Educational Technology - Dedham Public Schools

Questions about Charging the Battery:
How often should I charge my netbook?
Netbooks should be charged at home every night. Students should place the unit on their charger after school, and remove the unit from the charger in the morning prior to leaving for school.
If properly charged, will my netbook have battery power all day?
Yes. If the notebook has been charged overnight, a netbook should indicate nearly 100% battery life when arriving to school. A fully-charged battery will last for the entire school day.
Should I bring my charger to school?
No. The charger should be left at home.
What should I do if I forget to charge my netbook?
Students forgetting to charge their netbook overnight should see the library media specialist prior to their first class (7:00 – 7:30 a.m.). At that time a battery swap will be made in order to issue the student a charged battery.

Questions about Reporting Unit Malfunctions:
Who should I see if my netbook does not operate properly?
Problems with a netbook should be reported to the library media specialist who can often assist with the issue. If needed, the netbook will go to the IT Department for repairs.
What information should I provide when reporting a malfunction?
The following information should be provided to the library media specialist when reporting a malfunction: your name, detailed description of the problem, date and time when you first noticed the problem, error messages that you may have received, and any actions taken by you that may have caused the malfunction (i.e. dropped the unit). Remember: the more information you can provide the quicker the technicians can address the problem and fix your unit.
Will I be permitted to borrow a netbook if my unit is not working properly?
Yes. The library media specialist will issue you a borrowed unit to use until your unit is repaired. Be sure to login prior to leaving school so that your network login will work properly away from school.

How will I know when my netbook has been repaired by the IT Department?
A member of the IT Department will locate you within the building and swap your netbook for the borrowed unit. Be sure to login prior to leaving school so that your network login will work properly away from school.
If my netbook is being repaired, what should I do with the borrowed netbook at the end of the school day?
Until your netbook has been returned to you, you should use the borrowed unit just as you would your own machine. Be sure to keep the borrowed unit secure, following all care procedures outlined in your student contract.

Questions about Borrowing a Unit:
What should I do if I forget to bring my netbook to school?
Students forgetting their netbook should see Mr. Murray prior to the start of the school day.
What procedures do I follow to borrow a netbook?
Mr. Murray will attempt to contact your parents/guardians to see if your netbook can be brought to school. If this attempt fails, Mr. Murray may contact the library media specialist to request a borrowed unit be provided to you for the school day.
If my netbook was left at home, what should I do with the borrowed netbook at the end of the school day?
Return the borrowed netbook to the library media specialist at the end of the day. You will have your issued netbook at home in which to complete your school work.

Questions about Connecting to the Internet:
Which key on the keyboard demonstrates wireless connectivity is available?
The light on the F12 key will be lit if the unit is wireless ready.
What keystrokes activate wireless connectivity on the netbook?
Hold down the Fn key while pressing the F12 key.
How do I prepare my netbook for Internet use away from school?
Log on to your netbook. Open Connect to a Network by clicking the network icon (bars) in the notification area. Choose the wireless network from the list that appears, and then click Connect. Type the network security key or passphrase if you are asked to do so, and then click OK.
How can I determine the strength of the Internet service being provided?
Click the Connect to a Network icon (bars) and locate your wireless network from the list. A strong connection will be demonstrated by full green bars.

Questions about Troubleshooting Internet Problems:
What should I do when I am unable to connect to the Internet away from school?
To troubleshoot Internet connection problems, you can try the following:

Restart your netbook.
Check to see if other mobile or wireless devices in your home are working properly. If they are not, perhaps the problem rests with your wireless network or your Internet provider.
Restart your router, and then restart your netbook (check with your parent to be sure this is okay).
Check the Connect to a Network icon (bars) to determine if you are receiving a strong Internet signal (demonstrated by green bars).
Request assistance from your parents/guardians to troubleshoot your Internet connection.

What information should I provide to the IT Department when I am unable to connect to the Internet?
When you incur Internet problems at home, contact the library media specialist and provide the following information:

Your name.
Date and time you attempted to use the Internet.
If you tried to connect wirelessly, with a cable or both.
The name of your Internet provider.
Exact steps that you took to connect and any error messages.
The action being taken at the time of disconnect (provide the website if in the process of using the Internet).
Actions taken to troubleshoot the problem.

What should I do at school when unable to connect to the Internet?
Log off and back on. If that doesn’t work, restart your netbook. When traveling within the building connectivity can temporarily be lost. Also, check to see if the F12 key is lit.

Questions about Accessing an Internet New Window and Software:
How do I access a new window on the Internet?
Click the New Tab icon to the right of the Dedham Cloud tab.
How do I access Microsoft Office products when using my netbook?
Click the My Files icon. Click Z Drive to view your z:drive folders and files. Click the Action button, choose New, and choose File. Available software will be listed.
When creating a file, which version of the software should I choose (97-2003 or 2007)?
Office 2007 products are readily used at school. The 97-2003 option may be used if you plan to open documents using an older version of Windows.
How do I know what software to choose when completing an assignment (MS Word, Excel, or PowerPoint)?
Use the following as a guide to selecting software:

MS Word – word processing application used primarily for stories, essays, and reports and well as some desktop publishing documents.
MS Excel – spreadsheet application used to organize information, calculate values, and sort and analyze data.
MS PowerPoint – presentation software used as a visual aid to assist a speaker.

Questions about Saving and Deleting Files:
Can a folder be created on my z:drive to assist in organizing my files?
Yes. A folder may be created using the Action button (New, Folder).
Can a file be placed inside a folder on the z:drive when saving to the Cloud?
Yes. Be sure to open the needed folder prior to saving or creating a new file.
When using the Cloud, can a previously saved file be moved to a folder?
Yes. A copy of the file may be moved to a folder by pointing to the file, holding down the left mouse button, and drag/drop to the folder. A copy of the file will remain in the original location and in the new location (folder). The original file location may be deleted once the copy action is completed.
What is the difference between the two prompts ‘Done” and “Edit Locally” which appear after a file has been created using the Cloud?
The Done prompt will create the new file leaving it unopened. The Edit Locally prompt will both create the new file and open the file for editing.
How do I save a posted Blackboard document to my z:drive when I am away from school?
To save this document, right mouse click the link and choose Save Target As. Choose Libraries/Documents and save the file. To move this file to your z:drive, drag and drop the file using the File Uploader.
Can a document currently saved on my home computer be added to my z:drive when using the Cloud?
Yes. To save a document to your z:drive, access your z:drive in the My Files area of the Dedham Cloud, open the correct folder, point to the file on your home computer, hold down the left mouse button, and drag and drop the file from your home computer to the File Uploader.
Can a file be deleted from the z:drive while using the Cloud?
Yes. A file may be deleted by selecting the file, clicking the right mouse button, and choosing Delete. You may also press the Delete key on your keyboard after selecting the file.

Questions about Printing:
Can I print directly from my netbook?
No. Printing options are not available on the netbooks.
When at school, how can I obtain a printout of a document?
You may print in the library media center. Computer stations and printers are located in the various labs and near the circulation desk.
When at home, how can I obtain a printout of a document?
Access the Dedham Cloud on your home desktop computer or laptop. From there you can open a document and print using your home printer.

Questions about Receiving Netbook Assistance:
When at school, how can I receive assistance with my netbook?
The library media specialist can assist you. If the netbook needs technical assistance, the IT Department will be contacted.
Who in the classroom can provide assistance with my netbook?
When in the classroom, direct netbook questions to either your teacher or a fellow student. If additional assistance is needed, your teacher will contact the IT Department.
When at home, how can I receive assistance with my netbook?
Documents will be added to the support site on the Dedham Public Schools’ website to assist you with your netbook questions.