Here are some ‘starter’ tech tips, to help you do virtual school at the FSI!

1. 1. How to access email:
      • From any web browser, check your school email or pull up and work on files on Google Drive, by navigating to either mail.google.com or drive.google.com, respectively… and then using your school Google address. Don’t forget the format we use for students:            firstnamelastname@thefsi.us
      • Forgot your FSI Google password?
        • Submit a ‘Help Ticket’ –> SEE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
   2. How to access Canvas:
      • You can get into Canvas by either using: my.ncedcloud.org and using your user ID number and password — then, once logged in, click on the red Canvas icon. (This way also gets you to PowerSchool.) You can also navigate directly to Canvas by visiting fsi.instructure.com, and putting in your user ID and password. DO NOT just Google search RapidIdentity, and click on whatever you happen to find there… or, bookmark the RapidIdentity page in general. This is an intermediate page that expires after some time, and its bookmarking or roundabout finding causes some students headaches with logging in! =)
      • Forgot your Canvas password?
        • First try the ‘Need Help?’ –> Forgot Username / Forgot Password links, that are on the RapidIdentity sign-in page. Students should be able to rescue access to their account, using their security questions…
        • If that fails, ask a teacher for assistance (as all teachers can look up user IDs, as well as reset passwords). Finally, if the teacher is somehow unable to assist in a timely fashion, submit a ‘Help Ticket’ –> SEE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
          
   3. Sharing devices with others?
      • • Remember to LOG OUT of your school Google as well as NCedcloud accounts, when you finish using a device. Another good practice is to clear cookies in the browser (usually found under ‘Settings’ and then ‘Privacy/Storage’ or ‘Reset Data’). Mismatched cookies are the #1 reason people think their NCedcloud / Canvas access is somehow broken.

      4. Avoid Google account ‘Musical Chairs’… and, keep unneeded tabs/apps closed!  –> If you’re planning to join a Google Meet or Zoom room organized by your teacher, make sure you sign out of ALL other Google accounts while on the device. For school-issued Chromebooks this is easy, as they will only log in the right way. For apps on phones and tablets, it can be a little more complicated (why we recommend using AN ACTUAL COMPUTER w/KEYBOARD, vs. a touchscreen device, to do schoolwork). Once you are sure you are only logged into your FSI Google account, make sure you’ve closed other browsers, programs and tabs (except for the ones you need for school work) — as the video streams in both Google Meets and Zoom can cause your stream to break up or freeze, or for the service to kick you off entirely. Our computers can only take so much!

      5. One or two Zoom rooms leaving you in the cold?  You might have a teacher that requires additional security when participating in their Zoom sessions. Because the Chrome app of Zoom is finicky, an additional step is required. Make sure to PRE-AUTHENTICATE as a verified FSI student on Zoom’s website, prior to clicking on any Zoom meeting links while on a Chromebook:

      1. 1. At the start of every school day:
         2. 1) turn on your computer of choice, open up your browser-of-choice, and go ahead and sign into your school Google account (for Chromebooks, this happens automatically, when logging in)
         3. 2) Go to zoom.us in the browser (browser is Chrome, for Chromebooks)
         4. 3) Click the blue ‘LOG IN’ text towards the top right (NOT the orange ‘Sign Up’ button!)
         5. 4) Don’t type anything, but instead scroll down and click ‘Sign In with Google’
         6. 5) Select your FSI Google account
         7. 6) You’re all set, for joining extra-secure FSI Zoom sessions throughout the day!!!

• If you find a trick or workaround to a problem that you think might be useful to other students (or even your teachers), you are welcome to share it by submitting a ‘Help Ticket’ (SEE BELOW)

• FOR ANY REMAINING TECHNICAL SUPPORT QUESTIONS please submit an FSI Parent/Student Help Ticket (see giant blue text / link below) and our technology director Mr. Mikulski will follow up. Mr. Mikulski is typically limited to solving school-issued Chromebook issues and issues related to school-related logins / accounts, but sometimes is also able to help with other devices / technology questions. Give him a shout!

Click Here to submit a Parent/Student Technical Support Help Ticket