The NJSLA adaptive test is approaching. Here are updated tips and tricks to help you prepare.

Ever need just the text from an image or PDF? Check out this feature on your Chromebook! You can take a screenshot of a specific area, and a “copy text” option will appear outside of the box. It's super handy! Perfect for anything you want to grab quickly. Give it a try and see how it works! Click HERE to see it in action. 

We know students are playing games on their Chromebooks. Let's create games that align with what is being taught in the classroom. 

Check out Padlet Arcade! You can easily enter a topic, upload a file, add a link, or select one from the gallery. The highlight? The leaderboard! Keep your competitive edge, and watch your students engage as they try to climb to the top and unseat you. Let’s make learning fun! 

The online practice tests have been updated and now include a new feature: automatic grading! Once you complete and submit your practice test, you'll receive your results (Your Score vs. Max Score). Plus, if you want to dive deeper, you can easily select any question number, and it will take you back to that question so you can review it. You will notice a new icon in the top-left labeled "Test Results" that takes you back to your results page. 

Teachers have access to the answer keys; just click the yellow links at the bottom right. Click HERE to see it in action.

Exciting news from Padlet! You can now translate your Padlet boards into a whopping 47 languages with just one click! Simply hit the three dots for more actions and select 'Languages' to get started. Click Here to see it in action. A huge thank you to Padlet for being in tune with what we need!

Everyone needs a little magic. Check out Magic Media on Canva to create 3D content. 

To get started, log in to Canva and open a design or template. Click on "Magic Media" located on the left side. Then, select "3D" from the top tab. Enter a prompt for what you want to create and click "Generate 3D." You can tap and drag the orbit icon to rotate the 3D object and enjoy your creation! Click HERE to see it in action. 

Always keeping up with the times! Canva has added a built-in design accessibility checker. With your design open, click File in the top-left corner, select Accessibility, and Check design accessibility. It will list out the issues on the right. Most times, it will be alternative text, no worries, it also has a Suggest for me to do the heavy lift. Click HERE for a helpful but brief video.

Now that you know where to look, let's dive deeper! Using Destiny Discover through Clever, you can easily narrow your search by interest or reading level. Plus, there's no need to trek down to the media center; most books features an excerpt or the first chapter available right on your Chromebook. Click HERE to see it in action.

This tech tip is for the Students! Looking for a specific title or want to check if it's available today? Students Use Destiny Discover through your Clever account for all the info you need! 

Need a little help? Click HERE for directions and a tutorial video!

The final tech tip for 2025 is simple: turn everything off and enjoy your friends and family. See you in 2026! Happy holidays!

Did you know you have access to an admin account in PowerSchool? If you haven’t accessed it yet or forgot your password, just shoot me an email! 

Feel free to set the admin password to match your teacher account, as long as it meets the password criteria. 

And don’t worry, here are two direct links to the login pages for Admin Portal and Teacher Portal, and a trick to help you navigate between them! 

Did you know that Google Slides has a built-in recording feature? No extra tools are needed! Your students can easily record audio to present their information seamlessly. 

For those who feel comfortable in front of the camera, the video option is an excellent way to practice presentation skills. It’s all about preparing for real-life situations!

Be sure to check it out!

It's update time! Take a moment to check for updates on your Chromebooks, Desktop PCs, Macs, and Classroom Interactive Boards, basically EVERYTHING. Not sure how to do this. I got you: here are the brief video tutorials for Chromebooks and Desktop PCs, Macs, and Classroom Interactive Boards. 

And remember, before you leave for Thanksgiving break, shut down ALL your tech equipment—they deserve a break too! Enjoy your holiday! 

Just like Santa is making his list and checking it twice, it’s a good time for you to do the same with your extensions. Brisk AI might be on the naughty list. If you are having problems running things, try shutting it off. Here is a brief video tutorial.

In case you missed it! Have you enabled Reading Mode? Check out this quick video to see it in action! Enjoy!

With the Field Test this week or next, it’s a good idea for both staff and students to select both the Refresh and Power keys on your Chromebook. Shutting it down or just closing the lid won’t cut it. Take a minute today to make sure your device is all set for the test.

Since the field test is just around the corner, I thought it would be a great idea to give our students a bit of a head start. I know this is just a rehearsal for the real deal in the spring, but why not let them check out a practice test and play with the tools? Let’s make sure they feel confident and ready to go! Here is a brief tutorial on how to navigate to the practice tests.

Let’s be proactive! Just as you need a wellness check, your Chromebook does too. To keep it running smoothly, restart your device by pressing the REFRESH and POWER keys together. Before signing in, press ALT + V. In the top right corner, you and your students should see that you are on OS version 138 or 139. A healthy Chromebook equals a Happy Life! 

Hey Friends! Want to stick your toe into the AI tools. Check out the Google AI tools for educators! It's available right on your Google Classroom page under resources, look for the word Gemini. I recently tried the "re-level text" feature, and it was amazing! It simplifies text into the target grade level selected. Mind blown! Can't wait for you all to explore it! 

As the school year comes to a close, it's time to wrap things up! Here are **5 Tech Items** to review to help you finish strong and stay ahead. Enjoy your Summer! 

As we wrap up the year, let's make sure all our "classroom" tech gear is tucked away safely! Please remember to gather these essentials and store them in the provided bag, coming tomorrow, near the interactive board/panels:

-Document camera

-Wireless keyboard

-Wireless mouse

-Projector remote

-Boxlight Panel remote

-Interactive board pens and eraser (Boxlight markers will be collected separately!)

Taking a little time to do this will help ensure that our summer maintenance and updates go smoothly. Thanks so much for your help, everyone! Let's finish the year strong!

Guess what? You can totally ADD TEXT and SIGN PDFs right from your Chromebook! No way, you say? Well, let me tell you how it's done! 

First, grab the PDF file you want to work on and open it. Once you're in, check out the top bar—there you'll find all the tools you need to start typing or signing. It's super easy! 

If you want to see it in action, click HERE to see a Screen Capture of the whole process. Get ready to tackle those PDFs like a pro!

Where in the WAFFLE is SWANK? This question came up recently, and I want to be proactive. If you click on "Email" first, you’ll find access to SWANK within the "Waffle" on that page. Please remember to request any movies you need for the near future or for next year to be prepared. 

Well, this program has integrated so much that I think my BRAIN might POP. From Leveled Readings, Vocabulary Builder, Immersive Reader and MORE. Check It Out! 

Thank you for everything you do! Enjoy your well-deserved Teacher Appreciation Week. This is a site where you can use your own images to make puzzles.  

https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=09c2848230ee

Everyone, take a moment to play with sand virtually. Feeling fancy? Change the colors of the sand on the top right. Make sure to have your volume up; the sound is quite calming.  

The countdown has begun! You can do it. Please remember to shut down your Chromebook on Friday, turn off your interactive board, and enjoy your break! You can do it! 

Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive.

Are you an auditory learner? Here are the tech tips and tricks in podcast format. 

Here is the presentation, if you want to follow along.

It's that time of year! Who is EXCITED?! As you prepare your students for NJSLA, it is time to get ALL the Chromebooks ready. Check Out these tips for the device and assist the students with NJSLA tools. 

Want a cheat sheet, I got you covered!

So many tabs and too little battery. If one of those tabs is a student Google Search Page with an automated GIF, I suggest removing the GIF to see if it is contributing to the drain on their battery life. Here is an example of what it looks like with music! 

If you need directions, here you go. 

Are your eyes not what they used to be? Your Chromebook can help. Here is how.

• Click the Time in the bottom right corner

• Select Settings

• Select Device

• Select Display

• Under "Display and Text Size," move the circle to the right

Do you need some musical inspiration? Click HERE.

I wear my sunglasses at night. If you say that while looking at your Chromebook, you should enable the Night Light. Here is how.

• Click the Time in the bottom right corner

• Select Settings

• Select Device

• Select Displays

• Under "Night Light," turn on Night Light

If you want to go one step further, you can customize it.

Have you ever received a PDF you must share on social media? While sharing on X (formerly known as Twitter) is easy, Instagram presents a challenge. To solve this, visit the website https://www.pdf2go.com/pdf-to-jpg, upload your PDF, and adjust the width and height to 1080px by 1080px. 

That means it's time for a little cleanup. Some of you have extensions older than the device you just got rid of, so let's tidy up. To do this, click the puzzle piece at the top right of your bar. Scroll down and select the gear icon to Manage Extensions. Remove any extensions you no longer need (e.g., Dualless, Windows Tiler, and Google Meet Breakout by Robert Hudek, etc.).

If you have any questions, feel free to call me.

Have you picked up your Chromebook and noticed the screen has gone black? Chances are you've found the power button on the left side. When you need to restart, this is the button with the refresh key that you should press.  

As much as you don't like being cold, your technology doesn't like it either. Do not leave the technology outside in extreme temperatures. #bringitinside    

Hey there! If you're puzzled about why a certain program or application isn't working and would rather not wait on the phone or for an email, I've got a solution for you! Just click on the link below to find most of the status pages for the programs we use in the district. The best part? You can subscribe to receive automatic email updates whenever something happens. It's super easy!

Brisini

https://sites.google.com/bloomfield.k12.nj.us/bsdtech/status  

Looking back at 2024, I shared language tools such as Google Translate and Rewordify with you. Have you ever needed a kid translator? Give Skibidi Language Translator a try! This is just adults only. 

Skibidi wisdom, let’s rizz it up!

Just like you deserve a restful break, so does your tech equipment. Be sure to shut down the interactive board, black mini-computer, and Chromebook.  I am not talking about closing the lid or turning off the projector. SHUT IT DOWN! If you don’t know what that means, in the words of Blondie, “Call Me.” (Don’t worry, I promise I won’t sing, but for those who want to hear the song, click the hyperlink.)

Click Here for Music

Sometimes, we all need an UNDO. Well, there is a keyboard CB shortcut for that Ctrl + Z. 

Did you close your browser window or tab? OOPS, if you want it back, use this shortcut Ctrl + Shift + T.

ARE YOU UP TO DATE?

Take a moment to check if you are on the latest version of Chrome OS Available. Here is how to do it. 

1. When logged in, click the time in the bottom right corner or select Shift+ALT+S

2. Select the Settings gear wheel

3. Click About ChromeOS in the left and Check for Updates in the middle; once complete, click the Restart button that appears. 

This should be the current version, Version 130.0.6723.126; if not, give me a call or stop by the Jurassic Park Media Center for Assistance. 

For my visual friends, here are directions. Before I forget, this is only for staff, not students.

Here we are again talking about removing the user. 98.9% of all Chromebook issues can be resolved by removing the user. This is for both STAFF and STUDENTS.

If you missed it the last time, I have it here.

Refresh Power. It sounds like a new liquid detergent, but pressing these buttons will restart your Chromebook to receive all necessary updates. While at the sign-in screen, you can check the OS version your device is running; that one is ALT V. 

Need directions, I got you!

You heard of Sport Mode. Have you heard of Reading Mode? Check it out! It only works on Chromebooks or ChromeFlex (the big laptops). It has a play button, but if you click voice selection (third icon) and scroll down, you can add different languages for the text to play in. Try it out, or let me know if you want me to stop by your classes.

1. On your device, open Chrome Browser.

2. Go to a website with text that you’d like to read. Just a heads up some websites don't work.

3. At the top right, select three dots---More tools---Reading mode.

4. Be sure to Pin It for availability in your toolbar 

Don't want to read the directions above, here is a YouTube short of the process. 

There is a shortcut for everything, including Accessibility features. Be warned...just because you can do it doesn't mean you need to. Running multiple accessibility features at one time will degrade the performance of the machine. Choose wisely! 

Stay tuned for an updated shortcuts sheet. 

Is Chromebook running a little slow? Audio not working? Are you having issues with Star Testing? Error holding on your machine? Many of these things can be corrected with the removal of the user. 

Just be aware that some students might be creating separate desks on their Chromebooks. It takes two seconds to toggle back and forth. How can you tell? You will see an additional item in the bottom taskbar, either labeled Desk 1 or renamed Desk with an arrow next to it. If you want the shortcut key, click Show Windows Key, highlighted above. Why this is important, if they are running two desks, that will contribute to their device running slow, and they can seem on task but can hide doing other things.

Wasting your time with Windows Tiler or other split screen extensions? Why...you have the feature built right into your Chromebook. Just hover over the top right of the browser where you see the two boxes; it is next to the minimize. You can decide between Split, Partial, or Float. ENJOY!

Hope you are having a TERRIFIC TUESDAY! I just wanted to let you know there are some features to be aware of in BrainPOP.

As students log in via Clever, they will see a list of their classes and any assignments teachers push out. 

Students need access to the video library? They can click on the Moby head in the top left-hand corner. If you know, you know. 

Most videos can be switched to French or Spanish on the student end. The closed captioning will be in the selected language as well. 

Teachers, you can select to assign a video with  "Pause Points or within Apply and Access," this will allow students to use Immersive Reader on their end to have the questions read to them or translated. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions or want me to stop by.

Did you know we have a new reporting system for tech tickets? Please check it out; I've included the link below. If you look closely on the page I found an Easter Egg where you request WIFI access for your smartphones. Direct link is also below. Enjoy.

Help Desk Ticket Submission

Attempting to pick up where Terri left off. Big shoes to fill. Sad news alert for those of you, Flipgrid is no more. It's been in view only for quite some time. If there is anything you want to save or can't live without, you have until September 30, 2024, to download past videos. Need directions, I got you!

I took a moment to process and realized all is not lost; we have Padlet, a quick alternative. Stop by the media center, and we can chat about it.