Teachers should discuss with students at the beginning of the school year that all assignments will be completed and graded using the Google suite of tools (Google Classroom, Google Docs, Google Slides, Google Sheets, etc.). Google Classroom is Xavier High School's Learning Management System (LMS). Every teacher will create a Google Classroom page for each class they teach, and they will add the Principal and Dean of Faculty as co-teachers to their classes. Google Classroom is where teachers will post agendas, notes, handouts, all assignments (even ones that are not turned in online), and grades. Students will use Google Classroom to access their grades and track their progress in real time.
All student work should be stored in Google Drive, and Google Chrome should be the main browser that students use. Using Google for all school-related activity ensures that students can always access their schoolwork in the same manner, no matter what type of device they are using. At the beginning of the year, students should download Google Chrome, Google Classroom, Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides on all of their devices (including smartphones). Students with laptops should save their Google Drives offline so that they can work on files offline (video demonstrating how to do this here).
Technology Tutorials for Xavier Teachers
How to import rubrics to Google Classroom from Google Sheets
How to grade in-class tests/ assignments turned in by hand on Google Classroom.
How to create new marking periods in Google Classroom each quarter (so you don't have to create a new Classroom at the beginning of a new quarter)
***Important/often-forgotten Google Classroom tips
1) If you are posting a worksheet for students to complete online, even if it is a PDF, always click "make a copy for each student" so that each student has their own file to work on.
If you are posting a sign-up sheet or other group activity, click "students can edit file" so everyone can make edits to one file
If you are posting notes/anything you don't want students to edit, click "students can view file
2) Always use rubrics in Google Classroom to grade essays on tests, quizzes, projects, etc; even if the assignment was completed in class and not turned in online (Video demonstrating how to do so here). This makes it easier for students to view and understand their grades on the writing portion of tests.
3) Organize your Google Classroom by topic, and keep the syllabus + Writing Style Manual at the top for students to always view. Photo of how this should look here.
Technology Tutorials for Xavier Students (can be easily posted in Google Classroom for Student Reference)
How to use templates in Google Docs (MLA & APA Format Generator)
Online Resources helpful to all teachers
ZipGrade- Grading app for teachers that lets you distribute answer sheets for multiple choice questions and grade them instantly by scanning them on your phone
Nearpod (interactive presentations, students answer questions, draw pictures, solve problems, create collaborative boards)
Desmos Test Mode (app for Android and iPhone, locks students phones on a graphing calculator during tests and quizzes so they can't access the internet or other apps)
Teachers can announce that students have to "activate test mode" prior to a test/quiz/class period, and then have students display their screens when they turn in their tests/quizzes/at the end of a class period.
Remind (app and website- uses school email address as a means of instant messaging between teachers and students, similar to WhatsApp or iMessage but it only requires school email addresses, helpful for getting in touch with students at a moment's notice for clubs, college counseling, etc.)
Remind is an app designed for schools, and does not violate the electronic communication policy in the Faculty Handbook because it only requires students/teachers to exchange school email addresses (no personal contact info such as phone numbers, social media handles, etc.). That being said, teachers who use Remind would benefit from putting a clear communication policy in their syllabus (e.g. "Instructor will only respond to Remind messages on school days between 8 am and 5 pm").
Actively Learn (app and website- read and annotate Literature and nonfiction, students can answer comprehension questions, and make annotations that teachers can see in the text. Even if you choose not to have students use Actively Learn, a free account will still give you access to a plethora of grade-appropriate texts and short stories for all subjects)
Blank Jeopardy board (click "file" and "make a copy" to create a board you can edit)
Youtube audiobooks (search "'book title' audiobook" in Youtube and post links to the audiobooks in Google Classroom or Actively Learn for students to listen to as they read)
Geogebra (app you can download on the App or Google Play store for your computer)- helpful for math teachers, graphing calculator you can project on board
Draftback- Google Chrome extension that allows you to see all edits made to a Google doc in video format. This feature is useful if you suspect a student copied and pasted something, and you need proof. Video on how to use it here.