New Staff Tech Essentials
Welcome to Westside! This email may be a bit long, but contains everything you need to know to get started with district technology and services.
The first portion applies to ALL new staff members. The second is divided into elementary focused (K-6) and secondary focused (7-12).
District Intranet
The district Intranet is a shared Google file that houses important documents that you will want to reference. It contains HR information, handbooks, forms you need to submit reimbursement, request a vehicle for a trip and more.
To access the Intranet folders, open up a web browser and go to: http://goo.gl/HxnBQS If you’re not already logged in, you will be asked to log in with your Westside email and password.
You will then be taken to the WCS Staff Intranet Page. To facilitate quicker access in the future, you click the blue button labeled: ‘Add to My Drive.’ This will allow you to access the drive from the left hand side bar from now on.
Adobe Apps
As a Westside Employee, you can download and install the latest version of Adobe Creative Cloud. Included in Creative Cloud are Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Dreamweaver and much more! Click here to learn more, including how to download.
Webex Teams
Webex Teams will be a collaborative space where staff can have ‘teams’ (groups of people) and ‘spaces’ (common communication areas) to message one another. Webex Teams also integrates into the Blackboard learning management system used by WMS and WHS to provide for rich blended and extended campus learning functionality.
What is the difference between a space and a team and their advantages?
Spaces: You can think of a space as a virtual room with two or more people, where you can send messages, make calls, have video meetings, share files, and whiteboard with everyone in the space.
Teams: Teams help keep everything organized and are great for a group of people working together on multiple projects and across various spaces.
Webex Meetings
Webex Meetings will be the district-approved video conferencing platform and will replace the Google Meet platform that we have been using for the past few months. It includes many advanced features such as an increased grid view, high definition video, iPad screen sharing, private meeting rooms, automatic meeting recordings and more. We’ve also worked with Cisco to preview their roadmap and many more features are on their way. Again, Webex Meetings will replace Google Meet.
You can read more about Webex at:
Webex Teams and Meetings Essentials: https://www.webex.com/essentials.html/
Getting Started with Webex Video Conferencing: https://area66.westside66.org/getting-started-with-webex/
Downloadable quick start guide (Westside Specific): https://area66.westside66.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Weside-Webex-Communications.pdf
Google Groups
Westside uses Google Groups to help facilitate collaboration. These groups serve as both online forums and email lists. You are automatically enrolled in the group for your home building, a district announcements, certified staff (if applicable), cBay and ‘the staff lounge’.
To Access
To access google groups, go to: https://groups.google.com. If you are not already logged in, you will be asked to. By default you will also receive email notifications from each group.
Group Descriptions
Your Building Group – Each building has a group set up (i.e., WMS Staff, Oakdale Staff). This will be your primary way of collaborating with folks in your building. Everyone in your building group has the ability to email the group and post to the group.
District Announcements – This group is read-only. It is used to send out announcements that are applicable for ALL staff members in the district.
Certified Staff – This group is created as a way to communicate with all certified staff. It is read-only.
cBay – A place to buy and sell items that you no longer need. It’s Westside’s very own virtual swap meet! All staff can post and email the group.
The Staff Lounge – An online staff lounge. A great place to share announcements that pertain to all staff in the district. Having a fund raiser? Post it here! All staff in the district have the ability to post and email the group.
Delivery Settings
By default, you receive a message every time someone posts to a group. In some groups, this is a good thing. In others, it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, you can customize your delivery settings.
Groups you can change Feel free to change your delivery settings for your building, cBay and the staff lounge. The options presented are all good ones – especially the daily digests.
However, please DO NOT change delivery settings on District Announcements or Certified Staff. These are the districts main way of communicating important information to you.
How to change delivery settings
• Once you are logged into Google Groups, access the group you would like to change.
• Once logged in, click on ‘My membership settings’ on the left side.
• Click/tap on the drop down next to ‘Email delivery preference’.
• Select the email option that you prefer and click save.
How to get tech help
Westside uses a ‘Web Help Desk’ to help facilitate technology help. The help desk should be used for all technical technology problems (i.e., hardware/software issues with laptops and iPads, projectors, etc.). Help with incorporating technology into your lessons should be directed to Matt Lee or Bridget Brown.
The help desk can be access at: https://help.westside66.org/support/home. Log in with you email address and password.
You can also send an email to one of the addresses below to ask for help.
Elementary:
Emersonhelp@westside66.net for Hillside, Westbrook, Loveland, Swanson, Sunset Hills, Underwood Hills staff.
Tylerhelp@westside66.net for Oakdale, Paddock Road, Prairie Lane, Rockbrook, Westgate staff.
WMS:
Wmshelp@westside66.net
WHS:
Whshelp@westside66.net
Is a technology service online?
Wondering if a district website is down for everyone, or if it’s just your machine that is having issues? Check out our status web page! It updates automatically with the current status of all major district resources.
https://status.westside66.org/
District Technology Contacts
- Learn about the Westside technology department by checking out our ‘Who’s Who’ page here.
District Technology Resources
- Area 66. Area 66 is our home for all things technology at Westside. Here you will find resources to help you better integrate technology, as well as technology department announcements.
- Westside.Technology Update. Once a month or so, you will receive a Technology.Update email. In this email, I’ll share tips and tricks about technology and staff on eMerge will share successful examples of integrating technology into their classrooms. Click the here to access the archives.
Grade Level Specific Information
Elementary
iPad Apps You can access all iPad apps through the Manager app. Please test out all apps on your teacher iPad before you use them with students.
Google Classroom Google classroom is a GREAT way to send and receive assignments from your students. All teachers and students have access to it. Simply download from Self-Service and sign in with your Westside Google Account.
Haven’t used classroom before? Check out these great resources.
-Getting Started with Google Classroom and best practices for remote learning https://area66.westside66.org/navigating-the-forest-of-remote-learning/
- Welcome to your First Day of Classroom https://teachercenter.withgoogle.com/first-day-trainings/welcome-to-classroom
Apple Classroom
Apple Classroom is a classroom management app that teachers can download from Self-Service. You can use Apple Classroom in conjunction with Google Classroom and other apps. Apple Classroom allows you to view your student’s iPad screens, project their screens onto the Apple TV and lock them into apps.
More information will be coming soon on this.
Secondary (WMS and WHS)
At the middle school and high school, teachers have a choice in how they want to run their classrooms and which learning management style fits them best. All staff have access to both Blackboard and Google Classroom. Feel free to use one or both of these platforms. Each has its own benefits and strengths.
Blackboard. Blackboard is a full featured learning management system. By default, classes are created from PowerSchool and all students and staff are enrolled. You can add folders, organize resources and take advantage of secure testing.
Google Classroom Google classroom is a GREAT way to send and receive assignments from your students. All teachers and students have access to it.
Haven’t used classroom before? Check out these great resources.
-Getting Started with Google Classroom and best practices for remote learning https://area66.westside66.org/navigating-the-forest-of-remote-learning/
- Welcome to your First Day of Classroom https://teachercenter.withgoogle.com/first-day-trainings/welcome-to-classroom