1. Integrating
Blended
Learning
Tools
in
Secondary
Math
This has been the year where the digital tools finally start to talk to each other. If you are
feeling overwhelmed by all the different tools and going to a million different sites online, try
using some of these tools to tie everything together. This “how-to” document will help you
make use of some free, accessible tools to support your math class in a blended learning
environment.
Overview:
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D2L – the “glue” that holds all the tools together, an online classroom
Components could include:
! Course content/lessons
! Dropboxes to submit work
! Voice comments and feedback
! Quizzes
Google Apps for Education (GAFE) or Google Drive integreated with D2L
! Collaborative documents
! Desmos graphs
! Geogebra graphs
! Spreadsheets
! Drawings
Gizmos – integrated with D2L
Homework Help – integreated with D2L
Learn 360 videos – integrated with D2L
Extending
the
Opportunities
–
Taking
it
to
the
Next
Level
•
•
•
•
Socrative quizzes
Creating remedial/catch-up work based on quiz assessments (individualized learning)
Embedding Media
o Voicethreads (students can record voice and writing on screen)
o Video (youtube, Khan academy, vimeo, etc.)
o Padlet (virtual cork board)
o Mural.ly (virtual whiteboard/corkboard)
o Quizlet (digital flash cards)
o Slideshare (embedded slide presentations)
o Voki (talking head/audio recording)
CK-12 – create-your-own digital textbooks with practice opportunities
jcalder@scdsb.on.ca
This document can be found at: http://personalizinglearning.ca

2. Part
1:
Getting
your
D2L
Classroom
Set
Up
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•
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Log into D2L: http://scdsb.elearningontario.ca
Courses are automatically set up for each section you teach.
To activate your course follow the instructions on this document
To change the look of your class site, follow the instructions on this document
o At minimum, it is recommended that you activate the MSS or PSS template
theme. Follow these instructions
Your course is now active. Use this link to access great resources supporting you with
using D2L - https://sites.google.com/site/lmsguides/ .
o You can add documents, create dropboxes for students to submit files,
discussion forums, quizzes, etc.
o Email elearning@scdsb.on.ca for help with D2L
o D2L is a very involved tool, ask for help and support.
Part
2:
Getting
Google
Apps
Set
Up
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•
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•
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Use this resource to set up your SCDSB Google Apps for Education
Use this resource to see how a student can submit files into D2L from Google
This resource can help you use Google Forms to collect information from students
Google docs generally work well on most devices. However, the presentations do not
work on iPads
When you are in Google Drive you can choose to create a document, presentation,
spreadsheet, form or drawing.
You can choose to add apps like Desmos and Geogebra. Use this document to help
you do that.
jcalder@scdsb.on.ca
This document can be found at: http://personalizinglearning.ca

3. Part
3:
Using
Google
Docs
in
Math
•
•
General google doc support: http://learn.googleapps.com/docs
Create documents, spreadsheets or presentations
Insert equation or drawing. Helpful in math
class.
Part
4:
Desmos
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Go to https://www.desmos.com/ or if you have added the desmos app (see part 2), you
can simply go “Create” and then “desmos”
Desmos generally works well on any internet device
General Desmos User Guide:
https://desmos.s3.amazonaws.com/Desmos_User_Guide.pdf
Log into Desmos using Google Account
Click on “untitled graph” and check off “send a copy to Google Drive” when saving file
The graph is now saved as a PDF file in your Google Drive. It can be shared or
uploaded to D2L as any file could be (for assessment).
TIP: Create a dropbox in D2L for graph
submissions. Put the instructions and a
link to desmos.com in the description of
the dropbox. A one-stop shop for the
learning activity.
jcalder@scdsb.on.ca
This document can be found at: http://personalizinglearning.ca

4. Part
5:
Geogebra
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•
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Go to: http://geogebraweb.appspot.com/app.html .
If you have added the Geogebra app to Google Drive (see part 2), you can go to
Google Drive and “create” and “geogebra”.
There are also apps for iPads, Google Play and Windows Tablets.
Login on the top right with your google account
When finished, click Save As
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Choose “Save to Google Drive”
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The file now shows up in your google drive and you right click it to share with someone
or you can upload it to D2L in a dropbox.
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In D2L:
jcalder@scdsb.on.ca
This document can be found at: http://personalizinglearning.ca

5. Part
6:
Gizmos
*only
work
on
laptops
with
flash
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Click on the Gizmos icon on the front page of your course. You will have to log in using
your Gizmos account.
If you do not have a Gizmos account, use this help document. Note: you will have to log
into the SCDSB staff website to access that document (because it has secret codes in
it)
Be SURE to access Gizmos by clicking on the icon on the
homepage of your D2L course (do not access it from the regular
website or another course)
Select “Create new one” to create a class
•
A course matching your D2L
course is automatically created
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Add gizmos to this class. See this help document here for gizmos support.
TIPS:
- create a dropbox in D2L. In the instructions tell students which Gizmo to complete (one
that you have added to your class already). They can submit the worksheet that goes
with the gizmo to the dropbox.
- Direct students to click on the Gizmos icon on the front page of the D2L course. This
will add them to your class and they will see the gizmos you select.
jcalder@scdsb.on.ca
This document can be found at: http://personalizinglearning.ca

6. Part
7:
Homework
Help
*only
works
on
computers
with
flash
-
Students can access Homework Help through D2L without
knowing their OEN
They should click on the HomeworkHelp icon on the front
page of your course
Their OEN will automatically populate and they
just need to enter their date of birth to confirm
the account creation.
They can now access homework help easily
through your D2L class anytime by clicking the
link
Part
8:
Learn
360
-
A repository of educational videos
Use the “Learn 360 Link Generator” widget on your
homepage.
Click on the Learn 360 icon to enter and find the video
you like
Once you find the video you like, copy the last 6 digits
of the URL (web address) as circled in red below
Enter those 6 digits into the link generator
Click Generate Link
Copy the Link in the space below
Now, go to course content in D2L and “New’, “Create a Link”. Paste the link into the
space and save.
A new content piece that links directly to that video is created so that any student can
watch it from whatever device they have logged
into D2L with
jcalder@scdsb.on.ca
This document can be found at: http://personalizinglearning.ca

7. Taking
it
to
the
Next
Level
Part
A:
Socrative
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This tool allows you to create multiple choice or short answer quizzes that can be
accessed on any device. Sometimes it is worth using this tool instead of the D2L quiz
function because you can project the class results and responses on the board. Great
for generating conversation, sharing student thinking and taking up activities.
Socrative User Guides can be accessed here:
http://www.socrative.com/garden/?page_id=2
You can share quizzes with other teachers. See this document for help on importing
shared Grade 9 Applied EQAO practice multiple choice quizzes.
Part
B:
Using
Standards
to
Support
Differentiated
Instruction
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you can create quizzes that are connected to learning objects and goals
you can create content pages (extra help tutorials, interactive activities, videos, practice
problems, etc.)
you can set up “restrictions” on these extra help content pages so that depending on
how a student does on specific questions on a quiz, they show up in the students D2L
course. If the student does fine one topic, no extra help content shows up. If they need
help on one topic, extra help shows up.
This takes quite some time to set up (contact me at jcalder@scdsb.on.ca for help), but
is well worth it to allow students to “pump up” their learning and mark in specific topics
These modules that you create can be used year after year
If you want to see an example, I can share the Grade 9 Gap Closing material
diagnostics with you. Students complete quizzes on topics such as “Fractions”. If they
need help with multiplying fractions they get the gap closing material in their D2L. If not,
it doesn’t show up.
This is an advanced feature, but well worth setting up to differentiate practice for
students. Ask for help!
jcalder@scdsb.on.ca
This document can be found at: http://personalizinglearning.ca

8. Part
C:
Embedding
Media
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Embedding a Google Drive folder into D2L: http://youtu.be/9dkBoFJ_g_I
Embedding Padlet into D2L: http://youtu.be/HNVwpMHPkH8
Embedding an OERB activity into D2L: http://youtu.be/XJ0cMXE1USY
You can embed anything with an embed
code:
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create a content page by going to
“content” and then ”new” and then
“create a file”
give your page a title and then click on
the “insert stuff” icon (looks like play,
pause, stop buttons)
when the insert stuff box opens
up, choose “Enter Embed Code’
on the left. Paste in the embed
code and click next
the media will now show up in the
content page
be sure to save your page
jcalder@scdsb.on.ca
This document can be found at: http://personalizinglearning.ca

9. Things
you
may
like
to
embed:
Tool
Voicethread
Link
www.voicethread.com
Youtube
Padlet
Description
- upload images or
powerpoint and students
and teachers can leave
audio and written comments
- video
- cork board
Mural.ly
Quizlet
SlideShare
- cork board, whiteboard
- flash cards
- embedded powerpoint
www.mural.ly
www.quizlet.com
www.slideshare.com
Voki
- talking head with audio
recording
www.voki.com
www.youtube.com
www.padlet.com
Resources
http://voicethreadeducatio
n.wikispaces.com/
http://youtu.be/HNVwpMH
PkH8
http://quizlet.com/help
http://help.slideshare.com/
home
https://docs.google.com/fil
e/d/0B7L_VqFVw5ZvT2RJ
WnZ3VUpxNU0/edit
Part
D:
CK12
Digital
Textbooks
-
http://www.ck12.org/
free
take chunks and chapters of a variety of pre-created content and make your own digital
textbook
edit content
add in interactive activities
add in practice that suits your students
help section: http://help.ck12.org/hc/en-us
jcalder@scdsb.on.ca
This document can be found at: http://personalizinglearning.ca