Instructional Technology
at WHS
Our mission is to prepare students to be lifelong learners who are responsible for their own learning, skilled in accessing and processing information, confident in using technological tools, able to solve complex problems alone or collaboratively, capable of being creative and innovative, and able to communicate locally, nationally, and globally.
Contact Information
Mr. M.D. Ford
Instructional Technology Resource Teacher/Website Administrator
Waynesboro High School
1200 West Main Street
Waynesboro, Virginia 22980
Phone: 540.946.4616 EXT 41
Fax: 540.946.4621
How to Chromebook
WPS Chromebook QUICK START instructions:
Plug the Chromebook in and press the power button.
Login using your WPS Student Gmail account (personal Gmail accounts will NOT work).
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.
Discover helpful videos to make the most of your Chromebook (NOTE: Some features of WPS Chromebooks are turned off for security purposes)
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
"My Chromebook runs slow," "Keeps Shutting down," OR "KEEPS REFRESHING"
Chromebooks are not fast machines. We use an iBoss filter 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. Currently (June 2021), there is no fix for this issue. You can read more about it HERE.
HotSpot T9 Instructions
Charge the Battery
1. Insert the small end of the USB cable into the micro-USB charging port on the right side of the hotspot.
2. Plug the charging adapter into a standard AC power outlet.
***Note: Using a different charger or USB cord other than the one supplied can result in slower charging times.
Power Up the Hotspot
To turn your Hotspot on or off, press and hold the Power Button on the front of the device for at least two seconds.
Connect to your Hotspot via Wi-Fi
1. Find out the Hotspot’s Wi-fi Name by quickly pressing the power button and go through the menu to find it.
2. Do the same to find the password for the hotspot. Write this down somewhere you can find it later.
3. Open the Wi-Fi application or controls on the computer or Wi-Fi enabled device that you want to connect to your Hotspot.
4. Find your Hotspot’s Wi-Fi name (SSID) and enter your password to connect to the internet.
***Note: Your Wi-Fi name (SSID) and password appear on the Hotspot LCD Display.
Carga la batería
1. Inserte el extremo pequeño del cable USB en el puerto de carga micro-USB en el lado derecho del punto de acceso.
2. Conecte el adaptador de carga a una toma de corriente CA estándar.
***Nota: El uso de un cargador o cable USB diferente al suministrado puede resultar en tiempos de carga más lentos.
Encienda el punto de acceso
Para encender o apagar su punto de acceso, mantenga presionado el botón de encendido en la parte frontal del dispositivo durante al menos dos segundos.
Conéctese un dispositivo a su punto de acceso a través de Wi-Fi
1. Averigüe el nombre de Wi-Fi del punto de acceso presionando rápidamente el botón de encendido y recorra el menú para encontrarlo.
2. Haga lo mismo para encontrar la contraseña del punto de acceso. Escriba esto en algún lugar donde pueda encontrarlo más tarde.
3. Abra la aplicación o los controles de Wi-Fi en la computadora o dispositivo habilitado para Wi-Fi que desea conectar a su punto de acceso. 4. Busque el nombre de Wi-Fi de su punto de acceso (SSID) e ingrese su contraseña para conectarse a Internet.
***Nota: Su nombre de Wi-Fi (SSID) y contraseña aparecen en la pantalla LCD del punto de acceso
How to Troubleshoot Your Home Network
Why won't my device connect to the Internet?
Check your cables.
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.
Check a different website.
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.
Try resetting your devices.
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
Contact your service provider.
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.
Why does one of my computers have trouble connecting when all my other devices work fine?
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.
What can I do if my Internet connection drops frequently?
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.
Move closer to your router.
If your device is portable, move it closer to the router and try again.
Reduce interference.
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.
Update your firmware.
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.
I have a 2.4 GHz wireless telephone. Could it interfere with my wireless network?
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.
Why is my connection so slow?
There are several potential reasons you could be experiencing lag or slowdown across your network.
Is your device too far from the router?
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.
Is your Internet speed fast enough?
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.
Why is my connection weak in certain parts of the house?
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:
Moving your router.
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.
Getting a more powerful router.
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 network extenders.
Wireless extenders pick up the signal from your router and re-broadcast it to create a larger area of coverage.
Powerline extenders.
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.
What are the Responsibilities of an Instructional Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT)?
Duties and responsibilities of an ITRT include, but are not limited to, the following:
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
Technology Standards for Instructional Personnel (TSIPs)
Virginia TSIP Standards
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.
Requirements for Waynesboro employees who need to complete TSIP Standards
The Waynesboro certification plan is outlined below. If you have questions, contact Rosemary Wagoner, Shannon Jakeman, or Dalton Ford.
Portfolio
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.