Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and support as we begin this school year while navigating remote-virtual learning.  We know that while exciting, the beginning of the school year can also be tiring and trying even with a traditional start. This year, there are not only new procedures, routines, and curriculum to learn, but also technology which can present new challenges, especially for our youngest students. We appreciate all you do in helping students to establish new routines, connect virtually with their teachers and classmates, navigate online tools and resources for learning, and so much more.    

 

Administration, teachers, and our technology department are working diligently to provide an engaging virtual learning experience for our students and to address technology challenges. Please know that your technology requests and concerns are being heard, and we’d like to offer some suggestions regarding the internet connectivity issues that have been reported by some users while in Google Meets. An unstable network in your remote/home location is a likely cause of service disruptions while using Google Meet – issues may include lag time, screen freezing, and being disconnected from the Meet.  Below are tips that you can apply to help your Google Meet run with fewer service disruptions.  

 

  1. Close all unnecessary Chrome tabs and applications on your device while using Google Meet.  The more tabs and applications you have open, the more your internet and machine’s resources are being used – ONLY keep open what you need for the class you are working with and close everything else.
  2. Avoid using other high-bandwidth devices that are connected to your WiFi (such as Amazon Fire Sticks, Google Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, or other streaming devices/services) during live Meet sessions. 
  3. When your teacher is presenting in a Google Meet, try the “pin” function of Google Meet by clicking on the presentation > pin to your screen.  When you “pin” it will display the presentation across your screen. Or use Spotlight layout (instead of grid view):

a. In the bottom-right corner of the Meet, click on the three little dots to open the menu.

b. Select Change layout.

c. Select Spotlight.

  1. Use Standard Definition (SD) video (instead of HD)

a. In the bottom-right corner of the Meet, click on the three little dots to open the menu.

b. Select Settings.

c. Select Video, and then set the Send and Receive Resolution to Standard Definition.

  1. Turn off your webcam when not needed.
  2. Reboot your device occasionally and shut it down completely at night. This will help your machine receive necessary updates. 
  3. Check your WiFi settings to ensure that your selected wireless channels do not conflict with nearby neighbors, and that power levels are appropriate for the locations of the router and the laptop device(s).  Note that “2.4Ghz” channels will work better through multiple walls, but are more likely to conflict with neighbors, while “5Ghz” channels work better closer to the router, but are less likely to conflict.  Higher power levels on the router configuration are not always better, and it is possible to be too close to the router - being right next to the router antennas may provide a worse connection than being at least an arms-length away.
  4. Use a bandwidth-test website (such as www.speedtest.net) to check your WiFi performance on each device, from multiple locations in the house, to determine the best locations for optimal performance.

 

For additional support/troubleshooting with Google Meet, CLICK HERE.

 

Users may have also experienced recent service disruptions with Google Drive.  Google has reported that some users are experiencing, error messages, high latency, and/or other unexpected behavior with Google Drive.  Additionally, this disruption of service with Google’s product has affected the Schoology Google Drive application.  Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do on our end to resolve this - we ask that you be patient while Google works to fix this problem. We apologize for the inconvenience of the Google issues impacting their product and it’s Schoology integration. 

 

To check the active status of Google Suite products, CLICK HERE.

 

To check the active status of Schoology, CLICK HERE.

 

Thank you again for your patience, flexibility, and support.  We are in this together and hope to get better and better each day.

 

Thank you and be well,

NPS Technology Department

 

About

The Nutley School District serves approximately 4,100 students in Kindergarten through grade 12. The five elementary schools serve students K-6 and include Lincoln School, Radcliffe School, Spring Garden School, Washington School and Yantacaw School. John H. Walker Middle School serves students in grades 7-8 while Nutley High School addresses the needs of students in grades 9-12.