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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zoom is not approved for instruction in FCPS. Any FCPS teacher using it faces a reprimand.

Could you PLEASE lay off until the end of the week? FCPS has 190,000 students. They are doing the best that they can. Many teachers didn’t even have their *laptops* until principals allowed them back into the building for literally 10 minutes today. Buildings have been ordered closed. Instructional devices provided 2 weeks’ worth of work on Blackboard. Have you done it all? And if your child misses classmates so much, why don’t YOU organize a Zoom play date among children?

FCPS is such a piece of shit. Zoom is offering its services FREE to schools, it's the best thing out there, and FCPS administration is saying no?

No, I'm not laying off. It's already been two weeks. Literally every one else I know in other parts of the country has received SOMETHING from their schools. I don't care that it's 190,000 students. Learn how to scale up. This is a terrible place to live, we're moving as soon as feasible.

Are you at home with elementary aged kids? I'm guessing yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also, OP, we can’t do read alouds. There is the possibility of copyright infringement.

They are allowed, check around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your child will be fine.

Hand out computers. Really?? Get a grip.

Our school sent out a technology survey and issued chrome books to students who needed them. We have 3 chrome books now for our 3 elementary school children, which is great because then we can use our own laptops for our own work. We just signed waivers saying we would return it, like checking out a library book. Why should chromebooks and other computers just sit in classrooms and libraries unused? It's been so helpful because they are doing everything online now.

I assume this is not for an FCPS school?

Nope, it's not. Just saying it can be done.

EXACTLY!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also, OP, we can’t do read alouds. There is the possibility of copyright infringement.

They are allowed, check around.

Yes, A lot of publishers are making exceptions. Some of the exceptions are in place only if you do not record, just for live readings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP hit the nail on the head: it is about privacy and security. ZOOM is not approved and will not be approved by FCPS because it does not protect students’ privacy. This is directly from the mouth of Maribeth Luftglass, the assistant superintendent for IT at FCPS. Principals asked specifically about using it, and this is the reason why.

Teachers are being trained to use Blackboard Collaborate which they can then use with their students. It’s not as fabulous as ZOOM, but it’s secure.

When friends ask why FCPS isn’t using ZOOM, please explain that it’s about security. It’s not about equity, because there is a tool for videoconferencing.

-a principal

That's great - but please let's start using it ASAP!!!! It will have been over a month before you are even able to get started.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Zoom is not approved for instruction in FCPS. Any FCPS teacher using it faces a reprimand.

Could you PLEASE lay off until the end of the week? FCPS has 190,000 students. They are doing the best that they can. Many teachers didn’t even have their *laptops* until principals allowed them back into the building for literally 10 minutes today. Buildings have been ordered closed. Instructional devices provided 2 weeks’ worth of work on Blackboard. Have you done it all? And if your child misses classmates so much, why don’t YOU organize a Zoom play date among children?

FCPS is such a piece of shit. Zoom is offering its services FREE to schools, it's the best thing out there, and FCPS administration is saying no?

No, I'm not laying off. It's already been two weeks. Literally every one else I know in other parts of the country has received SOMETHING from their schools. I don't care that it's 190,000 students. Learn how to scale up. This is a terrible place to live, we're moving as soon as feasible.

Are you at home with elementary aged kids? I'm guessing yes.

My guess is a kindergartner, a preschool younger sibling, and just maybe, a 5 to 9 year old boy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your child will be fine.

Hand out computers. Really?? Get a grip.

Our school sent out a technology survey and issued chrome books to students who needed them. We have 3 chrome books now for our 3 elementary school children, which is great because then we can use our own laptops for our own work. We just signed waivers saying we would return it, like checking out a library book. Why should chromebooks and other computers just sit in classrooms and libraries unused? It's been so helpful because they are doing everything online now.

I assume this is not for an FCPS school?

Nope, it's not. Just saying it can be done.

EXACTLY!!!

Fairfax county has sent out the laptop surveys.

Our middle school did it oast week when they were still in session.

Our elementary school did it this week, and let us know that computer work will be for 3rd grade and up

The little kids will get printed work (or perhaps emailed packets, not sure)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PP hit the nail on the head: it is about privacy and security. ZOOM is not approved and will not be approved by FCPS because it does not protect students’ privacy. This is directly from the mouth of Maribeth Luftglass, the assistant superintendent for IT at FCPS. Principals asked specifically about using it, and this is the reason why.

Teachers are being trained to use Blackboard Collaborate which they can then use with their students. It’s not as fabulous as ZOOM, but it’s secure.

When friends ask why FCPS isn’t using ZOOM, please explain that it’s about security. It’s not about equity, because there is a tool for videoconferencing.

-a principal

That's great - but please let's start using it ASAP!!!! It will have been over a month before you are even able to get started.

For the 9,000 time. They cannot start. The Governor shut down the schools for all instruction for two weeks. I fail to understand how people do not understand what this means. Schools are allowed to bring in Teachers on Monday. The schools in FCPS have to get computers out to kids who need them and the Teachers have to be trained for online teaching. Spring Break is still scheduled for April 6th. So there is not going to be any online learning until April 14th.

Private schools can choose to do their own thing but the physical schools are closed.

Middle School and High School kids should know what they need to be working on for a few weeks. Some Elementary Teachers sent home packets but most did not. Teachers who put things up on Blackboard where told to take them down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At my daugther's elementary school, there are not enough laptops to go around. And, we are in one of the wealthier parts of Fairfax. There have been several times she has had to take a test on paper and then transfer it online once a laptop is available.

And, even when they are able to hand them out, you have make sure the student/parent knows how to log in, be able to access blackboard, google classroom, etc.

But in your wealthier school, and really almost all of Fairfax County, nearly every family has multiple devices at home and do not need school supplied laptops.

I bet you would be unable to name a single family in your school that does not have a laptop, tablets, desktops or smart phones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FCC is not doing Zoom but there is a conference feature on Schoology that is similar and they are using that. Still not teaching any new stuff but that might change in April according to the superintendent.

I'm wondering if everybody who says FCPS is so much better than FCCPS because big is better, more academic choices, athletics are better, etc. still feels that way right about now.

+1

FCPS has had plenty of time to get their act together. FCPS is far too big to be managed properly.

It has been one week.

Have your kids do some laps around the house. That is a great way to make the little ones calm down so you can catch a break.

Hopefully this experience will male elementary parents appreciate their teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the note of laptops for every kid, in almost all normal circumstances, the elementary kids should not be 1:1 with laptops.

Those should be an occassional activity, not a primary means of teaching.

That is why many of us voted against the meals tax. Early elementary students should not be looking at a screen all day. It is bad for their development.

Even in this quarantine situation, traditional paper work is better than laptops. I really hope fcps does not try to get 1:1 laptops for the little ones.

I teach third grade. We have no Chromebooks. I have 5 laptops in the classroom for 23 third graders. Each classroom has 5 computers (one classroom has 5 desktops). The grade level shares 2 mobile lab carts that hold 16 hand me down laptops (if they are available and not pulled for testing or the Global Awareness Project). That’s 62 computers (57 laptops) for approximately 145 students.

And that is how it should be.

Early elementsry kids should not be getting their education from compjters as a primary tool.

Computers should be used only occassionally in 4th grade.and below.

LOL so what’s your plan for <3rd grade kids for the next 3 months?

Playing
Cooking
Reading books
Drawing
Journaling
Learning cursive
Building legos
Talking together
Hobbies
Crafts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On the note of laptops for every kid, in almost all normal circumstances, the elementary kids should not be 1:1 with laptops.

Those should be an occassional activity, not a primary means of teaching.

That is why many of us voted against the meals tax. Early elementary students should not be looking at a screen all day. It is bad for their development.

Even in this quarantine situation, traditional paper work is better than laptops. I really hope fcps does not try to get 1:1 laptops for the little ones.

I teach third grade. We have no Chromebooks. I have 5 laptops in the classroom for 23 third graders. Each classroom has 5 computers (one classroom has 5 desktops). The grade level shares 2 mobile lab carts that hold 16 hand me down laptops (if they are available and not pulled for testing or the Global Awareness Project). That’s 62 computers (57 laptops) for approximately 145 students.

And that is how it should be.

Early elementsry kids should not be getting their education from compjters as a primary tool.

Computers should be used only occassionally in 4th grade.and below.

LOL so what’s your plan for <3rd grade kids for the next 3 months?

Playing
Cooking
Reading books
Drawing
Journaling
Learning cursive
Building legos
Talking together
Hobbies
Crafts

Great. But what about the ones whose parents still have to work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my daugther's elementary school, there are not enough laptops to go around. And, we are in one of the wealthier parts of Fairfax. There have been several times she has had to take a test on paper and then transfer it online once a laptop is available.

And, even when they are able to hand them out, you have make sure the student/parent knows how to log in, be able to access blackboard, google classroom, etc.

But in your wealthier school, and really almost all of Fairfax County, nearly every family has multiple devices at home and do not need school supplied laptops.

I bet you would be unable to name a single family in your school that does not have a laptop, tablets, desktops or smart phones.

NP here. I have a work laptop and so does my husband, but we need them to work. We do have one personal laptop but more than one kid, though we will make it work.

[Anonymous]

APS does not use Zoom for instruction. The distance learning is pretty sparse for any kids under fourth grade.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At my daugther's elementary school, there are not enough laptops to go around. And, we are in one of the wealthier parts of Fairfax. There have been several times she has had to take a test on paper and then transfer it online once a laptop is available.

And, even when they are able to hand them out, you have make sure the student/parent knows how to log in, be able to access blackboard, google classroom, etc.

But in your wealthier school, and really almost all of Fairfax County, nearly every family has multiple devices at home and do not need school supplied laptops.

I bet you would be unable to name a single family in your school that does not have a laptop, tablets, desktops or smart phones.

DP — Our Mac is on its last leg. The graphic card is dying, and the interface doesn’t always show the entire screen. We have work laptops, and cell phones for adults only. Our upper ES kids do not have personal devices.