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CDS Student Digital Learning Access Summer 2021

Daven Gee June 9, 2021

Below is a summary of digital learning platforms available to current CDS students over the summer. Please note, links to protected student passwords can only be accessed from an email sent by Daven Gee, June 8, 2021 and from the SFO section of the CDS website (see below for that link).

IMPORTANT OVERVIEW

  1. All student iPads will stay on campus over the summer so that we can do inventory, clean, update and reorganize them for next year. Our aim is to return the same iPad to students then.
  1. Students have summer access to the digital learning platforms used this year. We anticipate little interruption with two possible exceptions: a) Epic!, the ebook platform (please see details below) and; b) students will be reassigned in new cohorts to learning platforms around August 1. If this changes access, we will send an update.
  1. Security: CDS takes steps to protect student account information, CDS devices and networks. However, when they are on your devices and non-CDS networks, normal caution should be exercised. See here for suggestions.
  1. Student Behavior: CDS staff doesn’t monitor student behavior over the summer when on family-owned devices. If you haven’t already, please talk together to put in place agreements to keep you safe and sane. See here for a few strategies and tools.
  1. Login Issues: If you’ve taken the login steps below but are still running into issues please contact the Tech Team please at .

SUMMER APP ACCESS is based on your child’s current grade level:

GOOGLE SUITE: All students have access to Drive & Docs; current 3rd graders and above have Gmail. Third & 4th graders can only email with CDS staff or students. Students use their CDS Google email, username and password to sign in on any browser or G-Suite apps.

  • Don’t know your child’s Google sign-in credentials? Visit School Forms Online (SFO). At the top of the Technology Credentials & Use Agreement you’ll see username, password and email. Click Here for the video instruction on how to access School Forms Online.
  • onelogin: On new devices students will be prompted to sign into onelogin – a single sign-on (SSO) feature for secure password memorization. Your child’s username is everything before the @ symbol in their email; and their password is accessed in SFO, as noted above.

ZOOM (All students): Students log into Zoom with their Google email, username and password.

SEESAW (PS – 4th graders)This year’s Seesaw Activities and Journal posts remain accessible to students using their unique QR code until approximately August 1. To access student QR codes please click this link and look for your child’s cohort. If you want to view or download an archive of work created by your child this year follow these instructions. Family members who are connected to their student’s accounts will be reminded by Seesaw when we archive the classes August 1, giving you 60 additional days to download their work.

IXL (PSc6, 1st – 6th graders), supports language arts and math learning from a website or mobile app. Sign-in with CDS Google username and password.

KIDS A-Z (Kinder – 4th graders): Another ebook platform, Kids A-Z offers leveled reading. Students login with a unique teacher username and personal password. Please visit the document linked in Daven’s email to find your child’s Kids A-Z sign in credentials.

LEXIA (Kinder, 1st & 2nd graders): Lexia supports readers from their website or mobile app using their Google email and password. If prompted, enter the teacher’s email address the first time you log in from a new device.

DREAMBOX (Kinder, 1st & 2nd graders): Kindergarteners and 1st-2nd Graders can access Dreambox this summer on most devices. If working on an iPad, install the Dreambox app and have the students login using their Classroom Code (link available in Daven’s email) or Google Credentials (see Google section above). If using a browser on a computer, enter this URL https://play.dreambox.com/login/5y4j/x7ck then either their Classroom Code or Google Credentials. See this article from Dreambox for troubleshooting details. 

EPIC! (Kinder – 4th graders): Epic! offers two ebook options via their app and website over the summer:

  • Through June 2021, free, unlimited access, M-F, 7a-4p only – plus an additional 2 hours each week during off hours – using specific class codes you’ll find in Daven’s email.
  • Three months of unlimited reading for the special price of $9.99 (total) for NEW family accounts created before June 17. Details are here. (Standard family accounts normally cost $9.99 per month.) 
  • Please note: Epic! does not allow schools to set-up year-round access for students. During the school year Epic! offers teachers free classroom accounts for student access during the school day.

BRAINPOP (1st – 4th graders)
Brainpop and Brainpop Jr. offer lessons in the areas of Arts & Music, Health & SEL, Engineering and Tech, English, Science, Social Studies and “New & Trending” (COVID, Voting Rights, etc.). Use a web browser with the CDS Google email and password rather than the mobile app for full access. A class code is not required.

TYPING CLUB (3rd – 6th graders): Develop keyboarding skills over the summer from their website or mobile app using their Google email and password..

Thank You! 

the CDS Tech Team, Rico, Daven & Michael

Sphero Mini

Daven Gee January 8, 2021

The Sphero Mini is in limited use in a few CDS lower school classrooms. This great 4-minute tutorial shows set-up, charging and ways to use it!

A few key things to note:

  1. Battery Life: the Mini will work for 45-minutes with a full charge. (It needs a USB/mini-USB cable plugged into any charging block similar to what’s used for an iPad or mobile phone.
  2. Surfaces: the Mini performs best on a smooth surface; low carpet is best but any smooth surface in or outdoors is fine.
  3. Liquids: it won’t work if it gets wet!
  4. App: the “Sphero Play” app is used to control it and can be installed on an iPad/Android tablet or mobile phone.

3. Squeeze the mini shell to open it to access the charging port; the light will glow green when it’s fully charged. Remove cable and close round cover.

4. Open app and tap “Mini”

5. Follow the prompts when you turn it on. It will ask you to orient the Mini so it knows which way is forward. You can reset this anytime by tapping the green “steering wheel” dot on the screen.

6. To choose different functions or Blocks programming tap the blue steering wheel button.

7. The Mini comes with a small supply of traffic cones and bowling pins but you’re encouraged to set up an obstacle course using things from your home.

8. POWER OFF when you’re finished! Tap the blue “settings” button in the upper right then tap “Advanced” then “Power Off”.

9. Place on charging base to get ready for the next round.

SOS

Daven Gee November 13, 2020
The SOS app allows a Tech Team staff remotely connect to an iPad.

If a student needs remote tech support on their iPad the SOS is a great way for someone on the Tech Team to view their screen to help troubleshoot. Having the student/family on the phone simultaneously is needed as the SOS app doesn’t include live audio.

To connect a student iPad to the Tech Team simply:

  1. connect by phone with a Tech person
  2. open the SOS app on the iPad
  3. tell the 9-digit number to the Tech person
  4. when prompted, tap the black and white button
  5. tap “start broadcast”
  6. the iPad will countdown from 3, then the iPad screen will be viewable on the Tech person’s laptop
  7. tap Home button to show apps or issues to Tech person
  8. when finished tap “stop broadcast” to end the connection between the devices

Google

Daven Gee October 28, 2020

Student Google Credentials:

All CDS students now have Google log in credentials that can be used to sign into many platforms including Zoom.

If a student has trouble signing in with Google log in credentials watch this short 2 minute video that demonstrates how to do so on an iPad. To access student email, usernames and passwords families should go to the MyCDS section of the CDS website. Watch this 1-minute video to see how to get there.

Google apps used at CDS:

CDS students access different Google apps at each grade level: all students have access to the Google Calendar, Drive and Docs. Third and 4th graders also have access to Gmail, Google Slides, Jamboard, Sheets and Photos. Middle school students can access Google Classroom.

To remove a user’s Google account from a Google related app:

  1. open the Google Drive app
  2. tap onto user icon in upper right corner (this might be an initial or image specific to the user)
  3. in pop-up window tap “Manage accounts on this device”
  4. all previous user profiles will appear in the next pop-up window
  5. tap “Remove from this device” for any you want removed
  6. this removes the logins from all Google and Google-related apps.

Zoom

Daven Gee October 27, 2020

Zoom is used for synchronous learning at CDS. CDS students sign in using their Google username and password.

Zoom etiquette is set per Division and additionally per teacher in terms of cameras being on/off, use of chat, screen annotation and other Zoom features.

Students are expected to follow established protocols. Families, we appreciate you supporting and guiding your child as well!

UPDATE ZOOM

On CDS iPads:

  • Quit Zoom first (double-tap the HOME button and swipe up to close)
  • Open the SELF SERVICE app located in your Utilities folder
  • Scroll down and find Zoom.
  • Click INSTALL or REINSTALL to update Zoom
  • This may take a minute or so to install. When it says it is complete, quit Self Service and open the Zoom app!

On CDS Laptop:

  • First, quit Zoom.
  • Then open the SELF SERVICE app in your applications folder.In Self Service, you should see an option if you scroll down to INSTALL LATEST ZOOM. 
  • Click INSTALL or REINSTALL to install the newest version.  You can watch the process. It takes about a minute to update.
  • Once it says it is complete, open the Zoom app and it should be the newest version!

On Personal Devices:

Visit Zoom’s Support page for a video on how to update on your device: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362233-Upgrade-update-to-the-latest-version

Apps We Use @ CDS

Daven Gee February 22, 2021

Apps are assigned per grade level or group. All iPads include a set of core apps that are used regularly. Additional apps may be utilized by teachers to support specific projects or learning outcomes. Students can also access additional apps to pursue skill building while working on personal projects. Tech Admin apps are there for security, tech support or for reseting apps and settings.

OnlinePreschool: PSc6

  • Core apps: IXL, Seesaw, Zoom
  • Additional apps: Camera, Epic!, Flipgrid, Google Calendar, Kids A-Z, Learning Ally, Photos, Sora, Wet Dry Try
  • Tech Admin apps: Cisco Security, Google (browser) Safari, Self-Service, Settings, SOS

Kindergarten:

  • Core apps: DreamBox, Lexia, Seesaw, Zoom
  • Additional apps: Camera, Epic!, Flipgrid, Google Calendar, Google Expeditions, Kids A-Z, Photos, Sora, Wet Dry Try
  • Tech Admin apps: Cisco Security, Google (browser), Safari, Self-Service, Settings, SOS

1st & 2nd Grades:

  • Core apps: Dreambox, IXL, Lexia, Seesaw, Zoom
  • Additional apps: Adobe Spark Video, Book Creator, Brainpop Jr, Camera, Clock, Epic!, Flipgrid, Google Calendar, GarageBand, Google Drive & Docs, Google Earth, Google Expeditions, Google Photo, Kids A-Z, Maps, Photos, Scratch Jr, Seek by iNaturalist, Sora, Stop Motion, Voice Recorder & Wet Dry Try
  • Tech Admin apps: Apple Classroom, Cisco Security, Google (browser), Safari, Self-Service, Settings, SOS

3rd & 4th Grades:

  • Core apps: IXL, Seesaw, Zoom
  • Additional apps: Adobe Draw, Adobe Mix, Adobe Photoshop Express, Adobe Spark Post, Adobe Spark Video, Birdblox*, Book Creator, Brainpop & Brainpop Jr, Camera, Canva*, Clock, Epic!, Flipgrid, Garageband, Geoboard*, Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive & Docs, Google Earth, Google Expeditions, Google Jamboard, Google Photo, iMovie, Kids A-Z, Maps, micro:bits*, Number Line*, Number Pieces*, Photos, Scratch Jr, Seek by iNaturalist, Sora, Stop Motion, Typing Club, Voice Recorder & Wet Dry Try (* 4th grade only)
  • Tech Admin apps: Apple Classroom, Cisco Security, Google (browser), Safari, Self-Service, Settings, SOS

5th & 6th Grade:

  • Core Apps: IXL, Canvas, Zoom, Gmail, Google Chrome, Google Drive
  • Additional Apps: Adobe Draw, Adobe Mix, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Spark Video, Adobe Spark Post, Audible, BirdBlox, Camera, Canva, Edpuzzle, Epic!, ERB CTP Online, Flipgrid, Folioscope, Garageband, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Earth, Google Expeditions, Google Jamboard, Google Photo, Google Sheets, Google Slides, iMovie, Kahoot!, Khan Academy, Learning Ally, Libby, micro:bit, Newsela, Paper, Photos, Science Journal, Scratch Jr, Sora, Soundtrap, Stop Motion, Thunkable, Toontastic, Typing Club, Voice Recorder
  • Tech Admin Apps: Cisco Security, Google (browser), Safari, Self-Service, Settings, Splashtop SOS

7th & 8th Grade:

  • Core Apps: Zoom; Gmail, Canvas, Google Drive all via Google Chrome
  • Additional Apps: Adobe Spark Video, Adobe Spark Post, Canva, Edpuzzle, Flipgrid, Folioscope, Garageband, Google Calendar, Google Docs, Google Earth, Google Expeditions, Google Jamboard, Google Photo, Google Sheets, Google Slides, iMovie, Kahoot!, Khan Academy, Learning Ally, Libby, micro:bit, Newsela, Soundtrap, Typing Club
  • Tech Admin Apps: Cisco Security, Self-Service, Settings, Splashtop SOS

Lexia

Daven Gee June 9, 2021

Lexia Core5 Reading is used by CDS Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students.

Starting Out In Lexia:

  1. Open the Lexia Core5 app or go to lexiacore5.com//register when first logging in via a browser
  2. Students must log-in daily with full Google email and password*
  3. After first log-in students are prompted to enter their teacher’s email
  4. Students will be prompted to verify their name
  5. First time users are also asked to complete the Auto Placement. Note: Placement takes approx. 10-20-minutes to complete. It’s important that students have good audio quality (ideally, using headphones) or by working in a quiet area free of distractions
  6. Please note that for most students Lexia is designed to be used for no more than approximately 15-minutes each day. Students are logged out after 15-20 minutes of use.

* Families, find your child’s Google log-in credentials on the CDS website in the MyCDS section, by tapping on the Student Forms Online orange button. View this short video to see how!

More about the student experience of Lexia:

  1. Based on Auto Placement scores students are placed at or above grade in Levels 1-21. (Note: Students never know what “grade level” they’re at, only what “Level #” they’re at.)
  2. Lexia content is labeled and organized in the following descending order: 1. Levels, 2. Activities, 3. Units, and 4. Items
  3. As students begin a Level they choose from 1 of 2 warm-up videos that review concepts in their last Level
  4. As students begin a new Level they see a dashboard with four details: 1. Current Level; 2. Usage Goal (in minutes); 3. Minutes Worked thus far; and, 4. number of Units Completed.
  5. Inside each Level are six kinds of Activities represented by colored circles on screen: 1. phonological awareness; 2. phonics; 3. vocabulary; 4. comprehension; 5. structural analysis, and, 6. fluency. Students can choose to pursue these in any order but will have to complete all prior to advancing to the next Level
  6. As students complete Activities they earn skill badges and are shown brief “reward animations”
  7. Colored on-screen indicators show how students are progressing: blue is for Guided Practice step; yellow for Instruction Step; green for Standard Step.
  8. Key on-screen navigation buttons include: Repeat, Volume, Directions and Exit

For more information and support please view Lexia’s family support guide.

Filtering & Focus Tools

Daven Gee February 9, 2021

Below is a shortlist of resources and tools that can help kids stay safe and focused – and parents informed – with digital devices at home. At CDS we use a number of filters on our school networks that don’t translate off campus.

There is no perfect “home remedy” to recommend: so much depends upon the devices being used, age of the child, the specific issue, etc. The Tech Team encourages you to explore a variety of options, to talk as a family and to talk with other families about what’s working for them. What we do know is that kids are safest and the most responsible when they feel OK talking about their digital lives with adults who care about them.

Three suggestions:

1. Create a written agreement about what’s OK for your child (and perhaps yourselves) and post these in sight for everyone.

2. Create regular ‘family digital fun time’ when you all get together for a brief period to watch, play, explore, laugh, discuss, etc.

3. Keep in mind that young people’s digital behaviors are constantly shifting – often for the better even though it seems forever challenging. Limits and consequences may be necessary, but keep in mind that every “problem” related to teens and technology is a rich learning opportunity for everyone.

Screen Time:

Screen Time can be set up by families on CDS iPads to help you gain insight that’ll demystify what exactly your child is doing on their iPad. To set it up:

1. Go to the Settings app

2. Turn on Screen Time

3. Navigate to Downtime & App Limits.

4. There you can add time limits to “Entertainment” platforms including YouTube. You can also view your child’s iPad use by day or week, etc.

Other Resources:

Filtering & Productivity Tools:

Flocabulary

Daven Gee June 2, 2020

Flocabulary offers music-inspired videos, quizzes, vocab cards and games, reading and response prompts, and a “lyrics lab” related to language arts, life skills, math, social science, science and vocabulary.

Free access is currently available until 6/30/2020. CDS aims to purchase a school-wide license for the 2020-21 school year with hopes that access with continue past 6/30; we will keep you updated.

To log-in, visit https://www.flocabulary.com/join-class/ and enter the shared class code provided by your teacher.

For questions and support visit: https://flocabulary.zendesk.com/hc/en-us

CDS iPad & Laptop Return

Daven Gee May 27, 2020

When you come to pick-up student materials June 9-11, please bring all CDS devices that your child(ren) borrowed for online-home learning this spring.*

Returning is simple:

  • come to the campus your student was attending prior to SIP (if you borrowed devices for students in multiple divisions, pick one)
  • Ziplock baggies will be available to put devices and chargers into 
  • a CDS staff person will be on-hand to guide you
  • if a device has any technical issues or damage the Tech Team isn’t aware of, please email

Thank you, the Tech Team!

*If your child needs access to a device for summer learning we still need the current device returned June 9-11. A limited number of updated devices will be available for home use starting Monday, July 6. Please email to make arrangements.