Google Meet is a conferencing tool available that supports communication with others, both inside or outside of the district. Students do not have access to creating meets. Users can have collaborative, 2-way conversations and share their screens, as well. You may join a Google meet by phone or by video/webcam. 

 

Google provides a unique URL or phone pin for each Meet that is generated by the Meet's creator. Additional members may join the Meet by using the URL or phone number and pin provided by the creator of the meet. 

For more information click here. For the Spanish version, click here

For Hangout Meets training and help, click here

Google Classroom

Google Classroom is a tool that supports students and teachers in organizing assignments, boosting collaboration and increasing communication. Classroom integrates seamlessly with other G Suite for Education Apps: Drive, Docs, Forms, Sheets, and Slides etc. Teachers can easily create classrooms, craft and schedule assignments, attach assessments, and differentiate assignments by student(s). Click on my.bvsd.org, sign in and click the Google Classroom icon

 

For more information, please see the Parent Guide here. Click here for the Spanish version.

All BVSD teachers, administrators, staff and students (grades 5-12) have full access to the Google for Education suite of products.

Google for Education includes:

• Gmail
• Docs
• Sheets
• Drive and File Stream
• Calendar
• Hangouts
• Meet

Share documents using Drive, sync files across computers using Filestream, collaborate on projects and learning using Chat and Meet, and more from your home internet connection. 

• Google Drive allows you to continue to work on, store, protect and share your work with others. Your documents become digital files stored on the Cloud allowing you to get to them from anywhere on all your devices.
• Google Filestream allows you access your Google Drive files directly from your Windows or iOS computer without having to use a web browser. It is safe for all types of files including Adobe and Microsoft Office. Get started with File Stream. 
• Get started with Google Hangouts and Google Meet to collaborate with colleagues, families, and students. Have chat conversations, face-to-face meetings, share screens, and more. Google Hangouts and Google Meet allow you to work remotely without feeling remote!

For more information, click here 

WeVideo is a cloud-based, easy-to-use collaborative video editing program that works on any device (with Apps for iOS and Android). To cater to each user’s expertise level, WeVideo provides two different editing modes (storyboard & timeline). It is a central hub for users to collaborate, organize and share their projects and media files. Editing features include music, transitions, voiceover, captions, and much more. Users can select from a variety of professionally designed themes to produce more engaging content. There is multi-language support for both text input and captions as well as inline video help tutorials inside the web editor. Users have the option to publish their completed videos to Google Drive, YouTube, Vimeo, and other sites. WeVideo is an excellent tool that promotes creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking in our students.

For more information, click here

Schoology is a learning management system that allows for digital delivery of course materials. Some teachers will be presenting classroom lessons through the platform, asking for students to submit assignments, participate in discussions, or take online assessments. Others might use the system just as a means of communication. Please check with your specific teacher regarding the expectations for Schoology usage in their classroom. 

Go to my.bvsd.org, enter your login information and click the Schoology icon to enter your class. 

For frequently asked questions, click here for English and here for Spanish

For the Schoology for BVSD parents guide, click here and in Spanish click here

 

To connect to the Internet, use a compatible Wi-Fi network.

Step 1: Turn on Wi-Fi

1. At the bottom right, select the time.
2. Select Not Connected .
   Note: If you see your Wi-Fi network name and a signal strength, your Chromebook is already connected to Wi-Fi.
3. Turn on Wi-Fi. 
4. Your Chromebook will automatically look for available networks and show them to you in a list.

Step 2: Pick a network and connect

Connect to an open network

Select the Wi-Fi network .

Remember, your information might be visible to other people on this network.

Connect to a secure network

1. Select the secure Wi-Fi network .
2. Type the network password.
3. Select Connect.

Connect to an unlisted network

Administrators may hide networks so only certain people can use them. To connect to an unlisted network:

1. Select Join other network .
2. Enter the network information in the box that appears.
3. Select Connect.

Information for this network is automatically saved so you can connect automatically later.

Care and Handling: Students must keep their devices secure and prepared for academic use at all times, and report any issues promptly. Students may customize their devices by installing software extensions, applications, or other components, but may not modify device management software installed by BVSD

Loss or Damage

1. The device is provided to the student for his or her use and is the responsibility of the student including replacement in the event of theft or damage. 
2. The student must report any issues to school administration immediately, and may be required to complete a police report. 
3. The student may be provided with a temporary loaner device until a permanent replacement has been obtained. Replacement devices must be obtained through the school. This agreement applies to loaner devices as well.

As a responsible digital citizen a student will:

1. Keep personal information private.
2. Encourage others to be responsible digital citizens.
3. Use devices for school related purposes during academic time.
4. Report to the school staff anyone using devices inappropriately.
5. Respect the work of other individuals.

Follow BVSD’s Appropriate Use of Technology Resources regulation JS link - .CLICK HERE

• Families will support students in their care and handling of the 1:Web device.
• Families will talk with their student about using their device as a good digital citizen.
• Families will communicate to the school any concerns related to the device

Your device is your responsibility. Like library books and other school-owned items that students use, the students are responsible for damage to their Chromebooks. Here are some tips for how to keep it safe and prevent damage:

General Care

• Keep your device in its protective cover
• Keep food and drinks away from your device
• Do not expose your device to excessive heat or cold (hot cars are bad for devices!)
• Do not stack heavy objects (like multiple books in a backpack) on top of your device
• Keep your device out of reach of Fido and Fluffy
• Handle your device gently
• Plug and unplug cords from your device carefully
• Do not place your device on an uneven surface where it might fall
• Beware of cord placement and walking paths; someone might trip on your cord and pull your device off of a table or desk
   

Screens

• Don't hold your device by the screen
• Don't carry your device with the screen open
• Don't store your device with the screen open
• Before closing the screen, make sure nothing is on the keyboard
• Close the lid of your device gently
• Clean your screen with a soft, dry microfiber or anti-static cloth
   

Battery Life and System Updates

• Do not let your battery get below a 5% charge
• Make sure your device is fully charged at the beginning of each day
• Shutdown or reboot your device weekly to load updates
   

Security

• Keep track of your device at all times
• Do not leave your device in an unsupervised location
• Do not give out your password or let someone else use your login information 
• Do not remove school or district labels from your device
• Do not install unauthorized apps on your device

Support for Devices

At some point, your device will have an issue (like all computers do). Don't panic! The five steps identified below solve many of the issues you will experience. If these steps do not resolve your issue, report the problem to your teacher first thing in the morning on your next school day. For a printable version, please click here

1. Restart your device.

With all basic troubleshooting, this should always be step number one. Closing the lid does not shut a device down. Make sure you click shut down or restart or hold down the power button. 
 

2. Charge your device.

If the device won’t turn on, plug it in to a charger and leave it for 15 minutes. Do not try to restart the device until 15 minutes have passed.
 

3. Verify your wireless connection.

Check that you are connected to a wireless network.
 

4. Update your device operating system.

When your Chromebook downloads a software update, at the bottom right, look for the "Update available" notification.

1. Select Restart to Update.
2. Your Chromebook will restart and update.
    

5. Reset your device.

If all else fails and you have a Chromebook, you can reset your device by doing the following

1. Sign out of your Chromebook.
2. Press and hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift + r.
3. Select Restart.
4. In the box that appears, select Powerwash. Continue.
5. Follow the steps that appear and sign in with your Google Account. ...
6. Once you've reset your Chromebook:
   * Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your Chromebook
   * Check if the problem is fixed

Nothing worked? It's okay. Call 720-561-HELP 

Click here for this information in both English and Spanish

How to access Xfinity wifi from your computer, tablet, or phone Xfinity’s WiFi

Xfinity WiFi hotspots located in businesses and outdoor locations across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers.Search for a hotspot near you.

1. Enable WiFi on your wireless device

2. Select “xfinitywifi” in your list of available networks

3. Launch a browser on your device

For a printable version of these directions, please click here

How to set up a hotspot

A personal hotspot lets you share the cellular data connection of your iPhone or Android phone when you don't have access to a Wi-Fi network.

How to set up a personal hotspot on an iPhone

1. Go to Settings > Cellular or Settings > Personal Hotspot
2. Tap the slider next to Allow Others to Join

How to set up a personal hotspot on an Android phone

1. Open your phone’s Settings app
2. Tap Network & internet And then Hotspot & tethering And then Wi-Fi hotspot
3. Tap Turn on Wi-Fi hotspot

Click the link for easily translatable Android or iOS directions

Cellphone provider information

AT&T is opening up their public WiFi hotspots for anyone to use for free. In addition, they are automatically increasing mobile hotspot data by 15GB a month for each line on an unlimited plan. Click here to see how to setup your mobile hotspot.

Sprint is providing unlimited data for 60 days to customers with metered data plans and giving 20 GB of free mobile hotspot to customers with hotspot-capable devices.

T-Mobile is allowing all customers on limited data T-Mobile and Metro by T-Mobile plan unlimited data for the next 60 days; adding 10 GB of mobile hotspot each month for the next two months for T-Mobile postpaid and Metro customers on smartphone plans; and giving Lifeline partners extra free LTE data each month.  

Verizon is automatically adding 15 GB of mobile hotspot data across nearly all of their plans, to be used between 03/25/2020 and 04/30/2020 .

Check with your phone provider for more options in response to COVID 19

For a printable version of these directions, please click here

Contact Your School

Your family may qualify for one of BVSD’s other options for district-sponsored internet access. Call your school and they will work with you to find what options are available.

• ConnectME (Live Wire)**

• Comcast Internet Essentials**

Options Available to Qualified Families
**Your family may be qualified if you are eligible for public assistance programs like the National School Lunch Program, housing assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others. Service availability dependent on household location and service provider coverage area.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the challenges that many Americans will face in the coming months, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai recently announced the Keep Americans Connected Initiative. In order to ensure that Americans do not lose their broadband or telephone connectivity as a result of these exceptional circumstances, he specifically asked broadband and telephone service providers, and trade associations, to take the Keep Americans Connected Pledge. Thirty-one companies serving Colorado have signed this list.  For a complete list click this link, Scroll down to “Colorado companies that have taken the Keep Americans Connected Pledge (click to expand)  

In addition, individuals or families may qualify for LifeLine.  Apply for LifeLine HERE.  For cell phone and internet coverage, you will need to go through companies that are contracted with LifeLine.  For a list of Colorado companies, click HERE

After qualifying, call the provider and ask

1. How many minutes they get per month?

2. How much data do they get per month?

3. Can I use my current phone?

4. Do I get a free phone, if not, how much is the phone?

Lifeline will reimburse the cost of the phone and the internet to the customer.

Questions or need help?

Connect with our Service Desk via live chat or by entering a ticket at help.bvsd.org. You can also call 720-561-HELP to speak to a technician. Our Service Desk hours are Monday-Friday, 7:00 am - 4:30 pm.

Last school year, 12 schools piloted the GoGuardian software which serves dual purposes. The first is the classroom management tool. This function allows teachers to monitor students’ screens from their own as well as give customized support to students. The second tool allows 24 hour filtering on BVSD devices and/or if a student is logged into their BVSD account on the Google Chrome browser. This product works as an additional web filter to block inappropriate sites when students are logged into their BVSD accounts on BVSD chromebooks.

If you would like more information regarding this software, as well as information to opt your student out of the filtering tool, see this parent information letter and fact sheet that were emailed out at the start of school to the new schools and pilot schools last year.

MORE INFORMATION: Go Guardian Information Sheet

The BVSD Service Desk will never ask you for your credentials (including your password), or other confidential information.

The BVSD Service Desk will not initiate direct contact with you, via email or telephone, unless you have submitted a service request, or have an ongoing service request open. The BVSD service desk should initiate a call by providing a recap with details regarding your exact request and not generic information. If you have any doubt that you are not communicating with the real BVSD service desk, you can terminate the call or email communication at any time, and call our service desk directly at 720-561-HELP (4357) to verify authenticity.

Be vigilant with any work related email or alerts, by looking for warning banners, clicking the drop down arrow under sender, then "show details" to verify the sending email address matches the display name, and hovering over any quick links to verify they are taking you to official BVSD websites and services.

Please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency for updates on COVID-19 and potential cyber scams.

BVSD and the student agree to the following:

1. The device including accessories (collectively referred to as the “Device”) being lent is identified by the BVSD Asset Tag Number
2. The Device is managed and owned by BVSD.  All of BVSD’s management software is included on the Device and may not be removed from the Device under any circumstance. The Device is to be prepared for academic use at all times.
3. If the student leaves the school district prior to the end of the term, the Device must immediately be returned to BVSD.  If the Device is not returned the student will be responsible for the original cost of the Device.
4. The student agrees to return the Device within seven (7) days of notification from BVSD, or when BVSD’s normal school schedule resumes, whichever is earlier.  If the Device is not returned at the requested date, the student will be responsible for reimbursing BVSD the original cost of the Device.
5. The student will reimburse BVSD for any Device repair costs incurred due to damage, not to exceed the original Device cost.
6. In the event of a theft of the Device, the student must report to BVSD immediately and may be required to complete a police report.  At BVSD’s discretion, a new Device may be issued to the student.
7. The student shall not deface the Device in any way that is including, but not limited to, adding stickers, drawing on the Device or modifying the exterior or hardware of the Device.  If the Device is defaced, the student will be responsible for the original Device cost.

Features of Password Manager in the Single Sign-On Portal:

• Enroll - Enrollment happens automatically the first time you login to the Single Sign-On Portal
• Re-Enroll - Use this to change your verification information.
• Change Password - Use this if you know your current password, and you need to change it.
• Reset Password - Use this if you don’t know your current password or if your password has expired. You can reset your password by answering two verification questions, entering your pin or receiving an email at your personal email address.

Please Note:

• If you reset your password on a BVSD Chromebook:
  • Restart your Chromebook
  • Update your password on the Chromebook

How to Re-Enroll to change your verification questions:

1. Go to the Single Sign-On Portal 

2. Enter your Account name: fmlastname##

• f = first initial
• m = middle initial
• lastname = up to 16 letters of last name with a middle initial; up to 17 letters of last name without a middle initial
• ## = 2 digits - The majority of students will be 01. Duplicate names will increment by one number: 02, 03, 04, etc.
• Total characters = up to 20

3. Enter your Password
4. Click Login
5. You will be presented with a screen that should look somewhat similar to this
   
6. Select Reset Password Enrollment
7. You will be prompted to set four security questions, a four-digit PIN, and enter an optional personal email address. These all can be used to verify your identity to allow you to change your BVSD password on computers both inside and outside the district. If you do enter a personal email address, please be sure to check your personal email for a message with a verification link to activate this email in the system. If at any time you need to reset your security questions, PIN, or personal email address, you can do so while logged in to the portal.

Please note:

• Follow these guidelines to pick reliable, guess-proof answers:
• Must not be obvious
• Should preferably not be known by any other parties
• Must be at least 3 characters long. If your answer is not 3 characters, choose a different question.

8. You will then see a screen that will allow you to verify all of your answers.
9. Click SAVE to complete enrollment

How to Change Password if you know your current password:

1. Go to the Single Sign-On portal 
2. Click Change Password
   
3. Enter your Account name: fmlastname##

1. f = first initial
2. m = middle initial
3. lastname = up to 16 letters of last name with a middle initial; up to 17 letters of last name without a middle initial
4. ## = 2 digits - The majority of students will be 01. Duplicate names will increment by one number: 02, 03, 04, etc.
5. Total characters = up to 20 
6. Select your verification method
   
7. Click Continue
8. Enter the appropriate information
9. Click Validate
10. Enter your New password must meet password complexity requirements
11. Confirm new password
    
12. Click Change Password

How to Reset Password if you don't know your current password or your password has expired:

1. Go to the Single Sign-On portal 
2. Click Forgot Password
   
3. Enter your Account name: fmlastname##

• f = first initial
• m = middle initial
• lastname = up to 16 letters of last name with a middle initial; up to 17 letters of last name without a middle initial
• ## = 2 digits - The majority of students will be 01. Duplicate names will increment by one number: 02, 03, 04, etc.
• Total characters = up to 20

4. Select your verification method
   
5. Click Continue
6. Enter the appropriate information
7. Click Validate
8. Enter your New password must meet password complexity requirements
9. Confirm new password
   
10. Click Change Password