With all the recent press on Zoombombing and privacy concerns, we've updated our how-to with added security settings, including enabling the waiting room and other helpful tips.
Bottom line - don't share your meeting link publicly (not on social media, not on your teacher webpage, not online except in Google Classroom or SeeSaw).
Big shout out to ToSA Chanmi Chun for incorporating the new privacy information.
Direct Slide Link
Friday, March 27, 2020
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Guidelines for Conducting Live Video Conferences with Students
UPDATED 3-27-20
During this time of school closures, it is critical that we maintain connection and engage with our students to address the negative effects of social isolation and disconnecting from school. Many teachers have expressed interest in holding live video conferences with their students to re-connect and re-engage in learning, but conducting whole class live video instruction is not expected or required at this time. Video conferencing is a great way to engage in small group or individual support for students on an as needed basis. Before conducting any video conferences with students please think about these considerations.
Equity and Access
Consider providing multiple ways students can access any content shared in a video conference to ensure equitable access for ALL students. Not all students may be available at a specified time to meet and not all students may have internet access at home capable of supporting live participation.
Consider ways to deliver content asynchronously so students can access it when and how they are able. Screencasts, video recordings, articles, YouTube videos and other existing content can provide alternatives to live online instruction that can be accessed in a flexible manner.
Currently Supported Video Conference Tools
The following tools are currently being supported by the USD Tech Department and meet student data and privacy requirements:
- Google Meet
- Zoom
- Protect your student’s privacy! Refrain from posting images of any video conferencing sessions on social media that may display student faces and/or student names. Our existing Media Opt-Out policy applies.
- Be aware that students may record sessions without your knowledge or permission; discuss this with them beforehand as part of establishing expectations for online class conduct and behavior.
- Parents may be watching alongside, or with their student during the live conference and may wish to participate; again, discuss this with them beforehand as part of establishing expectations for online class conduct and behavior.
- Be aware of the possibility of inappropriate student behavior and student safety issues:
- Inappropriate images or words may be visible in backgrounds.
- You may hear things (dogs, cats, siblings, etc.) in the background.
- As a mandated reporter, you might see something that you feel legally obligated to act upon.
- The video background environment may disclose information such as location or student full name.
NEW - Recording
Live video class sessions may be recorded by the teacher with prior notification to parents. Teacher recordings will be used for legitimate educational purposes, including making the session available to the class in a secure format for viewing after the live session has ended. Parents may opt their student out of participating in a live session recording by notifying the teacher prior to the meeting. Recordings may not be downloaded or shared by parents or students without prior written consent of the teacher and all meeting participants present (including parent permission for any students present).
How-to Share a Link to Meet/Zoom in Google Classroom
Step 1: When you have created a video meeting in Meet or Zoom, you’ll need to copy the link to share out. Remember, if you’re using Zoom, you need to go to your settings and allow joining via web browser (Instructions here)
Step 2: Open the Google Classroom where you’re sharing the invitation link.
Step 3: Click on STREAM up on the very top of the page.
Step 4: In the middle of the page, click on “Share something with your class…”
STEP 5: Type the directions or information for the meeting. For example, “Join me at 3:00pm Thursday for story-time.”
Step 6: Then click on the ADD button below what you typed. Choose LINK. Paste the link to your Zoom or Meet in the space provided. Click ADD LINK. On the bottom right, click the POST button.
Congratulations, you did it!
Monday, March 23, 2020
How To Use Your School Phone FROM HOME!
With our At-Home learning initiative and stay-at-home in effect, some of you may feel that there is an obligation to use your personal phones to stay connected with students and parents. While staying connected is more important now than ever before, we understand this is not ideal for multiple reasons.
In order to continue to facilitate communication, we are enabling our phone system’s ability to access classroom/school extensions at home through the 8x8 Virtual Office app. The app can be downloaded onto your mobile phone or laptop and will allow you to make calls that look like you are using your phone at work (Caller ID will show your school number, not your personal cell number).
If you would like to get started, please follow the instructions provided below. First step is to download the app from the app store from your mobile phone and then have to reset your 8x8 password to login.
First Step:
App Store Installation (or search for 8x8 Virtual Office from your mobile phone) choose one:
Third Step:
Check your District unionsd.org Email for an email from ‘noreply@8x8.com’ and follow the guide from 8x8 to reset your password. (Check your Spam or All Mail folders if no email is in your Inbox)
Final Step:
Open up the app and log in with your unionsd.org Email and the password you just set.
(Note: You may want to log off the app after-hours to prevent incoming calls after your workday obligations are complete)
Technical Assistance:
Your Site Techs are ready to provide support in getting this setup. If you need assistance feel free to contact them directly or email me at doant@unionsd.org.
In order to continue to facilitate communication, we are enabling our phone system’s ability to access classroom/school extensions at home through the 8x8 Virtual Office app. The app can be downloaded onto your mobile phone or laptop and will allow you to make calls that look like you are using your phone at work (Caller ID will show your school number, not your personal cell number).
If you would like to get started, please follow the instructions provided below. First step is to download the app from the app store from your mobile phone and then have to reset your 8x8 password to login.
First Step:
App Store Installation (or search for 8x8 Virtual Office from your mobile phone) choose one:
iPhone/iPad:
Google Play/Android:
PC/MAC (headset with microphone recommended):
Second Step:
Reset your 8x8 password via the following link:
Reset your 8x8 password via the following link:
https://sso.8x8.com (or from the app login window)
- Click on ‘Forgot Password?’
- Fill in your unionsd.org Email address
- Click ‘Send’
Third Step:
Check your District unionsd.org Email for an email from ‘noreply@8x8.com’ and follow the guide from 8x8 to reset your password. (Check your Spam or All Mail folders if no email is in your Inbox)
Final Step:
Open up the app and log in with your unionsd.org Email and the password you just set.
(Note: You may want to log off the app after-hours to prevent incoming calls after your workday obligations are complete)
Technical Assistance:
Your Site Techs are ready to provide support in getting this setup. If you need assistance feel free to contact them directly or email me at doant@unionsd.org.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
Getting Familiar with Google Classroom
At-home learning poses a lot of challenges. But with Google Classroom, you'll find a great way to stay in touch with your students. Whether it's creating a "Stream" for you and students to keep in touch with each other, or pushing assignments to your students through "Classwork," once you have your class set up, you will find it is a great tool.
This post has lots of embedded links in the blue text. Clicking on them should help you become familiar and comfortable with Google Classroom. However, USD teachers can contact one of the Instructional or STEAM ToSAs for further help.
Get started by creating a Class. Once your class is created, there are two ways to have students join your class.
Lucky for us, USD has been a Google for Education District for years and our students have accounts from early primary grades and generally know their username and password. If not, you will have to email it to their families for them to join. Once they are signed into their account, all USD students can access Google Classroom through their school's Symbaloo page. You might like to share this doc with families and students to help them sign into Google Classroom for the first time.
Once your class is set up and students are invited, you may like to "Share something with your class..." in the Stream tab. You might like to invite students to share by posting in the Stream. Both you and they will be able to Google Drive files, links, files or YouTube videos. If you would like to reserve the Stream for communications from you, you can turn off student access by clicking on the gear in
the upper right-hand corner of your class and scroll down to "General." There you can set parameters.
You can also delete a post or mute a student by using the three dots that appear on the right of a post. When muted, a student will still be able to submit work.
Of course, posting and assigning classwork is the primary reason teachers use Google Classroom. Teachers create assignments, a quiz, ask a question, or add material. At USD, second through fifth grades teachers will copy each day of the first two weeks of lessons and add them to your Google Classroom. Heather Koleszar created screencasts which walk you through posting both the Reading and Writing (Step 4) and Math (Step 5) assignments. If you are a co-teacher in a class, you can "re-use a post" from their class, a great way to share the work load with your grade level colleagues.
Once work is assigned, you'll be able to see, comment on and grade your students' work. One way to access it is through the Classwork tab. Another is through the Classroom folder created in Google Drive.
Hopefully, this will get you started. If you have questions, here is a resource that might help. And, of course, your USD ToSAs are here to help.
This post has lots of embedded links in the blue text. Clicking on them should help you become familiar and comfortable with Google Classroom. However, USD teachers can contact one of the Instructional or STEAM ToSAs for further help.
Get started by creating a Class. Once your class is created, there are two ways to have students join your class.
Lucky for us, USD has been a Google for Education District for years and our students have accounts from early primary grades and generally know their username and password. If not, you will have to email it to their families for them to join. Once they are signed into their account, all USD students can access Google Classroom through their school's Symbaloo page. You might like to share this doc with families and students to help them sign into Google Classroom for the first time.
Once your class is set up and students are invited, you may like to "Share something with your class..." in the Stream tab. You might like to invite students to share by posting in the Stream. Both you and they will be able to Google Drive files, links, files or YouTube videos. If you would like to reserve the Stream for communications from you, you can turn off student access by clicking on the gear in the upper right-hand corner of your class and scroll down to "General." There you can set parameters.
Of course, posting and assigning classwork is the primary reason teachers use Google Classroom. Teachers create assignments, a quiz, ask a question, or add material. At USD, second through fifth grades teachers will copy each day of the first two weeks of lessons and add them to your Google Classroom. Heather Koleszar created screencasts which walk you through posting both the Reading and Writing (Step 4) and Math (Step 5) assignments. If you are a co-teacher in a class, you can "re-use a post" from their class, a great way to share the work load with your grade level colleagues.
Once work is assigned, you'll be able to see, comment on and grade your students' work. One way to access it is through the Classwork tab. Another is through the Classroom folder created in Google Drive.Hopefully, this will get you started. If you have questions, here is a resource that might help. And, of course, your USD ToSAs are here to help.
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