Category Archives: Teachers

END OF YEAR TECH DETAILS FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS

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Below you will find important details about how to handle your files and accounts in eBackpack, Google Drive, and Veracross.  Please be sure to read the entire post.

eBackPack
*Access to eBackpack will end June 30th for Grades 6-9
*For students who are graduating or leaving Pike, all files will be erased after June 30th.  

For all returning students

  • Any file in the “My Files” area that students want to save should be moved to the E-Portfolio area.  All other files will be deleted.
  • If you want to save assignments turned into the teacher.
    • Navigate to that assignment.
    • Open the file that you turned in.
    • Click the “share square” and then move it to Notability or Google Drive.
  • Any file in the E-Portfolio area will remain available as read-only next year for returning students.

Google Drive Grades 3-9
*Access for graduating or leaving students ends June 30th
*Access for returning students ends August 25th – Between August 25 and the first week of school there will be no access so that we can change passwords and perform other maintenance

There are two options for saving files.

Option 1 – When you only want to save a few files.

  1. Log into your account on a laptop or desktop (not an iPad).
  2. Select the files you would like to save.
  3. Go to More Actions (three dots) > Download…
  4. Make the appropriate choices for file formats and then click download.
  5. This will download a .zip file containing your documents.  You can open these documents on a home computer.

Option 2 – When you want to save all of your files.

  1. Log into your account on a laptop or desktop (not an iPad).
  2. Then go to Google Takeout
  3. Under “Select data to include”, put a check next to Drive only.
  4. Scroll to the bottom and click “next”.
  5. Click “Create Archive” in the “Customize download format” section.
  6. If you have a lot of files, this process will take a good bit of time.
  7. It will say that you will receive an email when it is finished but you won’t because students don’t have access to email.
  8. Instead return to Google Takeout later and choose “Manage Archives” at the top of the screen.
  9. Find your archive and click download.  Your files will be downloaded as a .zip file.  You can transfer these files to a home computer.

Veracross – all grades
*Access for graduating or leaving students ends June 30th

  • Reports must be printed before June 30th.  As of June 30th, 2019, there will be a $15 fee to receive a copy of your child’s report(s) if you did not download and save or print the report(s) prior to the parent report portal closing.  Please make your check payable to “The Pike School” and send it to the attention of Gale Mender.  After payment is received, you will be provided with a copy of the requested report(s).
    • Lower, Middle, and Upper School reports will be published on Veracross on Monday, June 17th.

Access to reports for returning students ends July 26th.

  • Reports must be printed before July 26th.  As of July 26, 2018, there will be a $15 fee to receive a copy of your child’s report(s) if you did not download and save or print the report(s) prior to the parent report portal closing.  Please make your check payable to “The Pike School” and send it to the attention of Gale Mender.  After payment is received, you will be provided with a copy of the requested report(s).
    • Lower, Middle, and Upper School reports will be published on Veracross on Monday, June 17th.

Why Technology?

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If you haven’t seen Simon Sinek’s Ted talk titled “Start with why” it is definitely worth a watch.  In it, he explains that most organizations know “what” they do and “how” they do it, but great organizations know “why” they do it.  Knowing “why” separates the great organizations from the ordinary organizations.  In the video below, I attempt to drill down to the core or essence of why we use technology in the classroom. It is my hope that this captures the rationale of what drives our program and brings a better understanding to our community about our technology philosophy at the Pike School.  If you have any “Why Technology?” thoughts please leave a comment or get in touch with the Tech Dept.

Technology Spring Cleaning

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(This post is intended for Faculty and Staff who have a Pike Issued iPad)

Understanding Apple ID

An Apple ID account is designed to provide a user with a single sign-in and password for all Apple Services such as iCloud, iMessage, FaceTime, iTunes, App Store and Apple devices like computers, iPads, and iPhones.

Here at Pike your Apple ID account plays a vital role in accessing Apple services, updating Apple devices, and safely backing up critical settings and data on an iPad.  

To learn more about Apple ID: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203993

As part of your Technology Spring Cleaning, the month of April is a good time to check to be sure that your Pike iPad is backed up.  Please follow the 3 steps below to be sure everything is in order if you have a Pike issued iPad.  

  1. First login to iCloud.com by clicking the link below.  Knowing your specific login information is important for many reasons throughout the year.  By going to this site you are simply checking to be sure that you know your current Apple ID and password.  If you successfully login here you can skip to step 3.
    https://www.icloud.com/
  2. If you are unable to log in above you can visit the below Apple ID page to find forgotten Apple passwords and ID information.  Once you resolve your issue remember to take note of your password information. *If you don’t know this information it is likely that you will run into problems throughout the year.  
    https://support.apple.com/en-gb/explore/managing-apple-id
  3. Most Important Step: Successfully backup your Pike iPad or check that you have a recent backup.  Click the link below for instructions:
    https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203977

If you need assistance with any of the above steps please contact the Tech Department.

 

Tech Tip – Google Calendar App

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Want to access your Google calendar on your phone or iPad?  Try the Google Calendar App.  In the past, I’ve recommended Calendars by Readle but Google now has a free iPhone and iPad app.  I’ve been using it for the last few weeks and Google’s app works just as well if not better.  Just download the app and log in with your Google credentials and you’re ready to start using your personal/work calendar from your device.

Seesaw @Pikeschool

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For week 5 of our Learn | Try | Amplify initiative, we are sharing a couple of videos (4 minutes) about how 1st and 3rd grades are using Seesaw as a digital portfolio app to engage parents, teach digital citizenship, and encourage students to reflect on their learning. Seesaw is one of the best educational apps to come out in the last couple of years so, I encourage you to carve out some time to check it out. Are you using Seesaw? Share how you’re using it in the comment section.

1st Grade Seesaw Video

3rd Grade Seesaw Video

For more See Saw activity ideas in Grades K – 2 click here.

For more SeeSaw activity ideas in Grades 3 – 5 click here.

Choose Your Own Adventure

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Remember the choose your own adventure books? You can make choose your adventure stories using Google Apps tools like Docs or YouTube.  Click here to see a really cool choose your own adventure YouTube video.  Want to get the nuts and bolts of how to create these stories? The following Google Presentation has directions and examples of how to make and use choose your own adventures stories in your classroom. Here is an example created by a 3rd grade class.

Extend the walls of your classroom with Global Projects

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Collaborating with other classes around the world is a great learning experience for students.  The hardest part is finding projects. Look no further. Projectsbyjen.com is a great resource for finding and participating in PreK -6 global projects. There is a wide range of projects both in topic and length. Some projects are 1 day long others are longer term.