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0-952500Phase III Chromebook Implementation GuideGrades 6-8Release 1, April 29, 2015, Release 2, August 28, 2015, Release 3, October 23, 2015Table of ContentsWelcome Message…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 2Classroom Support Quick Reference………………………………………………………………………………………… 3Digital Toolbox Power Apps…………………………………………………………………………………………………….5-6Digital Toolbox Standard Apps………………………………………………………………………………………………..7-9Digital Toolbox Utilities…………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….10Digital Toolbox Content, Assessments, and Textbooks………………………………..……….………………….11Digital Toolbox Power Apps Sign-In Procedures, Warnings…………………………..……………….Release 3Dear Parents and Teachers,Thank you for taking the bold first step toward creating a Digital Learning Environment (DLE) here in Greenwich Public Schools. We hope that you will use your new District-issued Chromebook to advance the DLE’s learning goals:1. Promote students as critical thinkers of online content;2. Implement self-regulated learning;3. Provide quality feedback; and4. Personalize learningThis implementation guide describes the software that has been loaded on every student Chromebook device. For additional information on the Digital Learning Environment, please see the DLE section of the GPS website and a comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at are confident that you will enjoy the Digital Learning Environment here in Greenwich. Thank you, and welcome.Sincerely,3161665161290Phillip H. Dunn IIChief Information Officer (CIO)Greenwich Public SchoolsHow We Support Digital Learning in the Classroom The GPS IT team, partnering with the Curriculum and Library Media Services staff, stands prepared to make every interaction that you have with the Digital Learning Environment a rewarding one. If you are a parent and need help with your child’s device, please contact your classroom teacher. If you are a teacher and need help with a device, please e-mail your school’s tech team or call the media center.Caring for your Student’s ChromebookAfter your child has completed their Digital Citizenship learning module in school and has been allowed to take their Chromebook home, we ask that you ensure that your child charges their device each night before returning to school. The Chromebook should be kept in an environment free of moisture, and it should not have objects placed on top of it when stored.The Chromebook’s screen may become marked with fingerprints or other matter from time to time. We encourage you to clean the screen with a dry, non-abrasive fiber (e.g., a micromesh cloth), as needed. If residue dries on the screen, please wipe it clean using a slightly damp, non-abrasive cloth. Please do not use any alcohol-based solvent on the screen as it will deteriorate the coatings that have already been applied to the screen by Lenovo.With any new initiative, there are risks. Therefore, please be advised that parents have a few options pertaining to liability for the Chromebook.Parents may choose to:1) have their child bring their school-issued devices home, and not purchase any additional insurance;2) have their child bring their school-issued devices home, and purchase an insurance policy from third parties such as Worth Ave Group or SquareTrade; or3) opt out of allowing their child to bring their device home, with the expectation that they provide access to an Internet-enabled device at home to complete required homework. For further information on the issue of device liability, please refer to the district’s Chromebook device liability form at: Care & Maintenance Never leave a Chromebook unattended including on the floor where it could be stepped on.Do not place food, liquids or other substances near the Chromebook that could result in damage. Do not place heavy objects on top of the Chromebook. This is also important when placing in a locker. Never attempt to repair or reconfigure a Chromebook or any of the peripherals. Do not write, draw, stick, tape, or adhere anything to the Chromebook. Do not personalize the case or Chromebook using markers, stickers, etc. Identification will be provided. Keep the Chromebook and other electronic storage media away from electromagnetic fields.Do not expose the Chromebook to direct sunlight, or prolonged extreme temperatures, (e.g. leaving the Chromebook in a car during extreme hot or cold temperatures for extended periods of time).Do not place the Chromebook on surfaces such as paper, cardboard, or carpet while it is turned on. Do not place anything on top of the Chromebook nor lean or sit on it when it is closed. Do not place anything in the Chromebook bag that may press against the cover or damage the Chromebook. Take care when inserting cords, cables and other removable storage devices to avoid damage to the Chromebook ports.Clean screen, touch pad, and Chromebook with a lightly damp soft cloth or microfiber cloth. Chemicals, cleaners, or wet cloths are not approved cleaning tools. The Chromebook should be turned off and unplugged during cleaning. The DLE Digital Toolbox Power AppsGPS has prioritized a list of 15-20 Power Applications for each grade band (elementary, middle and high school). These applications have been prioritized for district-wide professional learning and support based on their demonstrated positive impact on teaching and learning in the classroom. Paid apps are starred below.The remainder of the Digital Toolbox is comprised of standard applications, utility applications (applications with limited functionality that take a few minutes to learn), on-line textbooks/content databases, and on-line assessment applications.FunctionAppsFunctionality Web-based search and curationChrome Web-browser that enables online searching, bookmarking and sharing of websites; effective searching includes filtering searches by usage rights, most recent, domain, and scholarly articles (using Google Scholar)Learning Management System (LMS)Schoology*A digital classroom where teachers organize, share, and deliver digital instructional content, including assignments, homework and assessmentsProductivityNearpod*Projects a slideshow of content from the teacher’s device to students’ devices that also discourages students from using their device for other purposes during instruction; the slideshow allows embedding of multi-media, assessments, and web links, and teachers can share assessment results from any student with the whole class, as appropriateMathIXL*Khan AcademyAn adaptive learning management system that tracks student mastery of common-core aligned math based on on-line activitiesAn on-line repository of math instructional videos and assessmentsEnglish Language ArtsNewsela*An adaptive resource that includes lexiled non-fiction articles from newspapers (e.g., Washington Post) to teach reading comprehensionAsterisk (*) indicates subscription tool.FunctionAppsFunctionality Google AppsGoogle DocsGoogle DriveGoogle SlidesGoogle SheetsA word processing app where users can work collaboratively on writing projects; users can give feedback in real-time using the comments feature within shared documentsStores documents in folders in the “cloud”A presentation app where users can work collaboratively to create slide decksA spreadsheet app where users can work collaboratively to create spreadsheetsMulti-Media CreationScreencastifyWe Video*A screen-recording app that captures?voice and handwriting to produce videos that are hosted online,?where they can be shared publicly or with a private groupA video recording and editing program that produces videos using photos, music and video clips; the district-provided paid version provides enhanced student data privacyFormative AssessmentsSocrative (Teacher & Student Apps)QuizletGoogle Forms Teachers use this for formative assessments, as well as exit slips to assess student mastery of conceptsA study tool used for Word Masters, content area vocabulary words, and test preparation Used for developing surveys and formulating evidence to support thinking; also used for formative and summative assessment in all content areasOn-Line Resource Curation and AnnotationDiigoCurate the digital resources found on the web, e.g., bookmark, organize, annotate and shareOriginality CheckTurn-it-in*Automatically review written text for originality; enables peer review, feedback, rubrics, grading and writing portfolios; integrated for assignment submission through SchoologyAsterisk (*) indicates subscription tool.Standard ApplicationsStandard applications listed below are also recommended to provide teachers and students with options and flexibility for a wide variety of instructional uses. However, based on GPS experience rolling out the DLE in phases I and II, teachers are better able to achieve the DLE goals through focusing on a few Power Applications and building on that knowledge over time.FunctionAppsFunctionalityExplore/ GeographyGoogle EarthGoogle MapsSee pictures from around the worldGet directions, traffic and satellite pictures; a custom overlay can be displayed to include tools to measure distance and areaOther Multi-Media CreationAnimotoVoice Thread*Educreations*Haiku DeckA video recording and editing program that produces videos using photos, music and video clips Podcasting/story tellingA screen-recording app that captures?voice and handwriting to produce videos that are hosted online,?where they can be shared publicly or with a private groupUsed to make a quick and simple slideshow without much work (less feature rich than Google slides)Drawing and Photo EditingGoogle DrawingPixlr EditorPiktochartCreate diagrams and chartsManipulate images using tools similar to Photoshop, including wands and multiple layers Create an infographicClassroom ManagementClass DojoManage student behavior through positive reinforcement by giving points to students represented as charactersAsterisk (*) indicates subscription tool.FunctionAppsFunctionalityFormative AssessmentsKahootCurriculetUsed to quickly assess students’ knowledge; may also be used as a study guide, and as a presentation toolEmbed formative assessments, quizzes and media annotations into any reading assignment or create your own bookInteractive WhiteboardSMART ExpressSMART Notebook is a paid mobile app that creates SMART Board lessons with high interactivityA flash-based version of SMART notebook for displaying and editing SMART notebook files in a web browserBrainstorming Questions/Concept MapBrainPop*PadletLucid ChartUsed for research and creating concept mapsStudents share ideas and thinking with the group with this brainstorming toolGr 6-8 brainstorming tool, process mapping for science/codingCurate, Annotate, Note Taking and CitationEvernoteEasy BibNoodletoolsGoogle KeepSubtextNote taking app with extensive tagging, embedding and sharing capabilitiesUsed to cite resources to create works consulted; Google apps integration is availablePrimary tool for formal research Quick note taking and sharing appTeachers embed comments directly into digital text to encourage close reading, support claims and cite text evidence.Code for Problem SolvingTinkercadScratch3D design tool Science students create interactive simulations of science concepts Asterisk (*) indicates subscription tool.FunctionAppsFunctionalityBlog and Create and Publish a WebsiteEdublog*Wikispaces*Google SitesWeebly*Safe and simple blogging for studentsUsed as an information source where students find resources and information necessary for their work App to create websitesWebsite builderDesktop PublishingLucid ChartUsed for advanced layouts like a school newspaper or any other situation that previously required MS Publisher, Quark Xpress or a similar programPublish a Book, Animate a StoryPixtonGo AnimateStorybirdRead and write comicsMake animated videos Create on-line booksAccess eBooksFollett Destiny/Destiny Quest*KindleOverdrive*GPS library catalogPopular e-book reader; students are able to press a word to search for meaning.Access public library collections; students may also download books from A to Z reader through SchoologyLanguage Acquisition (ELL)DuolingoDigital language acquisition app; students may practice listening and writing in Spanish as a reinforcement to their second language acquisitionMath Wolfram AlphaDesmos Graphing CalculatorGeogebraComputation knowledge engine – provides visualization of math problemsA tool to graph linear and exponential equations on a 2D planeCombines geometry, algebra, spreadsheets, graphing, statistics and calculus in one app Music Twisted WaveAn audio recording and editing appKeyboardingTyping Pal*Preferred tool for gr 6-8 keyboarding skills; currently used at all three middle schoolsE-mailGmailGoogle’s e-mail toolAsterisk (*) indicates subscription tool.Utility ApplicationsUtility applications have limited functionality that take a short period of time, generally a few minutes, to learn. There are important assistive technology applications for students who may have visual impairments (e.g., text to speech, large text) or need help removing distracting elements from web pages to assist with reading comprehension (e.g., Readability). The Utility applications are grouped into a 1 hour on-line course available for all GPS stakeholders.FunctionAppsFunctionalityProductivity and Assistive TechnologyCameraWorld clockClockCalculatorScientific calculatorPDF to WordDictationText to speechChromebook assistive technology features (e.g., large text)ReadabilityDictionaryVisual DictionaryCalendarTakes and edits pictures and videoShows time from different world time zonesStop watch and alarmCalculatorA more complicated calculator for use in math and sciencePDF files can be converted to MS Word filesConvert speech to text for students with trouble typingReads text out loud to usersMakes text larger or higher contrast for visual impairment, can also read text on screen out-loud Saves a clean version of any website or article for later readingDefine vocabulary wordsA visual way to explore how certain words are connected to othersCalendarTextbooks A partial list of available digital textbooks is below. Math TextbooksMath in Focus, Algebra I and Geometry (6-8) Languages Textbooks for SpanishHolt McDougal Avacemos I (Gr 6)Holt McDougal Avacemos II (Gr 7)Holt McDougal Avacemos II (Gr 8) for teacher dashboard and ClassZone: TextbooksDiscovery Techbook (6-8)Pearson eText (6-8)google. AppsSBA (Smarter Balanced Assessment)SBA Secure PortalUsed to administer the Smarter Balanced AssessmentALP Assessment HMH/Riverside DataManager appCOGAT appAssessments administered to students in grades 2 – 8 for ALP placement process.Asterisk (*) indicates subscription tool.Digital ResourcesThe following are online resources, accessed through a browser, and traditionally follow the types of references, fiction, non-fiction and multimedia databases offered by the School Library to support all curricular areas. These resources can also be accessed from the Virtual Library through automatic sign-ons by going to: ReferencesWorld Book Online CollectionWorld Book StudentWorld Book AdvancedThe World Book Collection, an authoritative premier online reference source, state-of-the art multimedia, vetted websites, guide on doing research, primary source documents are all fully integrated with the encyclopedia content.Grolier Multimedia Reference CollectionGrolier New Book of KnowledgeGrolier AtlasWorld NewspapersEncyclopedia articles enriched by Multimedia interactives, search by lexiles, curriculum standards, pro-con database, world newspapers, interactive maps and atlas and accompanying videos. Includes the latest current events from Scholastic News.Non-Fiction DatabasesNewselaAn adaptive resource that includes lexiled non-fiction articles from newspapers (e.g., Washington Post) to teach reading comprehension – all current events from reputable sources.ScienceFlixScience Flix provides standards-aligned articles, labs, videos and inquiry projects.Teacher Resources include lesson plans, quizzes, projects and downloadable media.Multimedia/ VideoBrainPop MultimediaBrainPop collection includes animated movies, learning games, interactive quizzes, primary source activities, concept mapping all mapped to Academic Standards and searchable using a standards tool.Discovery Video StreamingDiscovery Streaming includes includes videos, interactive texts, eBooks, and assessments and standards search.eBooksBookFlixFiction e-book paired with a nonfiction e-book on related?topics.TrueFlixVideo and e-book pairs covering a variety of nonfiction?topicsFollett ShelfSearch for eBooks in our Book online catalog.??To view only use guest access.?To check books out, use student ID as username/ last name as password.OverdriveGreenwich Public Schools digital library collection of eBooks and Audio Books, integrated with our Library collection. ................
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