Technology

Welcome to the Jeffco Virtual Academy technology page. If you're having problems with Schoology, Jeffco Google or other school-related platforms, this webpage is here to assist in troubleshooting.

If you can't find what you're looking for, don't forget there are resources available on the internet. YouTube is a great source of tutorials (for example, try searching “Schoology Tutorial”). A general internet search for walk-throughs or tutorials can also yield valuable information.

If you are still having issues, fill out the Help Request Form with as much information as you can concerning your issue. We'll get back to you within one business day (but probably a lot sooner) and do what we can to fix any problems you're having.

General Problem-solving Tips

If you're having problems with something, or if you want to be proactive about NOT having problems, here are a few steps you can take to help yourself out.

Clear your cache

Your browser stores temporary files in something called a cache” to help things run smoother or faster. Sometimes this gets in the way of your browser looking for new or different data on a website, though, and the cache occasionally needs to be cleared out. Here’s how to clear your cache from the University of Iowa.

Update your browser

Outdated browsers such as Internet Explorer 6 (released in 2001) don't follow the web standards, are full of bugs, don’t offer the new browser’s features like the tabbed navigation or download manager, and have security issues like viruses and malware. It also affects the quality of website rendering and the web developers waste their time adapting the website to render finely in these obsolete browsers.

To ensure your success at JVA, please update your browser.

If you are using a Jeffco Chromebook, the district might not allow you to update past a certain point. If your Chromebook is as updated as it can get, you're probably good to go!

Google Chrome (what we usually recommend)
Firefox (also pretty darn good)
Opera (kind of obscure)
Safari (Comes with a Mac, and the PC version hasn't been updated in years, so maybe watch out for this one)
Microsoft Edge

If there is a situation where a class activity requires a certain type of plugin to work properly, please send a message to Ryan Self at rself@jeffcoschools.us at Jeffco Virtual Academy and he can work with the teacher and student to get things figured out.

Help Request Form

Accessing Schoology Outside of the United States

To prevent hacking attempts, Jeffco has blocked most international IP addresses (and some others in the U.S. outside of Colorado) from accessing Jeffco Schoology. Families who travel abroad or outside of the state may run into issues accessing the Jeffco Schoology login page.

For students who need to access Jeffco systems while out of the country, we recommend a VPN with a presence in the U.S. If you have your own device (PC, Mac or Chromebook) some examples would be:

If you want to access a VPN on a Jeffco- or school-issued Chromebook, right now we recommend:

Hotspotshield

Those traveling inside the country will probably be fine. If you find yourself unable to log in to Jeffco Schoology (the login screen doesn't load), please use What Is My IP Address and send that information to Ryan Self at ryan.self@jeffcoschools.us. We should be able to “whitelist” or unblock that IP address.

Bring Your Own Device

Chromebook Accessibility

Google (Student Accounts)

Each Jeffco student is given access to a Jeffco Google account, including such apps as Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar and Picasa. To log in, simply visit any one of these sites and log in with your “student number @jeffcoschools.us” as your username and your Jeffco password. For example, if your student number were 123456, you would log in with “123456@jeffcoschools.us” as your username.

Gmail – Email anyone in-district easily by typing part of their name in the To: field and choosing who you'd like to contact
Google Docs – A great alternative to Microsoft Office that also allows you to collaborate with others and access your items from any computer connected to the internet
Google Calendar – Get organized
Google Photos – Edit and share images

Passwords

Jeffco students have the same password for all Jeffco systems. However, there might be an issue with your password from time to time.

These tools might help you out:

Jeffco Password Reset Tool – This tool allows you to reset your Jeffco Passwords. You have to set it up, though, by answering questions like "What was your mother's maiden name" and "Which city were you born in" beforehand so you can recover your password later.
If you haven't already set up your password recovery questions, you'll need to fill out the Help Request Form. Someone from Jeffco Virtual will help you out within one business day.

Schoology

Schoology is the learning management system (LMS) we use at Jeffco Virtual Academy. We think it's pretty swell, but we also know it can be a little tricky to figure out sometimes.

Getting Started with Jeffco Schoology (Youtube Playlist)

The layout may look somewhat like another popular social media tool, and we’re hoping that helps you figure out how this whole thing works. You will be enrolled in “Courses” (courses have grades and attendance) and in “Groups” (groups do not have grades or attendance), and you will see a “Feed” of information when you log in from your Courses, Groups and Connections (i.e. "Friends").

You can use the message tool to look up and contact anyone in Jeffco. You can join groups depending on your interests or in conjunction with a class you're taking. You can check your calendar for upcoming assignments or social events.

Schoology allows you to learn in a social media environment.

Schoology App (Android and iPhone)

Tech for Ed in Jeffco

Jeffco Public School’s 1:1 program provides first- through 12th-grade students in neighborhood and option schools a district Chromebook. This creates an equitable and sustainable model for technology-enabled classrooms that prepares students to thrive in a connected, digital world in alignment with the Jeffco Thrives Strategic Plan.

All students can access a district-purchased and managed Chromebook to personalize their learning. This closes the digital device divide and addresses the inequities in classrooms to transform learning.

Students in grades K-12 can also access a variety of digital applications and consistent tools that give them opportunities to demonstrate learning in creative and challenging ways. Each of the technology tools supports students as creators, collaborators and innovative problem solvers rather than as consumers of information.

The program also allows for professional development and learning for teachers to use the provided tools and devices to transform student learning experiences. Having consistent tools and opportunities for teacher training allows for more challenging learning and student engagement and deeper technology integration.

Learn More About Technology in Jeffco

Digital Learning Applications in Jeffco

All students and teachers have access to premium digital learning applications with their Jeffco log-in credentials. A consistent core set of applications allows for student data privacy aligned to state legislation and seamless access for personalized learning. This includes single sign-on (SSO) and integration of applications.

Digital Learning Applications Library

TechForEd

Students can access a Jeffco-purchased and managed Chromebook to personalize their learning.

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Tech Support

Jeffco families and students can get support for device troubleshooting, password resets, system questions and more.

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Data Privacy & Security

Jeffco has adopted safeguards for student data privacy and security.

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Digital Citizenship & Wellness

Jeffco prioritizes digital citizenship and promotes the safe, responsible use of technology.

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Learn More About Digital Learning Applications in Jeffco

Learn More About Digital Citizenship in Jeffco