Instructional Tech Innovations
CSD Instructional Technology
Easy Answers to Common Problems
We have answered quite a few questions these first few weeks! Take a look below to see some of the most common questions (and their solutions) from around the district. Who knows, you may get the answer that you have been looking for! If you are having a problem that is not listed here please enter a Technology Help Desk Ticket.
General Information
- Logging in - please use your Network ID to log into any computer and CSD system. Your Network ID is your 1st initial and last name (no @cheltenham.org needed). When logging into Gmail and/or Google Apps you will need to use @cheltenham.org.
- Attachment printing - if you are having trouble printing attachments from Gmail or printing Docs from Google Docs (areas of text not being printed) please download the file and then print. If you are not sure how to do this please click here.
- PowerTeacher Pro - To see updated information, including a new Users Guide click here.
- Student Network Id's - There is a report in PowerSchool called Student Usernames -please run this to get student network account information. Their network ID is their computer login, Google Apps login and email address (email accounts are for 7th-12 grade only).
** Remember.... Chromebook and Google Apps login requires the '@cheltenham.org'
On the Start Page, click Reports from the navigation menu.
The Reports for All Students page appears.
- Which report would you like to print? Choose the report to print from the pop-up menu: *Student Usernames
- For which students? The selected number of students appears.
- To run this report, select a time to start it: ASAP: Execute immediately.
- Click Submit. Depending on the report, either the selected report or the Report Queue – My Jobs page appears.
SMART Boards/Macs
- Is your SMART Board mirroring what is on your computer? If not click here to see how you can quickly fix this!
- Is your SMART Board connected but touch gestures and pens are not working? Is the green status light blinking? Please visit the Self Service Center and run the Fix Smart Board App. If this does not fix the issue, try re-booting your laptop. If it is still not working then please enter a Help Desk Ticket.
- Can't find the Smart Notebook Printer - Smart Notebook works a little bit differently on the Macs than on the Windows PC's. There is no Smart Notebook printer on your Mac. To get your PDF, Word and PowerPoint files into Smart Notebook all you have to do is drag and drop, but first all files must be in the PDF format. For Word and PowerPoint files, simply do a 'Save As' from the File menu (within the application), for a Google Doc 'Download as Pdf' from the File menu. Open Notebook and drag the PDF file icon onto a blank slide and drop. The PDF will be imported into Notebook. A new Notebook slide will be created for every page or slide from the imported file.
- Sound - If your sound is not working with your SMART Board please try the following:
1. Make sure SMART Board speakers are powered on and the volume is up.
2. Make sure the volume on the laptop is not muted!
3.Check Sound Preferences
Select "System Preferences" from under the Apple menu
Click on "Sound" (second row)
Click on the "Output" tab on the top and select the following:
For SMART Boards select "USB audio CODEC"
For Interactive Flat Panels select "SMART IFP"
Close the Window
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Tools You Can Use
Here are a few free web tools that we shared with teachers across the district. If you need help getting started let us know!
Mentimeter
Mentimeter is a little known assessment tool that lets teachers create anonymous questions for formative assessments. My favorite question feature is the word cloud question where a word cloud is generated live in front of the students, based on their written answers.
Padlet
Padlet is a web tool and app that creates a shared space where students and teachers can share text, pictures, video, web links, and more on a single page. This is great for collecting questions or for collaboration.
Crafty Text
Crafty text is a Google Extension that makes text larger and easier for students to read. If you need them to copy a code or go to a website - try Crafty Text!
How to Contact Us
Brandon Lutz - Supervisor of Instructional Technology
Email - blutz@cheltenham.org
Extension - 6308
Lisa Rock - Technology Staff Developer
Email - lrock@cheltenham.org
Extension - 6328