Back to School Reminders and Updates!

This edition offers five reminders to help you, your students, and your eyes. 

Bonus: Remember the grade pass back process from Canvas to PowerSchool has changed with our switch to PTP. Here are the directions. Check OTS for info on upcoming PLT sessions (District Hour) on this process. 

Outlook

1. Do you need to update your Outlook Signature?

• Open Outlook (make sure you are using the App Version, which is found in your start window and titled "Outlook 2016")

• Choose File in the top Left and Scroll to Options

• Select Mail and Signatures (See image)

• Remember your signature should include your building, your position, your phone number and extension, and any other information you feel would be helpful

• If you use the web version of Outlook, you will also need to change your signature on that version of Outlook

Changes in VPN: Global Connect

2. Students no longer have to initiate VPN to access their U:Drives

With the launch of Global Connect, students, when using a district laptop, are always connected to our network, whether they are in or out of school. This change ends the need for students to set-up aVPN session to access their U:Drive at home. 

3. Benefits of using Global Connect as a Teacher

Unlike students, teachers and other staff members using a district laptop do have to initiate a VPN session when out of the district. Whenever using your laptop outside of the district, please consider connecting to the VPN while working  When you are connected to the VPN, you will be able to use any of the functions of your machine just as if you are at school, such as:

• Accessing the U: Drive
• Using Microsoft Outlook, including sending e-mails, managing your calendar, and viewing your to-do lists.
• Using the Follow Me Printers, including the ability to print the night before and release the document right when you walk in the building the next morning.

To initiate a VPN session,  open Global Connect and simply type in remote.pennridge.org (only the first time). Next, select Connect.  You will be prompted to enter your username and password.  Remember you only need to do this when on an off-campus Wifi network and you want full access to network drives, etc.  This can be helpful at workshops, out of district conferences, etc.

Are your eyes tired???

https://www.publicdomainpictures.net

4. Resize your Display

Since your computer was re-imaged over the summer, you may have noticed that everything seems smaller.  To change this, please follow this 1-2 minute process!  

5. Adjust the Display in your Gradebook

One of the advantages of PowerTeacher Pro is that you can adjust the size of the gradebook display. The image below shows how to resize your gradebook display in your PTP gradebook.

Welcome Back Friday Five!

Start of the Year Edition of the Friday Five

1. Start of the Year Checklists:  Most directions for Canvas Start of the Year can be found on your level's checklist. The middle school checklist is here and the high school checklist can be found here. Of course, email me, Cara Gurysh at cgurysh@pennridge.org with any questions or for assistance.

2. Grade Passback/PTP: With the conversion to PowerTeacher Pro there are new set-up steps that must be followed if you want to utilize grade passback. The directions can be found here. Keep in mind that you must set up your grading Categories in PTP first.

3. PowerSchool/Canvas: Canvas and PowerSchool "speak" to each other each night. If a student's schedule changes, it takes 24 hours for the change to be reflected in Canvas. This means if a student is placed into your period 2 class on Monday during period 1, the student will not have your course until Tuesday. If for some reason the course does not appear the next day, please contact Cara Gurysh at cgurysh@pennridge.org.

4. LockDown Browser: We have the LockDown Browser available for all staff and students 6-12. This browser creates a secure testing environment in Canvas. Using it is simple. Here are the directions. NOTE: The directions reference LockDown Monitor, we do not have this camera feature.  Look for sessions on the browser soon.

5. PUBLISH Your Courses: Don't forget that students will not be able to see your courses until you hit Publish from your course homepage.

Bonus: Parent Observer Account Directions can be found under the Parents Tab on each school's website.  A teacher can generate a pairing code for a parent if needed. Here are directions.