CLASS CONNECT NEWROW PILOT: MODERATOR GUIDE This document provides Newrow set up information, support, and pilot

guidance to prepare pilot moderators for hosting Class Connect sessions

in Newrow

C O M P A N Y C O N F I D E N T I A L / S C H O O L S T A F F O N L Y

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CONTENTS Pilot Overview........................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Pilot Goals ................................................................................................................................................................................. 2

Pilot Feedback .......................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Getting started.......................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Good to Know ........................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Class Connect Room Setup Options ......................................................................................................................................... 4

Newrow Session Type Options ................................................................................................................................................. 5

Quick Feature Overview ........................................................................................................................................................... 5

Classroom Management: Quick Reference .............................................................................................................................. 6

Newrow View Options .............................................................................................................................................................. 8

Newrow Participant FAQ .......................................................................................................................................................... 9

Upcoming Newrow Enhancements (prior to rollout) ............................................................................................................. 10

BbC vs. Newrow features ....................................................................................................................................................... 10

Additional Resources .............................................................................................................................................................. 12

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PILOT OVERVIEW The Class Connect Newrow pilot gives pilot school teachers and administrators the ability to test the process of

setting up, scheduling, launching, and hosting Class Connect sessions on the Newrow platform along with gathering

session data and attendance reports as usual from the Class Connect and reporting platforms. Newrow will replace

Blackboard Collaborate (BbC) for all Class Connect sessions throughout SY20-21.

Each session scheduled in Class Connect during the duration of the pilot can be scheduled in either Newrow or BbC as

needed to allow school flexibility in which sessions to host on the pilot platform.

There are many options and features available in Newrow to allow moderators and participants to actively manage

and engage in these pilot sessions. Note that some of these features may change prior to the full Newrow rollout as

Newrow delivers additional platform enhancements. See the Upcoming Newrow Enhancements section of this

document for details on planned feature updates for awareness.

PILOT GOALS The goals of the Class Connect Newrow pilot are the following:

• Test the functionality for teachers to schedule, launch, host, and pull data from Newrow sessions directly from

the Class Connect platform

o Ensure sessions schedule and launch correctly for students and teachers

o Use the Newrow platform to host engaging instructional and non-instructional type sessions

o Ensure data from Newrow sessions is captured accurately in currently available attendance reporting

• Compile any issues or pain points encountered with general Newrow functionality (i.e. issues with

audio, instructional needs gaps, workflow efficiencies, etc.)

• Build awareness for the Newrow platform to get student, family, and school exposure prior to the full

SY20-21 rollout

PILOT FEEDBACK During the duration of the Class Connect Newrow pilot, daily feedback opportunities, a series of surveys, and debrief

interview sessions will take place to collect both participant and moderator feedback. An early survey and later

survey will be released based on your school’s start date. Some teachers may also be selected to participate in

debriefing interview sessions to discuss their overall experience with the platform.

If possible, try to use various Newrow functionality as much as possible during pilot sessions to help build more

detailed feedback. For example, consider and think through the following functionality as you plan your sessions:

• Webcam and microphone usage by multiple participants

• Managing various classroom permissions globally and individually

• Interactive whiteboards (include moveable pieces, participant participation, etc.)

• Breakout room activities

• Using the File Playlist to pre-stage sessions with various content (i.e. PPT, PDF, video or audio files, images, etc.)

• Different webcam views (carousel mode, grid view, active speaker view, etc.)

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GETTING STARTED • Visit the K12 Newrow Knowledge Base: Getting Started section to check recommended system requirements,

run a quick tech check, and access information on joining and hosting your first session in Newrow

• Visit the full K12 Newrow Knowledge Base for further support articles and feature information

Good to Know Once activated, webcam and microphone are enabled by default for all participants upon session entry

Note: For the full rollout to Class Connect in SY20-21, participant webcams and microphones will be disabled by

default upon session entry when launching from the Class Connect schedule

For the pilot, consider using the Mute All Webcams and Mute All Microphones permission settings to disable

webcams and microphones before participants enter the session

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CLASS CONNECT ROOM SETUP OPTIONS Pilot school teachers and administrators have the option of scheduling any future sessions beyond the pilot start date

through the duration of the pilot in either BbC or Newrow as needed.

Sessions that are set up as recurring in Class Connect will create a “persistent” room in Newrow (note that recurring

session types will not be available for Newrow sessions until later in the pilot period). Persistent rooms will maintain

files, whiteboards, and chat from session to session. If needed, the Clear Chat Automatically setting can be enabled in

the Newrow room settings to automatically remove chat between recurring sessions.

IMPORTANT: The Clear Chat setting will not be available in Newrow rooms until the pilot start date.

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Sessions that are set up as individual sessions in Class Connect without a recurrence will create a standalone room in

Newrow that does not maintain files, whiteboards, or chat from session to session.

NEWROW SESSION TYPE OPTIONS See the K12 Newrow Knowledge Base: Class Modes page for more details on the two Newrow session types (Virtual

Classroom and Webinar) and how to select either option in your Newrow room settings. While Virtual Classroom is

the default class mode, Webinar may be a good option when piloting Newrow sessions with very large groups since it

disables webcams and microphones upon entry and allows more moderator control before enabling participant

webcams and microphones.

Note that when Newrow is integrated into Class Connect for the full SY20-21 rollout, ALL Class Connect sessions will

default to student webcams and microphones being disabled upon entry automatically.

• Virtual Classroom (default room type)

o Attendees will join with webcams and microphones enabled by default

o Attendees will be “live” upon entering the session; their webcam will be shown on the stage and audio will

be broadcast

▪ Consider using Mute All Webcams and Mute All Mics permission settings to disable webcams and

microphones prior to participant entry during the pilot

• Webinar

o Attendees join in a view & listen only mode

o To activate webcams & microphones, participants are required to click on the camera/microphone icons

on the top left, after which they are prompted to activate their devices

▪ Once a participant activates their device(s) they are not live until the moderator clicks the “live”

button next to their name

QUICK FEATURE OVERVIEW Review the K12 Newrow Training to walk through all Newrow functionality. You may also refer to the K12 Newrow

Knowledge Base for a quick reference to various features, how to articles and videos, and troubleshooting tips. A few

quick reference Knowledge Base sections are below:

Topics K12 Newrow Knowledge Base Link

Classroom Basics

• Activating webcam and microphone

• Managing device settings

• Raising your hand

• Customizing your view (content zooming and hiding the

webcam tray)

• Dial in options

K12 Newrow Knowledge Base: Classroom

Basics

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• Chat

Classroom Tools

• Whiteboard

• Breakout rooms

• Screen sharing

• YouTube sharing

• Notes

• Recording

• Quiz tool

K12 Newrow Knowledge Base: Classroom

Tools

Classroom Moderation

• Class modes

• Permissions

• Participant List

• Participant Focus tracking

• Webcam views

K12 Newrow Knowledge Base: Moderate

Your Session

Uploading and Sharing Files

• Uploading and presenting files in live sessions

• Organizing and searching for files

• File Playlist

(NOTE: Recording files will be available directly in the Class Connect

scheduler as they are today with BbC Class Connect recordings)

K12 Newrow Knowledge Base: Upload &

Share Files

Troubleshooting K12 Newrow Knowledge Base:

Troubleshooting

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT: QUICK REFERENCE Session instructors have full control over both individual and global permission settings in Newrow. Review the table

below for each permission, whether the permission can be controlled for individual students, globally for all

participants, or both, and where the permission options can be accessed for individual or global participants.

Permission Permission Type Access Point(s) Description/Notes

Webcams Individual or Global Individual:

Participant list

Webcam tray

Global:

MUTE ALL buttons (top of

Participant list)

Muted webcam must be un-muted by a

moderator, but webcam will only

display if participant has device

activated and enabled locally

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Permission Permission Type Access Point(s) Description/Notes

Microphones Individual or Global Individual:

Participant list

Webcam tray

Global:

MUTE ALL buttons (top of

Participant list)

Muted microphone must be un-muted

by a moderator, but microphone will

only turn on if participant has device

activated and enabled locally

LIVE Individual Participant List LIVE: participant appears on stage

Un-LIVE: participant removed from

stage

Moderator Individual Participant List Grants all permissions, full Q&A Chat

visibility, and Moderator Chat

Whiteboard Individual or Global Individual:

Participant list

Global:

Settings

Allows participants to annotate on

Whiteboards

File Playlist Individual or Global Individual:

Participant list

Global:

Settings

Allows participants to play files from

the Playlist

Screen

Sharing

Individual or Global Individual:

Participant list

Global:

Settings

Allows participants to share an

application screen or desktop

Notes Individual or Global Individual:

Participant list

Global:

Settings

Allows participants to take session

notes

Group Chat Individual or Global Individual:

Participant list

Global:

Settings

Allows participants to participate in the

general Classroom Chat

Ask

Questions

Individual or Global Individual:

Participant list

Global:

Settings

Allows participants to submit

questions to the Q&A Chat channel

(these chats are only visible to session

moderators and the participant who

submitted the question)

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Permission Permission Type Access Point(s) Description/Notes

1:1 Chat Individual or Global Individual:

Participant list

Global:

Settings

Allows participants to start and

participate in private chats

View Only Individual Participant list Removes all participant permissions

with one click

NEWROW VIEW OPTIONS There are several “views” available you can control as the session instructor. See below for various view options:

• Presentation view

o This is the default view and allows files (i.e. PPT, MP4 videos, PDF, Word, JPG, etc.), whiteboard, or

screen sharing to take prominence on the main stage with webcams displayed underneath

o The moderator may choose to set their own or another participant’s webcam as the active presenter

during a presentation

• Grid view of webcams on stage (video conference view)

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NEWROW PARTICIPANT FAQ Question Answer

What changes will there be to the Class

Connect scheduler?

There will be no changes to the current

Class Connect scheduler at launch SY20-21

except that sessions will launch in Newrow

instead of Blackboard Collaborate.

Will I be able to ____ in Newrow like I can

in Blackboard Collaborate?

Answers to most of these questions can be

found in the “Upcoming Newrow

Enhancements” and “BbC vs. Newrow

Features” tables below. Any feature gaps

not found in the below tables or other “nice

to have” features instructors or participants

identify during the pilot can be included in

pilot feedback surveys.

Will student webcams and microphones

automatically turn on when they enter

sessions in Class Connect once Newrow

is rolled out for SY20-21?

No! Student webcams and microphones will

be disabled by default when entering Class

Connect sessions by the full Newrow

rollout. Instructors can then un-mute

individual or global webcams or

microphones to allow participants to

enable their devices as needed.

Can I enable or disable all permissions

(i.e. Whiteboard, chat) for all

participants, or do I have to do it

individually?

Yes! Permission settings can be adjusted

globally (via session settings) or for

individual participants in the Participants

List.

Will student names be hidden in

recordings made in Class Connect

Newrow sessions?

Yes! Participant names will be removed

from all Class Connect Newrow recordings.

Can I use BbC whiteboard files (.wbd) in

my Newrow sessions?

No. Whiteboard files will need to be re-built

in Newrow. Newrow Whiteboards can be

created, downloaded, and uploaded for use

in future sessions and can include

moveable pieces. Consider using external

meeting rooms to build out whiteboard

files for use in SY20-21 and beyond.

Can I have a demo room set up to test

Newrow functionality?

Yes! Staff should work with their Newrow

Campus Administrator (formerly BbC POC)

to set up demo or external meeting room

space. Each school has a campus available

to set up external Newrow rooms.

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UPCOMING NEWROW ENHANCEMENTS (PRIOR TO ROLLOUT) The following enhancement features are planned to be released by Newrow prior to our full SY20-21 rollout within

Class Connect. When piloting sessions and using Newrow prior to the full rollout, please ensure participants are

focused on overall classroom management and experience and not on feature gaps that are already on the Newrow

roadmap.

Feature Enhancement

Anticipated Release Date

Global permission setting quick click buttons for Whiteboard & Chat August 2020

Copy/paste and insert images onto whiteboard August 2020

“Lock The Door” option to prevent participant entry – moderator can approve or block participants as needed

August 2020

“Follow” vs. “Roam” option for participants viewing files on stage August 2020

Quick polling & reactions with option to share or hide results (outside of existing Quiz Tool)

August 2020

Force End Session – session will force end and remove all participants 15 minutes after all instructors leave the session

August 2020

Closed Captioning module for manual captioning transcription August 2020

Color contrast ratio, closed captioning module, full keyboard navigation, and improved labeling to meet accessibility standards

August 2020

“View Only” permission to remove all permissions for a participant Fall 2020

Ability to set “Away” status Fall 2020

Improved mobile experience Fall 2020

Webcams/microphones DISABLED upon entry, instead of ENABLED (Class Connect) Fall 2020

BBC VS. NEWROW FEATURES To support questions that may arise during pilot sessions, see the list below of rolled up feature comparisons between

Newrow and BbC.

Feature Newrow BbC Notes

Multiple microphone participants X X

Multiple video participants X Up to 5 webcams on screen plus scroll through for more

Room chat X X

Private chat X X

Status indicators (i.e. smiley, applause) Aug X

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Feature Newrow BbC Notes

In-chat emoticons Fall X

Persistent whiteboard X X

PowerPoint presentations X X

Present other file types (i.e. mp4, PDF, Word, JPG) X

Direct YouTube video sharing on screen X

“Follow the moderator” or “Roam” on PPTs Aug X

On-demand polling (i.e. green check) Aug X

Quizzing with reports X

File Playlist to pre-build presentation files X

BbC Plan X Newrow uses File Playlist

Downloadable whiteboard files X X

User-specific whiteboard object identification X

User-specific pointer tool identification X

Global permission settings (i.e. disable all chat) X X

Participant ability to move moderator whiteboard pieces

X X

Attendance time on recording captured Future Not available directly in CC attendance reports by launch – coming soon

Engagement data captured (i.e. browser focus) X Not available directly in CC attendance reports by launch – coming soon

Breakout rooms X X

Breakout rooms recordable X

Moderator dashboard of breakout rooms X

Moderator ability to add content to all breakout rooms at once

Future Available in future release (post-launch)

Moderator ability to view chat “channels” Future Available in future release (post-launch)

File Transfer Future X Available in future release (post-launch)

Import whiteboard files X X

Copy/paste images directly on whiteboard Aug X

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Feature Newrow BbC Notes

Web Push X

Large session sizes X X Up to 250 for Aug 2020, size will increase prior to full rollout

Clickable links on whiteboard X X

Remote Control (user gains control over desktop) X

Save participant list X X

Chat history report X

Clip art library for whiteboard X

Mobile-friendly X Mobile functionality updates by launch

Moderator announcement feature (during breakouts) X X

Lock session capability Aug X

Conference bridge X X

Recording link sharing for external rooms X X

Visual indicators for participant typing or talking Future X In review for future functionality

Ability to mark as “Away” Fall X

Alphabetized participant list X X

Raise hand audio notification Future X In review for future functionality

Class notes feature X

Student names removed in recordings (FERPA) X X

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES • K12 Newrow Knowledge Base

• K12 Training – Newrow teacher training

• Newrow and Class Connect SharePoint resources

• Pilot Resources