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

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.

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.

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.

Syncing Classroom to Synergy

 Click for PDF guide to syncing Classroom with Synergy

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.)

Most school phones will show up on the receiver's caller id as (503) 673-7800 (the main office).  Voicemails and missed calls can also 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.

Directory Assistance

Mitel phones have a "Contacts" button which allow you to look up other district phone extensions. 

Press the   button on your phone and use the soft button under "123..." to switch to letters.  Then you can enter first or last names using the vintage Multitap protocol to type the letters until the name you want appears, then select and dial.  We don't need that fancy T9 entry.

Mitel Voicemail Quick Reference

Mitel Voicemail Quick Reference  - Downloadable cheat sheet

Adding a Co Teacher to Google Classroom

 Link to Google instructions.

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 あ (The language options will be US, INTL and あ).  Alternatively, you can click on the language button and make a selection each time you want to switch languages, but this is cumbersome!

Connect Wirelessly to LG TVs

1. With TV on, press   + 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   + 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...

Chrome Remote Desktop