FAQ

FAQ for using technology for your area. What do beginner’s ask? What should people know to use technology for instruction? Which technologies? You choose. Each member should be responsible for one technology but everyone can contribute to other Wiki Member’s FAQs. toc

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**Lena **
**FAQ - The Use of computers in the classroom** Every classroom in the NBHS freshman academy is equiped with a teacher's computer and overhead projector, as wellas a minimum of four student stations. The academy also houses a computer lab with thrity student computers with available audio. All fresheman students also have the ability to use the computer lab in the Media Center, provided they follow the protocol for usage. Yes, but it is monitored and restricted for students. Students must log on with their personal ID code. In order to utilize any of the computers in the school, a student must first aquire a student access code. Students may do so by aquirering a pass from their homoroom teacher to the Media Specialist. Once the student is logged on to the system, he/she may access/utilize the computers as needed. Yes. asside from the Media Center Staff, not only can students enroll in elective computer courses, but our freshman academy is well staffed with very knowledgeable teachers that will certainly be able to accomodate and take students through the adaquate training. All classroom computers are for classroom use, so it is up to the particular teacher's discretion as to when a student may use the equipment. If a student is working on a project independently, he/she may do so during their study hall period, or after school. Yes, every student is provided with an individual student code that must be entered everytime a student logs on. A great deal. Students may check them in progressbook, in their teacher's web page. All programs used for class purposes are free, however there are a few that require membership enrollment. Abslutelly. There are countless numbers of websites available for teens that provide all and accurate information, and that is free of cost to the student. No. All projects require the use of Word, PowerPoint and Excell. Any other programs used for class purposes are already downloaded into the school's system.
 * 1. What type of technology is there available in my school?**
 * 2. Is internet access available in the classrooms?**
 * 3. Who do I speak do to be able to utilize the equipment?**
 * 4. Will there be someone to train me in the use of the different equipment?**
 * 5. Do I need to reserve the equipment before I get to use it?**
 * 6. Do I need a log on code to access the internet?**
 * 7. What web programs are there available for use in our Health class?**
 * 8. How much do they cost to join?**
 * 9. Are there free programs I can log on to and get the same information I need for my project?**
 * 10. Do I need to download any special programs to complete my project? Will I have any tutorials available?**

**Gina**
FAQ - Gradekeeper = = Gradekeeper computes grades, prints reports, does seating charts, sends email progress reports, and even posts grades online.
 * 1. What is gradekeeper?**

No, the school does not require that you compute your grades using Gradekeeper. However, it is very convenient to use.
 * 2. Do I have to use Gradekeeper in order to enter my grades?**

Easy, go to www.gradekeeper.com. Download the latest version available. Enter the school name and license code and you’re done.
 * 3. How do I get Gradekeeper on my computer at home?**

It is very simple. Click on the Gradekeeper icon. Enter your students’ names on the left column. You may put them in alphabetical order by going to edit > Sort assignments by name. Then title the spreadsheet by subject.
 * 4. How do I create a spreadsheet for each class?**

To begin entering assignments click on the first vertical space about the number 1. This establishes the first assignment. Enter the date of the assignment > title of the assignment > category i.e. homework, quizzes, tests etc. > lastly, assign a point value of the assignment.

Click on Gradebook > Gradebook options > click on the tab titled School Year > There you will be able to adjust the start and end dates for each quarter.
 * 5. How do I adjust the dates for each quarter?**

Click on File > Save As > You may choose to save to your documents or C: drive > Title the spreadsheet by class > click Save.
 * 6. How do I save the class grades?**

Yes. It is extremely important that you always back up your class grades on your computer and a flash drive. Make sure to update both as you make changes.
 * 7. Do I need a back up file?**

The most convenient way is to create a folder > name it Gradekeeper (school year) > copy and paste each class in the folder > insert your flash drive > copy the folder on to your flash drive. Each time you make changes you can highlight your classes and drag them over to the opened folder in your flash drive and replace the existing information.
 * 8. How do I back up my grades?**

Click on their names on the spreadsheet > you will notice it highlights their name in black > press Delete > A message will prompt you making sure you want to delete them > click Yes > once you have deleted their names it will delete all their previous quarter grades.
 * 9. I had a student drop my class, how do I delete their information?**

No. You must make sure you enter their mid term and final grades otherwise their final grade will be off by 20%.
 * 10. If I enter mid term exams and final exam grades will that effect their quarter grade?**

Click on Gradebook > Gradebook Options > Click on the tab Grading > Final and Mid terms can contribute to the term grade, the semester grade or final grade it all depends on your grading policy i.e. mid term exams and final exams are worth 10% each. Type 10 % of end of year grade > round to nearest tenth of a percent > click OK. Create a assignment on your 2nd quarter spread sheet > enter the date > enter Mid term or Final exam > categories enter Final exam even if it is only a Mid Term exam they will both have the same weight to the final average > enter the point value and proceed to enter their numerical grades. You will notice that if you enter the exam grade it does not affect their quarter grade. The important part is making sure you enter Final Exam as the category.

** Dennis **
FAQ – for **Virtuoso Major ** 

**1) What is Sony Virtuoso? ** Step 1 -- It’s a monitoring, recording, texting, and visual program used for language acquisition.

**2) How do you use Virtuoso with the students? ** Step 2 – Login to the system with your name.

**3) How do students register in the Virtuoso program? ** Step 2 – Students need to login to the system, write their name and select attend. Step 3 – Students name will appear in the system under the computer number.

**4) What do I do with the students once they login the system? ** Step 4- Here you have many options and configurations that you can do. Step 5 – Select the pair button at the bottom of the screen. This will give you 6 different options. The fastest and easiest is pair randomly. You can also send the students: word document /PDF file/ Internet page/ texting program/ live chat and much more.

Step 6 – Select Pair Select and click on two students that you want to pair. There are 5 different ways to do this also – refer to your tutorial for additional methods.
 * 5) How can I change a pair of students? **

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">6) How do you record the student’s conversation and play them back? **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Step 7- Select the button that has the writing **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">Drill ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> on the bottom right hand side. Step 8 – Once students are done speaking, to play back select on the pair and hit the play button.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">7) How can I save the students recording and make them portable for students at home? **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Step 9 – Select collect work, and then select the appropriate file to save the recording. It’s important to save the file under the person name logged in the Virtuoso program. Otherwise it will not transfer the recordings. You can send the mp3 file to the students by e-mail or they can save the recording on a flash drive.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">8) How do I send video / sound recording / Internet pages to a student? **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Step 10 – Select source control this will give you the ability to determine the source of technology to send to the student. You can select from PC / Doc Cam/ TV/DVD.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">9) How can I see what the student is doing with the computer? How can I close the student screen? **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Step 11 – To monitor what students is doing in their computer select the screen monitor button. This will give a complete view of the student screen. If the student is in an inappropriate site. You have several options. You can take over the student’s computer by pressing the keyboard mouse button. Also you can select the lock keyboard button. This option does not let the students change or type anything. You can also disable their screen and finally you can black out the student screen. **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">For more information follow the hand tutorial. ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">10) How can I have a conversation with a student from the desk? **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;"> You have two options, one select the all call button to speak to all students. You can also select on a particular student or group and speak with them.

**<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">11) Follow the tutorial handout given in this training. If you need more clarification you can also go to ** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">[|www.sonyelearning.com/gropFirst] <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt;">.