News | Technology Department /technology ֱ • Learning • Caring • Innovating Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:45:36 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /technology/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2017/01/cropped-favicon-red-512-32x32.png News | Technology Department /technology 32 32 iPads at WMS: A Parent Info Session /technology/2025/10/14/you-are-invited-ipads-for-parents-night/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=you-are-invited-ipads-for-parents-night Tue, 14 Oct 2025 12:26:00 +0000 /technology/?p=2261 You’re invited to an informational session about the 1:1 iPad Program at Wellesley Middle School, hosted by the Technology Department. This presentation is intended for parents/guardians only. (You do not need to bring any device for this presentation) Location Wellesley… Continue reading iPads at WMS: A Parent Info Session

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You’re invited to an informational session about the 1:1 iPad Program at Wellesley Middle School, hosted by the Technology Department. This presentation is intended for parents/guardians only.

(You do not need to bring any device for this presentation)

Location

Thursday, Oct 30, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Topics

School iPad Device Management, Content Filtering and Internet Hours, Extending Controls at Home, Student iPad & Email Guidelines, Google Classroom To-Do List, Google Classroom Notification Settings, iPad Notifications, and Student Technology Support.

RSVP (Only one RSVP per family is needed)

So we can prepare, please RSVP if you plan on attending!

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If you have any questions, please feel free to send an email or call Pete Ritter at 1to1coordinator@wellesleyps.org or 781-446-6210, extension 5439.

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New Tech Help Desk /technology/2025/08/13/tech-help-desk-update/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tech-help-desk-update Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:47:56 +0000 /technology/?p=2410 New for 2025-26:The WPS Tech Department has transitioned toIncident IQfor our Help Desk ticketing system. Submit support tickets athttps://wellesleyps.incidentiq.com/and login using your usual WPS credentials.

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New for 2025-26:The WPS Tech Department has transitioned toIncident IQfor our Help Desk ticketing system. Submit support tickets atand login using your usual WPS credentials.

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💥 New Features are Coming for Google Classroom and Google Meet!! /technology/2021/03/03/gsuite-for-education-is-now-called-%e2%86%92-google-workspace-for-education/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gsuite-for-education-is-now-called-%25e2%2586%2592-google-workspace-for-education Wed, 03 Mar 2021 12:30:19 +0000 /technology/?p=1376 New features are coming for Google Classroom and Google Meet. to learn more, please click on the links below. A peek at what’s next for Google Classroom New safety and engagement features in Google Meet  

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New features are coming for Google Classroom and Google Meet. to learn more, please click on the links below.

 

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Zoom and Multi-Tasking on the iPad /technology/2021/01/28/zoom-and-multi-tasking-on-the-ipad/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=zoom-and-multi-tasking-on-the-ipad Fri, 29 Jan 2021 04:04:59 +0000 /technology/?p=1357 Students are now able to use the multi-task function on the iPad and their cameras will remain turned on. The camera only stays on when they are multi-tasking (i.e both apps are open at the same time). Here is a… Continue reading Zoom and Multi-Tasking on the iPad

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Students are now able to use the multi-task function on the iPad and their cameras will remain turned on. The camera only stays on when they are multi-tasking (i.e both apps are open at the same time). Here is a screenshot of Zoom and Jamboard open at the same time. Notice that all cameras are still active. This will also work in a breakout room.

When could this be valuable?

  • Students who need non-verbal prompting during a lesson. The student can now have a Google Doc or a Google slide open during a zoom session. They now have access to their supports outside the zoom session.
  • Listening to text read aloud. The teacher can read a text aloud and the student can have that document open in a side-by-side window.
  • Following steps for opening an assignment – the teacher can now screen share and the student can follow along in the other window.

If you haven’t used multi-tasking before, here is a to show you how to activate it. Here is info from apple with.

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3 Ways to Share YouTube Links With Less Distraction /technology/2020/11/09/3-ways-to-share-youtube-links-with-less-distraction/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=3-ways-to-share-youtube-links-with-less-distraction Mon, 09 Nov 2020 21:03:29 +0000 /technology/?p=1218 Looking for ways to share YouTube videos with less distractions for students? Please watch this 7 minute video for 3 ways to accomplish this or watch short demos of each option: share>copy embed link type_popup after “watch” replace /watch?v= with… Continue reading 3 Ways to Share YouTube Links With Less Distraction

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Looking for ways to share YouTube videos with less distractions for students? Please watch this 7 minute video for 3 ways to accomplish this or watch short demos of each option:

  • share>copy embed link
  • type_popup after “watch”
  • replace /watch?v= with /embed

3 Ways to Share YouTube Links With Less Distractions


share>copy embed link

type_popup after “watch”

replace /watch?v= with /embed

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Nearpod /technology/2020/01/24/nearpod/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nearpod Fri, 24 Jan 2020 18:55:43 +0000 /technology/?p=918 Ever heard of the expression, ‘what’s old is new’? That’s how we feel about this week’s online tool! So here’s the NEW and UPDATED Nearpod! Nearpod allows you to create interactive lessons in minutes. You can save time by… Continue reading Nearpod

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Ever heard of the expression, ‘what’s old is new’? That’s how we feel about this week’s online tool! So here’s the NEW and UPDATED Nearpod!

Nearpod allows you to create interactive lessons in minutes. You can save time by importing existing lessons (pdfs, jpegs, ppts) and adding Collaborate boards, Quizzes, Polls, Matching Pairs activities + more.

A new feature also allows you to get and Add-On in Google Slides allowing you to make existing lessons more interactive and collect formative feedback.

  • To get started with Nearpod, use
  • Use to download the Nearpod Add-on to use with Google Slide presentations
  • Here are some introductory help videos:
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FlipGrid /technology/2019/10/29/flipgrid/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=flipgrid Tue, 29 Oct 2019 11:00:06 +0000 /technology/?p=854 Flipgrid is a video discussion platform that allows you to see and hear from every student in your class. This online tool enhances discussions on any topic by allowing you to ask a question, and then having students respond in… Continue reading FlipGrid

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is a video discussion platform that allows you to see and hear from every student in your class. This online tool enhances discussions on any topic by allowing you to ask a question, and then having students respond in a video format. Students are also able to respond to one another further enriching the lesson.
– a quick one page startup guide
– a collection of subject- and age-specific integration docs from Flipgrid
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iPads for Parents Night Recap 2019-20 /technology/2019/10/16/ipads-for-parents-night-recap-2019-20/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ipads-for-parents-night-recap-2019-20 Wed, 16 Oct 2019 14:15:31 +0000 /technology/?p=835 If you happened to miss the iPads for Parents Night, here’s a recap. Brian Allieri (Instructional Technology Specialist at the Middle School) and Pete Ritter (1:1 Coordinator and Instructional Technology Specialist) worked with parents to discuss, share, and demonstrate items… Continue reading iPads for Parents Night Recap 2019-20

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If you happened to miss the iPads for Parents Night, here’s a recap.

Brian Allieri (Instructional Technology Specialist at the Middle School) and Pete Ritter (1:1 Coordinator and Instructional Technology Specialist) worked with parents to discuss, share, and demonstrate items about the 1:1 program at Wellesley Middle School.

History and Goals

This is the third year that all 3 grade levels have iPads. Ongoing professional development is continuing throughout all grade levels to build upon teacher skills and share new tools and methods with the iPads.

Brief History of 1:1 Program
Brief History of 1:1 Program

 

The goals of the program, always evolving and adapting, are the following:

1:1 Program Goals. Personal Learning, Tech across subjects, differentiation, student's future,improved organization, team learning
Program Goals

Content Filtering and Policies

All content coming into student iPads is filtered. The filters work while they are in the schools and any location outside the district. Not all 1:1 programs do that! Any non-educational and inappropriate online materials are blocked. Our filter appliance gets updated often as content online is always changing.

Here is a sample of items we filter.

Content Filtering Examples
Content Filtering Examples

Another feature that we set is “turning off” the Internet at 11:00 PM at night and access is on again at 6:00 AM.

Internet at 11:00 PM at night and access is on again at 6:00 AM
Internet at 11:00 PM at night and access is on again at 6:00 AM

We also utilize a tool called a Mobile Device Manager to manage the deployment/updates of apps. This allows us to set controls on student iPads and here are a few examples.

Mobile Device Manager Restrictions Example
Mobile Device Manager Restrictions Example

The Mobile Device Manager (MDM) allows us to push new apps and updates to different sets of students and/or teachers. It can also give us control over the iPads when needed based on projects and other events.

Core Apps and Tools – Hands-on!

This was a hands-on session that gave parents a taste of the core apps and how teachers and students are using them. Brian demonstrated how assignments can be handed out and returned back to the teacher in and provided demonstrations of and .

Google Classroom and many Google-based apps are highly used in the classrooms for workflows and collaboration. The complete Google Apps for Education suite of tools enables powerful collaboration tools across the board in a school district. Teachers, students, administration and surrounding community too!

icons of Google Classroom, Explain Everything, and Notability

If needed, students and teachers can access Google apps without an iPad too. Google-based apps are available on any computer and on any browser connected to the internet. They are in the “cloud”.

Students can find the link for logging into Google on our main website. .

Explain Everything is a presentation app that integrates content from many sources that students and teachers can use to create lessons, tutorials, and more for class. This app is almost like a super multimedia version of PowerPoint. Users can import photos, PDF files, movies, and more from many sources to use in the presentation. Onscreen drawings, annotation, animation, and audio can also be included.

Notability gives students a place to take and organize their notes. It can be helpful for students with executive-functioning challenges or those who just need a note-taking tool that’s more flexible than a pencil and paper. If students want to type their notes, they can. If they want to draw, they can draw. If they want to record audio notes, that can do that.

While Brian worked with parents his iPad’s screen was mirrored upfront on the large display without any wires connected to the display. All classrooms are budgeted to have media streamers connected to the large display (projectors) in classrooms (we are currently using Apple TVs). This enables any iPad in the classroom to be shared live with the whole/large group – free from any cables. A teacher can walk around the classroom space while demonstrating through their iPad or laptop. They can even have students share their iPad’s screen upfront to demonstrate their work or thought process!

Apple TV Device
Apple TV Device

Digital Media Family Resources

These resources are useful for parents with concerns centered around digital media consumption and disconnect issues.

Common Sense Media is a San Francisco based non-profit organization that provides education and advocacy to families to promote safe technology and media for children. This is a great resource for iPad usage at home. Beyond the iPad, Common Sense Media is a powerful resource around all media and technology that families are exposed to in today’s world.

Common Sense Logo
More information can be found here:

The American Academy of Pediatrics has released screen time rules for Kids by Doctors that have information pertaining to screen time. Included is the Personalized Family Media Use Plan. By creating a Personalized Family Media Use Plan, you can be aware of when you are using media to achieve your purpose. This requires parents & users to think about what they want those purposes to be.

More information can be found here:

Family Contract (English):

Family Contract (Spanish):

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Custom line spacing in Google Docs and Google Slides /technology/2019/09/23/custom-line-spacing-in-google-docs-and-google-slides/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=custom-line-spacing-in-google-docs-and-google-slides Mon, 23 Sep 2019 20:36:12 +0000 /technology/?p=789 You can now set custom line spacing to be less than one in Google Docs and Google Slides. This allows for more detailed control of line spacing so you can better control the appearance of your fonts. To customize your… Continue reading Custom line spacing in Google Docs and Google Slides

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You can now set custom line spacing to be less than one in Google Docs and Google Slides. This allows for more detailed control of line spacing so you can better control the appearance of your fonts.

To customize your line spacing, go toFormat > Line Spacing > Custom Spacing.

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Great New Technology Professional Development Modules /technology/2018/08/17/great-new-technology-professional-development-modules/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=great-new-technology-professional-development-modules Fri, 17 Aug 2018 18:18:25 +0000 /technology/?p=667 In this NEWLY designed Technology PD, you will choose THREE workshops from the menu. Each workshop has been created with a face-to-face and/or online component for a total of 5 hours per workshop. These 5 hours are comprised of 3… Continue reading Great New Technology Professional Development Modules

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In this NEWLY designed Technology PD, you will choose THREE workshops from the menu.

  • Each workshop has been created with a face-to-face and/or online component for a total of 5 hours per workshop.
  • These 5 hours are comprised of 3 instructional hours and 2 hours of independent project work. This could vary by workshop.
  • All independent project work must be completed within two weeks after the face-to-face date. Details will be provided by each instructor once enrolled in the workshop.
  • After completing any three workshops (15 hours) by June 30, 2019, you will receive ONE inservice credit and 15 PDP’s. (If you choose to complete 6 workshops, you will receive TWO inservice credits and 30 PDPs.)

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