With the LPS CLASS Plan’s full implementation, there is now a standard suite of classroom devices in daily use across the District. Technology as a tool used in teaching and learning is no longer a “sometimes” thing. It is an “every day” thing.
These changes place new expectations on the substitute teachers who keep things running smoothly while our classroom teachers are away. Following are helpful resources for getting started using some of the most commonly used tech tools across LPS.
For individual support,
please call 402-436-1735.
In most elementary and many secondary classrooms, you should find a wall or ceiling mounted projector.
In some buildings you may find a large monitor mounted to the wall above the whiteboard instead of a projector.
Every classroom has an HDMI cable with a dongle that you can plug into a computer.
Chromebooks have an HDMI port on the left side of the device.
Plugging in will always be the most reliable signal. As long as the projector or monitor is on, it should pick up the signal from the computer without you needing to do anything else.
If you are not seeing your computer screen on the projector or monitor, find the INPUT (monitor) or Source Search (projector) button on the remote and press it. Wait to see if it switches to a computer screen. If not, press it again.
Look for a remote that will power on the projector or monitor for the classroom. Most buildings keep them in a standard location, like a tub or velcroed to the white board.
Projecting the wrong screen?
When using a Chromebook to project, you may find yourself projecting a desktop other than the one you want to project. In these cases, pressing the following key combination should toggle you from “Extended” to “Mirrored” projection. (Or vice-versa.)
Press Control + F4 to toggle settings.
A/V Mute
Press this button to blackout the screen without turning the projector completely off. This allows you to have it off for a small period of time and then turn it back on almost instantly without going through the startup process.
Every classroom is equipped with an audio enhancement system. This system is not about increasing the teacher’s volume, it is about clarity and even distribution of sound throughout the classroom.
The microphones work with “line-of-sight” to a receiver, so if you cover the mic with your hand or turn your body so that you are blocking the signal, it will stop broadcasting over the speakers.
Power off your mic when you leave the classroom, so it doesn’t get ‘picked up’ by other classrooms as you walk by.
There should be a “Chrometop” device available and intended for substitute teacher use in almost every LPS classroom. A Chrometop is a computer that runs ChromeOS, like a Chromebook does.
Some buildings might provide substitutes a Chromebook to use during your visit.
Learn more about how Chromebooks are used in LPS by visiting the links below.
For visuals, click here.
For visuals, click here.
To make it easier to get logged in to web services, district students and staff are asked to use a site called The Portal.
The Portal includes icons that take users directly to a web service (just like a bookmark would.) In many cases, users are also logged in automatically.
Learn more about the Portal in the video to the right.
The Portal should be the first web page you sign into each day. One signed in, you will have quicker and easier access to all other LPS tools.
A day sub MAY BE asked to take attendance electronically if two things are in place.
If both of those things are in place, the day sub can use the links provided here for support.
If no sub slip containing the password is provided, the sub will take attendance on paper on a slip provided by the office.
You will need to be logged into LPS Google Drive to view these resources. See “The Portal” section above for more information about signing in.
A long-term sub shares access with the teacher of record and should use the resources published on the SLIM page in the TeacherVUE areas.
When you plug a Ziggi-HD document camera in to a Chrometop, the Camera app in ChromeOS should see it without any software necessary. (You might have to install a Camera app, found here.) However, the camera software does not have any of the presentation features you may desire. See the instructions below if you want the Presenter software.
The iPevo Presenter software does not really install on the device you are using. It installs to your Chrome profile. This means it will follow you from device to device. You should only have to install it one time, and it will stay with you as you move from building to building.
It will now show an image from the doc cam (instead of a video of yourself from the front facing camera).
Tips
Ctrl
+ F4 (or Ctrl
+ Full screen
] on a Chromebook).While you are on the LPS network if you attempt to load a web page that is restricted for students, you may notice a login & password field appear on the block page. LPS employees may enter their LPS credentials to access most web pages.
This is known as “Role Based Authentication” and respects an educator’s right to make professional decisions about the content accessed in instructional settings.
From time to time, a teacher may need you to access content (for projecting to students) that students do not have access to.
In these situations, you will need to “authenticate” as a staff member in order to view it.
2. Click on the [Login] button found above the Acceptable Use policy.
3. You will be taken to a “ContentKeeper Authentication” window where you can enter your LPS Username and Password.
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