Curriculum Services

Guide to using Technology in the Secondary Classroom for

Synchronous Instruction

This document is to help you understand how we will be approaching Synchronous Learning this year.
The intent is to help you connect students at home with the classroom environment and maximize what
you are doing in the classroom instead of having to provide separate lessons for students face-to-face
and online.

This document is meant to be a companion piece to the many resources that have already been created
to support distance and online learning. These resources can be found here:
https://staffnet.hcdsb.org/C10/Distance%20Learning/default.aspx

There are 9 Appendices to this Document to help teachers understand how to safely and effectively use
the technology in their classrooms.

Synchronous Learning (adapted from PPM 164):

 happens in real time

 uses text, video, or voice communication to connect and instruct educators and other members
of the school- or board-based team with students in real time.
 Does not mean that a “device” is on in the classroom at all times
 Allows teachers to give feedback to students, answer questions, and have students interact with
each other in a variety of different ways

Overview: Using Technology safely and keeping your classroom space private

 Classroom Spaces (virtual meeting spaces for you and your students) should be set up inside
Microsoft Teams, as you can control who enters your classroom through the ‘lobby’ function
(See Appendix 1 and Appendix 2). While Google Classroom does have many of the same
features as Microsoft Teams, the Lobby function requires a separate add-on.
 Links to these Classroom Spaces should only be shared through your Virtual Learning
Environment (e.g., D2L, Google Classroom) because they require students to login to access
these spaces
 Classroom Lessons are not to be recorded or posted for students to access later for privacy
reasons (e.g., you will not be recording your P1 synchronous lesson and then posted for
students to view later). However, teachers can certainly create content (e.g., narrated
PowerPoint or recorded video for blended learning) that can be shared within your Virtual
Learning Environment.
 Review the Online Code of Conduct (Appendix 9) with your students, and have discussions about
how to work together both face-to-face and online safely while respecting privacy
 Take the time to establish clear norms and routines with your students in each class on the first
day, so they can understand what is expected of them. Review these regularly with students
and adapt as necessary.
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 Ensure the technology in the classroom (e.g., web device, ThinkSmart Device) is positioned in
such a way that students can see what is being written on the board (See Appendices 4 – 6)
 Ensure students are not in device range

Suggested Learning Plan for Teachers: September 8th – 11th

By the end of the day on Tuesday:

1) Learn how to create a class Team in Microsoft Teams (Appendix 1)

2) Learn how to create a Classroom Meeting Space (Appendix 2)
3) Practice using a Meeting Space with colleagues so that you can become comfortable with using
the technology and understand what students can see
and hear at home.

Suggestion: A great way to practice with a colleague is by using

the “Call” function in Microsoft Teams, found on the left-hand
side of the Teams Screen. Click “Call”, and then type the last
name of your colleague.

NOTE: do not have both of your laptops nearby when you are
doing this, or you will get a lot of feedback!

Hit the Call button at the bottom of the screen. It will now call
your colleague through Microsoft Teams. You can then practice
turning the device on and off, using the tech in your classroom,
etc.

4) Learn how to Share Content through Microsoft Teams,

like a Powerpoint or Smart Notebook Screen (Appendix
3)

By Friday:

1) Learn how to share your Blackboard/Whiteboard using

the Technology (ThinkSmart Device, HD Webcam, HD
Camcorder) in your classroom (Appendix 4, Appendix 5,
Appendix 6), and begin planning how you can use this functionality in your classroom
instruction.

Tips for Online Lesson Delivery:

 Before beginning the lesson, always create a meeting space that has a ‘lobby’ (Appendix 2) This
allows you to control when students enter the space and keep others from joining the call.
When you admit students, use this as your opportunity to take attendance.
 Consider the goals of the lesson: what do I want students to know or do by the end of the
lesson, and what technology can I use to best deliver the lesson?
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 Consider having a minds-on or diagnostic activity that students can work on when admitted,
while waiting for others to join
 Beginning a class with prayer reminds us all of the shared relationship we have with God.
 Before you begin instruction, check in all students are logged in, that their audio is functioning,
and that they can access the chat
 If you are using your device to share your classroom, keep it focused on the lesson, not your
students (e.g., use the device strategically to show students at home your
blackboard/whiteboard)
 Provide a daily agenda outlining leaning goals and time for practice
 If using the Smartboard during a live lesson, darker markers are better from a student’s view –
blue or black. If screen-sharing, this is not a concern.
 If a student asks a question in class, repeat the question, write it on the board and/or
paraphrase it, to ensure remote learners and students in class with masks heard it
 Anything that you can share through your Virtual Learning Environment rather than given as a
paper handout saves you having to provide it as well for online students
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Appendix 1: How to create a Class in Microsoft Teams

Login to
Microsoft Teams.
The easiest way
to do this it to
type “Teams” in
the bottom left-
hand corner of
Windows, and
then click on the
Microsoft Teams
App. You can also
use a web
version of Teams
through
portal.office.com
.

Click on the
Teams Icon on
the left-hand side
of the screen

Click Join or
Create Team in
the top right-
hand corner of
your screen, then
click Create a
Team, then Class.
Give your class a
unique name
that is easily
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identifiable (e.g.,
Mr. Smith’s Gr. 9
English Class –
ENG1P1-03)
Add your
students to the
class by
searching by last
name. Note: you
will need your
class lists when
you do this, as
you will want to
verify the last 3
numbers in their
username
matches the last
3 numbers of
their Student
Number.

Add yourself as
the teacher,
using the same
process.

Congratulations!
You’ve created
your first class!
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Appendix 2: How to create a Classroom Meeting Space in Microsoft
Teams
In the top right-hand
corner, click the
arrow beside Meet,
and click “Schedule a
Meeting”
Enter the details of
the meeting (e.g.,
Mr. Smith’s Gr. 9
English Virtual
Classroom, 8:30 –
11:15.)

Because you have already added your students to your Class Team, you do
not need to invite them individually. When you hit “Send”, it creates a
calendar invite they can see when they login to Teams and hit Calendar,
generates an email to their Office 365 Account, and creates a Message Post
inside Teams that students can also use to join the Classroom Space.
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VERY IMPORTANT:
Once you have
created the
Classroom Space, it
will come up in the
Posts, as well as the
class calendar. Click
Calendar and find the
meeting.

Click on the meeting,

and it will reopen the
Meeting Details.
Click Meeting
Options.

This will launch a

Browser Window (it
is possible you will
have to sign in).

Ensure that you

select the following
options:
Who can bypass the
lobby? – Only Me
Who can present?
Only Me.

This ensures that you have control over who can come into the classroom
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space, and when they come in (just like a locked classroom door), and that
only you can share content. As you become more comfortable with this, you
may choose to allow students to also present materials. Click Save and close
the Browser Window.

If you want to share

the meeting link to
your D2L classroom
or your Google
Classroom, just copy
the link at the
bottom of the
meeting. This link
should only be
shared to a space
that students have to
login to in order to
gain access. In other
words, if you are
going to share the
link, use only your
Virtual Learning
Environment to share
the link.
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Appendix 3: Teach a lesson when you are sharing your screen (e.g.,
Sharing a Powerpoint, video, or other content)

1) Turn on desktop or laptop that is connected to your projector, along with your projector.
2) Launch Microsoft Teams and join the class meeting space that you have set up for your lesson.
Very important – to avoid feedback, ensure your microphone is muted, along with your
computer or laptop speakers.

NOTE: the audio/video you will be using for your lesson will be coming from the ThinkSmart
Device.

3) Click the Share Screen Icon

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4) Choose the content you want to share in the toolbar at the bottom of the screen

5) Click on this content – it will now be visible on your screen (assuming all the connections are
working) as well as through the projector.

6) If you are using a laptop and projector with the HD Camcorder/HD Webcam, you can ignore
steps 7 – 11. You can advance the content on your presentation by either using the arrows on
the screen (if you have a SmartBoard or touch-enabled whiteboard), or by using your mouse on
your laptop. You can unmute the microphone so students can hear you and activate video so
students can see you. You can simply stop sharing by hitting the Share Screen icon again.

If you have a ThinkSmart Device:

7) Turn on the ThinkSmart by plugging it in.

8) You may be prompted to login: use the same email username and password as you do for any
Board device. Once you are logged in, your Class Meeting should come be visible on the tablet –
click Join.
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9) When you join, you will be muted, and videowill be off. Touch the ThinkSmart Screen to turn on
the audio and video as needed.

You can speak over the content you are presenting by

unmuting the microphone on the ThinkSmart, and you can
appear on video by clicking the left button.

10) When you are ready, admit the students into your classroom from the lobby from your
desktop/laptop and take attendance as you admit them. (See Appendix 2 for more information
on how to create classroom spaces with a lobby)
11) You can advance the content on your presentation by either using the arrows on the screen (if
you have a SmartBoard or touch-enabled whiteboard), or by using the arrows on the bottom of
the ThinkSmart screen.
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12) When you are ready to stop sharing your content, click “Stop Presenting” at the bottom of the
ThinkSmart screen.

It is possible that when you stop sharing content, your device may not show you full-screen on student’s
devices – this does happen on rare occasions. If this is the case, leave the meeting, and rejoin as you did
in step 7 to fix this problem.
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Appendix 4: Using the ThinkSmart in your Classroom: Sharing

your whiteboard or blackboard
1) Turn on classroom desktop or laptop.
2) Launch Microsoft Teams and join the class meeting space that you have set up for your lesson.
Very important – to avoid feedback, ensure your microphone is muted, along with your
computer or laptop speakers.

NOTE: the microphone and video you will be using for your lesson will be coming from the
ThinkSmart Device.

3) Click on this content – it will now be visible on your screen (assuming all the connections are
working)

4) Turn on the Lenovo ThinkSmart – it needs to be plugged in.

5) You may be prompted to login: use the same email username and password as you do for any
Board device. Once you are logged in, your Class Meeting should come be visible on the tablet –
click Join.
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6) When you join, you will be muted and video will be off. Touch the ThinkSmart Screen to turn on
the audio and video when ready.

Note: while the Thinksmart can be angled to view whiteboards/blackboards that are on the side of the
classroom, you will need to practice to see what size handwriting is best for students if writing on the
Board, and how well students can see when the device is angled.

7) When you are ready, admit the students into your classroom from the lobby using the
desktop/laptop, and take attendance as you admit them.

8) When you are finished the teacher-led portion of the lesson, turn the audio and video off on the
ThinkSmart Screen.
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Appendix 5: Using the HD Camcorder in your Classroom - Sharing

your whiteboard or blackboard
1) Turn on the laptop/Chromebook that you will be using
2) If the device is not connected by USB to your device, connect the USB cord to your computer
and then connect the USB cord to the device by opening the back panel and plugging into the
mini USB port. (It is like plugging in a phone to be charged).

3) The device should power on when connected. Open the side panel on the device. You will see a
‘welcome’ screen, and a black screen with 3 options: MSDC, PCam and DV.
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4) Use the toggle switch on the top of the device to move to PCam

5) Press the Power button on the side of the device.

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6) The screen will then change to show a small webcam icon. Your device is now ready to be used.

7) Launch Microsoft Teams on your laptop/Chromebook and join the class meeting space that you
have set up for your lesson.

NOTE: the microphone and video you will be using for your lesson will be coming from the HD
Camcorder.

8) When you join, you will be muted and your video will be off. When you are ready, unmute your
audio and video.

Note: while the HD Camcorder can be angled to view whiteboards/blackboards that are on the side of
the classroom, you will need to practice to see what size handwriting is best for students if writing on
the Board, and how well students can see when the device is angled.
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9) When you are ready, admit the students into your classroom from the lobby, and take
attendance as you admit them. (Information on how to create a classroom meeting space with
a lobby can be found in the companion document – How to Create a Classroom Meeting Space)

10) When you are finished the teacher-led portion of the lesson, simply unplug the USB cord from
your laptop.

Troubleshooting:

It is possible that you will have to select the HD Webcam as the video source (rather than your laptop
webcam). If this is the case, in MS Teams, once you have joined your class space, click on the 3 dots, and
then “Show Device Settings”.

You can then select which device you are using under the Device settings.
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Appendix 6: Using the HD Webcam Device in your Classroom -

Sharing your whiteboard or blackboard
1) Turn on the laptop/Chromebook that you will be using
2) If the device is not connected by USB to your device, connect the USB cord to your computer (It
is like plugging in a phone to be charged). Your computer may have to install a piece of software
the first time you plug in. You will know that it’s working when the red power light is on:

3) Launch Microsoft Teams on your laptop/Chromebook and join the class meeting space that you
have set up for your lesson. Be sure to toggle the audio and video so they are muted for now.
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NOTE: the microphone and video you will be using for your lesson will be coming from the HD
Webcam Device.

4) When you join, you will be muted and your device will be off. When you are ready, unmute
your audio and video.

You will know video is active when the green light turns on, and you should be able to see
yourself on screen. If not, move down to ‘troubleshooting’ to address this issue’

Note: while the HD Webcam can be angled to view whiteboards/blackboards that are not centered in
the classroom, you will need to practice to see what size handwriting is best for students if writing on
the Board, and how well students can see when the device is angled.

5) When you are ready, admit the students into your classroom from the lobby, and take
attendance as you admit them. (Information on how to create a classroom meeting space with
a lobby can be found in the companion document – How to Create a Classroom Meeting Space)

6) When you are finished the teacher-led portion of the lesson, simply unplug the USB cord from
your laptop.
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Troubleshooting:

It is possible that you will have to select the HD Webcam as the video source (rather than your laptop
webcam). If this is the case, in MS Teams, once you have joined your class space, click on the 3 dots, and
then “Show Device Settings”.

You can then select which device you are using under the Device settings.
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Appendix 7: Best Practices for a Synchronous Lesson

Begin with what they know and identify gaps in Student Learning:

 Use diagnostics (e.g., minds-on activity, check for understanding) to help determine student
strengths and gaps
 Attend to learning gaps as challenges arise or before a new lesson
 Focus on student strengths – what can you build on from what they already know?
 Start planning with the end in mind. Know the big ideas that your students need to understand
and the skills that they will require to achieve them before planning activities/assignments.
 Do NOT assume students know how to use your Learning Management System. Start all classes
with the basic ‘how to’ and continue reminders/review until students become more comfortable

Differentiated instruction:

 Access student voice by getting to KNOW your learners – interests, readiness, learning
preferences
 Allow for multiple entry points for learners on tasks – low floor, high ceiling
 Provide opportunities for choice in assessment that align with your learning goals
 Include students in the assessment and evaluation process – this is where Learning goals and
success criteria are important for the student to reflect on. Students need to understand grades
are based on criteria.
 Consider linking expectations to assignments/activities and accessing directly against them. This
can be done seamlessly in D2L. It also helps to give teachers an Overview of what expectations
have been “covered”. Progress towards achievement can be tracked in “View Progress” for
individual students from the class list drop-down.
 Consider Video Note or similar tools to deliver timely, individual feedback
 Create Groups using the Groups tool in D2L and set up release conditions based on Group (great
for supporting IEP students but also for group work). This tool can even set up individual
“groups” to provide private communication between the teacher and student. Useful for setting
up reflection journals in discussions, etc.
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Appendix 8: Best Practices - Classroom Management and Synchronous

Learning
 Set up classroom norms for behaviour – same as if students were in class. e.g. raising hands
before speaking, how to ask questions, no cell phone calls/messages/recording.
 Include norms around online learning: when you will be available/unavailable to answer emails,
where to find course materials, how to navigate the online environment, online meeting
expectations etc.
 Clear communication with parents regarding responsibilities of students participating at home
 Encourage but do not require students to have their devices on (their home situation may not
be conducive for this). Instead, consider other ways for them to participate and show
engagement e.g., audio only, chat, polls, consistent pairings for breakout rooms etc.
 Include active learning strategies. For information on active learning strategies including tips on
how to adapt them to an online environment visit
https://www.queensu.ca/teachingandlearning/modules/active/12_exmples_of_active_learning
_activities.html
 Make sure that the class online page is easy to navigate! Consider using a tool such as checklist
in D2L to provide a central location with links to what you want students to know/do. For
information on how to create an effective homepage go here:
https://community.brightspace.com/s/article/Creating-an-Effective-Course-Homepage-In-
Brightspace
 Refrain from activating audio and video recording functionality, unless you are only recording
content (such as a narrated presentation or short video for blended learning). Do not record
students without consent.
 Consider how you will connect with students even when not teaching directly so those students
who are at home can raise their hand to ask a question. Check back on a regular basis to reply
to those students.
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Appendix 9 – Online Code of Conduct

Students are expected to:

 Treat other students and school staff with dignity and respect.
 Represent only themselves online. Students should never pretend to be someone else or allow
someone else pretend to be them.
 Complete all work assigned to the best of their ability while adhering to rules around plagiarism.
 Always protect their password(s) and schoolwork so others cannot take advantage.
 Use appropriate and encouraging language when posting opinions, critiquing others and
chatting on school platforms.
 Immediately contact the teacher if they are having issues with class platforms (e.g., password no
longer working, difficulty submitting work, concern about cyber-bulling, etc).
 Notify their teacher should they feel their work has been compromised, copied or used without
their permission.
 Be aware that inappropriate behaviour online could result in disciplinary action as per our
Progressive Discipline policy
 Follow the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations while engaging in distance learning

Related Documents:
 Use of Technology and Digital Citizenship - HCDSB
 Progressive Discipline and Safety in Schools - HCDSB
 Assessment and Evaluation: Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism - HCDSB
 Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations - HCDSB