Dunston's Domain - Issue #1

 Hey hey! Hope everyone has had a great week. So I've been asked (challenged) to create short videos with tips about whatever your tech needs may be. So here is my first attempt at that so everyone be gentle in the comments with you feedback 😂😂! 

The video is on how I use the Q&A feature in Google Meet. If you find yourself constantly posting the link in the chat bar for kids to join throughout the meet this video will show you how I no longer have that issue. 

If you have questions about the feature, anything else, or possible topics for future videos. Please send me an email or comment below and I'll do what I can to help you out. Also if you have a cool feature that you use that saves time please pass it along or reach out. TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE MORE! 

Media/Tech Updates Week of October 12

 ACTION NEEDED: Wireless Update

All staff members are recommended to update the wireless driver on their laptops. This will help with internet connection and speed. Tutorial

Google Meet Updates

From WCPSS: It seems Google is rolling out updates to Meet a lot quicker than they should.  Many that some have been seeing, like breakout rooms and the attendance tracking are Early Access features.  We are two rounds after that, in Scheduled Releases.  We are not sure why we are seeing some of these, but have notified Google so it is possible some may go away again or not all staff will get them right away.

At this time, many of these are not in their final release, so options may change.  We will be communicating best practices for all these features soon.

Do you have Chromebooks in your classroom?

Please turn them into the media center ASAP. We are short on devices for in-school students, so every Chromebook counts. Thank you!

Devices for In-school students

Students will bring their WCPSS Chromebooks and chargers to and from school each day. Each classroom will have painters tape to label each student's device, as well as a cleaning kit to use as needed. There will be a limited number of Chromebooks that can be assigned to students who do not have a device to bring back and forth. 

Please copy and paste the following information into your communications with families the next two weeks:

As staff plans for the students’ return to school on October 26, we want to make sure that in-school students have devices. 

• If your student has a WCPSS device, he/she will bring the device and charger to and from school each day.

• If your student has his/her own device, he/she will bring the labeled device and labeled charger to and from school each day if possible. **This option is highly encouraged, as we have limited devices to use at school.

• If your student needs a device to use at school, please email Andrea Trowell (atrowell@wcpss.net) ASAP. Devices used at school will be rotated weekly between students; devices will be quarantined/sanitized over the weekends.

Library Books for Staff

Please continue to place holds on books through Destiny. Elizabeth will pull your books and place them on the shelf as you enter the library. She plans on being at school in the mornings, but it is helpful to give 4-5 days notice if possible. If you need a book sooner, you are welcome to go into the library to get it, but you will need to email or text Elizabeth a photo of the WCPSS (pink stripe) barcode. 

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. 

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.