Welcome Aventa Teacher Training

Getting Started Introduction: Jane Sparkman Instructional Services Team Instructor jasparkman@k12.com 1-888-228-3682, Extension 5137 Take a moment and write down those questions you wish to have answered today. Introductions: Your Background Contact Information Participant Introductions Agenda

Agenda Keys to Success Monitoring Students: Aventa Front Office – AFO Progress Reports Blackboard – Student view Teacher view Review

Keys to Successful Online Teaching Communication: Build relationship with students and parents Organize – use folder system in email for both incoming and sent communication Knowledge of Course Comfortable with Blackboard navigation to support students. Understanding your school’s policies and procedures. Understanding your expectations for the students and their expectations of you. Keys for Success: (this section will allow you to get a better feel of their program and intent) Communication – (talk about this in next slide0 Course Knowledge Importance of Policies and Procedures (stake holders: Admin, teachers, students, parents)

Communication Communication is key to success- Timeliness Tone Types ALL CAPS – considered yelling Too little/ Too much Greetings and salutations are very important – you don’t want to slip into chat language. Don’t forget a phone call may get you further than 20 emails back and forth.

Keys to Successful Online Teaching Be organized – 3-ring binder or virtual file system Create pacing chart for students Communication log Student login information Exam passwords if used Rubrics Supplementary materials Graphic organizers Presentations Website resources podcasts Organization – email as well as support material

Monitoring Students Weekly Progress Reports Reports in Blackboard Performance Dashboard Early Warning System Course Statistics Aventa Front Office Pacing Guides Excel Charts Monitoring Students: Progress Reports – use example, explain engagement categories, walk through columns (R-L) Aventa Front Office – (talk about more in next slide)

Aventa Front Office Delayed time frame – important to understand that it is not live data. (refreshed daily) Access Student Logins Reports Progress reports Activity reports Inactivity reports https://office.aventalearning.com/login/ typically have them log in live with you (djclapp/djclapp) This login in reality is a mentor login – so please remind them not to go to the enrollment tab as it will not be available to teachers. Teachers will only see active enrollments for their assigned students. First page – point out passwords remind them they have option to create their own student passwords when they enroll students Drill down through student link to grade details Reports- Progress Reports – search by student – drill down to grades – suggest copying and pasting from this point to have copy of assignments and total points in the course. Note Last refresh date – emphasize not live data – all though updates are better it is typically updated daily Reports – Active Student report – access time and assignments submitted Emphasize that the default is 7 days – can adjust to any time frame Time should be used as a ballpark not absolutes – explain why it may be over estimated and why it may be understated. For your knowledge there are several levels of AFO (District Admin, School Admin, Teacher, Mentor) all have slightly different visibility. Teachers will use AFO to grade out. Point out grade-out directions are provided in resources.

Student View within Blackboard Tour of Student View https://aventa.blackboard.com Every course has an Orientation button. Students tend to skip – however the background information can be key to success. Schedule – allows students to create individualized pace charts Have participants log in as one of your 4 fictional students. You may want to clear some (not all) old dummy assignments so they can access and practice submitting (quiz, assignment, DB). This is especially important if they are primarily using CR courses. Demonstrate and let them explore student orientation course – suggest having a guided orientation in which they pick and choose items to address with students. In its present form I would not suggest that a student do the entire orientation course as it would never pertain to all students. Should be:   TAventa Or

Teacher View in Blackboard Every course has an Orientation button.. Students tend to skip – however the background information can be key to success. Schedule – allows students to create individualized pace charts Participants should login with their individual password Review Orientation button – importance of Getting Started/orientation Dynamic Schedule – Pacing chart (have them create chart and paste into word doc – change) Demonstrate Edit View and point out Teacher’s Guide Allow participants to explore content on their own (they will be very anxious to do so)

Blackboard Set-up Grade Center Reduce Clutter General Concepts Staff Information Announcements Banner/Buttons These are the items that need to be set up in the teacher view.

Grade Center Setup Grade Center – clean up Calculated Columns (handout) Cumulative Total – Set as External Grade – must have green check. Cumulative Total Primary – percentage Secondary – score Check “No” so that total points are used in calculation. Grade to Date Check “Yes” so that this grade is based on assignments attempted to date. Remove all Weighted columns or extra Totals Hide 3 columns – username/student ID/availability Remove both Weighted Totals – emphasize only time they should hit remove (generally hide) Have group decide on which grade columns to display (Grade to date/Cumulative Grade) Walk them through settings of each Go to Manage – have them move both grade columns to the beginning Must set the cumulative column as external grade If time allows allow them to set-up a second course

Initial Course Set-up Staff Info./ Announcements/ Banner/ Buttons/ Clean-up unused items The little things do matter Banner – Create with PowerPoint (handout) Change buttons to coordinate with banner Clean up tools and navigation bar – don’t leave links to nowhere. Items the students will find cool. Jazz it up.

Staff Information Staff Information: Control Panel – Course Tools If Staff Information button does not appear (handout): Control Panel Course Tools – Building Blocks – check Item and Tools Manage Course Menu - +Tool Link (Staff Information) Add Staff Information

Announcements Announcements: Control Panel – Course Tools Informational/Course Related/Current Events Use time release so that announcements don’t become impossible to manage. Add Welcome Announcement. Show mine.

Banners and Buttons Banners and Buttons: Control Panel – Course Options – Course Design Create Banner and post Change Buttons Design Move order of buttons Announcements Staff Information Class Connect Course Information Discussion Board Content Messages My Grades

Reduce Clutter Course Tools and Communication Tools: Hide unused tools – can be a school decision Items like glossary may be very helpful but if they are not going to be used it is best to hide. Communication is key – create navigation button for whichever method is preferred email vs. message To hide unwanted Items: Control Panel – Course Options – Manage Tools – Tool Availability (uncheck unwanted options) Before doing any other set up – walk them through tools that should be active use document to walk through each tool region discuss if school wants to have Message area active – generally it will be no Glossary – great tool but if not going to utilize – hide Hide Tool or Communication Button if visible

Blackboard Grade Center – Grading/Feedback/Exemptions Discussion Boards Multiple Choice – computer graded assessments Papers/Projects/ oral assignments In Blackboard 8.0 – you can exempted one student from any individual assignment. Overriding Grades Clearing Grades Feedback – how is it visible? These are types of assignments and what you can do in grade center. Have examples in fictional student account of a graded quiz, submitted assignment and a locked assignment. Note accessing assignment: Computer graded quiz and where feedback can be provided and viewed by student Attached assignment- feedback box and ability to upload document back to the student Quiz/exam that contains teacher graded questions Show access through Teacher’s Lounge Tab as well Demonstrate assignment history and its importance Demonstrate exempting individual student from assignment Discuss what proper feedback in tales. Needs to include details even on positive feedback – what did you like about response… Provide support not just indicate there is a problem. Display “rainbow rubric” our English department developed to help students understand 6 + 1 rubric used with all our writing assignments. Color can be key in many situations not just here.

Altering Course and Default Settings Content – Xen Desk Test Questions – Xen Desk Test Settings – Yes Navigation Buttons and Resources - Yes Altering Course and Default Settings Content (links out to html pages) cannot be altered. If there is a mistake a ZenDesk ticket can be created. Teachers should not modify test questions (they are centrally located) and again ZenDesk tickets should be used to make corrections. Test settings can be modified: Force Complete – what does this mean if you uncheck Multiple attempts – suggest limiting attempts if they wish to do this also remind them to uncheck correct answer if they provide multiple attempts. Password – box must be checked and password entered. Use of date ranges Display options – do not pick display one question at a time – typically will crash exam You may randomize questions with the exception of MS math specifically 8th grade   Can add Navigation Buttons and resources: Walk through Folder, Item, External Link External link – copy paste URL; change default to open in new window Can hide assessment pre loaded – must do two things though: Hide link to assignment in the navigation region Modify assessment in Grade Center so it does not display and does not count Can add new assignment or Test – You should know ahead of time if this is an interest of the school. If not - do not cover.

Blackboard Grade Center – Emails/Reports/Downloads If using email as communication mode you can access email from Grade Center directly. Reports – can be created for group or individual –points possible will not be visible. You can export a copy of the Grade Center to an Excel document

Oral Assignments Wimba Voice Board Students can use to record oral assignments Two options: students leave on voice board and let teacher know it is there through the assignment link. Email it to themselves – download wave file and upload. You can use to send messages to your students. No voice board message is private

Questions