We all get stuck sometimes! Students, teachers, and everyone in between are presented with challenges in their lives that can seem almost impossible to overcome or think through. It can be difficult to break down an issue and brainstorm solutions.
In today’s digital landscape, hackers and bad actors have developed increasingly sophisticated methods. Their main goal is to steal personal information for malicious purposes and wreak havoc on your system. There are many digital pitfalls.
Digital learning is fantastic for a lot of reasons. (Hello, personalization, learning from anywhere, and gamification!) But hiccups–like forgotten passwords and problems finding apps–eat away at the time teachers and students have for all that awesomeness.
Beginning July 5, 2023 ClassLink has been monitoring and assisting schools investigate posts of directory data (Posted Directory Data) made on https://breachforums.vc/ by a threat actor named “FentanylTroia”. Collectively, the posts now impact 223+ organizations, nearly all of which are K12 or Higher Ed orgs, and the directory data for 4.5+ million people (for nearly all the institutions, only name and emails were posted, thus the description ‘directory data’… most in the industry do not consider name and email to be ‘Personally Identifiable Information’ (PII)).
Looking for reliable lesson plans, engaging learning resources, and more? Look no further than the Smithsonian! Many of us know of the Smithsonian as a collection of incredible museums and zoos but it has even more to offer than you might have realized!
SAML signing certificates are essentially SSL certificates that ensure messages come from the expected identity and service providers. SAML certificates authenticate and secure SAML requests, responses, and assertions between software systems.
As humans, we do our best to support one another; however, sometimes it’s simpler for us to connect with our trusted animal friends to destress, express ourselves more freely, and find a place of emotional comfort. That’s where therapy dogs come in!
We know it’s a hectic time of year, but we’re here to help with plenty of BTS resource options. This month we’re sharing a new virtual event for admins and walking you through the next steps in our BTS Checklist. We’ve even added quick micro-videos to make steps super clear. Let’s get started!
Summer has arrived, and ClassLink Academy is sizzling with excitement. ☀️ We've got new Roster Server and LaunchPad CMC Professional certifications that make excellent summer training resources (and we're sharing free exam codes below). Plus, we've added OneSync Rollover steps to the BTS checklist, and we've been nominated for a Learning and Development Award.
As selfless people pleasers, teachers don’t often put their needs first, and with so much focus on other aspects of education, administrators, and leadership also overlook educator well-being. However, with the rapidly rising number of educators looking to leave the profession, it has become glaringly obvious that educator mental health must be prioritized.
We’ve updated the Deal Board with new deals from powerful apps that focus on math, motivation, and workplace management–First in Math, CritterCoin, and Grouptrail–just in time for summer spending. Watch in the coming months for new deals! New additions to the Deal Board will be made every six months starting in July.
It’s that time of year again when school administrators are closing the books on the 22/23 school year and preparing for the 23/24 school year. There’s a lot to do, so be sure to review Step 3 of the Back-to-School Checklist and check out our product-specific reminders below!
You’ve set yourself up for success by being choosy about the best platform for your school or institution. You’ve cultivated gorgeous feeds by providing high-quality, goal-focused content while also staying engaged with your audience! Now it’s time to put the cherry on top—use all tools at your disposal to make sure your presence packs a punch!
Unfortunately, the web is filled with fake login pages for many popular sites (Google, Microsoft, all the social media sites, etc.). Just google “fake login page”, and you’ll see tons of hits. Cybercriminals who want to steal sensitive information create these fake login pages.
You’ve found the best place for your message and created eye-wateringly delicious pages that align with your institution. Now it’s time to turn up the heat by setting goals for your marketing activities! It’s crucial to establish goals for your social media. Instead of posting blindly, ask yourself: “What do I want to accomplish for my school, institution, or district?”
As April showers wash away the winter chill and bring things back to life, we’re joining in here at ClassLink Academy, showering you with fresh updates! 🌧️ We’re sharing our brand new Arabic course, the latest in Roster Server, announcing gamification winners, and a few other tidbits. So put on your rain boots and hop into a puddle of what’s happening at ClassLink Academy. 💦
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
You’ve started arranging your presence in the digital world by choosing the best networks to support your school—now, it’s time to set the table! You’ll want everything arranged just so in order to attract the following you crave. Check out the tips below to discover what makes a quality social media presence.
It’s imperative to prepare students for an increasingly technologically advanced world– especially considering the fact that many current students are likely to be working in professions that don’t even exist yet! In this episode, Metaverse and AI in Education (Episode 103), we sat down with Dr. Wednaud J. Ronelus who has been trailblazing the use of AI and innovative teaching techniques in his classroom for decades.
No matter your feelings about social media, one thing is certain: social media has become an essential part of our daily lives. Which is why it’s no surprise that many schools and education organizations have recognized the importance of social media in education!
It’s that fresh and dewy time of year! Temperatures are going up, the likelihood of snow is going down, and Old Man Winter is packing it in for the year (hopefully). Here at ClassLink Academy, we’re excited to introduce you to our team, show you how we’re amping up help center articles, and share a seed that has finally bloomed, the Certified Cybersecurity Rubric Evaluator (CCRE). Let’s take a closer look at what’s budding at ClassLink Academy! 🌷
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
From amazing writers, to incredible school leaders, and forward-thinking educators, it has been our immense pleasure to sit down with and learn from innovative individuals from all walks of life! As we celebrate our 100th episode, A Retrospective on Our Podcasting Journey, we take a look at some of our “fireflies”, a term coined by our friend Kevin Honeycutt, to describe individuals who light up our lives.
In order to communicate effectively and maintain harmony, it’s vital to see things from the point of view of others, especially when it comes to competing points of view. Monica Guzman is an expert in exactly that. In this episode, I Never Thought of It That Way (Episode 92), we linked up with Guzman as she focuses on the most important ingredients for bringing people together–trust, receptiveness, and curiosity.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
It’s the new year, and we’re excited to share what’s happening with ClassLink Academy. We’re announcing our gamification champions, exploring the wonderful world of CEUs, and checking out the latest “What’s New” videos. Let’s take a look at what’s happening!
Now there’s a digital space where you can connect with (and learn from) other ClassLink Admins. The new ClassLink Community is the perfect place to post your questions and share best practices. Once you register, you’ll have access to your state or regional community group and a global community group.
Beginning her educational career as a kindergarten teacher and now serving as a Chief Technology Officer for North Carolina’s largest school district, Marlo Gaddis is one of the most influential educators in the state. Her work and leadership in technology gained her the distinction of being awarded the 2022 Technology Director of the Year from the North Carolina Technology in Education Society.
We’re improving the ClassLink Management Console (CMC)! As part of that work, we’ve added a new Security Report section in the CMC that will give you loads of useful security-focused information. For phase one of this upgrade, we’ve added two new security reports you can use to help enforce security policies. (Watch for more reports coming soon!).
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
Oh, the weather outside...may vary depending on where you find yourself. Regardless, this is the perfect time of year to cuddle up with a nice cup of something warm and enjoy some light reading. Grab your favorite mug, and we'll serve up what's new in ClassLink Academy!
What if you knew exactly what to expect when it comes to service and data security before ever paying a dime for your edtech? No surprises, disappointments, or frustrations. Sounds dreamy, doesn’t it? That is precisely the kind of peace of mind ClassLink’s ISO Certifications offer you.
It’s officially fall, there’s a spine-tingling chill in the air, and we’ve got a few great things cooking in our cauldron just for you. Learning and Development awards are open for submissions, we’re highlighting new Professional Development courses, and we’re announcing Quarter 3 winners while celebrating the kick-off of Quarter 4 gamification.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
When it comes to professional development (PD) for teachers, it’s time to change the status quo. That’s where Rich Czyz comes in! In this episode, Rogue Leader (Episode 78), we linked up with Czyz as he discusses the ways in which professional development can be revolutionized to stay relevant and useful to teaching staff.
It’s been proven time and again that a more diverse, inclusive workplace produces happier employees, more well-rounded problem-solving, and innovative solutions. That’s where ClassLink’s Management Professional Accelerator Coaching and Training (MPACT) program comes in!
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
It’s that time of year! School’s back in session, the weather is cooling down, and the leaves are changing! We’ve changed a few things too. We’re bringing you the latest in Q3 gamification, tidbits about the ClassLink Learning & Development Awards, our What’s New series, and the scoop on expired certifications.
Need your battery recharged? That’s Kevin Honeycutt’s specialty! Born of the difficulty and turbulence of COVID-19 and social upheaval, he’s found ways to reignite joy and spark passion within students and teachers alike. In this episode, Doing What Matters (Episode 73), we linked up with Honeycutt as he teaches us the importance of coming together, how to keep students and teachers passionate about instruction, and how to make creativity blossom in the face of adversity.
In our eye-opening episode, ‘The Science of Writing for Busy People’ (Episode 70), we linked up with Harvard professor, behavioral scientist, and lead researcher for Everyday Labs, Dr. Todd Rogers. He gives us valuable insights on optimizing communication between schools and families.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
Just as ClassLink Administrators have access to opportunities to hone their technical skills, your instructional leaders have access to a multitude of free professional development opportunities from ClassLink.
SAML signing certificates are essentially SSL certificates that ensure messages come from the expected identity and service providers. SAML certificates authenticate and secure SAML requests, responses, and assertions between software systems.
As the world adopts a new way of living due to COVID-19, here at LinkedUp we were curious about how schools are operating in the aftermath of the global pandemic. In this month’s episode, ‘The Toughest Year Yet’; Part 1 and Part 2 (Episodes 61 and 68), we linked up with Tom Ryan, Julia Evje, Geoff Brignola and Mary Roath to explore what unexpected challenges are being faced in this uncharted territory.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
Stressed about juggling summer school and your SIS data rollover? Don’t worry you can use our new Limited Imports feature or Blackout Dates in Roster Server to ensure students and teachers can access what they need through ClassLink—while you complete your summer rollover work in the background.
School’s out for summer. OK, almost, but you’re probably already thinking about a new school year—and a new budgeting season. ClassLink Analytics can help you make tough decisions around spending on digital learning resources. Here we share courses to help you get the most from that data, whether you’re new to ClassLink or a seasoned pro!
Preparing for the back-to-school season starts now. That’s why we’re sharing our popular (and detailed) back-to-school checklist. With this step-by-step list, you’ll know what to do at every stage of getting your ClassLink platform ready for a successful start to the school year.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
Spring has sprung and here at ClassLink Academy—and we’re buzzing with excitement to announce Q1 winners. And the fun doesn’t stop there, we’ve upped the ante for continuing education, added upvoting to discussion forums, and made a few cosmetic tweaks to the ClassLink Academy Course listing, because who doesn’t love a makeover? Let’s take a look at what’s just sprouting up and what’s in full bloom.
Here at LinkedUp, we love to explore the crossroads where education and technology meet, especially when they can be used as tools for social advocacy! This month we’re exploring Hidden in Plain Site (Episode 67). Hidden in Plain Site (HiPS) is an organization that uses virtual reality (VR) exploration to grow social advocacy through a historical journey of empathy.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
As 2022 rolls on we have exciting news from ClassLink Academy to make your learning experience even more magical! First up, our newly launched Discussion Forums will connect you with others like never before! Then, check your standings for our Q1 gaming competition. Finally, check out our latest ClassLink Academy initiatives as we reveal what’s in store for the not-so-distant future.
Now it’s even easier to use Roster Server with everything related to your Student Information System (SIS) easily accessible on the Imports page. Along with clear access to all your import tools, you can also clearly see where you are in the import process by clicking on the caret (down arrow) on the left.
In the final part of our Planning for Sustainability series, we look at how districts that used ClassLink avoided the struggle of learning from home and how these stories can help all districts as we move forward in an education system that is rapidly ramping up digital learning.
ClassLink Academy, ClassLink’s on-demand training platform, has a lot to offer in 2022! In response to feedback from our customers (maybe even you), we upped the magic in ClassLink Academy through Product Anthologies and Gamification Competitions — keep reading to learn more!
With the FBI warning that schools at all levels are facing an increased risk of ransomware attacks, MFA is a tool you can use now to protect your schools (and your data). Tenant admins can quickly enable MFA in your ClassLink platform as part of your cybersecurity efforts.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
In part three of our Planning for Sustainability series, we look at how monitoring general digital access trends (daily ClassLink logins) and establishing processes can help you establish and maintain device access (even when funding declines).
This month in our LinkedUp Podcast highlight, we're covering Episode 63: Implicit Biases and Their Ramifications. In this episode, Dr. Alan Phan (Founding Head of School, Royal Embassy Academy) shares what exactly implicit biases are, how we can recognize them and what we can do to combat them in our daily lives and work.
In part two of our Planning for Sustainability series, we look at how monitoring general digital access trends (daily ClassLink logins) and establishing processes can help you establish and maintain device access (even when funding declines).
We’re trying something new at LinkedUp! Each month we’re highlighting a recent podcast on the ClassLink blog because the information and ideas discussed are just so powerful and useful to educators they deserve a second look. This month we picked K12 Cybersecurity: Protecting Our Schools (Episode 59).
Do you want to analyze and increase app usage across your entire organization? A great place to start is providing your instructional support staff (technology coaches, math coaches, and other staff supporting teachers and students) with the ability to see your ClassLink Analytics data.
The years 2020–2023 are proving to be unprecedented in the world of educational technology. Some say that the amount of available federal funding will be the most we will ever have in educational technology! With that amount of funding, many school districts can build up their technology fleet and infrastructure systems of support.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
I know many of you are looking for ways to automate identity management so you can save time and—most importantly—ensure everyone has access to what they need when they need it. With that in mind, I want to share a conversion I had with Vestavia Hills City Schools CTO Keith Price and System Specialist Brendan Lovelady about how ClassLink has greatly improved identity management in the district.
Cybersecurity concerns are on the rise in schools across the country. To help all ClassLink schools keep their data safe, we will roll out a software update in early 2022 that requires all tenant admins to enable multi-factor authentication on all tenant admin user accounts.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
As you launch into a new school year we’ve pulled together some of our most popular resources to prepare you for the busy days ahead. Don’t worry, we've also included our regular installment of a useful resource for the month and helpful tech tips. Find it all below.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
Welcome to Student Outcomes: Connect the Dots With Usage Data. This is the final post in a three-part series designed to support education leaders in making informed decisions about digital resources. The series focuses on using data to ensure equitable digital learning access and using research to increase the instructional impact of digital resources.
Welcome to Student Outcomes: Connect the Dots With Usage Data. This post is the second in a three-part series designed to support education leaders in making informed decisions about digital resources. The series focuses on using data to ensure equitable digital learning access and research to increase the instructional impact of digital resources.
Welcome to Student Outcomes: Connect the Dots With Usage Data. This post is the first in a three-part series designed to support education leaders in making better decisions about digital resources. The series will focus on using data to ensure equitable digital learning access and using research to increase the instructional impact of digital resources.
Having done rostering for one of the largest districts in the country, I am very familiar with the struggles around the need to give access to a particular platform to teachers and staff who are not scheduled with students. I am talking about district resource teachers, reading, math, and science coaches, special ed teachers, aides, media specialists, administrators, and the like.
As you prepare for a new school year, we think it's helpful for you to know that ClassLink rosters Google Classroom no matter which level of Google Workspace for Education your district uses. Since 2017, school districts have trusted ClassLink to streamline and automate rostering for all four Google Workspace for Education offerings.
ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless. That approach is consistent with an educator’s mindset. As they learn, grow, and try new things, there is always an opportunity for new technologies to come into play.
Whether you call it learning loss, unfinished learning, or learning gaps, schools are sorting out ways to bring students up to speed after a long stretch of remote learning. In this post, we share what educators and education leaders are doing during the regular school year and summer school to help students catch up on missed learning opportunities.
In all the excitement of stimulus funds coming down to the local level and the requirements of addressing lost learning time, many new ideas are being floated on how to help students once full-time in-person instruction begins again. An idea being discussed by districts across the country is the idea of extended learning time.
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Each year Mental Health America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and other mental health organizations across the country organize events, webinars, and more to improve access to mental health resources and support.
Everyone committed to the education industry wants the same thing—success for schools. But that success requires that systems work together, exchange information, and are easy to access. ClassLink’s approach to vendor partnerships creates an environment where plug-and-play and interchanging apps aren’t just possible—they’re seamless.
April is National Volunteer Month, a month dedicated to honoring and encouraging our communities’ volunteers. April became National Volunteer Month as part of President George W. Bush’s Points of Light Campaign in 1991. It is the perfect time to recognize the impact that volunteer service can have on local and national challenges, building stronger communities, and transforming the world!
In the age of digital learning (both in and out of the classroom), educators, students, and staff need the technologies they use to work together so learning can stay on track. That’s precisely why ClassLink’s Partner Program exists—and why we’ve taken a transparent and inclusive approach to work with EdTech vendors.
Last year we shared data highlighting the remote learning experiences of ClassLink schools in the spring of 2020. The data painted a picture of schools making quick transitions to remote learning with relatively stable use compared to pre-pandemic numbers. With the fall semester complete, we revisited ClassLink Analytics data to see how student engagement with digital resources had evolved.
When I talk with teachers, I like to share tips and tricks for using ClassLink to save them time and make their day a little easier. Here I’m going to share those nuggets with you. Number one is my favorite for staying organized. Teachers tell me that number two is a gamechanger for saving time during busy school days, and number four is just plain fun.
Many classroom best practices can still work in remote and hybrid settings—with a little technology tweaking. Here I’ll show you how to translate six research-proven classroom best practices into remote and hybrid learning settings.
In an era of remote learning, school leaders need access to analytics that paint a clear picture of student engagement with digital learning resources. Without that data, it’s difficult to know whether students are engaged and learning or struggling and in need of support.
In March 2020, when schools shut down during the pandemic, students’ experiences with remote learning varied, and some media portrayals labeled it a failure. In this blog series, we will share real school experiences, along with guidance for how you can apply their success to make remote learning more effective.
A decade ago, the Kansas Online Learning Program emerged in the ether above the wheat fields in central Kansas. Our mission was to provide rural students with the same learning opportunities as their peers living in more affluent zip codes. In its ten year existence, the program more than quadrupled in size and resulted in heartwarming success stories.
Demands on school internet bandwidth change when schools switch to remote learning models. Schools often calibrate their bandwidth for large download speeds to satisfy in-school usage. However, when students and teachers are remote, the upload speed may matter more.
For decades, Learning Management Systems (LMS’s) have helped transform colleges and universities from exclusively face-to-face learning environments to blended and online learning experiences. A similar transformation is occurring in K12,especially as they adopt various LMS’s during COVID-19 related school closures.
The proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child,” has more relevance in 2020 than ever before. The 2020 village, in all its modern splendor, is raising children in a connected and digital world that requires more than food, clothing, and shelter. It requires a new and necessary utility—access to the Internet.
ClassLink, in partnership with CoSN and SETDA, recently released version two of the back to school plan rubric. Evaluation is one of the core elements included in the tool. In this post, we dive deeper into the factors districts should weigh when monitoring and evaluating the success of their plans for the upcoming school year.
