Aspen icon indicating Roster Changes

What does that icon mean?

When you login to Aspen, you are on your Aspen Home screen.  Under the Teacher Classes subheading, a teacher will see all of their classes on that day's schedule. Here there are quick links to take attendance, go to your gradebook, and send parent emails.  You will also see checkmarks when you have already posted attendance and at the end of the quarter after you have posted grades for the section.  

Sometimes, you will see an icon of a folder with a blue dot.  If you hover over this icon, you will see the message,  Click to view roster changes. 

 

This icon will continue to appear until you check your roster.  To check your roster, you can click on the class name link next to the icon OR you may go to the Gradebook top tab and then click the Roster side tab.

Chrome: Using Profiles to Access Multiple Google Accounts

This is an update to a blog entry that I wrote in 2015.

Have you tried to use more than one Google account (e.g., work and personal) in Chrome and had strange things happen?  Maybe your bookmark bar does not show the web pages you have saved or you have to login repeatedly?

There is a solution to this problem and it is called Google Chrome Profiles.  I have been profiles for more than 6 years, and have found them to be a must-have on every computer I use.   It allows me to keep my work and home account separate.  

Setting up Profiles in Chrome

1. When logged into Chrome, you will see the letter of your first name OR your photo in the top right of  your chrome screen. 

2. A Google Add person pop-upscreen will appear (as below).  

1. Add the name for the account - this is what you want to call the account 

e.g., Kath (home), TestStudent, etc.

2. Pick an image for your account.

3. Create a Desktop shortcut for the user

4. Click Add, to add the user profile

3. If you have used Chrome profiles before, your other profiles will appear as mine does below.
   My second profile is Kathleen (Kath (home))
   
   
   

Using your Chrome Profiles
Now when you want to log on to your newly added google account, you click your picture in the top right of your google screen, then select the username listed under Other people.  This will create a new Google Chrome Icon in the tool bar at the bottom of the screen that is associated with the other Google Account.  Now, you will have two separate Google Chrome sessions in separate windows.  

To change a name or photo on your profile, click on the icon associated with the profile in the sign in screen (see green circle below).

Organize your Google Apps

 Do you find it cumbersome locating your frequently used Google Apps?  

Would you love to reorganize the apps so that your favorite apps are at the beginning of the list? 

I just learned that you can customize your apps list so that you may order them in the way that works best for you!  

1. Select the Google Apps icon in the top right of your Google Screen.  I often call this the Rubik's cube, others may refer to it as the gray waffle.
2.  This will expand your Google Apps.
   
   
   
3. <Right-Click> and hold the app icon that you would like to move.  Your cursor will change to a hand.  (See the red circle marked 1 to the right)
   
   
   
   
4. Move the icon to the new location.  Notice that Drive is now in a different location than in image 1 on this screen.
   
   
   
5.  As another example, Google Classroom can move from mid page to to top of your Apps list.  (See #2 right, and image below)

Zoom - Alternative Hosts

An Alternative Host is different than a Co-host in Zoom. 

Only an alternative host can start a meeting without the host. Think of the Alternative Host as a substitute teacher. Alternative Hosts can start the meeting, set up breakout rooms, share screen permissions...until the host arrives.  Once the host arrives, then only they can assign breakouts...

A co-host can not start a meeting without the host, nor create breakout rooms.

How do you add an Alternative Host to your meeting?

This can be done to meetings that have been previously scheduled.   It is a good idea to set an Alternative Host in case you out of school for any reason.

In Zoom:

1. From your Meetings tab, find the meeting you wish to edit, hover to the right, and click Edit.

2. Scroll all the way to the bottom, and enter the email address of the person you wish to assign as the alternative host to your meetings.

Please note: an Alternative Host MUST have an upgraded account. That means that they must be a teacher, ISS, ESP, or principal/assistant principal.

If you get a message saying “not a user…” that means the staff member needs to find the email from Zoom to upgrade. If they can not find the email, then they should email Lynne Peledge to send it out again.

3. Be sure to click Save. The new alternative host will now get the link to start your Zoom meeting in their email. Be sure to use that link to start the meetings.

Thanks, Lynne!

Zoom buttons unclickable?

The most recent Zoom update has caused some teachers Zoom windows to become unclickable. Symptoms include: you can still see and hear your class, and they can hear you, but you cannot click any buttons, move, resize or close any Zoom windows.

If that is happening to you, try this:

• Tell your class you will right back
• Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete and click Task Manager
• End all instances of Zoom (one at a time)
• Start your class as you usually would

Since you haven't ended the meeting by doing those steps, "starting" your class will simply re-join you to the meeting in progress.

Zoom Security Shield

In my last Zoom post, I mentioned the Lock Meeting feature in Zoom for closing your virtual classroom door.  It was brought to my attention that you can also lock the meeting through the security sheild in Zoom.  This prompted the question, what is the security shield.

Security Sheild in Zoom

The security shield is located in the Zoom tool bar.  

Use the security sheild to quickly change settings in your Zoom session, including locking your meeting and enabling the waiting room.  It can also be used to change participant settings for sharing participant screen, allowing participants to use chat, rename themselves, and to mute the entire class.

Think of this button as your go-to when things go wrong in your classroom.

BTW - Thanks, Phil for enlightening me to this feature!