Google Meet Tips & Issues & Papercut Update!

[Sarah Glatz]

Update: Papercut on your Mac Needs Attention!

Papercut has been upgraded so that it works well with updated devices. For you, that means you will need to toss the old and install the new.

If you are using a Mac Laptop, please uninstall the Papercut Client on your laptop and install the new and updated version. The installation process is super slick with fewer steps than the "old way".

You must be connected to the SPSD wifi network to install the new papercut client.

Here is a link to the directions:

Papercut 2021 

*Note that the new printing client will NOT inform you that the print has been sent to the queue, so you may wonder if it "worked".  Go to the printer and you will find the printer in the queue. 

Google Meet Breakout Room Glitches

As many teachers are finding out, Breakout Rooms haven't been as steady an addition to Meets as hoped. Lots of people around the education world report issues with Breakouts not appearing even though the previous Meet all was well.  The solution is still elusive.  

We are asking that a little "action research" is done around this.  If you are trying to use Breakouts, could you note what's going on with your laptop when it's successful and when it's not? 

• Has anyone tried Safari instead of Chrome for starting a Meet that includes Breakouts? 
• Have you closed absolutely EVERYTHING on your laptop before starting a Meet to see if that impacts features? 
• Have you run updates recently on your laptop?
• Have you tried disconnecting from your wifi and reconnecting before starting a Meet or even rebooting your wifi if at home? 

Google Meet - Kicking out "Loiterers" blocks them from returning for next class

Google Meet is not kicking out participants automatically when the teacher logs out.  Some of you are discovering that when you manually remove a student, they are then blocked from returning to the classroom (at least for a day or two).  

Here's the work around:  Invite blocked students to your meet with the link instead of having them type the shortcut meet code.  The link will not be blocked. 

Google Meet - Quick Mute / Unmute

No more fumbling to bring up the mic option to click it on or off!  Here's a quick way to mute/unmute your mic during a Google Meet.  

Use command key () + D  to toggle your microphone off and on .