Using Google to Inform Students/Parents through PowerSchool Gradebook

Google Calendar—A Google Calendar allows you to organize agenda items in one space and then link the public Google Calendar to PowerSchool Gradebook

Google Sites—Create a website or file cabinet to store class information or class assignments, PowerPoint’s, Worksheets, etc. and then link them to PowerSchool Gradebook.

Google Docs- a place to store documents for collaboration or students

1.  Create a Google Account
Skip this step if you already have a Google account. / ·  Go to www.google.com/accounts
·  Click “Create a Google Account”
·  Enter information to create account
·  An e-mail will be sent to your e-mail, you’ll need to confirm it, but can go ahead and start using your account now.
2.  Create a Google Calendar
Log into your Google Account and then follow the directions. / ·  Go to www.google.com/calendar
·  If you aren’t logged in already you will be prompted to log in.
·  Google creates a default calendar with your e-mail name linked to it. You can create a new calendar and name it to coincide with the name of your classes by selecting “Create” on the left under “Calendars”
·  Make your Calendar public.
o  To do this click on the drop down menu next your calendar name (in the left column) and choose Calendar settings (not the Settings below your calendar name)
o  Choose the Share this calendar tab.
o  Select Yes when the warning pops up about making the information public.
3.  Link Google Calendar to PowerSchool Gradebook / From Google Calendar site
·  Go to the Calendar Details Tab
·  Click on the blue HTML button under the Calendar Address section.
·  Highlight and copy the URL address that pops up for your calendar.
Add the Calendar to your PowerSchool Gradebook My Content
·  Open your gradebook.
·  Choose the Class Content Tab.
·  Select My Content and then the + symbol at the bottom of the page.
·  In the New Link Dialog box:
o  Type the Name of the calendar (i.e. Math 8 Calendar)
o  Paste the copied URL in the URL box by using the shortcut “Ctrl + V” (You copied this in the last step)
o  Set “Type” as Web Site.
o  You can create and assign the calendar to a group. (This is a good idea if you teach different content areas because you can organize information better.)
o  Click Save.
Link the Calendar to a specific Class Period
·  Select the class period to link the calendar to.
·  Select Class Info under the Class Content Tab.
·  Click the +link button.
·  Select My Content in the dialog box that pops up.
·  Select the Calendar you just added to my content and click OK.
·  Press Save.
4.  Create a Google File Cabinet to store files to be linked to Google
Add File Cabinet to Google Site
Add Files to Your File Cabinet
Add your File Cabinet Files to Power School Gradebook MyContent / Create Google Site
·  Go to www.google.com/sites
·  Log In to your Google account. (If you aren’t already logged into your Google account you will be prompted for your login and password.)
·  Select Create new site.
o  You will now create a site to put different “File Cabinets” on to store files. Name the site something simple, you can create different file storage areas later for different content areas.
o  Make sure to check the “Everyone in the World Can View this Site”
o  Enter the security code
o  Click “Create Site” at the bottom
·  Enter your class agenda item information and choose Save
Add File Cabinet to Google Site
·  Select “+Create Page” in the top right of your new Site
·  Select “File Cabinet” and choose a distinguishable name for your File cabinet (i.e. Algebra 1)
·  Choose “Create Page”
Add Files to Your File Cabinet
·  To browse and add Worksheets, PowerPoints, notes pages, etc. to your Google File Cabinet.
·  TIP: Save files as PDF’s before uploading. These files take up less storage space, download quicker, and will be able to be open by most operating systems from home computers.
Add your File Cabinet Files to Power School Gradebook MyContent
·  Select “View” under the file you’d like to add to your gradebook and open the file.
·  There will be a long URL when the file opens up in the web address bar. Right click on the URL to select it all and select Copy from the list.
·  Open your gradebook.
·  Choose the Class Content Tab.
·  Select My Content and then the + symbol at the bottom of the page.
·  In the New Link Dialog box:
o  Type the Name of the calendar (i.e. Math 8 Calendar)
o  Paste the copied URL in the URL box by using the shortcut “Ctrl + V” (You copied this in the last step)
o  Set “Type” as Web Site.
o  You can create and assign the calendar to a group. (This is a good idea if you teach different content areas because you can organize information better.)
o  Click Save.
Link file to an assignment
·  Open or create the class assignment in PowerSchool gradebook you would like to link your Google file from.
·  In the assignment details under “Description” type some directions for students. (i.e. If you missed today’s notes you can find them here:” or “If you were absent you can find the worksheet here:”)
·  Then choose “+Link” under the word “Description”
·  Choose the “My Content” tab at the top and select the file to be attached to this assignment. And select “OK”

Some online training and information on Google Sites and Google Docs

Google Sites

http://www.google.com/sites/overview.html

https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?continue=http%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com%2F&service=jotspot&passive=true&ul=1

https://www.google.com/support/sites/?hl=en

Google Docs

https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=writely&passive=true&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2F&ltmpl=WR_tmp_2_lfty&nui=1&utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-bk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=google.docs

Google Docs for Educators

http://www.google.com/educators/p_docs.html

A few hints:

For students to see documents, they must be made public

In your gradebook make categories for your links (as this becomes more important, you will want it organized)

When putting in kids assignments, you may want to post as a PDF so students cannot change.