Author: Miss Abercrombie

Adobe Express: Logging In

Adobe Express is available to use for all Falkirk staff and pupils via Glow. This article takes you through how to access Adobe Express on Connected Falkirk iPad and the sign in process. You can share this with learners to support their login. Once you have logged in on your iPad your app will stay logged in unless you delete the app or choose to sign out – for this reason the app can only be used on 1:1 iPads at the moment or in a browser on a desktop computer.

Please note that your iPad must be on iOS17 or above to run the Adobe Express app.

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Before you start

The Adobe Express app is required on iPad. Although you launch Adobe Express from Glow on a browser (via the tile in Glow) you cannot use Adobe Express in Safari, Chrome or any other mobile browser on a mobile device including tablets. Adobe Express is available via Glow on desktop and laptop computers through the internet browser – there is more on this at the end of the article.

Teachers in Falkirk should request the iPad app for their pupil and staff app portals by emailing connectedfalkirk@falkirk.gov.uk as per the usual process.

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Logging in

  1. Ensure you have downloaded the Adobe Express app from the Connected Falkirk App Portal.

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2. Open Safari and go to Glow. Log in using your Glow username and password.

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3. Go to the Falkirk Council launchpad and tap on the Adobe Express tile. This will open a new tab in Safari.

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4. Tap on ‘Launch Adobe Express app’.

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5. Wait for the loading screen to pass. If you are asked for a verification code, return to the original tab in Safari where you will now see the code displayed.

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6. When you first log in there will be two pop ups to resolve by hitting ‘ok’ and ‘continue’.

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7. You are now logged into Adobe Express and you can begin creating!

Alternative logging in via App

If you experience difficulty logging in using the above method you can try logging in directly in the Adobe Express app.

 

  1. Open the Adobe Express app on your iPad.

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2. Everyone, including teachers, should choose ‘Student’s sign in here’ to access their education Adobe Express account via Glow.

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3. Type in your Glow email address. When you hit ‘Continue’ the Glow login page will launch, type in your Glow username and password.

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4. When prompted choose ‘Falkirk Council – Education’. Do not choose Education Scotland, if you choose Education Scotland accidentally you should log out using the profile button in the top right hand corner and begin the log in process again.

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5. Wait for the loading screen to pass. 

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6. When you first log in there will be two pop ups to resolve by hitting ‘ok’ and ‘continue’.

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7. You are now logged into Adobe Express and you can begin creating!

Using Adobe Express on desktop or laptop

Adobe Express is also available on desktop and laptop computer via internet browser. To log in:

  1. Open your web browser
  2. Go to Glow
  3. Log in to Glow using your Glow username and password.
  4. In the Falkirk Council launch pad click on the Adobe Express tile.

Case Study: Improving Writing with Digital Technologies

This case study looks at how class teacher Ciara Hutton at St Francis Xavier’s RC Primary School explored the impact of integrating digital technology into primary school writing lessons. By allowing three students with varying writing challenges to type their work, the Ciara observed significant improvements in confidence, writing quality, and engagement. This successful intervention has led to the wider implementation of digital tools within her classes and has been shared with the wider school supported by Pupil Digital Leaders.

Context

“My main goal was to improve attainment in writing by introducing digital technology. I had a class of 33 pupils in the upper school and I found that they did not feel confident in their writing. I selected three pupils who did not have any specific learning needs but did require some support with writing. One learner found concentrating at a table with others difficult, another found handwriting challenging and one struggled to write quickly for long periods of time. We are not a 1:1 device class so I decided to use a combination of class PCs and our shared Connected Falkirk iPads to give the pupils the opportunity to type their writing. This was to not only build confidence but remove any literacy barriers from their ability to succeed in writing.”

What did you do?

“I had a rota which rotated the devices used by the pupils over the course of four weeks. They would type directly on to Word and then save these on a OneNote, which was shared with myself and someone at home. Pupils did require some training at first on how to edit and save their work but they were confident with this by week 2.

During this time I collected my findings in 3 different ways, though a baseline questionnaire, a Leuven Scale and document analysis. The questionnaire was to uncover learners’ attitudes to writing and their confidence with the subject. The Leuven Scale was to determine if they were more focussed when given the device.

Finally I conducted a document analysis to see if there was improvement in learner work. After the four week period, I decided the whole class would benefit from the opportunity to write on a device and so I created a randomiser wheel in which pupils would be selected and all pupils would be given the chance to type by the end of the year. This allowed me to see the writing ability in the class as a whole and offer the opportunity to engage with digital devices for writing to all learners.”

Learners used Word to write. Word Online is available to all Falkirk Council learners through their Glow account. 

OneNote and OneNote Class Notebook are also available to all learners through Glow.

What was the impact?

“Overall, I saw a large increase in learners’ confidence and understanding of writing. Learners could see the increase in the quality and quantity of their writing, as they could see the progress from week 1 to week 4.

When pupils then returned to writing in their jotters, the skills they had gained had transferred. They were more confident with editing and reading their writing and they were writing similar amounts to week 1.

The questionnaire found that children felt more confident in their work and enjoyed the ability to do further research while writing. The Leuven Scale showed that pupils enjoyed the opportunity to write in a different way and focussed more as a result. The document analysis showed an increase for all 3 children in the length of their writing and the clarity on what they were saying. We did have to discuss the risks of plagiarism and how all ideas must be their own. However this was a useful opportunity to inform all pupils about this.

The findings suggest that the use of digital technology can improve attainment in writing. Although time still needed to be given for handwriting, introducing typing as a form of writing allowed pupils to focus their time on creative writing skills. I also found my ability to mark and give specific writing feedback improved, as I could clearly see their successes and areas of improvement.”

Pupil Voice

My baseline questionnaire had stated that the learners found writing “hard and bad”, whereas the final questionnaire stated that they thought that writing could be “exciting” and they were “able to use imagination more.”

The Leuven Scale which showed an increase in pupil overall, with the only decreases being due to some issues with using the new technology at first. Overall their focus and enjoyment increased through the four week period.

Where next?

“The immediate next steps I took were to offer all pupils one opportunity a year to write using digital technology. This allowed me to assess their writing ability without literacy barriers and for learners to see their progress clearly. I also continued to assess and monitor the three pupils within the focus group to see if they were able to transfer and maintain the skills they had gained during this practitioner enquiry. I found that they were able to transfer back to their writing jotters and had more confidence with their writing.

Since this practitioner enquiry, I have begun teaching another class and I have used this approach straight away. I have used a randomizer wheel so that all pupils have had the opportunity to use these tools, and not just those with specific learning needs. I have also trained the Digital Leaders within the school to be able to support other learners with writing on Word and uploading documents to One Note, so that other teachers may try this approach in their own class.”

Support: Changes to Microsoft Desktop Apps Download

Due to Microsoft global licensing changes, from the 1st August 2024 Glow users will no longer be able to download the desktop applications through their Glow account. This page provides information on how to download Microsoft Office Apps via your Falkirk Council credentials. It also provides alternatives to Microsoft products that you may wish to consider. For more information from Glow directly please visit this post on the Glow Knowledge Hub. 

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