Managing Zinc Classes and Rosters for Teachers

Zinc classes are an essential part of using Zinc. To create assignments for a student or track their success, that student must be assigned to a class you manage. This article explains how to create and manage your Zinc classes. You'll learn how to edit a class, add new students, refresh a class roster, archive a class, and more.

How you manage your Zinc classes and rosters directly relates to whether you access Zinc directly or through Clever, Google Classroom, or ClassLink (OneRoster).

Quick Links for Managing Classes and Rosters

For Direct Users

For ClassLink Users

For Clever Users

For Google Classroom Users

How to Archive Classes

Managing Classes and Roster Changes

Depending on how you access Zinc, you will either manage your classes directly or through another rostering system. If you access Zinc one way, you’ll have different options than users who access Zinc a different way. Below you’ll find ways to manage your classes using different access methods: Direct, ClassLink (OneRoster), Clever, and Google Classroom.

Direct Users

For an overview of registering, signing in, and managing your classes as a direct user, please check out the video below.

If you are a teacher who signs in as a direct user, then your Zinc classes do not depend on any other rosters. You or someone working with you sets up your classes inside Zinc.

Please note, you or your school must have available Zinc licenses in order to add students to your classes. If you are out of student licenses, please contact your administrators. If you're utilizing Zinc for home use, you can purchase additional student licenses here.

Direct: How to Create a Class

Once you have registered as a teacher with Zinc and logged in, you may begin creating classes. The first time you sign in, you'll be directed to create a class. Simply follow the onscreen prompts, and you'll be all set. If you'd like more details, they're available below.

To reach the correct page, click “My Classes” in the left main menu. Here's a direct link to the My Classes page.

Here you will see any classes you have created and their details. Click the “Create Class” button in the top right. Here's a direct link to the new class form. 

Name the class and select co-teachers if necessary. (If a co-teacher hasn’t registered, don't worry. You can always add them later!)

 

 

Simply click "Create New Class," and you'll be taken to a page with that class's details. This page will explain how to add students to the class as described in the next section.

Direct: 3 Options for Adding Students to a Class

Direct teachers have three options for adding students to their classes: Join Links (easiest method!), Join Codes, and Adding Existing Students. 

Option 1: Join Links (Easiest Method!)

This is the easiest method for adding students to your class. It works for students who are new to Zinc and students with existing Zinc accounts.

You'll automatically be taken to the Add Students page when you create a class. You can also reach this page by clicking "My Classes" in the left menu. (Here's a direct link to the My Classes page.)

On the My Classes page, click the name of the class to which you'd like to add to students.

On the class detail page, click “Add Students” in the “Actions” button menu. 

On the Add Students page, click the “Copy Link” to copy the Join Link.

On the Add Students page, click the “Copy Link” to copy the unique Join Link.

Share this Join Link with your students. Ask them to click the link and follow the instructions to join your class!

That’s all you need to do! New Zinc students will be guided through the registration process, while returning students will automatically be added to their new class when they sign in.

Option 2: Join Codes

Every class you create will have its own unique Join Code.

You'll automatically be taken to the Add Students page when you create a class. You can also reach this page by clicking "My Classes" in the left menu. (Here's a direct link to the My Classes page.)

On the My Classes page, click the name of the class to which you'd like to add to students.

On the class detail page, click “Add Students” in the “Actions” button menu.

On the Add Students page for the class, you'll see a Join Code. Click "Copy Code" to copy that code for the purpose of sharing it with your class. (For a simpler method, we recommend sharing the Join Link instead.)

 

If are using the Join Code, your students will need to sign in or register on the Zinc Sign In Page. All direct users will sign in to Zinc using the same link: http://games.zinclearninglabs.com/

If your students are already registered in Zinc, they just need to sign. On their Zinc homepage, they'll click "Classes" in the left menu. On their classes page, they'll click the "Enter Join Code" button. Here's how that will look in the student view.

 

If you students are not yet registered in Zinc, ask them to go to zinclearninglabs.com. Have them click on “Log In” in the top right-hand corner and then click on “Register” on the Zinc Sign In Page. This takes them to the Register for Zinc page. Here’s a direct link: https://games.zinclearninglabs.com/

Have students fill in their information on the Register for Zinc page. The “School Name” will appear automatically after the Class Code is entered. To prevent the creation of multiple accounts, students should register with their school email address.

 

Students will go straight to Zinc as soon as they're registered. An email will be sent to verify the student's email address. Verification is not required. Students can get started right away!

Option 3: Add or Move Students Already In One of Your Classes

If you need to add a student to a Zinc class who is already in one of your other Zinc classes, we have an option for that. Please note that the student must be in one of your own active classes for this method to work. Otherwise, please give the student a Join Link.

 

You'll automatically be taken to the Add Students page when you create a class. You can also reach this page by clicking "My Classes" in the left menu. (Here's a direct link to the My Classes page.)

On the My Classes page, click the name of the class to which you'd like to add to students.

On the class detail page, click “Add Students” in the “Actions” button menu.

At the bottom of the Add Students page for the class, you'll see a list of students currently in your other active Zinc classes. If you'd like to add one or more of these students to this Zinc class, tick the box beside their names and click the green "Add Selected" button. (Keep in mind that using this method does not remove the student from the other class, as explained in the Direct: How to Remove Students from a Class section.)

Direct: How to Remove Students from a Class

When a student leaves your class, removing them from your Zinc class helps keep things organized. It can also prevent them from receiving unnecessary assignments that conflict with their new class.

If you'd like to add a student to another class using the Add or Move Students Already In One of Your Classes option, please do so before removing them from your active classes. Removed students can always be added to a new class using Join Links.

To reach the page where you can edit your classes, click My Classes in the left menu. (Here's a direct link to the My Classes page.)

On the My Classes page, select the class from the list.

On the page for that class, click the Students tab. You can then click "Remove from class" beside any student in the class. You'll be asked to confirm your selection, and then the student will be removed. 

You can always add back a removed student by giving them a Join Link for the class.

Direct: How to Archive or Delete a Class

Direct teachers have control over managing their classes, including archiving and deleting a class. We always recommend archiving a class over deleting it, so that data can be preserved and recovered.

Please note, if you need a class unarchived, contact Zinc Support with the name of the class. They will be happy to take care of that for you.

Deleting a class removes all data associated with that class from the system. Classes cannot typically be "undeleted."

To reach the correct page, click “My Classes” in the left main menu. Here's a direct link to the My Classes page.

Here you will see your classes and their details. Select the class you wish to archive or delete from the list.

On the class's page, click the green "Actions" button. You can then click "Archive Class" or "Delete Class." Remember, we generally recommend archiving, which is reversible by making a request with Zinc Support by

Clever Users

To review your Zinc classes, click "My Classes" in the left menu.

If you are a teacher who signs into Zinc through Clever, your Zinc classes are connected to your Clever rosters. This allows you to manage all of your rostering, including for Zinc, through Clever. The need to make changes in your Clever rosters includes archiving your Zinc classes.

You must have available Zinc licenses when new students are added to your class, or the new students will be unable to log into their accounts. If you are out of Zinc licenses, please contact your administrators.

Clever: How to Make Changes to Your Zinc Classes

Your Zinc classes reflect your Clever rosters. Make the changes in your Clever rosters, and your Zinc classes will automatically update to match those changes. Either you or someone in your school or district should have the ability to update your Clever rosters.

Once your Clever rosters are accurate, your Zinc classes will automatically update. If a day has passed and students are present in your Clever rosters but not in Zinc, please contact Zinc Support by email or with the green chat bubble at the bottom right of your Zinc homepage.

Google Classroom Users

If you are a teacher who signs into Zinc through Google Classroom, then your Zinc classes are connected to your Google Classroom rosters. This allows you to manage all of your rostering, including in Zinc, through Google Classroom. The need to make changes in your Google Classroom rosters includes archiving your Zinc classes.

You must have available Zinc licenses when new students are added to your class, or the new students will be unable to log into their accounts. If you are out of Zinc licenses, please contact your administrators.

Google Classroom: How to Add Classes to Zinc

To add a Google Classroom roster to Zinc, click "My Classes" in the left menu. (Here's a direct link to the My Classes page.)

On the Classes and Students page, click the green “Actions” button and select “Import.” This takes you to the Import classes from Google Classroom page.

On the Import classes from Google Classroom page, click the checkbox beside any of your Google Classroom rosters that you would like to import into Zinc. Once you’ve selected a roster, the “Import” button will turn green. Click the button to import any rosters you selected into Zinc.

Google Classroom: How to Make Changes to Your Classes

Your Zinc classes reflect your Google Classroom rosters. Make the changes in your Google Classroom rosters, and your Zinc classes will automatically update to match those changes. Either you or someone in your school or district should have the ability to update your Google Classroom rosters. Once your Google Classroom rosters are accurate, your Zinc classes will automatically update.

If a day has passed and students are present in your Google Classroom rosters but not in Zinc, please try the refresh option described below. If your classes fail to refresh, please contact Zinc support by email or with the green chat bubble at the bottom right of your Zinc homepage.

Google Classroom: How to Refresh Your Classes

If you are missing students in your Zinc classes, confirm that they are in your Google Classroom roster. Any updates should automatically appear in Zinc.
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If you'd like to speed up the syncing process, you can manually refresh a class. click "My Classes" in the left menu. (Here's a direct link to the My Classes page.) 

Once you're on the Classes and Students page, click the class you'd like to refresh to reach the class page.

On the class page, click the green “Actions” button and then click “Refresh Class Roster” from that dropdown menu. If you're not seeing the "Refresh Class Roster" option, please make sure you've clicked on one of your classes from the Classes and Students page.

 

Occasionally the refresh will need some extra time. If you see the message "Failed to refresh class data due to some errors. Please contact the administrator,” please try one more time before contacting support. If you see the “Successfully refreshed class data” message, your Zinc class should now be updated. If refreshing does not resolve the issue, please contact Zinc Support by email or with the green chat bubble at the bottom right of your Zinc homepage.

How to Archive Classes

If you have inactive or past classes in your list of Zinc classes, archiving classes may be the solution. Archiving past classes is an excellent way to stay organized and focused on the current semester.

If you access Zinc through ClassLink, Clever, or Google Classroom, then you need to have your classes archived on your rostering platform. If you do not have the access necessary to archive your classes, the person in charge of your digital rosters should be able to do it for you. 

Direct users are the only users who can archive their classes inside Zinc. We always recommend archiving a class over deleting it, so that data can be preserved and easily recovered.

If you have any questions about managing your classes, or if you need help working through an issue, you can always contact support by email or with the green chat bubble at the bottom right of your Zinc homepage.