Knowledge Base / FAQ

The buttons on the front of the HoverCam Solo 5 and Solo 8 document cameras include Zoom in and Out, Auto Focus, Auto Focus-Lock, and the center one will flip the image.  When using the Hovercam as a web camera it is recommended that the Auto Focus Lock is used to prevent the video from refocusing during the meeting.  

Set up the Document Camera ahead of time when using it with Google Meet:

At times, particularly with large rooms, the Auto Focus will adjust one more time when it is locked and it does not always do a good job of focusing correctly.  If this occurs when setting up the camera ahead of a Google Meet, do the following:

1. Press the Auto Focus Lock button on the front of the camera and verify that the focus is locked.
2. Close Google Meet if it was open.  Google Meet and the Hovercam software cannot be run at the same time.  
3. Open the Hovercam software and use the controls to manually adjust the zoom and focus as needed.  As long as the Autofocus is locked using the button on the front of the hovercam, these settings will remain locked in place until the button is pushed to unlock them, the document camera is unplugged, or the computer is rebooted.
4. Once the focus and zoom settings are satisfactory, close the Hovercam software and open Google Meet to verify.

To avoid echo and feedback on Google Meet or any remote meeting tool, there should only be one (1) device in any classroom or room with an active microphone and speakers on Google Meet.  Both the microphone and the speakers must be on the same computer or Chromebook to avoid annoying echoes or feedback.  Microphones and speakers should be muted on all other computers and Chromebooks using Google Meet within that room.

In order to support classroom, office, and mobile technology requirements for staff the district offers the following devices for staff use:

• Teachers - All classrooms are supplied with a classroom desktop computer that is connected to a projector and classroom sound system.  Teachers are also offered the option of being assigned a Chromebook for mobile use.  Document Cameras are also offered to teachers for displaying materials through the classroom computer to the projector.  
• Administrators - Administrators are offered the choice of either a district Laptop or a combination of a district desktop computer and Chromebook.   Administrators who choose to use a desktop computer will be offered a web camera or a document camera to serve as a web camera for remote meetings.  
• Office Staff - Office staff have access to desktop computers and are offered web cameras or document cameras for access to remote meetings. 
• Counselors and Social Workers - Counselors and social workers are assigned a desktop computer and a Chromebook.  Counselors are offered a web camera for remote meetings with the desktop computer.  
• Psychologists - Psychologists are assigned a district Laptop with a camera and microphone built-in.  
• Pupil Services Providers - SLP, SLPA, OT, COTA, PT, and other staff who may travel between buildings have access to a desktop computer at each location that may be shared with others and may request a Chromebook assigned to them for dedicated use.  
• Instructional Assistants - Instructional Assistants may request a Chromebook be assigned for their use. 

Students in are individually assigned Chromebook in Kindergarten through 8th grade.  The Chromebooks assigned in Kindergarten are intended to remain assigned to the same student until 4th grade.  New Chromebooks will be assigned in 5th grade that are intended to remain assigned tot he same student until 8th grade.  These Chromebooks are for in-school use only.  The district does not provide Chromebooks for home use.  

High school students will have access to Chromebooks within classrooms for use as needed.  These Chromebooks are to remain within the classroom they are assigned.  

If a student is found to be at fault for damaging a Chromebook, the family may be charged $50 to cover replacement parts or $100 for replacement of the Chromebook itself depending on the type of damage.  This does not cover the full cost of a new Chromebook but the cost set for consistency based on the assumption that the damaged Chromebook is unlikely to be brand new.  

Clever is a tool used by NMRSD to simplify access to web-based curriculum resources that have been approved and purchased by the district for different grade levels and subjects.  Clever does this in 2 ways:

1. Clever is used to securely transfer approved information such as class rosters, teacher assignments, and approved users to each approved application based on the licenses purchased.  This is set up and managed through the Technology Department.  
2. Clever provides staff and students with access to the approved applications.  Staff and students can either log into their Clever account using their district email to see a list of the available applications or they can go directly to most applications and click on the link for "Log in with Clever" or "Log in with Google", if the Clever option is not available, to log into the application with their district email and password.

Staff and students can log into the Clever portal with their district email and password by clicking on the "Log in with Google" option on the Clever Log In Page.

Staff can request changes to the access of specified applications that are managed through Clever through the NMRSD Help Desk.

Both staff and students are able to sync a Google Chrome browser on their home computer with their district account if they wish.   This will sync bookmarks and pick up extensions pushed out by the district.

Directions to turn Chrome Sync on and off: https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/185277?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en-GB

It is also suggested that you periodically make sure Chrome is up to date for compatibility with all the extensions and features.

Directions to make sure Chrome is up to date:  https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95414?hl=en-GB&co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop

District provided student emails are Google Apps account and can therefore be used to log onto personal Chromebooks as well as district owned Chromebooks.  If a student uses their district email to log onto a personal Chromebook they will have access to any bookmarks and Chrome extensions that they use on district Chromebooks.  

Guests to the district may connect personally owned laptops and phones to the district WiFi for internet access using the NMRSD-GUEST network.  Once selected, guests will be prompted to open a browser window to provide some basic informaiton and review the district's Empowered Digital Use Agreement policy prior to being granted access.