Using “Groups” in EL Commons – A Tutorial

1. Using “Groups” in EL Commons – A Tutorial January 26, 2012

2. Welcome to learning in a new way in our network... Groups is the newest component of EL Commons – it’s a networking feature that supports discussion, resource sharing, and communication about events that pertain to a specific “group” of people in the network, small or large, near or far. Its purpose is to improve teaching and learning across the network and to be a place where community is built through collaboration and conversation.

3. Learning Targets This PowerPoint will help you with the following target: • I can interact in Groups. This means I can: • Manage my account • Navigate around my “Groups” home page • Respond to posts • Create a new post or event • Manage my Groups The target we’re after over time is: I can use Groups to improve teaching and learning and to build community.

4. Why Groups? Groups supports Expeditionary Learning’s strategic goal of building a network of schools that are consistently excellent in implementation quality and results. Our theory of action is that by using EL Commons, network members and schools will improve their implementation of the model, leading to student achievement scores that outperform their non-EL peers.

5. The Power of Informal Learning Informal learning through Groups is another way for all network members, regardless of their role, to direct their own learning, supported by other quality resources already housed in EL Commons in the Library, Planner, and Student Project Archive. 80% of our learning is done informally “Informal learning is the unofficial, unscheduled, impromptu way most of us learn to do our jobs. Informal learning is like riding a bicycle: the rider chooses the destination and the route. The cyclist can take a detour at a moment’s notice to admire the scenery or help a fellow rider.” - From Jay Cross’s “Informal Learning” Blog: http://www.informl.com/the-informal-learning-page/

6. Managing Your Account – Getting Ready to Join Groups • The first step is to check your account for accuracy and upload a profile image. • Since we are a nationally-distributed network, it’s important to use the real thing. • Please use your full name instead of a nickname or email address, and choose a real picture of yourself as your profile image, so that if others users click on your name, they’ll be able to say, “That’s him! That’s her!”

7. Click here first Then click Edit Ensure that your user name is your real, full name

8. Now click on “Profile Have a picture of yourself saved to your desktop. Click “Choose File”, “Upload”, and then “Save”.

9. Voila! When you see your real name and your profile image, you’re done with the first step.

10. Code of Conduct When you use Groups in EL Commons, and whenever you use the “Comment” feature built into other aspects of EL Commons, we assume agreement to our Code of Conduct. The complete document can be found as a post in the “EL National” Group as well as in the Library (Under EL Commons > Groups). Here’s the upshot: • Treat people with kindness and compassion. • Seek to understand and be helpful. • Assume positive intent. If you follow these basics, the details of the policy won't need more than a cursory mention.

11. Navigating around your Groups Home Page –Latest Activity There are two parts to your Groups Home Page. The TOP section shows you “Latest Activity”, which lists the 5 most recent posts from ALL of your groups. To read the whole post, see comments, or reply, click on the title – which in this example is “Economics anyone?” Access your Groups Home page the same way you get to other components of EL Commons Here’s how you can tell which Group(s) the posting was made to. You can click on the name of the Group to see all the activity in that particular Group.

12. Navigating around your Groups Home Page – My Groups • There are two parts to your Groups Home Page. The BOTTOM section shows you “My Groups”. Here, you have sub-tabs that make it easy to: • Get an overview of your • Groups • Check unread posts • Manage your posts • (update, check replies, • delete), • See upcoming Events • across for all of your groups • at a glance.

13. Responding to a Post You can reply to the original post by clicking “Add new comment”. You can reply to someone else’s comment by clicking “Reply”

14. Creating a New Post or Event Once you are inside of a particular Group, you will see two entry points for creating a new post or event – in the blue toolboxes on either side of the page.

15. Creating a New Post Start by creating a title and selecting which of your group(s) you want to post to. You can include text, embed links, add large or small images, and attach files to your posts. Once finished, hit “Save”!

16. Creating a New Event Want to remind your Groups about upcoming events, gatherings, professional development, meetings, or more? You’re ready to Create an Event. Enter the name, date(s), description, location, and Group(s) you want the event posted to. Then hit “Save”. Once you’ve saved, events show up on the top of the Group’s page. Events disappear after the date has passed.

17. Joining a Group Don’t see the group you were hoping to find? You can start the group yourself by clicking on “Suggest a Group”. (Haven’t you always wanted to be an Administrator?) On the “Join Groups” tab, you can search for a specific group or browse through the list. When you browse existing groups, you will see a list of public groups; private groups don’t show up here. Some groups you can join instantly; for others you request membership. You can quickly see the size and activity of the group.

18. Joining a Group Once you join a group, you’ll have several options in your toolbox, and you’ll be able to see all posts and events. If you click on one of the Group names in the browse list, you’ll be able to see the longer purpose statement for the group and join it, or not.

19. Managing Your Groups On the “Manage Groups” tab, you’ll see a list of your groups with descriptions. Click on “Edit membership” to leave a group. If you are an administrator of a group, you can manage the group’s members. You can also suggest a Group from this tab (and from the “Join Groups” tab).

20. Managing Your Groups – Adding and Inviting Members If you have started a PRIVATE group, click on “View ‘x’ members to add members. Members will automatically be joined, but can always choose to leave. If you are part of a PUBLIC group, click on “Invite a colleague” to send out invitations to others to join.

21. If you choose to start a Group, or if you are a Group administrator We WANT people across the network to start and manage groups that they are passionate about, and therefore willing to put some energy toward. If you “Suggest a Group”, the EL Commons staff will immediately receive an email and approve the Group as quickly as possible – our role is just to ensure that duplicate Groups aren’t created. You’ll receive an email once your Group has been approved. Then, you’ll be able to add members (if it’s a private group), invite members (if it’s a public group), and create posts and events. Once your group is approved, please take care of it. Seed, feed, and monitor the conversation.

22. FYI - Your “Starter Kit” of Groups and Email Notifications • The system is designed to automatically link you your school(s), region, and the EL National Group. You can leave groups, join public groups, or create new groups as you wish. This is why it’s sometimes referred to as “organic groups” – the groups morph to suit the needs of the network and reflect how people really work. • You will be receiving one “update” email per day to the account you registered with on EL Commons. This email will inform you about the activity in all of your groups and provide you with links so that you can immediately access a post, catch up on a conversation, and see new events. • To change any of your settings, go to the “Manage Groups” tab.

23. Health and Care of Groups When a Group is BORN, give it energy. Help us create community and improve teaching and learning through participating. • Ask questions. • Create posts. • Communicate about events. • Share your thinking. • Take a risk. • Celebrate. If you are an administrator of a Group… • If a Group’s purpose has RUN ITS COURSE, please delete it. (There are several choices about what to do with the content once you hit “Delete.) • If a group should LIVE ON, but you can no longer manage it, please transition the administrative duties to someone else.

24. The Invitation... • Really give groups a try. This functionality is just like having empty rooms in a big ol’ house; they are not very interesting until people get there and bring them to life. • Remember that it’s about improving teaching and learning, AND we value community and relationships as a part of that mission – not everything needs to be serious. Feel free to have fun, get creative, and be innovative! • Help make all of EL Commons the “go-to” place by using it, contributing to it, and teaching others about it. It’s our collective space.