Feb 8, 2024

Secure Testing on Chromebooks

Most of the secure tests students might expect to encounter can be taken on a district issued Chromebook.  This includes AP, ELPA and whatever SBAC is called this year.  Bear in mind it HAS to be a managed district device, students will NOT be able to use personal Chromebooks or laptops.  Yes...that means Macbooks too.

They also must NOT sign into their Chromebook.  Instead, they will click the "Apps" button at the bottom left of the login screen:


Upon selecting Apps, student test takers will be presented with a buffet of testing possibilities:


Not all will be germane to the high school experience (NWEA is mostly primary and middle).  For example, AP students will select Bluebook.  When the test loads, then students will sign in with whatever credentials the proctor provides.

So, to reiterate...
  • No personal devices
  • Don't sign into the Chromebook

Jan 9, 2024

Update Chromebook



Google isn't one to take initiative when it comes to updating the Chromebooks, typically they must be updated by hand.  Students don't have access to settings in the Chrome browser, but they should be able to access what they need to update from the control panel.

1. Click the clock on the taskbar.
2. Click the settings gear.


3.Click on "About Chrome OS


4. Check version.
5. Click to update.

When it's done it will ask you to reboot.


Nov 17, 2022

Synergy/Google Sync Issues

Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't.  Probably a life lesson in there somewhere. (Thanks, Wind, for finding this)


Open Synergy and go to Gradebook --> Gradebook Main and click on the colorful Google icon.



Then click the gear icon.

Scroll all the way to the bottom, and check the "All Classes" box.
Click "Done" and hopefully enjoy having that much less stress to deal with.

2-Scroll down..png

According to the info button in that screenshot, Google only syncs assignments due within the last 30 days.  Including all classes and hitting the Resync button overrides that behavior, because nothing is late anymore.  Wind says that option didn't used to be there, so I'm guessing Synergy is trying to catch up to Google's flightiness, bless them.

If THAT doesn't work...

If Cruel Fate thwarts your efforts,  you can also try resetting your Classroom code, feeding the new code to Synergy, and rerun the sync.  In some instances that has resolved issues as well.  Christina at the DO found this stratagem in the Synergy help desk, where it reputedly worked in at least one case.

image.png


Oct 4, 2021

Using Mitel phones

Every teacher should have their own phone extension, if you are unsure of yours, please contact IT, the office, or the staff directory.  As we have more teachers than rooms, not everyone will have a specific phone configured for them, though it's not difficult to log into any Mitel phone using your account. You can find instructions (and other fun phone info) in the Quick Reference card:
  1. Log in to voicemail from the target phone– an extension other than your own.
  2. At the Main Menu prompt, press 7.
  3. Press 3 to re-assign the extension.
    • Press 1 to assign the extension.
    • Press 2 to un-assign the extension. (Phone reverts to its original extension.)
Once you've set up your greeting, there will be few reasons to log into a phone, as most school phones will show up on the receiver's caller id as (503) 673-7800 (the main office).  Also, voicemails and missed calls can be retrieved from the Mitel app installed on staff laptops. To sign in to Mitel Connect the first time:
  1. Open the Mitel app (you probably saw that coming).



  2. Click "Show Advanced" and enter phones.wlwv.k12.or.us in the "Server" field. (Leave "Domain" blank.)




  3. Use the first part of your district email as the username (first letter and first initial are caps, i.e. JonesJ or JonesJ2), ask IT for the default password (it's not P+ID).

  4. Click "Remember Me" if you haven't enjoyed our journey so far...

From here you can listen to and delete voicemails and call history. You can't make calls from here, but it does help with management.


Any school extension that doesn't start with a 7 is not directly dialable from outside the district.  However, people can still reach your extension directly by calling (503) 673-7815, and entering the extension when prompted.
Sep 7, 2021

Enable Staples on the Bizhubs

If, in the course of sending packets, pamphlets or booklets to the Bizhub, you discoverer the staple option is greyed out, fear not. It will be OK.

Here's what to do:

Windows Instructions

  1. Open the printer list by typing "printer" in the Windows search box, and select "Printers and Scanners" when it pops up.


  2. Click on the Bizhub you most desire to print to, and then click the "Manage" button.


  3. Open "Printer Properties".



  4. Click on the "Configure" tab, then select "Finisher" from the Device Option list, then "FS-534" (Office),  "FS-535" (B211 & Staff Central), or "FS-536 (D100 & Music Lab) from the Setting list . If you don't see those specific numbers, pick the closest thing to it, then click OK or Apply.


  5. That should do it.  If you go back to the printer list, select the Bizhub and choose "Printing Preferences" this time, when you open the "Finish" tab, you should see the "Stapler" box in a fully clickable state.  Congratulations, you did it!



Mac Instructions
  1. Request a Windows computer.

Aug 27, 2021

Parent/Student Lists in Gmail



The L:\ drive parent lists we used for Groupwise are still available...in Googlesse!

  1. Connect to the WLWV Cloud.
  2. Open Google Contacts.
  3. Click "Import" (in the left-hand navigation pane)
  4. Click "Select File" and browse to your address book at...

    L:\AddrBooks\WLHS\You.csv

  5. Select the CSV file with your name. NOT the VCF file...never the VCF!
  6.  Click "Open", then "Import Contacts"

When addressing an email to these groups, you should be sure to address the Group using the BC option so as to avoid exposing the actual email addresses among the recipients.
May 11, 2021

Testing on Chromebooks

Whether for AP testing or SBAC (or whatever we're calling it as you read this), it is vitally important student NOT log into their Chromebooks.  Secure browsers are instead accessed from the main log in screen, through the "Apps" menu.



AP test options are available from select Chromebooks.  If a student is using a previously assigned Chromebook, they will need to submit a Tekmee ticket and provide the service tag (printed on the underside of the Chromebook) in order to have their device remotely configured for AP testing.

State testing is available on all Chromebooks, and can be accessed by selecting "Secure TestBrowser" from the Apps menu.  The first time a Chromebook opens the secure browser, the user may have to select Oregon from the list of states.


There is only one test option for Oregon, so they can just click "OK" at that point.

Here they may attempt a sample test, or log in with their testing credentials


Apr 30, 2021

Keeping Zoom Chats Private on Multi-Display Presentations

Projectors and big TVs are a handy way to share the distance learning kids on Zoom with the on-campus students in your classroom.  However, sometimes you may want to chat privately with a Zoom participant, which can be problematic in such a setup.  Fear not, there is a work around.

First, share a screen on Zoom, any screen, doesn't matter.  Your viewer will change to a floating toolbar (probably docked to the top of the screen).

Click "More" at the right of the toolbar, and select "Chat" from the top of the menu.


Your efforts will be rewarded with a free-floating chat window, which you can drag to a more private screen.



Apr 15, 2021

Adding Languages to Chromebooks

 

Enter this address into the browser: chrome://settings/languages

 

A window called “Languages and input” will open, and two languages (English (United States) and English) will be displayed.

 

Click the Add button (bottom left)

 

An “Add language” mini window will appear.

 

Click the down arrow and select Japanese - 日本語

 

(Note: For our Chinese students, this will be Chinese (Simplified) - 中文 (筒体).)

 

Click OK.

 

On the right side of the window, look for the Input Method section.

 

Check the Google Japanese Input (for US keyboard) box.

 

A Configure box will appear, but the presets are what we want.  No need to click this. (I’m not sure about whether Wen will feel the same for Chinese. We plan to meet on Friday 9/29 to walk through the process)

 

Click Done.  Close the window.

 

Now, you should see the language button (marked US) in the bar at the bottom right of the home screen.

 

The toggle for switching between languages is “Control-Shift-Space”.  Toggle until you get to (The language options will be US, INTL and ).  Alternatively, you can click on the language button and make a selection each time you want to switch languages, but this is cumbersome!

HP Laserjet M601 Default Print Tray

(This works on most HP printer models)

Occasionally when an irregular size paper is used the default print tray gets stuck on Tray 1 (which is the manual feed). When you want to automatically use Tray 2 you have to select OK, then tray 2, then OK again.

These are the tray settings you need to get the printer back to defaulting to Tray 2:

· Tray 1 set to Letter and Plain

· Tray 2 set to Letter and Plain

· User Requested Tray – Exclusively

· Manually Feed Prompt – Always

· Size/Type Prompt – Display

· Use Another Tray – Enabled

· Alternative Letterhead Mode – Disabled

· Duplex Blank Pages – Auto

· Image Rotation – Alternate

· Override A4/Letter – Yes

If all settings in “Manage Trays’ are set right, check that Manual Feed is set to disabled under ‘General Print Settings’
Apr 14, 2021

Connect Wirelessly to LG TVs

  1. With TV on, press  Windows Key + K on your teacher laptop to open casting settings.
  2. Select your TV from the list of available options (ID# is on the back of the TV, and on the remote)..




  3. The first time the computer connects to the TV, you will be prompted to accept the connection on the TV using the remote. You should only have to do this once.
  4. When connection completes you'll have the option to let your TV remote control your computer when you connect, which can be handy with slide shows.
  5. You can chose to duplicate or extend your screen by pressing  Windows Key + P for projection settings:


  6. To disconnect, click "Disconnect" on the toolbar.



If the Computer Won't Connect....

Sometimes, especially if you travel between different rooms and TVs, you might run into an instance where the devices don't want to talk to each other.  This can be easily resolved in one of the following ways:
  1. Unplug the TV (from the battery backup, if you have one), and hold the power button (located underneath in the center of the frame) for 10 seconds, then plug it back in.
  2. If that doesn't work, then the issue is with the computer, and you'll need to tell it to forget the TV, then reconnect.  At the bottom of the wireless devices list, click on the link "Find other types of devices", select your TV and click "Remove".  You should be able to reconnect using the directions above. 
If neither of those work, put in a tech ticket, and I'll have to get some chicken blood and candles...

Apr 16, 2020

Wiping Chromebook

1. Press Esc + (Refresh) + Power.

2. At the yellow exclamation mark screen, press ctrl + D.

3. Press Enter.

4. Press Enter again at the OS verification screen.

5. Chromebook reboots to Welcome screen, click "Let's go".

6. Connect to your network, then accept the terms of service.

7. Chromebook enrolls itself, then goes to the sign in screen.