Student TechBytes
December 12, 2023
What are Santa's Reindeer up to?
Common Sense Media Recommendations
Connect the Dots Between Devices, Sleep, and Well-Being
There are lots of connections between before-bed screen use and sleep quality. Our kids' developing brains need breaks from notifications, the pressure to reply, and endless scrolling. But often, kids don't understand how sleep impacts the many areas in our lives, including physical and mental health. So connecting the dots between sleep and screens can be that much harder. Here are some ideas and resources to help:
- Use Common Sense Media's Digital Well-Being lesson collections for middle and high school to have kids reflect on how screens impact their health and well-being. For example, you can build students' digital agency with this activity about how their nighttime tech habits may be supporting—or undercutting—their core values. The goal is to help students make these connections themselves, and then take action.
- Encourage students to turn off notifications and charge devices out of the bedroom at night as much as possible. Having clear tech expectations as a family is a great place to start, and this article about screens and sleep is great to pass along.
- If kids have gotten used to using music, meditations, or podcasts to help them drift off, that's OK: There are still ways to safeguard sleep. You can remove the device from their room later, use OS-based controls (like ScreenTime or Family Link) to turn off everything except the app you want, or play it from a little Bluetooth speaker connected to your device.
Paper Tutoring
Did you know that all PUSD students in grades 3-12 have access to live (not AI ) tutors 24/7? Tutoring is provided in English, Spanish, Mandarin, and French and covers over 200 topics.
Ready to get started? Check out the resources below. Students can log in to Paper via their Clever Dashboard.
More Resources
ITS Updates & Information
Chromebooks
Locked Student Chromebooks
We are currently in the process of retrieving lost chromebooks. If your chromebook gets locked, please see your Librarian or Office Manager to get the device unlocked and/or submit a ticket with the device's service tag.
Chromebook Operating System Updates
Please remember to completely shut down your Chromebook at the end of every day! This will ensure your device has received all necessary updates and that you are able to connect to all PUSD applications without issue.
Lost, Stolen, and Damaged Devices
A reminder that Chromebooks are instructional materials, similar to textbooks. We have been receiving a large number of tickets from school sites and from students stating students have lost or damaged their devices. Chromebooks range in cost from $389 to $758. We understand that devices may be misplaced and that accidents happen, but please make every effort to take care of your devices as well as locate lost devices before submitting a ticket for device replacement.
Once a device has been reported lost or stolen, it will be locked and unusable.
How to Check Destiny
Did you know you can see what devices, textbooks, and library books are checked out to you? Check out the video below to see how.
Caregiver How-Tos
- Are you ready to set up your Aeries Parent Portal account and don't know how to get started? Check out our series of how-to videos HERE.
- Are you an Observer in Canvas so you can see your student's assignments and grades? If not, check out this document with linked videos on how to become an observer in Canvas.
Curbside Tech Support
In Person Tech Support
Our Curbside/In Person Tech Support has moved to the Ed Center and is now by appointment only, we cannot accept walk-ins. Without an appointment, we cannot guarantee we will have resources available to provide support.
To book an appointment for device check ins, check outs, and general tech support, please submit a Help Desk ticket and then someone will reach out to you to set up an appointment. Appointments must be created at least 24 hours ahead of time, same day appointments will not be available.
Email: EdTech@pusd.us
Website: pusd.us/its
Location: 351 South Hudson Avenue, Pasadena, CA, USA
Phone: 626-396-3699