Please try the basic tech support checklist first. Even though it sounds like a comedy cliche, restarting the computer or refreshing the screen (F5 on a PC or circle-arrow above #4 on a Chromebook) often fixes the problem. Troubleshooting IT Help List (pdf).
Distance Learning Tech Support
Tech Support For Penn Valley Staff, Teachers, and Distance Learning Students
Welcome to Technology Support - Ready Springs, Vantage Point Charter School, Hilltop Academy, and Williams Ranch.
IT Tech - Matthew DeAngelo
The staff technology (IT Tech) support technician is Matthew DeAngelo, extension 2237. He holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science, a Associates in Mechatronics, and a Associates in Administration of Justice. While calling is an option email is the best way to contact him at mdeangelo@pvuesd.org. Include your name, student name, the issue you are experiencing, and equipment if relevant. Office Hours: online via email 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM M-F (closed during weekends and spring break). He supports teachers staff and student tech support requests for Ready Springs, Hilltop Academy, Vantage Point Charter school, and Williams Ranch Elementary Schools (the whole Penn Valley Union School District).
If you are a teacher having problems with your Document Camera, here's the instructions to fix it: Fixing the Document Camera.
If your web meeting is slow or jerky of your voice or other voices stutter, read this document to troubleshoot.
The school websites are also managed here for Ready Springs, Vantage Point, and Williams Ranch schools. Announcement requests must be approved by the relevant school principal. Please bring or email (as a .PDF) such materials to the secretary.
Technology At Ready Springs and Hilltop Academy
One Chromebook per student
The school provides every student a Google student account, managed by our technology support specialists, several accounts with educational software, and a Chromebook or other computer in the classrooms. Students from Grade 2 and up will use a Chromebook for most of their assignments. It is possible to login to these accounts through a home computer, using the google account email. A student will need to use their username followed by @s.pvsdnc.org for the username, and their standard password. Once logged into Google this will allow them to see their Gmail, Google Classroom, Drive, and Docs for all their classwork.
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, we are allowing parents of students to sign out a chromebook for their child to use, though chromebooks are typically not as fast as a home PC. A Chromebook requires an internet connection to work, and that connection needs to be wifi, though cable USB adapters exist. You'd have to buy one because they aren't available through the school. The chromebook doesn't work without internet, not really. Note that all county public libraries and most coffee shops (including Starbucks and McDonalds) have free wifi for customers which would allow the chromebook to get online and do homework or view lectures. If your Zoom video conference meeting is jerky and slow and the sound drops off then your connection is too slow and you'll need a better and faster internet. The good news there is if you park at one of our school campuses outside the gym you can login and access without even getting out of the car. The same is true for the library next to Holiday Market in Penn Valley, right outside the main entrance for Lake Wildwood.
History of Technology
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Disclaimer
It is important that students adhere to the Chromebook Use Agreement. Parents are responsible for the content their child visits on school equipment. Use is being logged by Google, Netsupport, and Bark For Schools. Notifications are sent out to principals and our school counselor immediately after they occur. Students who violate the agreement will find their access restricted or removed entirely, by determination of the school administrator/principal. Having access restricted will impact the student's ability to do their work at school and is a disciplinary issue. The technicians do not make these determinations, only pass on the violation reports to the teacher or principal.