Introduction
This Remote Learning Bootcamp document is designed to help parents get the most out of remote learning and set their children up for success in the weeks ahead. This is a living document, and as we update it with further ideas and suggestions, things will move and change. We highly suggest you bookmark this document to refer back to should you ever need it.
Should you have any issues with your student laptop, or need any technical advice regarding home WiFi and network, device management tools, and beyond, please do not hesitate to reach out to us by emailing support@gcds.net. While many devices and peripherals are becoming hard to find, our laptop supplier, Goliath, has opened up the purchasing link we normally use for the start of year to allow families to purchase the remaining Chromebooks they have in stock should they like another student device for remote learning.
Purchase a Chromebook Device (optional)
Goliath - GCDS Purchase link
Schedule Technology & Laptop Repair
Email support@gcds.net as soon as you identify a hardware issue that you think needs our attention. We will schedule a time for you to drive by the Stone Cottage at the Old Church Road campus so you can
Curbside Drop Off & Pick Up Instructional Video (2 min)
Attendance via SchoolPass
While each division will have slightly different instructions for taking attendance, we ask that all parents remember to mark their child absent if they will not be attending remote learning on a given day M-F, with a reason for why they are absent.
Attendance - Marking Your Child Absent in SchoolPass - Part 4 of GCDS SchoolPass Parent Manual
Day 1 - Gmail and Google Chrome
Google Apps for Education are at the center of our remote learning experience. Your students will be accessing information via products like Google Docs, Drive, Slides, Gmail, and beyond. We believe it is important for every GCDS family to familiarize themselves with these tools as well, so that you may also benefit from the technological preparedness of our school community.
Gmail
Parents and guardians: if you have not yet created an account with Gmail, we would like to ask you to take a moment to do so. Even if this is just for school related communication, getting yourself familiar and comfortable with the Google experience as a parent or guardian will allow you to take full benefit of the remote learning experience we are providing to students in every division. If you are signing up for Gmail for the first time, please email support@gcds.net with your Gmail address.
Sign up for a Gmail account - Tutorial (3.5 min)
Gmail for iPhone & iPad (optional) - Click here to download
Once you have an active Gmail account, it’s highly recommended that you use the Gmail application on your iPhone or iPad, as opposed to the “Mail” app that comes pre-installed with the iPhone. This will give you extra features such as snooze, schedule send, and more.
Google Chrome
Chrome is a web browser built by Google. As opposed to Safari, Chrome can be used across devices and allows for upgrades via extensions, works seamlessly with Google Apps, and has many more benefits. Your students have extensions purchased by GCDS that become enabled on any desktop or Chromebook simply by signing in to Chrome on that device, so it’s almost as if the software carries over with them anywhere they want to learn!
Sign in to Google Chrome - Tutorial (2.5 min)
Manage Multiple Accounts in Google Chrome - Tutorial (3.5 min)
Install Google Chrome on iPhone, iPad & Desktop
Day 2 - Video Conferencing
It is important to be able to use more than one video conferencing tool in the event that one or more services get overloaded. They also have unique tools that make them valuable in different situations. Practice initiating and scheduling meetings with Meet, Hangouts, and Zoom using the tutorials provided. If you experience any technical difficulties, please email support@gcds.net for assistance.
Google Meet
While Google Meet is only available for GSuite members (i.e. students, faculty & staff), please feel free to utilize your student’s GCDS Gmail account to facilitate video conferencing with other parents in our community if you do not have access to Zoom or other platforms.
Create and Join a Virtual Meeting with Google Meet - Tutorial (5.5 min)
Hosting a Live Virtual Classroom Through Google Meet - Tutorial (5 min)
Google Hangouts
Chat and Video Conference with Google Hangouts - Tutorial (4 min)
Zoom
How to Join a Zoom Call as a Student - Tutorial (4 min)
Zoom Official Instructions - Playlist
Download Zoom for iPhone or iPad - Click here to download
Download Zoom for Android - Click here to download
Zoom on Chromebook - Click for instructions & Chrome extension link
Add the Zoom Scheduler Extension to Google Chrome - Click here to install
Create and Join a Virtual Meeting with Zoom - Tutorial (5 min)
Day 3 - Managing Devices and Screen Time At Home
We understand how difficult it can be having all of your children at home either sharing one or dispersing with multiple laptops, cellphones, and iPads. Our department has compiled a list of some of the best home device-management softwares out there, and should you feel the need to implement, will give you greater control over how much time your children are spending on social media, games, and beyond. In addition, these tools can help steer students clear of malicious or inappropriate content. Please remember, no software is perfect. Should you experience issues, we will do our best to assist you, but everyone’s home network is different so please bear with us as we assist you in this incredibly complex technical topic.
Screen Time Monitors & Turning Off Apps and Games
Below are a list of a few options for families who wish to secure their devices and website filtering during and beyond remote learning. Many of these products work across different platforms, such as iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac. If you plan to install these on your school-issued laptops, please contact support@gcds.net so we can unlock the device temporarily for you to install.
Qustodio - Website - Intro Video
Net Nanny - Website - Intro Video
Circle - Website - Intro Video
OpenDNS Web Filtering - Website - Setup Instructions
YouTube
While YouTube will contain many great educational videos produced by GCDS faculty and staff, please take a moment to configure your students’ YouTube accounts to prevent autoplay of videos, etc. All students are by default on “Strict” settings in YouTube via GCDS, however if they are not signed in to their student account at home this doesn’t take effect.
Remove YouTube Recommended Content and Sidebar- Chrome Extension - Tutorial (3.5 min)
Refer to the screen time monitor software above, as many also serve as filters for YouTube
Day 4 - Peripherals, Home WiFi & Troubleshooting
While it may seem trivial, making sure you know the best practices for cleaning and maintaining your devices and home setup will be critical to you and your children’s comfort and success going forward. Our technology team wanted to give some tips and tricks on how to care for your electronic devices, as well as recommend specific equipment and software that can help you prepare for remote learning. You are not required to purchase any of this equipment, but it is highly recommended your children use or acquire over-ear headphones with a microphone.
Device Cleaning & Care
Clean all keyboards and trackpads/mice every day with disinfectant or a microfiber cloth
Clean your screen once every few days
Keep your charger in a safe place, and make sure to charge devices at night before going to bed
FULLY RESTART YOUR LAPTOP AND DEVICES EVERY DAY - Click here to learn how
Make sure to check for updates on your phones, tablets, and laptops once every few days
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Take care of your eyes using software like flux - screen color adjustment for night time
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Enable dark mode on your devices and apps - energy saving, easy on eye strain
Peripheral Devices
Headphones
We recommend students (and parents) invest in “over ear” headphones with an attached microphone for e-learning if possible. Wearing earbuds for extended periods of time, or turning volume too high, can cause hearing damage as well as pain, so remember to take breaks whenever using audio equipment. Click here for more information on earbud safety.
Logitech USB Headset with Noise Cancelling Mic
It is not required that you purchase or use any specific model of headphones, so feel free to look for others
Mice
Should you or your student wish to use a mouse instead of the built in trackpad, here are low-cost wireless and low-cost wired mouse options.
Wifi Boosters
While everyone’s wireless and home network situation is different, there are a few ways you can boost connectivity. One, of course, is paying for higher bandwidth Internet speeds; aside from that, here are some options you might be able to utilize.
Google Nest Wifi - Home Mesh Router
Ethernet over Power - NETGEAR Powerline AC1200
WiFi Extender - NETGEAR Wireless Extender
Troubleshooting
The first secret of the tech trade is: turn it off, and turn it back on. If you haven’t tried that, just go ahead and make sure you know how to fully power down or restart your printers, routers, modems, laptops, iPads, cell phones, and every other device you plan to use on a daily basis.
Secret #2 of the tech trade: Google is your friend! We will be making some tutorials on how to become a Google dork (yes, Google dorking is a real term and is a very good skill to have).
Day 5 - Preparing for the Future
Keep in mind: this is a marathon, not a sprint. Take things day by day, and make incremental rather than dramatic changes to your environment so you and your family can ease into remote learning.
Home Office Setup
Again, it may seem trivial, but the way in which you designate corners or rooms of your apartment or house can have major impacts on productivity, focus, and mental well being. Make sure you choose a dedicated workspace, keep work and home time separated as much as possible, make good use of timers, and get in some fitness breaks (our PE teachers have got you covered)! One of my favorite “best practices” articles on this topic can be found here.
Book time to chat with faculty, staff, and friends using Calendly
Faculty and staff will be including links in their email signatures to book appointments with them using a site called Calendly. This connects directly to their Gmail and Google Calendars, so it will create an event as well as send a confirmation email with a meeting link attached.
If you’re interested in using Calendly, feel free to get started with Calendly; this can be very helpful for finding common time to meet with friends online, schedule virtual playdates, and more!
Jeff DeTeso Mindfulness
Jeff DeTeso, Ph. D., Director of Counseling at GCDS, has graciously offered to create playlists and videos to help parents, students, and faculty/staff through these trying times. Here is part one of his mindfulness playlist for parents.
Extra Credit
This and all sections will be updated as we go!
Zoom
Change Your Background & Download GCDS Official Backgrounds - Tutorial (4 min)
Google Apps for Education
Accessing All Your Students’ Google Apps for Education on iPhone, iPad, Android Phone - Tutorial (8 min)
Google Chrome
Extensions in Google Chrome
Remote Learning for Faculty/Staff
See the “Remote Learning Bootcamp” our faculty and staff utilized and give it a try!
Wide Open School
PK-12 Curriculum from Scholastic, Apple, Google, and beyond - Click here for Wide Open School