September 22 Updates

I'm getting a lot of questions about the Schoology app vs the Schoology Portal. Accessing Schoology through the portal is just like going to the website. So, questions:

1. Do students need the app? YES! 

2. Do students need the web version? Only when accessing STAR assessments or their McGraw Hill textbooks. Or using portfolios, too.

Here's my take. As a classroom teacher, I would use the Schoology app for EVERYTHING except when needing to access STAR or McGraw Hill. The app is designed for the iPad, so it's going to work for 95% of the daily tasks: assignments, assessments, discussion boards. And it's the best route to quickly distribute and turn in assignments from Notability, Pages, iMovie, Photos, or any other app. 

If you have questions, please let me know! 

Have you tried...

• iOS11? Some seriously great updates are available. I'm going to share a tidbit each week for awhile. Here's how to screen record with your iPad:

• Alright, maybe two this week. Here's how you can enter numbers without switching keyboards:

Cool stuff happening in my classrooms (and can also happen in yours)...

• I spent pretty much all week helping distribute iPads at West and Smithton, so I'm pretty thin on classroom happenings. 

Building your digital PLN...

• Matt Villasana, @mattvillasana - Seriously, if you aren't following me by now, I must have angered you in some way. I'm full of incredible ideas and funny anecdotes, so join in the fun! 
• Guy Raz, @guyraz - Podcasting guru, creator of Wow In the World, which is only the best podcast targeted toward kids
• Flipgrid, @Flipgrid - a web and app based program for sending/receiving short videos. It's all the rage now. Let me know if you want to try it out. 

Tech updates that might interest you...

• My new schedule is set. Here is where I'll be based:
• West Middle - Monday and Wednesday
• Smithton Middle - Tuesday and Friday
• We are asking that students not update to iOS11 until we've had time to test. No, there isn't a way to prevent them from completing the update.
• Enhanced question types are coming very soon to Schoology. More information will be coming out as soon as it's available.
• The "switch accounts" option will no longer be available on computers when logging in starting next week

Have a great weekend!