Key's Quick Tips: Video Tutorials to Send Students

This month, I am providing video tutorials staff can send home to students and parents to help support them with the tools they are using. If you do not see a video you need, please send me an e-mail and I am happy to make one! kkey@barrington220.org

Video Resources for the Universal Assistive Technology Tools Available on the iPad in District 220

Text to Speech on the iPad

• How to turn on TTS on the iPad
• Click here to see how powerful this tool is for reading and editing writing

Snap and Read App

• Text to speech demo in S&R
• Text Leveling Feature
• Translation Feature
• Annotation Feature
• Take a picture of text and have it read out loud

Co:Writer

• Full Tutorial
• Demo of Word Prediction Sophistication

Voice Typing (Speech Recognition)

• Demo/ Overview Here
• Lesson plan to teach SR- bit.ly/srguide

Word Bank Universal

• Features and Demo Here

Reminders App

• Demo of Features

Deal with Zoom Disruptions in One or Two Clicks

By now you may have hosted one or more Zoom meetings with students. The Zoom Video Conferencing in Barrington 220 guide offers several security and preventative suggestions and methods to limit potential disruptions.

We have heard from some teachers reporting that, despite following security recommendations, some students have still been able to disrupt a class. As veteran educators know, some students like to push boundaries—especially when a student believes they are anonymous.

One issue we have heard is that while a class is full of students who were legitimately admitted to the meeting, disruptions still occurred. While many explanations are possible, it is relatively easy for a student in your class to use a second device, enter another (expected) student’s name, get admitted to the class by the teacher, and then proceed with disruptions.

As a teacher, you have several one- or two-click options to deal with disruptions.

• In Gallery View, click on a student and use the pop-up menu immediately to Mute Audio, Stop Video, or Remove the participant from the meeting.
• By clicking Participants, a list of all participants will show throughout the Zoom meeting. Next to each name, you can click Mute in one click. (A second click to the More menu allows Stop Video, Remove, and other options).
• Also notice that at the bottom of the Participants list, you have a one-click Mute All option.
• To stop unwanted cat, with the Chat panel open (click the Chat button), click the [...] symbol in the lower-right corner and select No one from the from the pop-up menu under Participant Can Chat With:

Although this article promises one- or two-click solutions, I will include one setting that requires three clicks to limit unwanted Screen Sharing.

• Click the carat ^ next to Screen Sharing and select Advanced Sharing Options… 
• Click Only Host under Who can share?

While disruptions are annoying, we believe that the potential benefits offered by Zoom outweigh the potential problems. As we become more familiar with the Zoom platform, hopefully disruptions will both become less of a novelty and easier for us as teachers to address in the moment.

In Gallery View, click on a student and use the pop-up menu immediately to Mute Audio, Stop Video, or Remove the participant from the meeting

Barrington 220 Zoom Security Information

In Barrington 220 we are very aware of Zoom’s potential security issues, but after our customary security and safety research, we feel Zoom is both safe and beneficial for our staff and students to use during this time. We also took the extra step of purchasing a district license so we have Zoom tech support and reporting functionality. Barrington 220 is not using the free Zoom service with basic features offered as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

“Zoombombing” (an unwanted intrusion of an individual in a video conference causing disruption) can occur if the person hosting the meeting turns off Zoom’s security settings and/or posts the web address of the Zoom meeting in a public forum, such as social media or an open web page. Zoom has always had security features to prevent security problems, but if users turn them off, issues like the ones reported in the media can occur. Over the past couple of weeks, Zoom has also made some of their security settings default, meaning that they turn them on automatically (i.e., users need to intentionally turn them off if they choose to relax meeting security). Barrington 220’s Zoom training recommends the use of several security features.

One great example of Zoom’s recent enhanced security is the “Waiting Room” feature. Zoom turned this setting on by default starting this week for all users. The use of this feature is included in Barrington 220’s training and is recommended for long-term use.

It’s also VERY easy for Zoom meeting hosts (e.g., teachers) to click on any user and mute them, turn their video off, or remove them from a meeting. It takes one click and the participant can’t reverse the setting or return.

Please also note that Barrington 220 does not share student user information with Zoom. Only Barrington 220 staff who host Zoom meetings have Zoom accounts. Meeting participants (students) click a link to join the meeting. As teachers in the role of Zoom Hosts teach classes or work with students on Zoom, they generally do not share student information or other sensitive information.

Of course, if a parent is not comfortable with their child attending a Zoom meeting—or other online systems we use to connect students and teachers—the parent may decide that their child is not required to attend.

Finally, Zoom provides an excellent security document that is written in non-technical language that might be useful:
https://zoom.us/docs/doc/Zoom-Security-White-Paper.pdf

Spanish Translations and Interpretations during Distance Learning

Do you need a Spanish interpreter during Distance Learning?

During this shift in our current work day operations, I'd like to remind all of our Barrington 220 staff that we have a process in place for those who may be in need of Spanish document translations or telephone/Zoom meeting/event interpretations.

As a part of coordinating technology and innovation within Barrington 220, we have made it easy to schedule all of your translating needs through a simple Google Form. The updated form can be accessed by either clicking here or by visiting the Barrington 220 website, clicking the Staff tab (login required), and clicking the Translation Request link.

The form allows us to receive and confirm appointment requests, as well as manage uploads of documents that you need translated into Spanish. This simple and effective process allows the translating team here at Barrington 220 to collaborate much more efficiently when it comes to meeting and/or document requests across the district.

We ask that you keep the following in mind before submitting your request:

• Please allow a minimum of 5–10 business days for written translation requests to be returned.
• Please submit your meeting interpreter request 15 days in advance (minimum) in order to secure an interpreter. 
• Please note: It is likely that last-minute meeting requests will not be accommodated.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me, Hector Ontiveros, at hontiveros@barrington220.org or 847.842.3561.

Our translating team is happy to provide assistance during these unprecedented times, so please send those timely requests!

Technology Support during Distance Learning

A few years ago, the Department of Technology and Innovation made the decision to change the way we provided tech support. We moved from having a dedicated Tech in each building to having Techs in a central location who could provide remote support for the entire district. Fortunately, that decision provided us the flexibility to transition to Distance Leaning very quickly.

The Technology Support Department is ready and waiting to assist with your distance learning technology needs. You can reach us by phone at 224-655-1500 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. on regular school days. When you call, depending on the call volume, we may need to transfer you to another Tech so your patience is appreciated. We’ll troubleshoot your issue, answer your questions, or put you in touch with the people who can help you if we can’t.

We are also available to assist you in person if your issue can’t be resolved remotely. In-person tech support is available on regular school days from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the main entrance of Barrington High School. If you or your students have a broken device or need replacements for damaged accessories, there is a Tech at BHS who can assist you. If you’re able, please call first to let us know when you might be coming so we have what you’ll need ready for you.

And as always, if you’d prefer, you can still open a ticket by sending an email with a description of your issue to techsupport@barrington220.org.