Weekly Tech Tip #2 - Student & Staff Accounts

In the IT department we're often asked about computer logins. Part of the confusion is that in the past we have maintained a series of generic logins (charterle, charterpfaa, etc), but now everyone has their very own unique username and password for logging into the computers on campus. We made the switch to individual accounts because it reinforces positive digital citizenship skills by teaching students how to manage their own accounts and provides some ability for students and staff to customize their desktops on computers they regularly use.

Staff Logins

Every single staff member has their own login. These work on any computer on campus and Chromebooks. Users with laptops have logins that are configured to even work from home. Your login is meant to be used by you only, so please don't share it with others. There is a slight difference between computer and Chromebook logins for the Name field which is demonstrated below.

Computers: jsmith
Chromebooks: jsmith@natomascharter.org

Student Logins

In Leading Edge, PFAA, and VLA every student has their own unique login, along with Star Academy and PACT students starting in 1st grade. The structure of these logins is legal first name, first letter of legal last name, followed by the student's graduation year from high school. Similar to staff logins, these should only be used by the student to whom the account is assigned and there is a slight difference between computer and Chromebook logins.

Computers: JohnS2020
Chromebooks: JohnS2020@natomascharter.org

PACT and Star Academy have special generic logins which are meant to only be used by younger students who do not have their own accounts.

Special Events
We do have a few generic logins which are used for special events. For example, the Area 3 Writing Project workshops have a login for outside guests to use our computers. We turn these logins on for the event and turn them off afterwards. If you have a special event where you will need to use the computers simply let us know through the Activities Request Form or Help Desk and we will make sure a login is set up.

New Students & Forgotten Passwords
When students are enrolled Google, computer, and Schoology accounts are automatically created for them. For 6th-12th grade students the default password is always "ncsyear" followed by the school year (ex: ncsyear1617). Students need to login for hte first time from any campus computer (LMC, computer lab, etc.). They cannot login for the first time on a Chromebook. The process of logging into the computer allows the student to set a password for both computer and Google/Schoology access. For 1st-5th graders we set the password and add it to a grade-level spreadsheet that has been shared with the teacher and coordinator for that program.

If you have any trouble helping a student access their account or if a student has forgotten their password please let any of us know in the IT department by submitting a Help Desk ticket.

Hopefully, this post clears up some of the confusion around computer logins. If you have any questions please let me know.

Joe