Instructional Technology Resource Teacher/Technology Coordinator/Website Administrator
Waynesboro High School
1200 West Main Street
Waynesboro, Virginia 22980
Phone: 540.946.4616 EXT 41
Fax: 540.946.4621
Plug the Chromebook in and press the power button.
Login using your WPS Student Gmail account (personal Gmail accounts will NOT work).
Your default WPS Student Gmail account = <student number>@wpsstudent.us
Your default WPS Student Gmail account password = 000<student number> NOTE: You'll need to change your password when you login for the first time.
Open the Chrome browser.
Open your WPS Student Gmail and check your inbox (do this DAILY). Respond to email if needed. How to Email.
Go to Google Apps (9-dot square or "waffle" in the upper right-hand corner) > Canvas > enter your Courses from here.
To turn off your Chromebook completely, try one of these options:
At the bottom right, select the time. Select Power .
At the bottom right, select the time. Select Sign out Shut down.
Press and hold the Power key for 3-5 seconds.
Press and hold the Power button until you see a menu to Power off or Sign out
No. Personal computers, phones, wearables, gaming consoles, etc. are not to be used on our network NOR are hotspots and personal devices to be used within our school setting. Starting January 1, 2025, Executive Order 33 goes into effect which states phones should be turned off and stored away from the first bell at the start of the school day to begin instructional time until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the academic school day. “Bell-to-bell” includes lunch and time in between class periods. More information HERE.
Chromebooks are not fast machines. We use an iBoss filter and SecURLy on them which constantly scans student traffic for inappropriate sites/material and that slows them down even more. You must have patience when using Chromebooks.
Chromebooks update often. Depending on Internet connection speed, processing speed, open tasks, and how often the computer is used, the updates can take some time and require multiple reboots. Students often interpret this as "shutting down," "freezing," or running slowly. Allow the computer to run and reboot and see if the issue resolves. Updates and reboots may take up to one hour or more, again, depending on the above factors. A computer that has sat unused for some time needs to run many updates to catch up to where it should be.
If the issue persists, contact Mr. Ford via email HERE. Please provide your full name, the serial number of your Chromebook, and a brief description of the issue you are having.
Chromebooks don't have a lot of memory. To "save" memory, Chrome has a feature called Tab Discarding that automatically closes Tabs that aren't being used OR are using too much memory.
One of the most common problems with home networks is that a cable is loose or unplugged somewhere. Check to make sure everything is hooked up properly.
If you can't connect to a particular website, try a few others to see if any of them load. If one website loads and another doesn't, the problem is probably with that website and not your network.
You could try "power cycling" your devices, which means rebooting all of the pieces of your network one at a time.
To power cycle your network:
Unplug your modem for at least 10 seconds; plug it back in
Unplug your router for at least 10 seconds; plug it back in
The lights on your router should start blinking
When the light comes on that shows you have an Internet connection, reboot your device
Establish a wireless connection between the device and your network
If the above steps haven't gotten you re-connected, you might have to call your Internet service provider (ISP) to make sure there's not a service outage or a change to your service plan that you weren't aware of.
Restart the computer or device that won't connect. If the computer is portable, try moving it closer to your router or modem. If this solves the problem, you might be having signal interference. See the section of this guide titled Reduce interference for some potential solutions.
If your device connects to the Internet initially, but the connection keeps dropping, there are a few tricks that might help you get a better signal.
If your device is portable, move it closer to the router and try again.
Another potential problem is that your network may be experiencing interference from other networks or electronic devices. Products such as microwaves, cordless phones, and Bluetooth devices could be interfering with your wireless signal. If that's the case, try shutting off the devices that may be causing interference.
It's possible that your router's firmware, or the software programmed into the router itself, is out of date and a newer version is available that offers smoother performance. Firmware updates are free, and the option to update should be in the settings menu of your router.
If you need help finding firmware or drivers, check out our article Find Drivers and Updates.
Yes, a 2.4GHz wireless phone can interfere with your wireless network.
Try changing the channel on your phone using the channel button near the keypad. If there isn't a channel button, try hanging up the phone, then picking it up again.
Additionally, some routers let you change the broadcast channel. Try changing the channel on your router to see if that helps.
There are several potential reasons you could be experiencing lag or slowdown across your network.
Perhaps your device is simply too far from the router and you're getting a weak signal. Try moving closer to see if that helps.
It's possible that the Internet service you have is simply too slow. In this case, you may want to call your provider to upgrade your service.
If you have a large house, or if you're experiencing interference from your neighbors' wireless networks, it's not uncommon to find "dead zones," or areas your wireless network can't reach. Here are a few things to try:
It is possible your router is not in an ideal location. Try moving the router to the location where it can cover the largest area of your home.
Be sure to place your router in a place where it won't be blocked. Higher up is generally better, and you'll want to make sure your router is not tucked away in a drawer or a closet where it can't effectively broadcast a wide signal.
Perhaps your router is just not powerful enough, or is using outdated/older wireless technology. Replacing it with a newer, more powerful model may allow you to increase the coverage area in your home.
Wireless extenders pick up the signal from your router and re-broadcast it to create a larger area of coverage.
Powerline extenders work by sending a signal through the electric wires that already exist inside your home, letting you extend your network to any location where there is an electrical outlet.
Working collaboratively with individual teachers or groups of teachers to integrate technology into instruction
Assisting with curriculum and content development
Disseminating information regarding technology resources, emerging technologies, best practices using technology, and professional development opportunities
Facilitating or conducting technology-related professional development for school staff
Assessing levels of teacher and student technology use and skills
Modeling effective instructional strategies using technology
Serving as a member of the school technology committee
Supporting implementation of the division and state technology plan
Researching use of newer technologies in instruction
Using data to design technology-based instructional strategies
Recommending hardware, software, and related resources
Identifying trends in software, curriculum, teaching strategies, and other educational areas
Creating learning resources for teachers, staff, and students
Serving as a strong advocate for technology integration
Participating in software selection and use
VAC 20-25-30
The Virginia Board of Education has identified eight technology standards for instructional personnel. Individuals who completed a Virginia approved program in any instructional area since December 1998 have met the TSIP requirements. Virginia colleges and universities require that individuals must meet the requirements as part of their approved program. It is not necessary for local school division personnel to reassess this requirement for these graduates of a Virginia approved program.
The eight standards (as written in the Code of Virginia) are:
Standard One: Instructional personnel shall be able to demonstrate effective use of a computer system and utilize computer software.
Standard Two: Instructional personnel shall be able to apply knowledge of terms associated with educational computing and technology.
Standard Three: Instructional personnel shall be able to apply computer productivity tools for professional use.
Standard Four: Instructional personnel shall be able to use electronic technologies to access and exchange information.
Standard Five: Instructional personnel shall be able to identify, locate, evaluate, and use appropriate instructional hardware and software to support Virginia's Standards of Learning and other instructional objectives.
Standard Six: Instructional personnel shall be able to use educational technologies for data collection, information management, problem solving, decision making, communication, and presentation within the curriculum.
Standard Seven: Instructional personnel shall be able to plan and implement lessons and strategies that integrate technology to meet the diverse needs of learners in a variety of educational settings.
Standard Eight: Instructional personnel shall demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal issues relating to the use of technology.
Statutory Authority
§ 22.1-16 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 14, Issue 10, eff. March 4, 1998.
The Waynesboro certification plan is outlined below. If you have questions, contact Rosemary Wagoner, Dalton Ford, Josh Spees, or Mike Goodson.
Create a portfolio with the following documents to demonstrate mastery. Portfolios should be shown to your building principal.
Google Doc or Word document that has clip art, bold text, underlined text, text within clip art, etc.
Google Sheet or Excel Spreadsheet that involves using a formula or chart.
Database
Google Slide or PowerPoint with at least 5 slides. There should be more than one slide layout, slides animated, and transition between slides.
Digital picture downloaded from a digital camera or phone.
Print out an e-mail message you have sent or received.
Web page created (Google Sites or WordPress recommended).
Lesson plan that integrates technology into your curriculum.
Complete the online tutorial on Copyright and Fair Use Laws. Contact Rosemary Wagoner to access the tutorial through Moodle.