: Because the classes are auto-rostered, it will pull the new kids from Skyward every night.
Parent Q: How do we access ClassLink on a personal computer? We don't have a school laptop checked out.
A: After giving her the link, I told her that I would ask you all to share the link in your Classrooms. If you have a resources "Topic" in Classroom like I did for the DLC, this would be a good place to post: my.classlink.com/commerce
This is their gateway to ALL the things.
Q: My students have last year's Google Classrooms. Are they supposed to be there?
A: Teachers, please archive last year's Google Classrooms so that they will clear the clutter and not confuse students. To do this, click the 3 dots in the upper right corner of your Google Classroom and choose Archive.
Q: Do the students still have to add apostrophes and their hyphenated last names to their email addresses?
A: With ClassLink auto-creating student user accounts, the punctuation is there when we used to omit it. Tomorrow, Nick Myers is going to include the student email address in the password file update to try and help everyone get what they need more efficiently.
Q: (student) is not showing in Google Classroom. What do I do? Can I add her or the system has to do that?
A1: Some pretty big edits were made in Skyward (by Donna Yoakum) and the One Sync in ClassLink (by Nick Myers). The overnight processing should fix many of the Google Classroom errors. Please let me know tomorrow if you still don't have students where they need to be.
A2: I would let ClassLink fix any students being in the wrong place. Only because we need the systems to be right and sync right so that other systems we connect will work right too. :)
Q: Why can't I access Discovery Education in ClassLink?
A: This program was purchased by our friends with ACE. I connected it with ClassLink this summer but the connection isn't quite right. It's on my grand master list to repair, but let's get devices to all of the students, get them logged in and in the right Google Classrooms and THEN I plan to fix the curriculum resources that aren't quite right. Thank you for your patience! (Same thing for HMH... I know that some of you are still having access issues. I will be working through that issue next week!)
Q: Is there a way to get all teacher's pictures on the Google Classroom icons? This really helps some of our SpEd kiddos.
A: They have to upload their own pictures into their Google account by clicking the circle in the upper right-hand corner of their email. This should propagate into all of the Google tools.
Q: Do you have any suggestions or apps for doing closed captions for lecture videos for teachers?
A: Google Slides to the rescue! Blog post on how it works!
Also, Edpuzzle can pull CC! Find out more here! Under "Creating Lesson Videos"
Q: My students are having problems accessing the camera on their Chromebook. Can you help?
A: Come to find out, there was a setting in the Google Admin Console affecting the camera app. Nick was able to find out the issue and fix it on all of the Chromebooks. Thank you, Nick!
Q: Can I send an assignment to just certain students in EdPuzzle?
A: Within Edpuzzle, no. I wouldn't recommend assigning through Edpuzzle anyway since Google Classroom is the hub. Create the assignment in Google Classroom and link the Edpuzzle video link there. This way, students know which videos they should and should not complete. This is what I did this summer with DLC. I had Edpuzzle videos for different campuses, but I assigned them through Google Classroom. Students just have to learn to follow the Google Classroom assignments.
Q: I am still having issues accessing HMH. Can you check into this for me?
A: Most all of the kinks have been worked out but we seem to have a handful of outliers. If you are supposed to have access to Ed, Think Central or Holt McDougal Online and get an error message, please let me know ASAP. I have a 1:00 call with ClassLink's HMH guru tomorrow and I would like to get all connections resolved for good.
Q: If all of my students don't have devices, can they share?
A: No, the purpose of the 1:1 (1 device per 1 student) program is for the students to keep their germs on their own devices and not cross-contaminate. The technology department spent a majority of the day rounding up more Chromebooks and moving them to the campuses that were needing devices. If you have students who have not yet checked out a device, please make sure that they take a paper form home and bring it back ASAP. Time is of the essence.
Q: I have a student who isn't able to login and their password isn't on the spreadsheet. Can you fix this?
A: Unfortunately, when this happens lately it's because the student has been marked as "inactive" in Skyward and removed from Google, ClassLink, and the curriculum resources. One they are marked "active" again, their accounts will re-create in the overnight process and their login information will be on the password spreadsheet the next day. Please check with your campus PEIMS Clerk to check on enrollment status.
Q: My student is able to login to their Google Account/Chromebook but they aren't in my Google Classroom. Do I need to add them or how can I get them added?
A: The students are added to your Google Classroom from the email field in their Skyward account. Please check this information to make sure that it is accurate. If it needs to be added or edited, please contact your PEIMS Clerk to make these changes.
Q: Is there anything we can do about a student who doesn't have the internet?
A: They are able to make arrangements with your campus admins to come and use a free space in the school, they can come to Central Office and use our WiFi here in the computer lab, they can pull up beside most campuses and access the WiFi from their cars, or the Commerce Public has free WiFi access.
Q: I have a student who does not have the ability to add her own apps. Like a frequently used website/link or the apps that we do.
A: Students can now add their own apps! Just had to sit down and find that toggle switch.
Q: When will Discovery Education be available in ClassLink?
A: I spoke with ACE Director James Daugherty today. Since ACE purchased this program, their subscription has lapsed so that is why you can't access the content anymore. I will let you know when it is turned back on! Until then, I will remove the app from your ClassLink dashboard.