Teacher Guide 14 August 2014
1. Welcome 2. Quick Start – Ge7ng Going 2.1 About the Skoolbo Pla=orm 2.2 2.3 2.4
Usernames and Passwords Download the Skoolbo App for Students Configure your Devices
4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8
Customising your Avatar The Main Page Ge7ng Started Different Types of Games Exploring the Main Page My House & Racing Vehicles Se7ngs Web Browser Version
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Key Pedagogies Playing Skoolbo
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5.
Teacher Dashboard
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School Dashboard
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5.1 5.2
Results Sec[on of Teacher Dashboard Admin Sec[on of Teacher Dashboard
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Admin Sec[on of School Dashboard – Teachers Tab Page 21 Admin Sec[on of School Dashboard – Students Tab Page 22
7. Le]er to Parents 8. Best Tips 9. Zalairos Adventures – Audio Books 10. Upcoming Developments 11. Contac[ng us
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Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 28
1.
Welcome
We are thrilled to welcome you and your students on Skoolbo. Skoolbo has been created for one purpose – to help ensure every child masters reading and basic numeracy. All aspects that have gone into the design of the program have this in mind. We believe inherently in the value of moCvaCng children to love their learning. We also believe in providing teachers with great tools to assist them in their incredibly difficult job of meeCng the needs of each child. We share your passion! We are commiGed to making Skoolbo accessible to every child and every school regardless of socioeconomics. Please share with us your Skoolbo experiences and help us create the best possible learning program for children. Thank you for joining with us on the Skoolbo journey. With very best wishes, Shane Hill – Skoolbo Founder 14/08/2014
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Quick Start – Ge7ng Going
About the Skoolbo Pla=orm
Skoolbo for Students Students may access Skoolbo via: 1. Tablets – iPads and Androids (Win 8 coming soon). These apps are downloaded from the various app stores. They are able to be played both online and offline. We highly recommend tablets for children aged six and below due to their ease of use. 2. Desktops – PC and Mac. These desktop applicaCons are downloadable from www.skoolbo.com.au/downloads and need to be installed on each computer. They may also be played in both online and offline mode. 3. Web browser via hGp://dashboard.skoolbo.com.au/ – this html 5 version is designed for when either the tablet or desktop version is not possible. It’s a simpler 2D interface and not quite as much fun for the children. The browser version is helpful for schools if their school computer network protocols make playing on tablets or desktops difficult.
Students will need headphones to play Skoolbo in a class environment.
Students should be encouraged to download tablet or desktop versions at home. Learning results are automaCcally shared between home and school.
Skoolbo for Teachers and Curriculum Coordinators Skoolbo has both Teacher and School Dashboards. The Teacher Dashboard is designed for the teacher to see the results of his or her students and to set the curriculum. The School Dashboard is designed for curriculum coordinators / principals / learning support teachers to be able to see the results of all students in the school and to manage the school roll.
Both the Teacher and School Dashboards are web browser based and accessed via hGp://dashboard.skoolbo.com.au/.
A teacher app for tablets / smart phones / desktops will be available shortly.
Skoolbo for Parents Skoolbo will soon have a Parent Dashboard. The parent will be able to view his or her child’s results. The Parent Dashboard will be web browser based and accessed via hGp://dashboard.skoolbo.com.au/. There will also be a FanClub app available shortly enabling parents and grandparents to play learning games with the child. 14/08/2014
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Usernames and Passwords •
Sign in to the School Dashboard at hGp://dashboard.skoolbo.com.au/ using your school’s username (School Code) and password – this will have been forwarded to you in an email.
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Go to Admin and select Teachers. Teacher and student usernames and passwords can be downloaded in Excel format or be printed. Teachers will need their usernames and passwords to access the Teacher Dashboard. Teachers may change their passwords in the Teacher Dashboard by clicking on the down arrow of the Welcome tab.
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Usernames and Passwords (ConCnued)
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Student usernames and passwords may be obtained two ways: 1. Through the Admin secCon of the School Dashboard, every class may be accessed. 2. Through the Admin secCon of the Teacher Dashboard, teachers may access only their classes.
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By default, all student passwords have been set to We have done this to make ge_ng going in class with young children as simple as possible. We recommend that teachers encourage children to set a new colour and animal password that they can easily remember. They can do this by visiCng Se7ngs within Skoolbo. Teachers may also change student passwords within the Admin secCon of the Teacher Dashboard and the School Dashboard.
The student Sign in process has been specifically designed so that a 4 year old may do it independently without any adult help.
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2.3
Download the Skoolbo App for Students
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Visit www.skoolbo.com.au/downloads to download the app for your devices (tablets or desktops). The app version provides the best experience for children. Many schools will require support from their Network Administrator to install the Skoolbo app. School networks can be complex and may block the Skoolbo app by default. Generally Network Administrators are able to solve this issue by allowing: hGp://au-‐core-‐service.cloud.net hGp://skoolbo-‐assets.s3.amazonaws.com Schools that are encountering difficulCes with running the app version may use the web browser version by having students sign in at hGp://dashboard.skoolbo.com.au/. The web browser version should avoid most network issues. The web browser version will run on most modern web browsers, although it cannot run on Internet Explore 8 and below. If you run this version for your normal web browsing then please try Google Chrome. You may require the assistance of your Network Administrator for this.
Please contact
[email protected] for technical assistance
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Configure your Devices
To make it easy for young children to access the app we have created a Sign-‐In shortcut.
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Open the tablet or desktop app. Select SCHOOL.
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Enter your School Code and Password.
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Select your class.
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Select your avatar.
Children simply click on their Avatar and then enter the colour and animal password.
Note: If a teacher would like to play the game, they need to create and avatar for themselves on the dashboard (see Create New Student on the School or Teacher Dashboards).
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3.
Key Pedagogies
ü Mo[vate, mo[vate, mo[vate! Do everything possible to moCvate the child into learning. ü Immediate feedback and support – Children instantly know if they are on the right track and support is given to them precisely at the most teachable moments. ü High volume and fast paced – Efficient learning with students typically making more than 200 responses in a 15 minute period. The 60 second nature of the reading and maths games provide an intense learning period where children can devote 100% focus and this results in extremely rapid skill development.
Skoolbo Spiral Learning Algorithm The Skoolbo Spiral Learning Algorithm is designed to give every child the opCmal curriculum regardless of his or her actual age or level. It starts by pre-‐tesCng the child in literacy and numeracy and then conCnues to reassess aher each game. An ideal blend of new content, not yet mastered content and revision content is served to each child. Many teachers have indicated that this inbuilt differenCaCon is one of the strongest features of Skoolbo. Teachers also have the ability to customise the program and set specific curricula for their students.
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4.
Playing Skoolbo
4.1
Customising your Avatar Customise your avatar. Avatars are an extremely important element for helping the child bond and take ownership of the learning program. We want children to feel genuinely that they are in the coolest of learning worlds. We are effecCvely trying to glamourise learning.
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This is the game’s main page. By clicking on the Avatar children can change its appearance at any Cme.
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4.2
The Main Page
Total number of correct answers
Click to play a learning game
Short, medium and longer term learning goals
Rewards Star where children can exchange their Bo Coins! My House -‐ A place to keep cool things
Displays full contents of the curriculum Bo Coins – rewards for learning (a new player is given 1000 to start) Se_ngs
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4.3
Ge7ng Started
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Press Play on the main page. You will be taken to the Warp Room to find a match. Please be aware the people you are playing with might not be online at the Cme – they are, however, real games that they have been played on Skoolbo. Warp Room
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The first four games on Skoolbo are pre-‐tests. The results from the pre-‐tests are used to pitch the student at the right level of the curriculum. The Skoolbo Spiral Learning Algorithm is designed to give every child the opCmal curriculum regardless of his or her actual age or level.
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4.4
Different Types of Games Key Learning Principle • Create a game environment where children forget they are learning. It’s OK to make mistakes and there’s great incenCve to do your best. • Learning sprint – children devote 100% focus during the 60 seconds and this leads to tremendous learning and improvement. • Immediate feedback and support.
Flying game
Dance game
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AddiConal game types as appropriate to the curriculum. There are racing, running and dancing games. In the dance games (leh) your avatar does cool dance moves when you get the quesCon right.
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4.5
Exploring the Main Page The curriculum
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The full set of curriculum may be selected from the Contents secCon accessed by a buGon at the boGom of the main page.
Inside the Reward Star
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You may exchange your Bo Coins for reward items at the Rewards Star Bo Coins are earned by playing learning games. Bo Coins cannot be purchased with real money.
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4.6
My House & Racing Vehicles Inside My House
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You may enter My House by clicking on the house. This is where your reward items are stored.
My Racing Vehicles
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You may select a new racing vehicle by clicking on the plane on the main page You can acquire more racing vehicles from the Rewards Star.
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4.7
Se7ngs
Se7ngs (the red cog) at the boGom right of the Skoolbo screen can be used to change volume levels, change passwords, log a student out and exit the game. Background music and sound effects may be reduced. This does not effect the loudness of the voice that asks the quesCons. Note: Sound issues on iPads Please check: • In Se7ngs that the Mute funcCon has not been enabled and that the side switch has not been set to the On posiCon. • The volume has been turned up on the iPad.
If children want to set a new colour and animal password that they can easily remember, they can do this by clicking on the Change Password buGon.
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4.8
Web Browser Version The web browser game main page
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Students may access the web browser version via hGp://dashboard.skoolbo.com.au/. The web browser version is recommended when playing the app on either desktop or tablet is not possible. The web browser version requires a modern web browser (IE 9 or above, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox). The web browser version requires Internet connecCvity. Learning data on the web browser version is automaCcally shared with accounts on other planorms – desktops and tablets.
Playing the web browser game
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5.
Teacher Dashboard
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Sign in to the Teacher Dashboard via hGp://dashboard.skoolbo.com.au/. The Home page provides both a general summary and a Newsfeed. The Newsfeed lists the recent student highlights. Coming soon: • Reports area that provides detailed reports for students. • Curriculum Se7ng that enables teachers to select parCcular topics for each student.
Admin area allows viewing student usernames and passwords, changing student passwords, moving classes and deleCng student accounts.
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5.1
Results Sec[on of Teacher Dashboard
Select class Select student
Mastery Key Indicates the extent to which a student has mastered the concept
Select Literacy or Numeracy
Expand or collapse
Curriculum Se7ng Coming soon – this is where teachers are able to set parCcular tasks for students Shows the percentage improvement in a curriculum area
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5.2
Admin Sec[on of Teacher Dashboard
Student’s name, class and password can be edited. Student can be moved to a different class or removed altogether.
Select class name Create new student account
List of class login details
Download or print a list of class log in details 14/08/2014
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6.
School Dashboard
School Dashboard contains similar funcConality to the Teacher Dashboard except it is able to access all class data. Class results
Reports (coming soon)
Manage classes including usernames and passwords
Newsfeed highlighCng significant achievements
LeGer for Schools to send to Parents
Class summaries
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6.1
Assign Admin Sec[on of School Dashboard – Teachers Tab different classes to teacher or delete teacher account altogether.
Assign a different teacher, move all students to another class or delete a class altogether
Assign different classes to teacher, create new class name or delete teacher account altogether.
Create new class* and assign teacher/s to new class
Create new teacher and assign class/es to new teacher
List of teacher login details
Download or print a list of teacher log in details *Class names must be entered in uppercase, e.g., 3SMITH or 5B. 14/08/2014
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6.2
Admin Sec[on of School Dashboard – Students Tab
Assign a different teacher, move all students to another class or delete a class altogether
Student’s name, class and password can be edited. Student can be moved to a different class or removed altogether.
Create new class* and assign teacher/s to new class List of student login details for the selected class
Add new student to class
Download or print a list of class log in details CreaCng a new student and ediCng a student’s profile can also be done from the Teacher Dashboard.
*Class names must be entered in uppercase, e.g., 3SMITH or 5B. 14/08/2014
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7.
Le]er to Parents
We encourage students to play Skoolbo both at school and at home. Skoolbo has created a Le$er for Schools to send to Parents with instrucCons for parents on how to access Skoolbo at home. Teachers need to add the student’s username to the leGer.
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8.
Best Tips
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Start small – get it right and expand out. Test on your computer before trying with the class. Introduce to class as a whole on the smart board and then look to move them on to individual computers. Consider using tablets for children six and under. Younger children find these much easier to use than desktops and laptops. Skoolbo works on iPads (2 and higher) and most Android tablets. It’s fine to have only a few tablets shared amongst the class – you do not need one to one devices. Skoolbo works perfectly in a staCon approach in class. Have only a few playing Skoolbo at once – this will help you concentrate on acCviCes with other children and will also place less pressure on your Wi-‐Fi. Five x 20 minutes per week – at least 1 session at school every two weeks. School sessions help moCvate students. Recognise achievements 1. 1,000 Correct answers in class & note/email home. CerCficate on wall. 2. 5,000 Correct answers at assembly & school newsleGer. Involve the parents – have a parent evening. Set the class/school a challenge, e.g. 25,000 correct answers over the next 10 days! Consider giving house points for certain achievements. Include Skoolbo widget (coming soon) on blog or website. MOTIVATE – MOTIVATE -‐ MOTIVATE
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9.
Zalairos Adventures
Download Skoolbo’s Zalairos Adventures. There are 25 audio books with more than 12 hours of enthralling content – and currently you can download them all for free! Simply search “Zalairos Adventures” on the iTunes or Google Play app stores. The Zalairos Adventures are designed to insCl a love of stories and books in children. They are a wonderful series filled with dastardly villains and impossible predicaments. The stories have been developed to help children with their reading and comprehension skills. They are beauCfully illustrated and narrated. The narraCon can be turned off for more advanced readers. At the end of each story there is a comprehension secCon. Children can select between listening to stories or reading independently. The Zalairos are the characters that the children will ohen play with in Skoolbo. The Zalairos have a interest age of 5 through 12 and the books are opCmised for a reading age of 8+.
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Upcoming Developments
Student Area • Ability to play with friends and family • FanClub creaCon Teacher Area • Curriculum Se_ng • Alerts • Reports • Syllabus Tracker • Full class special acCviCes for display through a data projector or interacCve whiteboard • Teacher app for tablets / smart phones / desktops Parent Area • Parent Dashboard • Alerts • Reports • FanClub app Languages • Late 2014: the release of Skoolbo Languages – content and games designed to assist children learning English as a Second Language as well as English speakers learning another language. Healthy Kids • Late 2014 will see the release of Skoolbo Ac[ve – units designed to promote a healthy, acCve lifestyle. 14/08/2014
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Parents and grandparents will be able to download the FanClub app to play directly with the child. This can even be down when the child is at school away from the parent or grandparent – they may even be on the other side of the country or world. Children really love being able to play learning games with their family members. Grandparents will enjoy it immensely.
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Special celebraCons scenes involving avatars of the enCre family. The FanClub app is designed acknowledge the child’s successes in a fun and moCvaCng manner.
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Contact Us
[email protected] @skoolboAU
facebook.com/SkoolboAU
02 6112 8508
Skoolbo Australia Pty Ltd Unit 10, 26 Francis Forde Boulevard FORDE ACT 2914
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