Birdville ISD Technology & Digital Learning

PARENT NEWS #1

April 30, 2020

Top 5 Tech Tips to Support Your Child with Personalized Learning at Home

CLICK ON ANY # BELOW TO GO STRAIGHT TO THE TIP OR SCROLL DOWN TO SEE ALL TOPICS:

Top 5 Tech Tips to Support Your Child with Personalized Learning at Home        

#1: Sign in to the Chrome Browser        

#2: Download and Use the App for Google Classroom, Seesaw Class, or

Canvas (phone and tablet users)        

#3: Translate Any Google Chrome Webpage into Another Language        

#4: Student Email        

#5: Parent Tips for Navigating Online Learning at Home        

BONUS #6: Immersive Reader – Help with Reading Online        

NEED TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE?        

We are here to support you and your child!

Here are the current top five tips for using technology to participate in personalized learning at home.

#1: Sign in to the Chrome Browser

Your student will always be able to access BISD resources and applications if they are signed in to the Chrome browser with their BISD Google account. See how to log in to the Chrome browser based on the device your child is using.

 Note: Students will log in with their Birdville ISD email.

CHROMEBOOK:
If your student is using a Chromebook, they are automatically signed into the Chrome browser.

WINDOWS LAPTOP OR DESKTOP:
If your child is using a Windows laptop or desktop, they will need to sign in to the Chrome browser.

>View Signing Into Chrome Browser Instructions

iPhone OR iPad:
On your iPhone or iPad, open the Chrome app . If you don’t yet have the Google Chrome app, download it from the App Store.

1. At the bottom right, tap thesymbol for More Options, then tap the  symbol for Settings. Sign in to Chrome.
2. Sign in with your child’s Google Account.

NOTE: If multiple accounts are using the Chrome browser on this device you can tap the account you want to use.

3. Tap Continue  OK, Got it.

ANDROID PHONE

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Chrome app . If you don’t yet have the Google Chrome app, download it from Google Play.
2. To the right of the address bar, tapfor More Options, then Settings, then thesymbol to select the account you are signing in to Chrome with.
3. Tap the account that you want to use.
4. Tap Continue, , OK, Got it.

WHAT TO DO WHEN MULTIPLE STUDENTS OR PEOPLE USE THE SAME DEVICE

If your computer or phone is shared by multiple students or people, you can add multiple accounts (profiles) in Chrome and easily switch back and forth between users.

>View Instructions to Share Chrome with Others

#2: Download and Use the App for Google Classroom, Seesaw Class, or Canvas (phone and tablet users)

Working inside the apps instead of the browser makes the learning experience much easier for students.

GOOGLE CLASSROOM, SEESAW CLASS, AND CANVAS APPS
If your teacher is using Google Classroom, Seesaw Class or Canvas to deliver personalized learning, go to the App Store (iOS/Apple) or the Google Play Store (Android) and download the app.

ADDITIONAL APPS FOR GOOGLE CLASSROOM USERS

NOTE: To use all the features of the Classroom app, you will also need the apps for Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. If these apps  aren’t already on your device, you can get them from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS/Apple).

Google Play Store

• Google Docs
• Google Sheets
• Google Slides

iTunes

• Google Docs
• Google Sheets
• Google Slides

REMEMBER:  Log in to these apps with your student’s email and password

#3: Translate Any Google Chrome Webpage into Another Language

WATCH THIS VIDEO TO SEE HOW TO EASILY TRANSLATE ANY WEBSITE ON GOOGLE CHROME

How to Translate a Website in Google Chrome Video – this will translate the webpage you are on, one time only.

HOW TO CHANGE THE LANGUAGE OF YOUR CHROME BROWSER (WINDOWS AND CHROMEBOOK ONLY)

You can set Chrome to show all settings and menus in the language you want. This option is only available on Windows and Chromebook computers.

On Mac or Linux? Chrome will automatically display in the default system language for your computer.

INSTRUCTIONS

• On your computer, open Chrome.
• At the top right corner, click thesymbol for More Options, then click on Settings.
• This takes you to the Settings screen. Scroll to the bottom of the center section and click on Advanced.
• In the Languages section, if your preferred language is not shown under the Language heading, click the symbol on the right of that screen , then click on Add Languages.  
• On the Add Languages screen, use either the Search feature or scroll through the Languages list to find your preferred language. Click the box to the left of the language you prefer, then click “Add” at the bottom of the screen. Your preferred language should now appear on the Languages screen.
• Under the “Order languages based on your preference” section, click the symbol to the right of your language of choice.
• Click “Display Google Chrome in this language” or “Display Chrome OS in this language.”
• This option is only available on Windows and Chromebook computers.
• Restart Chrome to apply the changes.

CLICK FOR INSTRUCTIONS WITH PHOTOS

#4: Student Email

Google Classroom and Canvas send notifications to your child’s Birdville ISD Student Email.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCESSING BISD STUDENT EMAIL

View Details on Accessing Student Email 

#5: Parent Tips for Navigating Online Learning at Home

Here is a great article with more advice for navigating this new frontier of online education with your children.

ARTICLE:  Tips for Parents Navigating Online Learning

BONUS #6: Immersive Reader – Help with Reading Online

WHAT IS IMMERSIVE READER?

Immersive Reader is a free tool that implements proven techniques to improve reading and writing for people, regardless of their age or ability. Immersive Reader can improve reading comprehension and increase fluency for English language learners. It can help build confidence for emerging readers learning to read at higher levels and offer text decoding solutions for students with learning differences such as dyslexia.

Immersive Reader is a tool that helps students to read by ...

• dictating speech
• blocking out everything but one line to help students focus
• identifying parts of speech on the screen
• spacing fonts and lines to avoid "visual crowding"
• breaking words into syllables
• translating text into 60+ languages (40+ read aloud)
• changing the color, size, and font of the text to make it more legible
• using the picture dictionary to see visual definitions

(Screenshot via Microsoft Immersive Reader video)

WATCH A VIDEO TO LEARN ABOUT IMMERSIVE READER FEATURES

You can install the Chrome extension for Immersive Reader to help your child read text on any web page.

Get the extension

HOW TO USE THE CHROME EXTENSION

• Highlight some text on the screen
• Right-click (or two-finger tap, or long-press) that text and select "Help me read this" from the menu (see image below)

Your child will have access to all of the Immersive Reader features, including picture dictionary, background color change, focus view and more.

NEED TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE?

The BISD Technology Department and the BISD Digital Learning teams are here to assist you!

NEED A DEVICE OR INTERNET SERVICE?

Go to the Birdville ISD Devices and Connectivity webpage

HOW TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE

If you or your child have technical issues or questions, first email your teacher.

If you still need assistance, please email Helpdesk@BirdvilleSchools.net to describe your problem.

Please include parent/guardian name, email address, phone number, student's name, ID number (lunch number), grade level, and campus.