Suggestions for poor internet connection

If you are finding that your internet connection is slow during Meets, please try the following suggestions. Let me know what works/does not work so that I can assist others. 

First solution

1. Shut the computer down.
2. Wait 1-2 minutes.
3. Turn it back on, and see if it works better.

Second solution

Clear browser History. Tutorial (Tutorial created by another media specialist, but you'll get the idea of what to do.) 

• With all we all are doing, it needs to be cleared more often.

**These steps DO apply to students as well (especially with their Chromebooks), but I don't think students have the rights to do Disk Cleanup or Disk Defragmenter (which, on staff computers are set up to happen weekly, but, again, with all the activity, might be helpful to do more often)  

Hints:

• Be sure that you are shutting down computer completely at least once a day. This will help push out updates that may be slowing  your computer.
• If possible, do not show videos during Meets. Give students the links to watch videos while not in the Meet. 

Media/Tech Weekly Update (week of August 31)

Tools for all Learners

Collection created by WCPSS DLCs for WCPSS teachers. 

September 28 Workday - Staff will have the opportunity to participate in a virtual EdCamp style professional development. Sessions will be scheduled based on your input. Please fill out this interest survey - https://bit.ly/3jtOzOk by Tuesday, Sept 8.

Do you have students getting dropped from Meets?

Suggestions from staff members and WCPSS tech services:

• Reset your Meet link between classes. Tutorial
• If you remove a student from class (versus him leaving on his own), he possibly can not join back on that link for a certain amount of time. 

Security Best Practices for Google Meet and Google Classroom

https://bit.ly/32WtPIv

Excellent resource for keeping your virtual space SAFE and functionally smoothly. 

Showing videos during your Meets

When possible, please consider NOT showing videos during your Meets. It may work on your end, but often causes issues on the students' side depending on their device and connectivity.

From WCPSS....

It is best practice to share a video via a link and not try to stream it through Meet. Trying to watch it live through a Meet causes technical issues (as many of you have experienced), and it eats up a ton of bandwidth and can cause connectivity issues. A suggestions is to send the link and have them watch it independently. 

Subscriptions Coming Soon....

• Screencastify
• PebbleGo (K - 2 and Spanish)
• Happy Numbers (ECS)
• Tumblebooks (K - 5)

*Login information will be posted this week.

We are still looking into BrainPop, free sources for printable/sharable leveled texts, and another nonfiction text resource for 3-5 

Media/Tech Weekly Update (week of August 24)

 Can I use _(insert cool new resource)__ with my students?

• WCPSS Approved Websites

         (in WakeID portal)

• WCPSS Approved Apps and Extensions

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/for_your_domain

I Can't See my Students while presenting in Google Meet

3 Ways to See Your Students While Presenting in Google Meet

Integrating Seesaw into Google Classroom

Here are directions for how to use Seesaw. There are specific directions on how to embed the activities that the county made into Google Classroom.

• Seesaw - Getting Started and Resources from Seesaw Help Center 
• Seesaw - Getting Started and Resources from WCPSS

How to Force a Copy of a Google Doc

1. Open the doc, slide deck, sheet, or drawing you want to use.
2. Be sure the Share settings are on "View Only".
3. Click in the search box and look at the end of the link. Replace the word EDIT with the word COPY in the link.

Tutorial

Media/Tech Weekly Update (week of Aug. 17)

Please post the Media Center website on your class website or Classroom - bit.ly/UGTMMediaCenter. Thanks! 

Introducing….Underwood Staff’s Media/Tech Tips blog! Be on the lookout for weekly tips and tricks. All are welcome and encouraged to contribute.

• Google Meet for Underwood staff and students (includes tutorials you can share with families)

• Google Classroom (includes adding students with emails - no more codes to keep up with!)

• This and that from WCPSS Common issues and info from WCPSS; this week - trouble logging onto Google apps, Zscaler, Family Link on Chromebooks

 

WCPSS Guide to Technology for students and families

https://bit.ly/WCPSStechguide

This can't be said too many times or loud enough- this guide has SO MUCH HELPFUL INFORMATION for your students and families! If you have not already, take a peek at the tabs - Getting Started and Digital Resources - to see step by step instructions you can share with families. This resource will save you a ton of time when assisting your students with their technology questions. 

Interested in collaborating on Media lessons? Or, need support with media/tech in your class? Contact me (Andrea) to schedule - I’m here to help!  Possible topics:

• Digital Literacy lessons (will be using Common Sense Media curriculum)

• Getting students started on email, including email expectations

 

Feel free to copy and modify any of these docs to get you and your students started with tech this year:

• WakeID Login Cheat Sheet (for student to keep near computer)

• How to reset Wake ID password - 3-5 students may be prompted to reset password

• I am prepared to learn remotely

• BOY Media/Tech Checklist and Tutorials

 

If this is you….go HERE for all your media/tech questions. Also, I am only an email (atrowell@wcpss.net) or text (919-272-5592) away. 

This and that from WCPSS (week of Aug. 17)

WCPSS Guide to Technology for students and families

https://bit.ly/WCPSStechguide

This can't be said too many times or loud enough- this guide has SO MUCH HELPFUL INFORMATION for your students and families! If you have not already, take a peek at the tabs - Getting Started and Digital Resources - to see step by step instructions you can share with families. This resource will save you a ton of time when assisting your students with their technology questions. 

Zscaler message 

If your student is receiving a message about signing into a security service, please share the info below with him/her.

Zscaler fix

What is Zscaler?

Trouble Logging onto Classroom or Meet

Is your student on a laptop or personal Chromebook and can sign in to Wake ID, but can’t get into Google Classroom, Google Meet or Google Drive?  Your student most likely needs to add another user to Chrome. Here's how - https://bit.ly/320caio

Family Link on personal Chromebooks

If you have a student with his/her own Chromebook and they are having difficulty accessing WCPSS applications, the parents have most likely set up the Chromebook using Family Link. Please share this information with them - Add a School Account for a Family Link user

Google updates (including Breakout Rooms)

Updates are coming!  I promise to share information as soon as I get it. How GSuites for Education works

Google Classroom tips

Underwood is using Google Classroom as our digital learning platform. Fortunately, most of our staff and students are familiar with this tool. Yea, teachers, for being ahead of the learning curve! 

If you are in the process of setting up and organizing your Classroom for the 2020-2021 school year, here video that may be helpful - 

How to Organize Google Classroom | Easy Tutorial  **If you are not familiar with Pocketful of Primary, she is a 4th grade teacher with excellent tutorials on YouTube. 

Some of my favorite tidbits...

• Archive old Classrooms. This will clean up yours and your students' dashboards. 
• Add students using their WCPSS email. This is a gamechanger...no more dealing with codes!
• Manage Stream - Allow or not allow students to create posts and/or comments. Hide or show assignment notifications. Adjusting these settings will keep the Stream less cluttered.
• Posting Classroom meetings as assignments. This will add Meets to students' To Do list and to their calendar. 

What are your favorite Classroom tips? Please share in the comments below. 

Google Meet for Underwood staff and students

Google Meet has become our new communication life line! Who had experience with this tool prior to March 13, 2020?  Not me! I had tried it out a couple times, but certainly not to the extent that we are using it now. 

At Underwood, staff members should be setting up their Meets (with students) through their Google Classroom and Meets (with staff members) through their Google Calendar. This will keep things simple for all of us, especially for students and families. Think about when it's time for specials and electives - to enter their special or elective, students will go to the teacher's Classroom and click on the Meet link. For example, I am going to my dance special. Where, do I go for dance? To Ms. Frasier's Dance Classroom.*

Here's a tutorial you can share with students and families - Joining a Google Meet through Google Classroom. Or, you could use this tutorial which is Underwood specific - Joining a Meet for a Special or Elective

Underwood's PRIDE matrix outlines expectations during Meets. WCPSS DLCs have also created Best Practice information. Keep in mind, this information is provided for all WCPSS; Underwood info may be slightly different so you will need to adapt the information to our school needs.

Google Meet Best Practices for teachers (This one offers multiple ways to join Meet. Underwood students will be joining meet through their Classroom.)

Meet Etiquette for Students

Best Practices for Teachers and Students

*Note - specialists will be adding all students to their Classrooms. When students go to their Google Classroom dashboard via Rapid Identity, they will see each special/elective, with an invitation to join the Classroom.

Welcome!

 Welcome to Underwood's Media/Tech Tips blog. The purpose of this blog is a place for staff to share resources and technology tips for teaching and learning. 

I will be posting some ideas and helpful tips for the beginning of the year. If you have helpful (or just plain cool) technology information to share, please let me know - it'd be great to have multiple staff members contributing. Also, feel free to add to posts by commenting on posts. Together we are a wealth of information!