FCPS - Why can't teachers do one hour Zoom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When you elect a bunch is social justice warriors to the school board - many of whom who don’t have children - this is the crap sandwich our kids receive. Bravo FCPS.

If it’s so hard to cope with your own children, perhaps you should have remained childless as well.

My beef is not with my kids. We have schedules, our own chromebooks, and a great situation. I'm just irritated about the people being paid to do nothing. So stop generalizing about that reason, and realize that we would like to see action because it's your JOBS. Many of us will lose our jobs. Also, this inaction now is going to make the mutual masturbation about how hard educators work even more unbearable during the next teacher appreciation week..

The sense of love and responsibility you feel for your children should greatly outweigh any irritation about teachers being paid.

I truly don't get it.

I love my children and being a mother. I realized the day they were born that they were 1000% fully my responsibility. That meant that sometimes I had to be their teacher, doctor, entertainer etc. Besides realizing that some people are just deeply unhappy individuals to their souls, I really can't understand the resentment about teachers having 2 weeks of leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My HS kids teachers are starting to check in after yesterday. One teacher invited kids to log on to a virtual morning yoga and stretch if the want this week (she’s a licensed teacher). Another has invited kids to do optional half hour google classrooms this week to touch base and stay connected. Tomorrow, they are to log in with an idea for music that expresses how they feel. Another just posted a note to seniors telling them how much she has been thinking of them, and asking that they email her news about college acceptances and offering to talk to kids who are facing college decisions.

I’m so grateful for the effort teachers are making to find ways to stay connected to my kid, give them some stability and make them feel cared for.

Agree. I have a lot going on. I’m grateful my ES kids’ teachers are connecting with them and connecting them with each other. I’m glad they will have some work to do that I don’t have to think about. I am fascinated by and envious of people who are so stressed about this. All the kids in the county are going to be in a similar boat. I wish this was the most stressful thing in my life right now. Schools will figure it out once kids are back in school.

[Anonymous]

State guidance as of today is that we can do NO live video chat with them on any platform. Too many legal and safety and privacy issues apparently. So you can trust us with your kids in a classroom but not in a group video meet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 1st grader is doing a zoom meeting Friday with his FCPS class/teacher.

The teacher is not supposed to use zoom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 1st grader is doing a zoom meeting Friday with his FCPS class/teacher.

The teacher is not supposed to use zoom.

Seconded. The principal of whatever school your kid attends needs to know that the teacher is not following FCPS policy. It has been said multiple times in multiple ways that FCPS staff are not permitted to use Zoom b/c of student privacy concerns. That platform did not pass Tech Assessment, and it is not to be used for any school purposes. Teachers can use Blackboard Collaborate. That's it. Full stop. That's the only platform that is allowed. Google Hangouts isn't even allowed, b/c of similar concerns (student privacy)--even though many other facets of Google Apps for Education ARE allowed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:State guidance as of today is that we can do NO live video chat with them on any platform. Too many legal and safety and privacy issues apparently. So you can trust us with your kids in a classroom but not in a group video meet.

Do you happen to have a link to this guidance? I hadn’t heard this information before.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:State guidance as of today is that we can do NO live video chat with them on any platform. Too many legal and safety and privacy issues apparently. So you can trust us with your kids in a classroom but not in a group video meet.

Do you happen to have a link to this guidance? I hadn’t heard this information before.

There is NO, absolutely NO, state guidance saying this FP. You are completely incorrect. If your school system dictates no live platform then that is fine but don't lie about what the state is saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 1st grader is doing a zoom meeting Friday with his FCPS class/teacher.

The teacher is not supposed to use zoom.

Absolutely not supposed to use Zoom in FCPS. Please share your school if this actually happened.
For those that are still wondering why (including some IT guy a few pages back), here is why:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-25/zoombombing-usc-classes-interrupted-racist-remarks?fbclid=IwAR0bVGSKIL2gD-VGCz0qaf8xtMFE6554gpX1hH7ssl0GeZfP6ZiypGw3SiM

“Zoom crashers” are getting into sessions and “bombing” them with pornography and racist remarks. The above link is from an article this week in the LA Times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:State guidance as of today is that we can do NO live video chat with them on any platform. Too many legal and safety and privacy issues apparently. So you can trust us with your kids in a classroom but not in a group video meet.

Do you happen to have a link to this guidance? I hadn’t heard this information before.

There is NO, absolutely NO, state guidance saying this FP. You are completely incorrect. If your school system dictates no live platform then that is fine but don't lie about what the state is saying.

If I am incorrect then my school is incorrect because that’s what we were told today by admin. I’m not lying, there’s just no consistent message apparently. For us, it’s not allowed.

[Anonymous]

Yeah zoom is a big no. Some teachers broke rules and had class meetings with it though. I won’t “tell” on them, but I will show them the articles about creeps crashing zooms and flashing their privates. Scary!

I haven’t had a class meeting yet but I’m waiting to learn how to use black board collaborate next week. That’s the county approved way to go. I have tried Flip Grid too, so kids can see my face and I can see theirs. Mostly I want the kids to be able to see each other. It’s sad they can’t see their friends but I am sure parents are helping them with FaceTime on others phones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zoom is free but my children’s privacy matters more than anything. Teachers can send material but should not expect students and parents to post videos and pictures online.

Agree.

I’m a teacher and I agree. I don’t have a Twitter or IG for my class either. A lot of teachers do and I don’t think most parents look. I’d rather just email them pictures of the kids than post on a platform like Twitter or Instagram. I think a big part of why teachers use those is to show off what they’re working on and try to make themselves look like the perfect teacher to impress their admin or people on job interviews. I have no business posting photos of my students for just anyone to see. My team teacher has Twitter and you don’t need an account to go on and see photos of our students. It might make her look like a better teacher but I honestly worry about just anyone stealing the images or knowing where the student in the photo goes to school and who their teacher is. That’s too much information to give out to the public in my opinion. Maybe I look like a lazy teacher by not having a class Twitter or IG, but honestly I just value my students’ safety a lot.

I made a flip grid during this time and I think it’s good because you need a “.edu” email to get in. No one else can access the flip grid or post to it. It’s optional just so students can see each other. I pray that doesn’t somehow get hacked because now I’m worrying some creep could get my password and post on my flip grid... yikes! I guess it calls for a very strong password.

I’m not a fan of online teaching already. Thank you to all the parents for their patience. We want to connect with the kids and teach them but also respect privacy of families.

[Anonymous]

High schoolers hate Flipgrid and it’s not connection. It’s talking to yourself in a 1:30 clip.

[Anonymous]

As an ed tech professional, I can tell you that Collaborate is FINE. So is Kaltura, Echo360, Panopto, and canvas studio as well as any of the other products out there that ed uses. No they aren’t Zoom but last I checked education isn’t the corporate world.

I really do not understand why people are unnecessarily venting spleen at FCPS for the coronavirus shit sandwich. It is one of the largest systems in the country with a massive equity gulf both socioeconomically and in terms of disability. Every single child in every country in the WORLD is facing similar challenges with education right now and I SWEAR to you that this will not affect your chances for that college bumper sticker you’re so desperate for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:High schoolers hate Flipgrid and it’s not connection. It’s talking to yourself in a 1:30 clip.

For elementary kids. Some seem to be enjoying it. I assume high schoolers have phones and other ways to contact their friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 1st grader is doing a zoom meeting Friday with his FCPS class/teacher.

The teacher is not supposed to use zoom.

Absolutely not supposed to use Zoom in FCPS. Please share your school if this actually happened.
For those that are still wondering why (including some IT guy a few pages back), here is why:
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-25/zoombombing-usc-classes-interrupted-racist-remarks?fbclid=IwAR0bVGSKIL2gD-VGCz0qaf8xtMFE6554gpX1hH7ssl0GeZfP6ZiypGw3SiM

“Zoom crashers” are getting into sessions and “bombing” them with pornography and racist remarks. The above link is from an article this week in the LA Times.

Oh that's terrible - is there no way to password protect a Zoom session like Go To Meeting?