Top 3 Ways to Integrate Schoology and Google

With the adoption of the Schoology Learning Management System (LMS) at BASD, many teachers kicking the tires on the integration of Schoology and Google. They are counting on the promise the the two systems will work well together.  While the two systems are managed by two different companies, they have made some great strides in working together. But sometimes things CAN go wrong.

Top 3 Ways to Integrate Schoology and Google

1. Have your students set up to the Google Resource App so they can pull directly from their Google Drive!  

This works great on Chromebooks and eliminates a lot of steps. In fact, they can CREATE Google Documents in the Google Resource App (under their Resources Menu > App). Here are some instructions on how to do that!

2. Utilize the Schoology Drive Google Assignment tool to distribute Google Documents to your students and access their work during the creation process! 

At our district, it has already been installed in all courses. Here are directions on how to get started! This document approaches it from a teacher and student perspective.  Here is a Schoology support page about the functionality and some things to keep in mind.

It is projected to be compatible with the Schoology Mobile app in October of 2017.

3. Get the Browser Settings Right for Google. 

Have your students been seeing these message when THEY try to access the Google Drive Assignment or the Google Drive Resource app? Make sure third party cookies are NOT being blocked in your browser if planning to use the Google integration in Schoology. Check out how to unblock them here. If they are being blocked, there will be error messages in both the Schoology Drive Assignment tool AND Google Drive Resources app. 

NOTE: If teachers see the access denied message when accessing an assignment and third party cookies are enabled, there could be another explanation for that. 

Here is video on how to clear these messages and get it working again!

BONUS! 4. Check out Schoology's FAQ About Google Drive Assignments in Schoology!

Leaders Can Be Anywhere

In my line of work as a Technology Integration Specialist in a public school district, I work with a lot of great teachers. There are forward-thinking projects going on school wide as well as pockets of innovation in each department or classroom. One of the most powerful ways to convey a message about innovative learning strategies is to have a teacher share about what they are doing in their classroom. Why? Because the strategy is explained in a honest to goodness real life context - the good, the bad and the ugly. Very often a teacher tells an anecdote about how it has made a difference in their classroom or in the life of a kid. Teachers sharing experiences with each other is often the most powerful way to instill change of practice or innovation in classrooms.

I make it a habit to ask teachers to share what's going in their classrooms to inspire other teachers to utilize that strategy or tool. Sometimes when I ask some teachers to share their experiences to other teachers, they are very reluctant to do so. Sometime the venue affects their feelings ("In front of the ENTIRE faculty?! No way!"). Most often they construe sharing what's going in their classroom as "bragging". Or they predict their colleagues will think less of them BECAUSE they shared what they are doing.

At face value, it doesn't seem to make sense. I liken this situation to where a student in a class creates an amazing project. Educators would want them to share what they learned, how they did it, etc. But for a student, sharing this kind of information with their peers runs counter to what they are told to do.  Keep to yourself. If you try to look good, you must be trying to gain favoritism with someone.

Unfortunately, we live and work in a community that touts great achievements but douses individuals who try to share good things that they do every day.