Instructional Coaches Newslett

Welcome to the first edition of the ESSentials newsletter being sent out to you from the team of Instructional Coaches led by Jimmy Evans in ESS. This will be a combined communication for both elementary and secondary teachers to bring you updates, information, resources, and more. We want all staff at TVUSD to know that your instructional coaches work collaboratively and are a united team. We are here to support you and your students meet the goals you have set for this school year. We hope that you will find this monthly communication helpful. It should be noted that what is shared in this newsletter is not just "good to know", it is ESSential!

New student iPads are currently not always initially viewable on Apple Classroom. Please have students go to the iPad Settings and touch Bluetooth. It will feel like you are not doing anything because it won't toggle on and off. It is just magic. That will cause their iPad to be visible in Apple Classroom. This is a workaround until we are able to get the system running automatically. If you are an elementary teacher and haven't been utilizing it for awhile due to glitches, give it a try! It is working and is a great tool.

If you have been in the habit of using Infinite Campus for sending emails to parents and/or students the location of the Messenger has changed. You will find it by clicking Communication>Message Center. To access your sent messages, scroll down to Communication on the left sidebar and choose Sent Message Log. HERE is a video!

Soon, the Windows 10 Operating system will become obsolete and will no longer receive security patches. This will put your device and student information at risk. If you have seen a pop-up on your Windows device letting you know that your device is running Windows 10, you need to open a Help Ticket with IMS to see if your device can be updated to Windows 11. If you haven't seen a pop-up you should still check your device to see what version is running by going to the bottom right corner of your desktop. Don't put this off!

HERE is the live document that we have created to list programs or apps that are approved to be used with students. It is updated regularly. Once approved, students may log in to these apps with their TVUSD accounts. Do not have student login into any app, website, program that is not on the approved list. Teachers may request a DPA for an app, website or digital tool by submitting a Help Desk Ticket. Go to New Ticket > Other Requests > SDPA Request. A request can only be submitted if all Supplemental Materials questions are answered and then the tool will be vetted by ESS before sending the request for DPA from the company.

Every teacher will be receiving a half day training about Artificial Intelligence during the school year. We will define AI, review the TVUSD AI Guidelines, discuss how AI is integrated with our existing platforms, and receive training specifically about MagicSchool. Be on the lookout for your calendar invite! Can't wait? Check out the Back to School Guide for Magic School HERE.

Apps that embedded in Canva are often an app that needs a separate sDPA before they can be accessed by students. A few of these apps have a signed DPA and are now ready for student use. They are: Gen Pixel, Cartoonify, Photo to Sketch, Magic Media, Canva Pro, Magic Morph. We are working on obtaining SDPAs for other Canva apps and send an update if any others are approved.

A popular app among all grade levels has been Sketches School. Unfortunately, the company has now put this application behind a paywall and it is no longer free. Therefore, students do not have access to use Sketches any longer. We highly recommend exploring and using the Freeform app as a replacement tool. Reach out to a coach for help getting started!

We've created some great refresher videos that pertain to a variety of topics. Initially these videos were made to introduce teachers new to the district to our frequently used platforms and tools. What we have come to realize is that sometimes even veteran teachers can use a reminder of how to do certain things. Click the image to the left to check it out! Don't forget to bookmark it!

We are continuing to offer Elevating Teachers this school year. We just held our first session all about teaching from your iPad using your camera, notability, and Freeform. It was a fun and jam packed 90 minutes. Teachers went away with some new ideas for how to teach from their iPad and move away from the front of the room.

Our next session will be September 30th from 3:45-5:15. It will be about Using Canva to Elevate Student Learning and Engagement. Click the image to sign up!

Teachers are now able to merge classrooms in GoGuardian, allowing them to see all students through a single window.

Wayground (formerly Quizizz) has a new integration with Canvas. To create a Canvas Wayground assignment, follow these steps from Canvas Assignments: select Submission Type > External Tool > Wayground. This will enable your assignment to be accessed by students in Canvas, and scores will be synced with the Canvas Gradebook.

In addition, be aware that students must access Canvas through Safari on iPads when accessing your Wayground activity. **Please have any student that has the Wayground app installed on their iPad to remove it.**

The integration with Edpuzzle has changed. No longer will it send grades automatically. To sync grades with Canvas, you will need to open the EdPuzzle assignment and find the three dots to the left of settings. Click the three dots and select “Export grades to LMS.” REMINDER: If you are assigning an Edpuzzle assignment in Canvas, students need to open Canvas using the student app, not from Safari.

We highly recommend that you join the Canvas Course for Secondary Resources if you have not already done that. It is a landing page that holds crucial information, how-to videos and more! It should be your first step in getting answers to common questions. If you would like to join you can click this LINK.

Confusion and struggles with iPads in the classroom can often be resolved by attending trainings offered by ESS. Sometimes teachers who own a personal iPad feel confident about how to use their device and decide they don't need the training. However, it is a missed opportunity to find out how the device, its tools, and this managed device works within the organization. If you have been invited in the past and were unable to attend for any reason, you can reach out to the coaches at instructionalcoaches@tvusd.us to find out what other options are available to get access to the training.