Coming Soon! echalk Enhancements & New Features

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SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS LEARN ABOUT IT: ECHALK COMING SOON! (SPRING/SUMMER 2012)

Coming Soon!

eChalk Enhancements &

New Features

Look for these new enhancements and features that are coming soon:

• Google Docs Integration

• Submit Google Docs via the Homework Drop Box

• Subscribe to a Class/Group Calendar

• Preview a Public Class or Group

• New RTE in Classes and Groups

• New Layout Manager Regions

• New Custom HTML Content Area

Google Docs Integration

• We’ve taken Google Docs integration beyond just single sign on, to produce a more collaborative and engaging method for teachers and Group Administrators to incorporate Google Docs in a safe & secure way within eChalk’s classroom and groups.

• A Teacher and Group Administrator will be able to embed an existing Google Doc inside a

Class/Group resource page. In addition, customers that have enabled Google Docs integration will be able to create a Google Doc (Document, Presentation, Spreadsheet, and Drawing) as they create their Class/Group resource.

STEPS TO CREATE A GOOGLE DOC: 1. Navigate to a Group or Class. 2. Select the ( ) to Add a Resource 3. Enter a Title for the resource link and

Google document.

4. Choose one of the 5 Google Doc types (Document, Spreadsheet, Presentation, or Drawing), and your newly created Google Doc will display.

5. Create your content, and then go back to eChalk, and Save the Resource.

NOTE: Sites that do not have Google Docs integration enabled will be able to create a link to an existing

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Figure 3 - Create a Google Doc – Document Figure 2 – Select the Google Doc type

Quickly and easily create a new Google Doc from your eChalk Class/Group Resources.

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Figure 4 - Create a Google Doc - Spreadsheet

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Submit Google Docs via the Homework Drop Box

• Other exciting news for schools that have enabled Google Docs integration. Students or pupils of a class will be able to submit a Google Doc (Document, Spreadsheet, Presentation, Drawing, etc.) as a homework submission via the Homework Drop Box.

TO SUBMIT A GOOGLE DOC VIA THE HOMEWORK DROP BOX (FOR STUDENTS): 1. Navigate to a class.

2. Choose an assignment with a Homework Drop Box icon ( ). 3. Click Submit Your Homework.

4. Choose Add from My Files, select Google Docs from the drop-down menu, and then select the Google Doc file to attach as your homework submission.

See Figures 7-9 for more details. Figure 6 - Create a Google Doc - Drawing

Figure 7 – Submit Your Homework

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Figure 8 – Add from My Files

Figure 9 –Attach Google Doc as Homework Submission

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Subscribe to a Class/Group Calendar

• Class and Group calendars have been enhanced to include iCal subscription and export event options. Subscribing to an eChalk Class/Group calendar from an iCal supported calendar (e.g. Google or Live@edu Calendar, etc.) will enable the user to see new updates, and modifications automatically without having to do double entry.

STEPS TO SUBSCRIBE TO A CLASS/GROUP CALENDAR USING iCAL:

1. Navigate to a class or group to view the Events area or the monthly calendar. 2. Choose the iCal icon ( ).

3. Copy the URL that’s provided, and add it to any calendar that supports iCal subscriptions (e.g. Google Calendar, Live@edu Calendar, Outlook, etc.)

All new events that are added and any modifications that are made will be visible automatically.

See Figures 10-11 for more details.

Figure 10 – Subscribe to a Private Class/Group Calendar (Class/Group Homepage view)

Look for the iCal icon to subscribe to the events

calendar for that Class/Group.

Figure 11 – Subscribe to a Public Class/Group Calendar (monthly calendar view)

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Preview a Public Class or Group

• The new Class and Group Preview option enables teachers and group administrators to preview their public class and group without having to logout of the site.

STEPS TO PREVIEW THE PUBLIC CLASS AND GROUP:

1. Navigate to a class or group while logged in to your eChalk account.

2. Choose the Preview Public Page button. The public view of your class/group page will appear.

Figure 12 – Preview Public Class/Group while logged in

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New RTE in Classes and Group

• Teachers and group administrators will be able to take advantage of the same robust functionality that site managers have in Manage Site. The new Rich Text Editor (RTE) in Classes and Groups will include:

 Additional fonts

 A robust find and replace tool

 Undo and redo options

 Better support for copying and pasting from Microsoft Word

 A character counter, and…

 Four Media Managers with unlimited space to store: Images, Flash files, Multimedia, and Documents which a teacher and group administrator will be able to access from anywhere that the Rich Text Editor is available!

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New Layout Manager Regions

• Site Managers and Administrators can use two new regions on their homepage and subpage Page Types to include additional images and other content. The new Top Header Region displays above the Login Region and the Bottom Footer Region appears below the Sub Footer Region.

• The two content areas that we recommend using in these regions are the Custom Image and the

Custom HTML areas.

TO ADD CONTENT TO THE TOP HEADER REGION OR BOTTOM FOOTER REGION: 1. In Layout Manager, add a new layout or edit an existing layout.

2. Choose the Page Options tab and choose either the Top Header Region or Bottom Footer Region from the Add to: drop-down menu.

3. Select a Content Area to add from the Available Content Catalogs list. (eChalk recommends using either the Custom Image or Custom HTML content areas in these regions.)

4. Click Add.

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Figure 16 - Top Header Region

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New Custom HTML Content Area

• The new Custom HTML Content Area can be placed in any available region on the homepage. This area can be used to create scrolling images, and banners using your own custom HTML / JavaScript code. This area will provide lots of flexibility for Site Managers and Administrators that understand how to use HTML code.

TO ADD THE CUSTOM HTML CONTENT AREA TO A REGION:

1. In Layout Manager, add a new layout or edit an existing layout.

2. Choose the Page Options tab and choose a Region from the Add to: drop-down menu. 3. Select Custom HTML from the Available Content Catalogs > Main Content list and

click Add.

4. Choose the Customize menu option, enter a title for the Custom HTML area, and enter or paste your custom HTML / JavaScript code into the box.

5. Click OK to save.

NOTE: Only use this area if you are familiar with HTML/JavaScript. Entering incorrect, incomplete, or

invalid code in this content box may create homepage display issues that will impact all public site visitors. Proceed with caution when using this content area.

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