Temporary Virtual Learning Day Resources

With the possibility of Temporary Virtual Learning Days it may be a good time for a quick refresher/introduction on Google Meet. Google has updated Meet with numerous features in the last two years so it may look different than the last time you used it.

Google Meet allows teachers and students to connect live (synchronously). The easiest way to have Google Meet ready for use with students is to add a Google Meet link to your Google Classroom. Students can then easily navigate to the Meet by using Google Classroom via Clever or a visiting classroom.google.com.

When using meet with students it is important to review your Google Meet settings. These settings are "sticky" to that classroom's Meet. This means that when adjusting a settings that change is kept for the next  use of that meet. The two most important settings are 1) Quick Meetings and 2) Host Management. Quick Meetings should be OFF and Host Management should be ON for meeting with students. You will need to verify/adjust those settings on each classroom's meet settings.

You can review your Google Meet settings by launching the Meet session associated with each of your Google Classrooms and checking your settings.

In a Google Classroom Meeting;

1. At the bottom right, click Host Controls

2. A side panel called Host Controls will open

3. Toggle Host Management to ON

4. Toggle Quick access to OFF

Google Meet Help: https://support.google.com/a/users/answer/9846862

If you are new to Meet please visit the training link below and it will help show you all of the features available.

Google Meet Training: https://support.google.com/edu/classroom/answer/9776888

Classwize is a website/application that allows the classroom teacher to;

1) Adjust the Internet filtering experience for students on their Classwize roster using Chromebooks, Mac, or Windows computers and
2) Monitor student screens using Chromebooks, Mac, or Windows computers 

Bite-Size/Two-Minute Training Videos: https://docs.classwize.net/help/intro-videos (see "Rules" video)
Classwize Rules Help Docs: https://docs.classwize.net/help/intro-rules

Note: Classwize does not work with iPads.

In limited situations students or staff may need Internet access to be provided due to a lack of home internet at their location. The district has 184 Kajeet Internet hotspots that have been distributed to schools for use in these limited situations.

1. Kajeet Check Out / Check In Process

2. Kajeet Inventory by Location

3. Kajeet Sentinel (Media Center Check Out / Check In) Contact List by Location

The district provide VPN access for staff needing access to secure servers (HR, Finances, Data Reporting, etc.). This is limited to about 200 staff and not generally available to staff not needing access to those areas. Staff members needing VPN access need to configure and test access prior to any closure. 

Aruba Via VPN Instructions

The district is providing two (2) Google Voice numbers for schools to allow ongoing connections in the event of a school closure. The phones number can be answered using a Chromebook. The designated staff member(s) would;

1. Use a Chromebook

2. Log into the Google Voice account @ voice.google.com (using the credentials below)

3. Monitor and Answer the phone number using the Chromebook 

Google Voice Numbers and Passwords (Restricted to District Administrators ONLY). Please be sure to ONLY use your school's number and credentials.

Google Voice on a computer Instructions:

• Accessing Google Voice on a Computer

• Making a call using Google Voice on a Computer

Secondary Schools and Central Services Facility:
Phone Lines with an auto-attendant present on their main line are unable to forward that number. An auto-attendant presents the menu options on the main line. This primarily affects secondary schools and CSF.

Elementary Schools:
Phone Lines without a call manager can forward their main line to a Google Voice account by following the instructions below:

• Cisco Phone call forwarding video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JRPMTaXDuY

• Non-Cisco cordless handset like a Vtech Phone you can forward from the Keypad

  • On=**1 9-###-####

  • Off=**2

Google Classroom Class Visit is a Beta tool that allows Principals to "Visit" Google Classrooms. This can be very helpful in the event that a substitute is needed and they need to facilitate student learning taking place in Google Classroom. Click here for more information about the pilot and how to participate: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jhCij2p1QWYURNr3x4bA6gUqdLjOkhzXGuQxBUT0uQc