Sunday, October 11, 2020

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. 

Friday, September 25, 2020

Media/Tech updates - week of September 25

Helping Students to Keep Safe Online

Classroom 

Meets

  • Chats
  • Students Inviting others - Remind students that only adults should be inviting people to Meets.
  • Resetting Link - often!

Resources

 Security Best Practices for Google Classroom and Meet


Meet Updates

  • Change Layout 
  • Turn chat on/off

Tips from WCPSS tech services

  • To help with connectivity - Remove as many Chrome extensions and apps as possible. Clear out your history and cookies often (every week or two)
  • RESTART (not Shut Down) you laptop at least once a day. This will push out any available updates. 

Sunday, September 20, 2020

Media/Tech Updates Week of September 21

 

IMPORTANT: Student Security and Privacy

Please read this important information!  Student Security and Privacy


New Laptop Tips

Are you having issues with video freezing during Meets? Try this suggestion from WCPSS - Network Setting for IPv6    Also, be sure that you are RESTARTING (not shutting down) your laptop at least once a day. This will push out updates, including performing an automated Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter. 

Are your eyes weary from staring at the screen? Try setting your laptop to Night Light.


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?


Library Book Check Out is here! 

Please share this information with your students and families - Steps for Book Circulation and eBook Check Out  We will email students when their books are ready. As we begin this new process, please give us any feedback or suggestions as we'll be working to improve the process as needed. 

***Please do not take books from the library without letting us know. Now that students and staff are able to place books on hold, it will be very frustrating if someone has taken a book and it's not on the shelf. Additionally, we have a book quarantine process so we want to make sure all books stay clean. If you need books, feel free to place them on hold through Destiny OR send a text to Elizabeth or Andrea with a picture of the barcode. Thanks!



Student Security and Privacy Reminders

Student Pictures on Social Media

Please please remember that students' photos should NEVER be posted online along with their names. In addition, if you are posting students photos, every student should have photo permission. Photo permissions can be found on Rapid Identity under the Profiles tab.    ***Be overly protective of our students' safety.  


Approved Tools

Before using a new website, app, or extension, make sure that it is WCPSS approved.  More than ever, we need to protect our students' security and privacy. WCPSS has a process for analyzing and approving tools to be sure that they are safe. 

  • WCPSS Approved Websites

         (in WakeID portal)

  • WCPSS Approved Apps and Extensions

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

Reach out to Andrea with any questions about this.


Sunday, September 13, 2020

Book Check Out begins week of September 21

We are excited to share the following dates and information with you regarding book circulation for our students (and OF COURSE) staff! We miss finding books for y'all!

Please share the following information with your students:
  • During supply pick up (Tuesday 9/15 & Wednesday 9/16) students are to return any UGTM books left over from this past school year.   
  • Steps for Book Circulation  Students can begin to place holds on books. The first pick up day will be Sept. 24th 8:00am-4 pm
  • NEEDED: donations of clean brown-paper grocery bags (not plastic grocery sacks). Plastic bin for bags will be near the office doors.
Thursday, Sept 24th:  1st Library Book Pick Up day! If students have placed holds on books, they will be checked out to them and ready for pick up between 8 am-4 pm.

Remember, we now have eBooks! For students not able to get to school for a book pick up, this is especially helpful.  eBook check out link and eBook instructions are included in the Steps for Book Circulation doc


Sunday, September 6, 2020

Media/Tech Updates for week of September 7

Google Guardian
Allows guardians to receive Classroom email summaries.  More info here

Google Guardian Summaries for Teachers



Security Best Practices for Google Meet and Google Classroom
Great information about keeping your virtual space SAFE and functionally smoothly. 

Tumblebooks, PebbleGo, and Screencastify


Monitors 
For those who requested monitors, they are at school. We are waiting an order with cables to connect them to your laptop. You will receive an email when your monitor is ready to be picked up. 
For instructions on how to attach your monitor - 3 Ways to View your Students in Google Meet

Friday, September 4, 2020

New and Renewed Resources for Underwood

 PebbleGo (K-2) and PebbleGo  Next (3-5) w/ Spanish add-on

https://site.pebblego.com/login

* Students can access through Rapid Identity > Follett (Destiny) > Learning Links > See All

Username: underwood
Password: school

 Features:

Authentic read-aloud audio
Guided keyword search
Extended Learning including source citation, range maps, multimedia, activities and the ability to print the articles straight from the site

General Resources: https://www.pebblego.com/resources
Remote Learning Resources: https://www.pebblego.com/pebblego-remote-learning-days

Tumblebooks 


* Students can access through Rapid Identity > Follett (Destiny) > Learning Links > See All

Username: ugtm
Password: books

Extensive collection of read alouds, to include Story Books (most popular), Read Alongs, Non-fiction,  Videos, Language Learning,  and Puzzles & Games. Kids LOVE Tumblebooks!


Screencastify 

If you do not already have the Screencastify extension, download the extension. Be sure you are logged into Screencastify with your work email

Resources from Screencastify




Media/Tech Updates - week of June 7 (Pt. 2)

Media Center and Makerspace this week These spaces are closed for students this week. If your students need a device or items from the Maker...