Distractions are a major challenge for students. Chromebook’s built-in Focus mode can help. This simple tool minimizes interruptions, creating a dedicated work environment.
What Focus Mode Does:
Sets a timer for focused work.
Silences notifications.
Integrates with Google Tasks (optional).
Offers calming sounds (optional).
How Students Can Use It:
Study Sessions: Block out distractions during homework or test prep.
Writing Time: Concentrate on essays or creative writing.
Project Work: Deep dive into research or project development.
Reading: Focus on comprehension without interruptions.
Tips for Teachers:
Demonstrate: Show students how to access and use Focus mode.
Encourage Regular Use: Suggest incorporating Focus mode into daily routines.
Discuss Benefits: Talk about the positive impact of focused work on learning.
Focus mode is a simple yet powerful tool to help students develop concentration skills and improve their academic performance. Encourage your students to give it a try! Here’s a guide from Google on how to activate it. https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/15642977?hl=en
Google recently added the ability to make a video recording of your Google Slides directly with in their platform. You can record up to 30 minutes, but keep in mind that viewership and attention go down significantly after 6 minutes! After recording you can choose to Re-record or Save to Drive.
Record a slideshow
Important:
There’s a 30-minute limit to every recording.
Information about Slides recordings isn’t available in Revision History.
If you exceed your Drive Storage quota, you can’t create more recordings.
You must have edit access to the slides in order to create a new recording.
The district’s adoption of Linewize provides several advantages for our students, staff, and families. We have streamlined our content filtering process, leading to a more user-friendly experience and simplified troubleshooting. Our educators can now leverage Classwize for digital classroom management across various devices (Chromebooks, MacBooks, and Windows) and have the ability to customize classroom-specific filtering rules (within established parameters). Furthermore, Qustodio empowers families to monitor their students’ online activities outside of school hours, even on personal devices, promoting a safer digital environment.
An additional advantage of Linewize is our ability to implement filtering rules based on user accounts, not just devices. This means P-CCS Google accounts will have content filtering applied whether they are used on district-owned or personal devices. When students or staff log into the Chrome browser with their P-CCS Google account, the Linewize extension is automatically installed, ensuring that the district’s filtering policies are applied within that browser window. It’s important to note that these filtering rules only apply to activity within the Chrome browser while signed into a P-CCS Google account.
Users can browse without Linewize content filtering on a personal device by signing out of their P-CCS Google account in Chrome, creating a separate Chrome profile not associated with their P-CCS account, or using a different web browser altogether.
Please note that signing into the Chrome browser is different than signing into any Google website. Signing into Chrome syncs your browsing data and settings, while signing into a Google website only grants access to that specific site and other Google websites.
If you have a personal device and would like to connect it to a district wireless network, please connect it to the PCCSK12-Staff network using your network account credentials. Your network account is the same one used to login to any district desktop or laptop (not Google/Chromebooks). If you do not remember your account information, please submit a tech request.
Disclaimers
District Chromebooks will automatically connect to the PCCSK12-Devices network.
Devices such as AppleTV and Chromecast will need to be authorized by the tech department first. Please fill out this form if you would like to have one connected.
Home and personal assistant devices such as Google Home/Nest (Google Assistant), Amazon Echo (Alexa), and Apple HomePod (Siri) are not allowed on the district network. Personal assistant services built into personal smartphones are unaffected.
In most areas we only offer a 5 GHz WiFi network. If your device only supports 2.4 GHz you will not be able to connect.
For STUDENTS (BYOD)
If you have a personal device and would like to connect it to a district wireless network, please connect it to the PCCSK12-Students network. When prompted for a username and password, use your network logon credentials (username without @pccsk12.com at the end) to connect. Please note that student usernames and passwords will not work on the PCCSK12-Staff network or any other network.
Disclaimers
In most areas we only offer a 5 GHz WiFi network. If your device only supports 2.4 GHz you will not be able to connect.
Please see the following device-specific guides for connecting to the network.
If you have a personal device and would like to connect it to a district wireless network, please connect it to the PCCSK12-Students network. When prompted for a username and password, use your network logon credentials (username without @pccsk12.com at the end) to connect. Please note that student usernames and passwords will not work on the PCCSK12-Staff network or any other network.
Click on your picture icon in the bottom right-hand corner
Click on your current WiFi Connection to bring up the list of available network then select PCCSK12-Students if you are a student, and PCCSK12-Staff if you are a district staff member.
Fill in the following fields as seen in the screenshot to the left. Make sure to use your username (P-CCS Google email address for students, network account for staff) in the “Identity” field
EAP Method: PEAP
Phase 2 authentication: Automatic
Server CA certificate: Do not check
Identity: (Your username)
Password: (Your Password)
Push Connect when finished
Instructions for iPadOS and iOS (iPad and iPhone)
Find the Settings App on your device and open it.
Tap on Wi-Fi, and then tap on the PCCSK12-Students if you are a student, and PCCSK12-Staff if you are a district staff member in the list of Wi-Fi networks
When prompted for a username and password, use your network logon credentials (username without @pccsk12.com at the end for students, network account for staff) to connect.
*Example: Username: izcough872 Password: learnpow
Tap the Trust button when you see this window
You should see a check mark in the Wi-Fi list at the top that confirms you are connected.
Instructions for Android devices
Find the Settings App on your Android device then Tap on Network & Settings or on Wi-Fi. (The layout of the settings may differ with different types of Android devices)
Tap on the PCCSK12-Students if you are a student, and PCCSK12-Staff if you are a district staff member in the list of Wi-Fi networks. Use the following settings:
EAP Method: PEAP
Phase 2 authentication: None orMSCHAPV2
CA certificate: Do Not Validate or Trust on First Use
Domain: PCCSK12.com
Identity: (same as laptop login username)
Anonymous identity: leave blank
Password: (current laptop login password)
Instructions for Windows 10
Look for WiFi icon in the bottom right-hand corner of your desktop either by clicking directly on it, or looking for it with the up arrow icon.
Click WiFi Icon in system tray then click on the PCCSK12-Students if you are a student, and PCCSK12-Staff if you are a district staff member.
Click the Connect button
Fill in the following fields as seen in the screenshot to the left. Make sure to use your username (PCCS Google email address without the @pccsk12.com for students, network account for staff) in the top field and your password in the bottom field
Example Username: izcough875 Password: (Your password) Click OK when finished
Instructions for macOS
Select the Wi-Fi Symbol in the Menu Bar.
Then choose PCCSK12-Students if you are a student, and PCCSK12-Staff if you are a district staff member.
Enter username and password, (same as your Google login without the @pccsk12.com for students, network account for staff) and select “Remember this network”
Choose the Continue button
If prompted, enter your personal Mac’s Username and Password and Select “Update Settings”
In an effort to provide a more consistent and responsive network experience for staff and students, starting February 6, the current throttled PCCSK12-Guest network will be decommissioned. It will be replaced by 4 new networks: PCCSK12-Visitor, PCCSK12-Guest-BOE, PCCSK12-Guest-ESC, and an unthrottled PCCSK12-Guest network. The availability of these networks will vary by time, day, and location.
PCCSK12-Visitor will be available for legitimate visitors in school buildings weekdays, between 7 am and 2:30 pm. Account passwords for this network will be changed daily and will be made available to each building’s front office staff through the same method used to share daily sub account information.
UnthrottledPCCSK12-Guest will be available for guests in school buildings weekdays, after 2:30 pm and until 7 am the following day, as well as all day on weekends. No credentials will be required; only acceptance of the acceptable use policy.
PCCSK12-Guest-BOE will be available 24/7 for guests at the E. J. McCLendon Center. No credentials will be required; only acceptance of the acceptable use policy.
PCCSK12-Guest-ESC will be available 24/7 for guests at the Educational Support Center. No credentials will be required; only acceptance of the acceptable use policy.
Students and staff who have hitherto used the PCCSK12-Guest network for personal devices will need to join their respective PCCSK12-Student or PCCSK12-Staff network prior to February 6 to avoid interrupted access. In January, everyone is strongly encouraged to check their personal devices to confirm they are connected to the appropriate network and make adjustments as needed. If students have trouble adding their personal devices to the PCCSK12-Students network, please ask them to contact their school’s technology support team. If staff have trouble adding their personal devices to the PCCSK12-Staff network, please ask them to submit a service ticket.
Please also note, concurrently connected personal devices’ policy change for the PCCSK12-Staff and PCCSK12-Student network is in process:
We are migrating to a network policy where concurrently connected devices using the same network credentials at physically different building locations (for example, PCEP and an elementary or middle school) will trigger curtailed access, due to security concerns. In other words, if someone else is using your district credentials on their device to connect to our network and they are in a different building, your network account will be disabled from continuing to connect personal devices to our network. As a reminder, please only use your credentials on your very own personal devices. Credentials should never be shared. Students with personal devices should never be connected to the PCCSK12-Staff network; if they want to have their personal device on our network, they should connect it to the PCCSK12-Student network. Conversely, staff should not be connecting to the PCCSK12-Student network.
We will also be monitoring how many devices in the same building are concurrently connected to our network using the same network credentials. Presently we reason there should be no more than three (3) concurrent connections in the same building, presuming a staffer may have as many as three devices (eg a watch, a cell phone and a personal computer), all of which they hope to connect to our network. Having more than three devices connected in the same building location may trigger curtailed access, following our review of the use case.
In today’s world, teaching kids about digital citizenship is essential. When we equip them with the skills to think critically and navigate online spaces on their own, that’s how they really grow. Digital Citizenship Week began October 16th, and while the week is almost over, consider still bringing these themes into your curriculum over the weeks ahead. Supplement your instruction with BrainPOP’s timely content, tools, and resources.
As a reminder, all district students, K-12 can access our paid subscription to BrainPop/BrainPop Jr via Clever at https://clever.com/in/pccs
We know that as educators, you constantly strive to make learning more accessible and engaging for your students. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce some exciting updates to the Read&Write toolbar that will empower you to do just that! The two latest features, Rewordify and Simplify AI, are designed to transform the way your students interact with digital content, making it easier to understand and more inclusive for all. Let’s dive into the details of these fantastic enhancements.
1. Rewordify
Rewordify is a game-changer for teachers and students alike. This versatile tool is now available on the Read&Write web toolbar, making it accessible on websites, Learning Management Systems, emails, and more. Its primary mission is to simplify text, ensuring that students encounter fewer barriers when reading and comprehending content.
How does it work? Rewordify identifies complex or difficult words within a webpage and replaces them with simpler, more easily understood alternatives. This feature promotes reading comprehension and helps students tackle challenging texts with greater confidence. Rewordify is a valuable resource for students of all ages and abilities, as it fosters inclusivity in the classroom and supports diverse learning needs.
2. Simplify AI
Introducing Simplify AI, an innovative beta feature within Read&Write for Google Chrome. This cutting-edge tool takes web content and transforms it into a more digestible format, enhancing accessibility and understanding. Developed by OpenAI, Simplify AI relies on advanced AI algorithms to perform its magic.
Simplify AI is your secret weapon when it comes to breaking down complex web content. It distills lengthy, convoluted passages into concise, clear, and easy-to-grasp summaries. This feature is a boon for teachers and students tackling challenging articles, research papers, or any online content that could benefit from simplification.
However, it’s important to note that Simplify AI has a few limitations:
Word Count Limits: Simplify AI can be applied to content ranging from approximately 75 to 2300 words. This range is carefully chosen to accommodate various types of content while maintaining readability.
Usage Limit: Each user can utilize Simplify AI a maximum of ten times per day. This restriction is in place to ensure fair access to this powerful tool among all users.
Incorporating these updates into your teaching arsenal can revolutionize the way your students engage with digital content. Whether you’re using Rewordify to make text more accessible or Simplify AI to provide concise summaries, these features empower your students to comprehend complex information with greater ease.
By leveraging these tools, you’re not just enhancing reading comprehension; you’re fostering an inclusive learning environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed.
SORA SWEET READS RETURNS! Summer reading, oh my! OverDrive’s annual reading program, Sora Sweet Reads, is designed for schools to encourage students to keep reading all year long. This collection of free and simultaneous use juvenile and young adult ebooks (and select audiobooks) will be available to participating schools and prominently displayed in Sora so it’s easy for students to find their next sweet read. On May 15th all school partners who have opted in (and we have) will receive a sweet new curation on their Sora Explore page full of 57 new titles for all ages K-12. The collection this year boasts 34 juvenile titles, 10 young adult titles and 13 general adult-level titles. The collection will be live for 10 weeks from May 15 through Aug. 28 and all titles are simultaneous-use. This means students will all have access immediately and at the same time. Ready to check out the titles? Head over to the Sora Sweet Reads website to view the titles before they go live in our Wayne County shared collection on May 15 and to download some resources as well.
The Sora app’s multilingual interface now is available in two additional languages, Korean and Portuguese (Brazilian) with more languages being added. The Sora interface already includes Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Swedish language options. As a reminder, students can update Sora’s display language from the welcome screen or from Language settings in the app’s main menu.
When students update their language settings, Sora’s ebook reader, audiobook player, and app interface automatically display in the selected language. Sora will remember your language settings across sessions.
Please note: Changing Sora’s display language does not change the language of the books your students can borrow. If you’re interested in specific language content to support these new interface languages or others? Looking for books to support your native speakers and language learners alike? Check out the languages and learning tile on the Resource Center, where you can find recommended reading lists for ebooks and audiobooks in these languages – and more!
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The online Sora app was designed around the modern student reading experience. This app, developed and curated by Overdrive, empowers students to discover and enjoy ebooks and audiobooks, for both leisure and class-assigned reading. ALL STUDENTS in all of our district’s schools AND ALL STAFF can log into our Sora page using their Google Accounts at http://links.pccsk12.com/sora and begin checking out ebooks!
Once logged in, students and staff are able to “borrow” ebooks and audiobooks from a selection of thousands of titles available in their school, district and/or Wayne county library collections. Check out this 2 minute video for how to access the app via the Google apps launcher (aka waffle) as well as how to add a library collection (only need to do that once per year).
Time Saving Tip: Many students and teachers end up accessing Google tools from their phones. As a result, most of us are logged into multiple Google accounts on our phones. Up until last week, I would click on my avatar in the upper, right corner and then select the account I wanted to switch to. But did you know you can save a few nano-seconds by just swiping up or down on that avatar and Google will switch between your accounts? This works in Google Mail (Gmail), Google Drive, Google Keep, Jamboard, Slides, and Docs. It works in most of the Google apps except for Calendar. Video Demonstration.
Record new video.
