Improving Student Success ThroughCloud-based Learning Solutions

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PARADI GM EDUCATI ON SOL UTI ONS

Students Save On Expensive Textbooks – Cloud-based textbooks (eBooks) tend to be a lot lessexpensive than print textbooks. More affordable digital content lowers the barrier to accessquality learning solutions. Learning Content Material Is Not Outdated – Cloud-based content is easy to update in real-time. This enables students to gain constant access to the latest learning resources. No Need for Expensive Hardware – Cloud-based applications run on web browsers and arecompatible with most mobile devices (such as PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks). Often individualsfind they no longer need additional devices like external hard drives. No Need for Expensive Software – The biggest advantage of cloud-based computing forstudents is their access to use high-quality and cost-effective academic software programs. Reaching Out to a Diverse Range of Students – Cloud-based applications in education opennewer opportunities for all types of students. Since education has moved online, it has becomemore and more possible for adult students to finish their education and receive specific trainingin areas that may improve their employability. No Need to Carry Around Devices – Students and professors do not need to worry aboutcarrying devices, such as thumb drives and CDs, which can break or get lost. When informationresides in a cloud-based environment, students can access it anytime, anywhere. Easy Access – Everything from lesson plans, grades, notes, slides, labs, etc. can be madeavailable on cloud applications. All the tools that are used in teaching can be easily uploadedand accessed anytime by the students and instructors. Data Security – Even in the world of education, data, images, information, and content need tobe stored in a secure manner. Most cloud-based mobile applications offer strong authenticationmeasures to ensure that the academic material is made available only to the right people. Ifsome modifications happen to the IT infrastructure at the college, the content will still be available to instructors and to the students.

Improving Student Success Through Cloud-based Learning SolutionsCloud computing is the on-demand, web-based availability of computer systems—one where the user isn’tresponsible for the management of the system. This new way of sharing data and resources is changinghow people communicate and collaborate on their computers and mobile devices. The world isrecognizing the power of cloud-based applications that enhance accessibility and opportunities forestablishing effective collaborations. In his article, “Advantages for Adopting Cloud-Based Application InEducation," graduate professor and technology guru Arun Goyal identifies several ways that cloudapplications are influencing today’s education system:

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Cloud-based applications in education make it easy for students to share their assignments with instructors in an easy and trackable manner. The cloud facilitates easy collaborations, allowing student groups to work on projects and assignments in the cloud more efficiently.

Cirrus Eliminates Obstacles

Access complete course content in seconds, noinstallations required, not even Microsoft Office (MSO)365 for 2019. Enjoy flexibility to access course content and MSOapplications from multiple devices.Work in all MSO applications from their preferreddevices, including MACs.

Every student is different, yet many face similar obstaclesthat threaten their success throughout their educationalexperience, such as difficulty accessing learning solutionsoutside the computer lab, inability to hit the groundrunning on the first day of class and complying withcomplex system requirements. These challenges are common in education, and theyprevent students from experiencing a smooth start to thesemester and succeeding in their course.  To eliminate these obstacles for students, ParadigmEducation Solutions delivers complete course content inCirrus, a cloud-based learning environment that isaccessible on PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks—anytime,anywhere. With Cirrus, students can:  

 As with any technology, especially cloud-based technology,there are system requirements that are essential for itseffective use. To access live-in-the-application activities,Cirrus requires that all users have a license to MicrosoftOffice 365.

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Ninety-nine percent of colleges get theMicrosoft Office 365 Education Licensesoftware for free. Coordinate with your ITDepartment to understand your licensingoptions.

Microsoft Enrollment for Education Solutions

Understanding the Microsoft Office 365 Licensing Options 

Technical Support To ensure students and instructors have aseamless and successful experience usingCirrus, Paradigm offers unparalleled white-glovetechnical support and onboarding preparation. Live online chat is available for students andinstructors 24/7/365. Look for the “Start Chat” iconin the bottom right corner of every page atParadigm’s Help Site. Instructor phone support is available forinstructors who prefer to discuss their questionsover the phone at 877-224-2076.

Purchase Office 365 for Home directly fromMicrosoftParadigm provides limited copies of a 180-daytrial of Microsoft Office 365 that could beincluded in the courseware package

 

Microsoft Office 365 Education License (use astudent’s e-mail address)

Cirrus is cloud-based and can be used with a PC, Mac, and Chromebook. Mobile devices, such as aphone or an iPad are not supported. Broadband Internet Connection: minimum 512Kbps connection (if you can play a YouTube video, thesystem will work).All users, including Mac users, should use the Google Chrome browser. Safari is not supported and otherbrowsers (such as Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Edge) may work, but have not been validated.

System Requirements  

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Option 1:Option 2:Option 3:Option 4:

End User Requirements Activation Codes Cirrus activation codes are required for students who wish to access Cirrus content. Purchase options include: 

Ninety-eight percent of colleges are using Option 1. Codeless access to Cirrus is also available. Please contact your local Account Manager for more information and pricing.

Activation Code Types Activation Codes: These codes can be purchased from thecollege’s bookstore or online at Paradigm’sStore. 17-Day Trial Codes: Activation codes can be provided by instructorsto provide students with temporary access totheir course content. When trial codes expire,students must activate their content with aCirrus Activation Code. The codes are provided in students’ coursewarebundles. Each course package purchased at abookstore may include a code card with thepackage. The codes from online orders are sentvia email. Please be sure to check your email’sjunk or spam folder.

Using Cirrus

1 code – 1 course1 code – access up to 2 courses for 1 semester1 code – access up to 4 courses for 1 year 1 code – access up to 6 courses over 2 years

Registration

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Students accessing content in Paradigm’s CirrusLMS can go directly toCirrus.ParadigmEducation.com and select the

How to Validate Microsoft Office 365 in Cirrus

Students do not need to download anything. They just need to go to an Exercise, Project, Hands On Activity, or Skills Exam to initiate the validation process. It is a one-time validation process. Aftersuccessfully validating their account, students will not be asked to validate again. Students should disable Popup Blockers. Students will need to validate using their student e-mail address. Students should complete the following steps to activate their Microsoft Office 365 Account.

a.      Select Sign In.b.      Activate Office – type in student e-mail address.c.      Choice of accounts – select school account.d.      Use this account everywhere – select Yes.e.      You’re all set page – select Donef.       When validation is complete, the student will see a success screen.

To access content from any Mac, PC, or Chromebook anywhere, students simply need to validate that theyhave an Office 365 license.

More details on this process, including a how-to video, are documented on Paradigm’s Help Site:Microsoft Office 365 License Validation

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Getting Started button. They need to enter theiractivation code. If they don’t have a code, onecan purchased at Paradigm’s Store. Students accessing Paradigm’s content througha college’s LMS should go directly to the LMSand log in. When they click on their first activity,they will be asked for an activation code.Students should then enter their activationcode. After the code is entered and students canaccess their course content, we recommendthat the students complete the validationprocess described below.

LTI Integration Using Cirrus

The plug-and-play integration significantly reduces thecost and time to integrate digital tools and content.

The interoperability provides a trusted security of studentdata and results data passed between applications.

The use of the integration provides a reliable, consistent,and productive faculty and student experience withtechnology.

Instructors have the option to use LTI integration to placeCirrus content into their own learning management system(LMS). The advantages of using LTI can be very beneficial toboth the instructors and students:

When instructors choose LTI integration of Cirrus for theirpreferred LMS (i.e. Blackboard, Moodle, D2L, and Canvas)platform, Paradigm’s Onboarding Team will deliver Cirruscontent to the instructor(s) and IT administrators. Theinstructor(s) will have the autonomy and academic freedomto design courses as needed in their LMS, using its tools. Itis very important to dedicate some preparation time insetting up the design of the course weeks before classesbegin.

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Instructor LTI QuickStart Checklist  

 Setup up categories; grading weightpercentages; or points values,attempts, and due dates within theLMS system. Create learning modules or folderswithin the LMS to streamline thedesign and layout of the course tomake the course user-friendly forstudents. Be familiar with Cirrus Activity Typesand tailor the course to courseobjectives and the course syllabus. 

Make the eBook readily available inthe LMS. As an option, the studentscan now download the eBook foroffline use. 

The Instructor Resources include everything instructors need to plan a course, teach the contentcovered, and assess student progress and mastery. While offerings may vary by title, below areexamples of tools that are provided in Paradigm's Benchmark Series.

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Instructor Resources

Course Planning Tips and Syllabus Suggestions are provided to help instructors get started.

Performance Goals and Objectives are outlined for each level of the course.

MOS Specialist and Expert Objectives Alignment Charts show how course content correlateswith Microsoft Office Specialist and Expert objectives.

Planning

Use these materials to prepare for teaching the course. 

Delivery Use these materials to demonstrate and reinforce course content.

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Watch and Learn Lessons are training tools withinthe Cirrus course templates that can also be usedto support in-class lectures. Instructors can accessthe Watch and Learn Lesson Library for quickaccess to all the available web-based lessons forthe courses. These libraries have been added to theInstructor Resources for the Marquee, Benchmark,and Seguin Series.

These innovative training tools provide a uniqueteaching experience for instructors to use digitalcontent to assist with lectures and presentations.Using this new digital approach allows instructorsthe opportunity to use one to two-minuteinstructional videos to teach specific MicrosoftOffice tasks and have content readily available at“point of use” in the eBook to display to thestudents in the classroom. 

Student Data Files include all the files students willuse to complete chapter and unit activities. These areavailable to students through the eBook and can alsobe downloaded. Once downloaded, these can beuploaded to a shared location for students to accesswhen completing their work outside of Cirrus. Forstudents who will be completing their work in theonline Cirrus course, these files will be provided atpoint-of-use within the course.

Lesson Plans are provided for each chapter of thecourse, along with estimated timings for activitiesand additional tips.

Discussion Questions can be used in the classroomor online forum to start conversations about thepurpose and application of course content andencourage students to reflect on what they havelearned.

The Content Conversations blog providesinformation about changes and updates that mayaffect the courseware. Access Content Conversationsto help ensure that instruction is current andaccurate.

Tools for Assessing Student Progress is adocument outlining the various assessment toolsincluded with the course materials.

Grading Rubrics are provided for evaluatingchapter and unit Review and Assessmentactivities.

Hands On Activities enable students to completethe chapter activities in provided data files,compare their solutions against a completed skillmodel answer image, and submit their work forinstructor review.

Model Answers for all activities and assessmentsare provided in both live-application format andas annotated PDFs for instructor use. A separatedocument provides instructions for usingCompare Features in Office to compare studentwork with the live-file model answers. (Studentswill have access to watermarked model answerimages through their Cirrus course to check theirprogress as they work through chapter activities.)Hands On Activities require manual grading bythe instructor.

Quiz and Exam Item Banks are provided for eachchapter. These are provided in RTF format for usein various platforms as well as preloaded into theCirrus course.

Supplemental Assessments provide additionalassessment opportunities for each of the fourmajor Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel,Access, and PowerPoint).

Final Case Studies are designed to be used at theend of course and test students’ ability to applytheir skills in realistic workplace scenarios.

Assessment Use these materials to evaluate studentperformance and track student progress.  

     

 

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Grading Rubric

Case Study

Concept Exam

Thousands of educators across higher ed campuses and institutions nationwide have chosen Paradigm’slearning solutions and services for their programs. Here are five reasons why:

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Cirrus Is The Solution

Hands-on learning using technology that is easy to use and closelyaligned to real-world software applications. Instruction and training aligned to certifications exam objectives toensure students develop the job readiness skills needed to achieveemployment and career success. Comprehensive course planning and management tools to saveinstructors’ time and empower them to focus on teaching. Flexibility to quickly and easily connect with anyone on Paradigm’steam. As a small, specialized provider of learning solutions, Paradigm isdeeply invested in supporting educators and students. Technical support, plus exceptional implementation preparation.

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