IT for Teachers January 2021
Download the Desktop Teams App to your device and use this as it works much better than using Teams in the Browser .
When setting up the Teams Meeting/Class – Change the Meeting Role so you are the only Presenter. Then students cannot mute/unmute other students, cannot share their screen or add/remove students from a live class.
Request that they turn on the cameras from the start, it is difficult to get them to do this so try from day one.
Before starting a class have all documents/files open on your device that you intend to share on your screen during that class.
If you want to play a video during a class – when you share the screen with the video on – a toggle button will appear (include computer sound) which you must slide over to share the sound of the PC, otherwise they can only hear the sound from your microphone.
It is now possible to download the attendance (this cannot be downloaded retrospectively) – Select ‘Show Participants’ and on the left at the bottom click ‘Download attendee list’ – this will show not only who was in the class but when they came in and if they left early.
Since July, Microsoft have allowed the use of other 3rd party apps with Teams e.g. Kahoot, so if you have been using these before it is straightforward to incorporate them in your Teams Class.
Since an update in December, it is now also easier to use Breakout Rooms in Teams meetings – these can be used for groupwork, students might be more willing to engage in the smaller groups and will also turn on their cameras.
In light of developments this January a number of links are listed below.
The links to the PDST are very good.
Flipped Classroom and Enriched Virtual Concepts Methodologies.
Click the Link below for further resources on assessment video and live teaching.
Recording A Class
Recording a meeting class in Teams
Taking a Roll in Teams
Click Below for further Online Programmes.
Click Below for Digital Libraries.
Junior Cycle Subject Resources
Click on the links below to see various videos on how to use teams !
Providing Feedback in Teams
Click on the link below to take you to Microsoft Teams Video Training
Distance Learning Protocols for Teachers and Students
The following instructions apply to using a browser on a PC/Mac. The procedure may vary slightly when using a browser on a tablet or phone but most things should be possible as described on any device using a browser e.g. Chrome, Edge, Safari, Mozilla Firefox etc. On a phone or tablet it is useful to install the Outlook app and OneDrive app, when the procedure is slightly different but follows the same logic. Click on any topic below:
The importance of backing up your work remotely
Turning on and off PCs (Windows 10)
Logging on to PCs and logging off (Windows 10)
School Website
Using Office 365
Logging in to Office 365
Creating a Secure Password
Logging off Office 365
Using different Apps within Office 365 e.g. OneDrive, Sharepoint, OneNote, Word online etc.
Keeping two 365 Apps open at once
Saving and Retrieving your work
Saving your work locally to the PC you are using
Saving your work remotely using OneDrive on Office 365
Getting files from OneDrive
Getting files from OneDrive from a Shared Folder
Using IDLE to write Python programs
Using Microsoft Teams
Checklist of ICT Skills
The importance of backing up your work remotely
It is essential that everyone who uses a school or home PC or device makes a copy of all of their work, or stores their original work remotely, i.e. in the cloud, e.g. using OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox. If you do not, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth, and tears perhaps, when you discover the Documents folder has been wiped clean to speed up a PC, as happens annually, or you need to use a different PC. To do so see “Saving your work remotely using OneDrive on Office 365” below. Save all your work this way and you will be secure. If you accidentally delete it from the cloud it is fairly easy and definitely possible to recover it.
Turning on and off PCs (Windows 10)
To turn on PCs (Personal Computers, generally includes desktop computers and laptops) press the power button, marked with a 1 inside a 0, on the main body of the PC. One short press should do.
The monitor (screen) has a separate power button which can be left on except during holidays as it goes into sleep mode soon after it is idle for a while.
To turn of PCs, click on the Wndow button (bottom left of screen), then choose Shut down. On some PCs you can turn them off with one short press of the power button on the main body of the PC, not on the monitor.
During the early classes there is no need to shut down, just log off as below.
Logging on to PCs and logging off (Windows 10)
Students log on using the username “student” and a general password which the teacher will give you. Teachers log on using the username “teacher” and a generic password. To install software teachers need to log on as “administrator”.
To log off click on Window button, then on the head and shoulders icon above it and choose log off. This is done between classes. During the last class that is held in that room that day (see computer room timetables on door) please shut down PCs as above.
School Website
The web address (URL, universal resource locator) for the website of Our Lady’s College is
ourladys.ie
Use the website as a quick way to access Office 365, to view school reports on Vs-ware, to see the school calendar or just to view the Latest news or news feeds including Twitter.
Using Office 365
Office 365 is a web based package available to all members of the school community. It offers e-mail, file storage (OneDrive) and other services to students and staff.
Logging in to Office 365
On a browser on ourladys.ie click on the E-mail button, right hand side of screen below the moving picture banner.
A student’s username is firstnamesurname(((@)))ourladys.ie with no punctuaction. Your teacher will tell you your password.
Creating a Secure Password
When you log on for the first time you will need to make up a new password. Use one that has at least 8 characters (letters or numbers etc.). It should include at least one lower case letter, one upper case (Capital) letter and one number, and possibly a symbol. It should not be easy to guess, or include your name or age or date of birth etc. When you create it, write it down somewhere secret in case you forget it.
Unless you are using a private PC or device that only you have access to you should not let the device store your password, so do not choose “Remember me” or “Remember this password” or “Keep me signed in” etc.
Logging off Office 365
Click on the Icon on the top right which symbolizes you, perhaps a coloured circle including your initials or a head and shoulders icon, depending on the version of 365. Then choose Sign out. Closing the browser may not sign you out, so the next user could read your e-mails or even impersonate you. You are responsible for securing your account.
Using different Apps within Office 365 e.g. OneDrive
When you login as above having clicked on the E-mail button you are normally brought to the Outlook app for E-mail. To use other apps click on the 9-square icon, top left of screen and choose the app you want e.g.
- Outlook for e-mail
- One Drive for storing files or retrieving them
- Sharepoint for sharing files with fellow students or teachers
- OneNote for collaboration
- Word online etc.
Keeping two 365 Apps open at once
By default, when you are in email (Outlook), when you click on the 9-square and then choose OneDrive, Outlook closes and OneDrive opens in the same browser tab. To keep both open, first right-click on the browser tab where it says “Mail…” and choose duplicate. A second tab opens with Mail on it. Use this one to open OneDrive and leave Mail open in the first tab.
Saving and Retrieving your work
Saving your work locally to the PC you are using
Saving your work locally is only a first step before saving it remotely (see below). Files saved locally can only be accessed from the exact PC you saved them to, not from another PC or from home.
In the File menu choose “Save As”. Choose Documents. Click “New Folder” to create a folder. Call it something appropriate like “Coding” or “Mathilda Coding”, as you will be sharing this PC with other students and you need a way to separate your work from theirs.
Saving your work remotely using OneDrive on Office 365
If you want to save your work then save it to OneDrive as follows. To save Office documents like Word, Powerpoint or Excel files you may be able to save them an easier way but the method here works for all files including text files, photos, coding files etc.
Saving your work remotely means saving it to another big PC (a server) somewhere else (probably in Ireland), in “the cloud”. This means you can access the work from any PC anywhere by logging on to 365 e.g. at home, from another device e.g. your phone.
- First save the file to a folder on the device you are using as above.
- Login to Office 365. Open OneDrive.
- On the left you should see Files highlighted and the folders and files you have saved on the right, if you saved any.
- If Shared is highlighted on the left (click on it) you will see folders and files on the right that others, perhaps your teacher, have shared with you.
- To save the file you have been working on make sure Files is highlighted on the left then:
- Click New to make a folder. Call it something appropriate like “Coding”.
- Click on the folder name.
- Click Upload. Chose Files or Folder. Find the folder you saved your file in locally, perhaps in Documents and within another folder that you created.
- The file should appear in your folder in OneDrive.
Getting files from OneDrive
To get a file from OneDrive that you saved there earlier:
- Login to OneDrive (in Office 365).
- Click once on the folder the file is in.
- Highlight the file and choose Download (above or by right-clicking on the three dots).
- Save the file locally e.g. in Documents in a folder.
- Open the file from the Documents folder and work on it.
Getting files from OneDrive from a Shared Folder
To get a file from OneDrive that a teacher (or another student) shared with you:
- Login to OneDrive (in Office 365).
- Choose Shared under Files on the left, scroll down until you find the folder you need.
- Highlight the file and choose Download (above or by right-clicking on the three dots).
- Save the file locally e.g. in Documents in a folder.
- Open the file from the Documents folder and work on it.
This may not work the first time someone shares a folder with you. If you cannot see the folder in Shared then
- Read your email in Outlook in Office 365 (either in a browser or using the Outlook app on a phone)
- In the email the teacher/friend set you to share the folder click on Open under the folder name.
- This brings you directly to the shared folder. From then on the folder will appear in Shared as above.
Using IDLE to write Python programs
On Windows, on a PC (or Mac) on which Python has been installed along with IDLE which is a development environment which allows you to write and test Python code:
- Click on the Start button, bottom left of the toolbar. Click on a letter e.g. A then when you see the alphabet choose P (for python) then choose Python then IDLE.
- Create a new python file: click on File, New File. A new window opens.
- Save the file: Choose File, Save As. Call the file something relevant to its function e.g. Hello. The computer adds on the .py file extension indicating it is a Python file.
- Save it locally, i.e. on the PC you are using, in the Documents folder. Choose Documents. Click “New Folder” to create a folder. Call it something appropriate like “Coding” or “Mathilda Coding”.
- Write your code. When you are finished, or every so often, click File, Save to save the file locally.
- Near the end save it to OneDrive as described above.
Using Microsoft Teams for Students
A parent very helpfully sent us the following links and advice:
“Student introduction to Microsoft Teams – Just register to view the online webinar. I would start with this.
You can find a series of webinars here which the school may find really useful for Teachers and IT Teams quick start guide, pretty broad and great for teachers too.
Also see How to Use Assignments in Microsoft Teams | Students Guide 4 mins.”
Checklist of ICT Skills
Name:
How confident are you in performing the following tasks on a school PC?
For each skill indicate using a number before the skill that you:
0 = cannot do it
1 = can do it with help
2 = can do it on my own
3 = can show others how to do it
Turning on PCs (Windows 10)
Turning off PCs (Windows 10), shut down
Logging on to PCs (Windows 10)
Logging off PCs (Windows 10)
Accessing the School Website
Logging in to Office 365
Creating a Secure Password
Logging off Office 365
Using different Apps within Office 365 e.g. OneDrive
Using E-mail in Office 365 – Outlook
Using Word online in Office 365
Using Powerpoint online in Office 365
Using Excel online in Office 365
Using Sharepoint in Office 365
Keeping two 365 Apps open at once
Saving your work locally to the PC you are using
Saving your work remotely using OneDrive on Office 365
Retrieving files from OneDrive
For Coding
Using IDLE to write Python programs
Opening IDLE to use Python
Create a new python file
Saving a python file locally
Saving a python file remotely
Retrieving python files from OneDrive
Write a simple program in Python to print “Hello” to the console
Save this program to modify it later
Save this program to modify it later from another location
Logins on the Student Network – prior to 2017
On Windows 7 computers, on the student (olc) network, students or teachers should log in as follows:
Username: olc\username, where username is normally firstnamesurname with no punctuation or special characters e.g. “olc\aineoreilly”.
Password: pres. Passwords are normally reset to ‘pres’ at the start of each year, and students must reset this password on first use.
If a student has forgotten their password temporary login is available as explained on a notice on the door of each computer room. Their work will be saved in a general student folder and will not be private.
A list of usernames is available in a folder on the teacher`s desk in each computer room.
On the student network (olc\) students should save their work to the H: drive, not to the Documents folder. Saving to the Documents folder saves it to that machine only and their work will not be available if a student logs on to a different machine.
To save to the H: drive:
Open “My Computer” and click on the Folders icon near the top.
Underneath the Computers folder, as a subfolder of it (you may have to click on the + symbol) find the drive marked H as:
username(\\SERVER01\username)(H:)
where username is the student`s name e.g.
aineoreilly(\\SERVER01\ aineoreilly)(H:)
Within the H: drive students can make a Documents folder etc. as they wish.
[J. Loughran, Sept. 2012]