FCPS Tips for Online Learning Success

New Videos Feature Help with Google Classroom, Padlet, Flipgrid

As students prepare for the virtual start to the school year, parents are encouraged to learn some of the technology applications their children and classrooms may be using this fall by viewing videos posted here. The list will be continuously updated.

This week, three new videos have been added to the Virtual Learning Tips and Tricks playlist on YouTube.  

Locating Assignments in Google Classroom: Courtney White, education specialist, created this video to show you where to find your student assignments in Google Classroom. Log into your student's fcpsschools.net account to access Google Classroom.

Padlet Tutorial: Padlet is an online bulletin board for students to post and collaborate. Jenn Choumil, biology teacher at McLean HS, created this resource for parents to better understand how the app works.

Flipgrid Screencast: The Deer Park ES school-based technology specialist is back to demonstrate how to use Flipgrid to make a screencast. It's a fun way for students to share their work with the teacher and classmates. Parental permission is required for students to use this app.

Parent Resource Center Offers Workshop on Virtual Learning

Are you worried about managing your child’s virtual schooling this year? Do you hate becoming the “school police” when your child won’t focus? Do you have to balance your child’s schooling with your own remote workload? We hear you, and we’re here to help. 

An free online webinar to provide support for adults will be offered on September 1 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and on September 11 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. 

Learn how to avoid parent-child conflict around academics with practical tips for:

• Establishing routines and expectations that really work.
• Creating ideal spaces for virtual learning.
• Keeping kids focused while learning online.
• Minimizing distractions from video games and other screens.
• Getting your own work done at the same time (Yes, it’s possible!).

Don’t tackle this unusual year without a plan. Instead, join us and feel more prepared and confident for the year ahead, with a toolbox full of practical strategies that actually work. Register online or call 703-204-3941 for more information.

Preparing for the New School Year

To help prepare students for a successful a virtual start to the school year, parents are asked to ensure children have the tools and connectivity that will be needed.  If you currently have an FCPS issued laptop at home, please help your school’s technology team prepare devices to receive county updates by doing the following once per week until school starts:

• Plug the laptop into an outlet.
• Turn the laptop on and let it boot up.
• Login to ensure it connects to the internet at that location.
• Launch Google Chrome and visit the FCPS website to ensure the internet is connected on the computer.
• Leave the laptop on and connected to the internet for 30 minutes.
• After 30 minutes, the laptop may be shut down.

In the next few weeks, students will receive learning updates that will include information from your child’s classroom teacher and the daily instructional schedule for distance