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Technology Updates for Schools
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Updates from the

Technology Department

https://bit.ly/FCPSTech

Last Updated:  1/4/2021

General Updates

We will continue to update this page as information changes.

Chromebooks (Updated January 4, 2021)

We are still waiting on approximately 10,000 Chromebooks from our vendor.  We have assurances that we will receive more than 1,500 late this week or early next week and up to an additional 2,500 by the middle of the month. Previous delivery estimates have been reduced or  pushed back, but we are cautiously optimistic that we will receive these devices as promised.  We will let everyone know as soon as we have received the devices.

We will also continue to repair Chromebooks and get them back to schools as quickly as possible.  We have contracted to have temporary workers repair Chromebooks for us.  While we still have a backlog, we are slowly making progress.  We will continue that for as long as necessary.

We have moved devices around the district to the best of our ability.  Nearly all schools should have enough devices to cover all families that receive free or reduced lunch.  If you have a family that needs a device that receives free or reduced lunch, receives special education or ELL services, please have your STC submit a help desk ticket specifically for that family and we will work to take care of that need.

Webcams
I’ve met with vendors and we should be receiving more webcams in the next two weeks.  If a teacher needs a webcam, they should submit a helpdesk request.  As we plan to return to in-person instruction, teachers should bring their webcams to school with them when teaching in their classroom.  

Hotspots
We have been able to keep up with requests for hot spots and have extra hotspots available for students.  If your FRYSC coordinator has not picked up the hotspots for your students, please have them do that as soon as they can. Hotspots can be picked up at 450 Park Place.  We also have Spectrum internet available and are rolling that out to students in certain areas..

 Resources for Students, Parents and Families
Many resources have been added to the district NTI-2DL page (https://www.fcps.net/nti) to assist students and families with using Canvas and Google Classroom.  Key documents have also been translated into our top languages and are being added to the site as they are available.

Chromebook Filtering and Security

Chromebooks that are issued to students by Fayette County Public Schools have internet filtering and other security measures in place.  Only FCPS accounts can be used to log into a district owned Chromebook. Also, only FCPS Google accounts can be used to access sites like Google Drive once signed in. Devices that are sent home continue to have CIPA compliant filtering, regardless of what network or internet service provider is being used.  All internet browsing is filtered by the same systems and in the same way that any computer used at school would be.  The list of inappropriate sites is updated at least daily through an automated process.  While this will filter the majority of inappropriate websites, there is a small possibility that a student could access a newly created website that has not been identified by the filter.  However, we take every precaution to make sure that this doesn’t happen.  The district also has a system that monitors keyword searches for words related to inappropriate searches, self-harm, and suicide.  When keyword searchers are flagged, the school is notified so that they can address the issue and\or get help to the student.

Office of Instructional Technology

Updated:  10/6/2020

Pear Deck has been purchased for all FCPS staff.  Teachers can login using their FCPS account.  Pear Deck can be used stand alone, or added to Google Classroom or Canvas.  It has already been set up in Canvas for use.  Please use these directions for adding a Pear Deck into a Canvas course.  For additional Pear Deck resources, check out the Other Online Tools page on our OIT website.

Updated:  8/19/2020

Screencastify has now been enabled for all staff members and students.  Users will need to login to Screencastify with their district Google account to access the full license.  If a person is already logged in, they will need to log out of Screencastify and log back in.  

Screencastify is available as an extension through the Chrome browser for recording and editing.  The Screencastify extension has been pushed to all user accounts via access on Chromebook or via login to the Chrome browser.  Users may have to click on the extensions puzzle icon in Chrome and pin it so it will be available on the toolbar.  

Want to learn more about Screencastify?  Enroll in our self-paced Canvas course.

Zoom

Updated 1/6/21

We have not created Zoom accounts for students, but we can now require students to be logged into their district account in order to join a Zoom meeting in order to prevent any masquerading as someone else.  This is set up on a meeting by meeting level.  Please review this document for directions on how to require authorization to join a meeting.

How to login to Zoom:

We have new login procedures for everyone - whether you already had a FCPS account with Zoom or you are new.  Please review this document and share with staff who will be hosting meetings.  

To access our training resources for Zoom, please visit our OIT NTI website at http://bit.ly/fcpsnti and visit the Online Meeting Tools page.

Canvas and Grade Sync

Updated: 10/6/20

We are continuing to work with both Canvas and Infinite Campus to try to resolve the issues with grade synchronization.  Both platforms have made some changes, but we are still seeing issues.  At this time we still recommend that teachers manually enter grades into IC rather than syncing from Canvas.

Parent Resources

Updated:  10/6/20

We have several resources posted on the district NTI website that are targeted towards students and families.  Many have been translated into our top languages.  Topics include Canvas, Google Classroom Clever, email and more.  They are posted on the district website under the NTI/2DL tab.  

Requests for Training & Instructional Tech Support

Updated:  10/6/20

We continue to update our http://bit.ly/fcpsnti website with training videos and resources for our most commonly used and support instructional technology tools.  The OIT virtual office hours schedule (currently M/W/F) and any live sessions that are scheduled are also available on this website.

If your school would like to request a training from the Office of Instructional Technology, or if teachers need assistance with how to use one of our support tools (not ECurriculum tools or technical support), then please contact oit.supportrequest@fayette.kyschools.us.  Our whole team monitors this account, and during these very busy times this allows us to respond faster than if you contact one specific team member.  

FCPS Guidance on Live and Recorded Zoom/Meet sessions

Updated: 9/2/2020 - Guidance on live and recorded meetings was shared with principals and STC’s in August.  Those guidelines are also posted on the OIT NTI website.

 Creative Media Productions

Our CMP team spotlights school events and activities, people, and programs that promote the district’s mission. We welcome your coverage requests and tips about interesting district wide initiatives, successful community partnerships, and new or unique school programs.

Please provide 10 days’ notice if your school seeks coverage for video/broadcast, news release, or web feature. All requests are subject to team approval and staff availability.                                                   

Media request form 

 Technology Support

How To Request Support

Webcams for Teachers

We are buying webcams for teachers who need them. Teachers should put in a ticket requesting a webcam if they ­need one.

Chromebooks

Now that we are committed to being 1:1, all Chromebooks must be checked-out to students using Incident IQ. All of our Chromebooks are already listed within IIQ and all future Chromebooks will be added to IIQ before the Chromebooks arrive at a school.

STCs have been provided directions for sending in Chromebooks for repair. Schools will be expected to charge students for intentional damage using the same policies and procedures they would use for damage to other school property.

Cost for repair and/or replacements

The district chromebook fines document can be used to give to families if needed.

Chromebooks sent in for support will either be repaired or replaced.  The device sent in may not be the exact device that is returned to the school. If a Chromebook is swapped, IIQ will be updated accordingly.

District Textbooks

We have made some changes to the procedures for checking in, checking out, and requesting textbooks and manipulatives. These changes are intended to make the process easier and utilize the same asset management system used for Chromebooks, instruments and some other school/district assets. It is called Incident IQ.

Requesting Hardback (barcoded) Textbooks 

Requesting Consumable Textbooks and Manipulatives 

 Infinite Campus/ECurriculum Support

Staff Addresses

Please use MUNIS when pulling staff addresses. MUNIS is our authoritative source for staff information and has the most up-to-date address.

Infinite Campus Account Creation

New staff have IC accounts created as soon as they have a MUNIS number.  Rights are granted based on staff title.  For staff transferring schools or changing job titles, and for long-term substitutes, your Building Coach has procedures to follow to maintain these accounts.

Infinite Campus Account Changes

Topic added 10/6/2020

Starting 10/4/2020, all students and staff use Google to login to Infinite Campus.  This is a minor change for staff and a significant change for students.  Staff and students can now access IC through Google Drive’s “waffle”, as well as through the “Single Sign-On (SSO)” button on IC’s login screen for staff and for students.  Students should also use the “Single Sign-On (SSO)” button when logging in to the Campus Student smartphone app.  Parent/guardian logins have not changed.  For more information please visit our bitly site that includes Frequently Asked Questions and a Troubleshooting Guide.

Paraeducator/Substitute Access to 3rd Party eCurriculum Products

Topic added 10/6/2020

“Teacher” level access may be granted and permissions set at the school administration level for instructional/curriculum products.

  1. For a para/sub to gain “teacher” access to 3rd party eCurriculum products, the IC Building Coach will make necessary modifications to the “District Assignment” and course/section rostering. **Important note: These modifications are for paras/subs who need teacher level access to instructional/curriculum products.  Teacher access rights should be granted with careful consideration.
  2. Access to the 3rd party product will be available after a nightly sync sends the information from IC to the vendor.
  3. Google Classroom is not a rostered product, so if additional staff need access, then the teacher will have to add that person as a teacher in the class.
  4. If the para/sub needs IC access:
  1. If they need access for Behavior Data Entry, this will be approved by PBIS Coordinator, Dedeeh Newbern after the para/sub completes Behavior Data Entry training.
  2. If they need access for purposes other than Behavior Data Entry, the IC Building Coach will submit an Additional User Rights form through a technology helpdesk ticket.  The IC team will route the form to HR for approval.  

eCurriculum Best Practices

Topic added 10/7/2020

Please remind teachers to have students clear cache at the times mentioned below (find steps to clear cache here: http://bit.ly/fcpsClearCache):         

  1. After a student changes schools OR even just changes classes within a school
  2. As a 1st line of troubleshooting with any issue occurring online
  3. Weekly (to prevent a wide array of issues)

Scheduling and eCurriculum Products

Scheduling directly impacts which eCurriculum products your students and teachers can access, such as Imagine Learning, Wonders, Envision, Canvas, Collections, Amplify, etc.

Elementary schools

All elementary students need a complete schedule, including homeroom and all subject areas (math, science, language arts, etc.).  Appropriate students must also be rostered to the English Learner, Gifted - Elementary, Accelerated Program, International Baccalaureate, Magnet and Spanish Immersion courses.

We are asking you to please be sure to add and roster these sections for grade levels K-5 to enable access to corresponding related eCurriculum platforms and content:

Secondary schools, alternative programs and technical centers

Please make sure your teachers are aware that until scheduling is finalized at your school, courses in our 3rd party vendor platforms could change (Canvas, Envision, Collections, Imagine Learning, Amplify, etc.). Teachers should not start adding content in these platforms until they have confirmation from their scheduler or principal that scheduling is complete. Any new content added to an Infinite Campus integrated course in one of these platforms could disappear and would not be recoverable.

In addition to the student’s instructional schedule: