Getting Started with eChalk

For Teachers

What is eChalk?

eChalk’s unique online learning eChalk’s unique online learning environment provides your school with its environment provides your school with its own electronic “town square” where own electronic “town square” where teachers, students, administrators, and teachers, students, administrators, and parents can…parents can…

COMMUNICATECOMMUNICATECOLLABORATECOLLABORATECONNECTCONNECT

……together.together.

As a teacher, eChalk enables you to:

Keep parents and students Keep parents and students up-to-date and accountable with up-to-date and accountable with important class information.important class information.

Interact with students using safe Interact with students using safe and secure email, online class and secure email, online class discussions, and surveys.discussions, and surveys.

Save time by using online Save time by using online publishing tools to post class publishing tools to post class activities, projects, and activities, projects, and resources.resources.

Using Your Online eChalk Community

Your Your school’s school’s homepagehomepage will will feature important feature important school news and school news and announcements, announcements, upcoming events, upcoming events, faculty information, faculty information, and school and school resources.resources.

SCHOOL

Using Your Online eChalk Community

Teachers use eChalk Teachers use eChalk Class PagesClass Pages to provide to provide anytime, anywhere anytime, anywhere access to homework access to homework assignments, project assignments, project requirements, learning requirements, learning resources, and resources, and announcements.announcements.

CLASSES

Using Your Online eChalk Community

eChalk even eChalk even enables the PTA, enables the PTA, the library, student the library, student clubs, teams, and clubs, teams, and academic academic departments to departments to participate in your participate in your school’s online school’s online community using community using eChalk eChalk Group Group PagesPages..

GROUPS

Using Your Online eChalk Community

Where safety and Where safety and security are important, security are important, your school can utilize your school can utilize both the both the publicpublic and and privateprivate features of features of eChalk.eChalk.

PRIVATEPUBLIC

PUBLIC

CLASSES GROUPS

SCHOOL

An online school calendarA school directoryAnnouncementsSchool ResourcesOnline classroomsOnline group pages

eChalk Student-Safe™ emailWeb-based file storageExpanded online classroomsExpanded online group pagesOnline DiscussionsHomework Drop BoxGrades Publishing

Public Tools Private Tools (requires login)

Language filtering to eliminate inappropriate language Language filtering to eliminate inappropriate language (customized by your school/district)(customized by your school/district)

Spell-check Spell-check

Return receipts Return receipts

File attachmentsFile attachments

ForwardingForwarding

eChalk Student-Safe Email Includes...

Screening to prevent undesirable incoming and outgoing Screening to prevent undesirable incoming and outgoing emails (customized by your school/district) emails (customized by your school/district)

The ability to "close down" the system and allow emails The ability to "close down" the system and allow emails only between certain groups within the schools or district only between certain groups within the schools or district

Private Tools for Students/Teachers

Students and parents can view assigned work and events for all of their classes in one place.

Students and parents can view assigned work and events for all of their classes in one place.

Private Tools for Students/Teachers

The Private Class PagePrivate Class Page enables students to view class

events, tests, and quizzes; submit assignments; participate

in online discussions; and access class resources.

The Private Class PagePrivate Class Page enables students to view class

events, tests, and quizzes; submit assignments; participate

in online discussions; and access class resources.

Let’s Go!

1st Time Login1st Time Login

ACCEPTACCEPT user policyuser policy

CREATECREATE new passwordnew password

COMPLETECOMPLETE your Profileyour Profile

1

2

3

Go to our school Web site: http://______________________________

Enter your username and temporary password to complete your…

What is an eChalk Profile?

An eChalk profile page is An eChalk profile page is a personal Web page a personal Web page provided for each faculty provided for each faculty & staff member in your & staff member in your school.school.

Enter a short Enter a short biographybiography and/or personal and/or personal messagemessage in your profile in your profile to share with parents to share with parents and your school and your school community.community.

The eChalk Scavenger Hunt

MY EMAIL

MY ACCOUNT

MY SCHOOL

My Email

MY EMAIL > InboxYou receive and read email in your Inbox. When you want to send an email to someone, click on Write Mail. To browse through your other email folders, click on Folders.

My Email

MY EMAIL > OptionsYou can customize many aspects of your eChalk email account including auto-delete settings, auto-forwarding, a message signature, and auto-reply options.

If your district provides its own email service, teachers can setup the Auto Forward option in their eChalk account.

My Account > FilesMY ACCOUNT

The My Account>Files area is your online file storage space or, “digital locker.” It allows you to store application files, such as Microsoft Word documents, spreadsheets, or PowerPoint presentations. You can access your files from any computer that is connected to the Internet.

My Account > BookmarksMY ACCOUNT

Have a favorite Website? Store that Website’s address (or “URL”) in eChalk. Your My Account>Bookmarks area allows you to keep those links in one place that you can access from any computer with access to the Internet.

My Account > ProfileMY ACCOUNT

Faculty and staff can view and edit their biography, change their account password, and add a photo to their eChalk Profile in the My Account>Profile area.

My SchoolView School News and Events!

Find out what’s going on at your school! View school announcements, the school calendar, and participate in online discussions. Use the Find Members tool to locate and email other teachers and students in your school.

Make sure you click each checkbox and

click the Next button at the bottom of the

page.

Using eChalk Class Pages

Uses for classes

Creating my class

Publishing content to my class

Examples of classes

Teachers use eChalk Class Pages to…

Keep parents and absent students up-to-date with important class information,

Leave assignments and resources for substitute teachers,

Interact with students via email, online class discussions, and surveys,

and more…

eChalk Class PagesUsing eChalk Class Pages can help teachers…

Easily manage curriculum resources & materials

Enhance their curriculum with 21st Century learning tools

Provide differentiated instruction

Make learning targets clear to students

Hold students accountable for developing good work habits

Using eChalk Class Pages can help students…

Develop good work habits

Strengthen communication skills

Actively participate in curriculum activities

Utilize 21st Century resources for learning

Creating a Class…1, 2, 3

Choose subject & visibility

Enter class name & grades

Review class member list

1

2

3

and FINISH

Let’s Go!

Class Page Tools

Organize and publish assignments, projects, tests, quizzes, and more in the Work and Events area.

Display class reminders and announcements in the Announcement area.

Post your syllabus, relevant Web sites, student work, photos, and more in the Resources area.

Start online debates, host reading responses, or collaborate with other teachers in the Discussions area.

Homework

Course Description

Syllabus

Class News

Links to Web sites

Project information

Policies and/or procedures

Lesson plans

Examples of student work

Homework

Course Description

Syllabus

Class News

Links to Web sites

Project information

Policies and/or procedures

Lesson plans

Examples of student work

OTHER EXAMPLES:

eChalk Tips for Teachers

Resources for a unit on food chains

Scavenger hunt for a unit on food chains

Surveys

Student Artwork

What do teachers publish?

3 different page layouts for an eChalk class page:

PUBLIC VIEWParents, students, or other individuals who do not have a

username/password.

MY CLASSESTeacher(s) of classStudents who are

members of class

MY SCHOOLOther teachers and students in the school

who are NOT members.

Views of a Class Page

The “Public Class Page” enables parents, students, and teachers to view online

class page announcements, homework assignments, class events, and class

resources without needing a username/password.

The “Public Class Page” enables parents, students, and teachers to view online

class page announcements, homework assignments, class events, and class

resources without needing a username/password.

TEACHER view – Class HomepageBy clicking on the title of their class in

My Classes, teachers can view their

class homepage and add content.

TEACHER view – Class HomepageBy clicking on the title of their class in

My Classes, teachers can view their

class homepage and add content.

MY SCHOOL view – CLASS HOMEPAGEOther teachers and students who are NOT members of your class can

also view your class in the MY SCHOOL area.

MY SCHOOL view – CLASS HOMEPAGEOther teachers and students who are NOT members of your class can

also view your class in the MY SCHOOL area.

MY CLASSES viewTeachers and students can view assigned work and events for ALL of their classes in one place.

MY CLASSES viewTeachers and students can view assigned work and events for ALL of their classes in one place.

Questions?

Remember--eChalk is completely Web-based; you can access your eChalk account from any computer with Internet access!

eChalk’s private intranet keeps your personal and class information secure.

eChalk provides ongoing support:

• eChalk comes equipped with online help, the eChalk Support Center, screen tips and step-by-step handouts to help you navigate.

• Your school has a designated Site Manager to answer any other questions.

• Call 800-499-2741 or email eChalk Customer Support, support@echalk.com any weekday from 8 am to 7 pm EST.