Introduction to PowerSchool
Computer Services
Darlington County School District
2009-2010
Computer Operating System Version
Always know the version of operating system software you are running. To check your operating
system version
1. Right-click on My Computer.
2. Select Properties.
3. Write down your system version here. _____________________
Internet Browser - The standard browser for PowerSchool is Firefox 3.5
Checking Version of FireFox
If Firefox is already installed on your computer, you need to check and see if you are running the
latest version.
1. Open Firefox
2. Click on Help  About Firefox
3. If it does not say Version 3.5 continue with the next step. If it does say Version 3.5, skip
to ** on page 2.
Downloading FireFox
1. Open a new tab.
2. Go to
http://www.darlington.k12.sc.us/for_staff/
PowerSchool
3. Click on FireFox 3.5 Free Download.
4. The File Download box will appear. Select
Save.
5. A Save As dialog box will appear. Save
the file on the Desktop. Click Save.
6. Once the file has downloaded a Download
Complete box appears. Select Run to
install the browser.
7. DEFAULT BROWSER
OPTION: Once you begin the install
you will need to decide if you want
FireFox to be your default browser. By
default, the check appears in the box
making it your default browser.
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8. Import Options: You will be asked if you
want to import Bookmarks, History, etc from Internet
Explorer. Click on radio button next to Don’t Import
Anything.
9. Once the install is complete launch FireFox.
(Again you will be asked about making FireFox your
default browser if you did not choose to do so during
the install process.)
When you launch Firefox for the first time you have
to configure it to work on our network. Go to
1. Click on Tools.
2. Click on Options.
3. Click on the Advanced icon.
4. Click the Network tab.
5. Click on Settings.
6. Select Manual Proxy Configuration and
fill in the proxy and port information.
7. Check – Use this proxy server for all
protocols.
8. Enter 10.* in the No Proxy for box.
To Work at Home
You will need to return to this dialog box and put
a check beside No Proxy to work at home.
Remember to put the check back beside Manual
Proxy Configuration when you return to school.
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Setting Download File Location
1.
2.
3.
4.
Click on Tools.
Click on Options.
Select the Main icon.
In the download section select Check
Always ask me where to save the file.
Updating Your Browser
Clearing Browser Cache and History –
It is recommended that you set up your browser
to automatically clear your cache and history
each time you close the browser.
Automatically Clear the Cache
You can set Firefox to automatically clear the
cache and history when it closes.
1. At the top of the Firefox window, click on the Tools menu, and select Options.
2. Select the Privacy icon.
3. In the History section, set Firefox will: to
Use custom settings for history.
4. Select the check box for Clear history
when Firefox closes.
5. Beside Clear history when Firefox closes,
click the Settings button.
The Settings for Clearing
History window will open.
6. In the Settings for Clearing History
window, click the check boxes next to the
items you want to have cleared
automatically when Firefox closes.
7. Click OK to close the Settings for
Clearing History window.
8. Click OK to close the Options
window.
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Browser Configurations
Java standard is 6
1. To determine what version of Java you are running go to
http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp
2. Click on Do I have java?
3. It will give you information about your
version of Java and will have a link to
download if needed.
4. If you do not have the recommended
Java version, click on Download Java
Now.
5. Save the file to your desktop.
6. Find the Java icon on your
desktop and double click
to open and install.
Making PowerSchool Your Homepage
Once you have access to PowerSchool you
may want to make it your homepage for your
Firefox browser. To set your homepage follow
these steps.
1. Go to the website that you want to set
as your homepage.
2. Click on Tools.
3. Click on Options.
4. Select the Use Current Pages button.
5. Click OK.
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Pop-Ups - To disable pop-ups
1.
2.
3.
4.
Click on Tools.
Click on Options.
Select the Content icon.
Take the check out of Block Pop-Up
Windows.
Opening a File with Excel
Go to district website and locate TestFile.
There are several ways to open a file with
Excel
1. If the file is already an Excel file (.xls or
.xlsx) then double click on the file to open it
in Excel.
2. If the file is a text (.txt) or other
type of file
a. Right click on the file – choose
Open With – Microsoft Office
Excel. If Microsoft Office Excel is
not an option, select Choose
Program and find Excel in the
dropdown list.
--OR-b. Launch Excel.
Go to the Data tab – Get External
Data. Choose your file type.
(Example: From Text)
Browse to the location of the file.
Highlight the file and click Import.
A Text Import Wizard box will be
displayed.
Step 1 of 3: Keep the default setting.
(Delimited) and click Next >
Step 2 of 3: Keep the default setting
(Tab) and click Next >
Step 3 of 3: Keep the default setting
(General) and click Finish >
An Import Data box will be
displayed – Click OK.
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Sorting your data in Excel
Click on the button at the top left
of your spreadsheet.
This will highlight the
entire spreadsheet.
Click on the Data tab.
Click on the word SORT
under the AZ-ZA box.
The sort window will be
displayed.
If there are headers in your
spreadsheet, check the
checkbox, my data has headers.
Add as many
levels as you
need by clicking
on the Add
Level button–
this will add
more Sort by –
Then by boxes.
Using the
dropdown
arrows, choose
which columns
you would like
to sort by and
click OK.
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PowerSource Topics
Logging into PowerSource
1. Open Groupwise, find the email from PowerSource.
2. Click on the link inside the email.
3. Login using your email
address and the password of
your choice – reenter password.
PowerSource Resources
Mastery in Minutes
Pearson Mastery in Minutes tutorials are
designed to provide answers to the specific
questions. On average each tutorial takes just a
couple of minutes to complete. The self-paced
series includes 75 tutorials focusing on common
tasks such as enrolling students, transferring
students, running the List Students function,
changing parent and student passwords and
more.
To access Mastery in Minutes
1. Click on the Training tab.
2. Click on the Mastery in Minutes option in
the information screen middle of the PowerSource window. (You may have to use the
arrow to move to the correct screen.)
3. Click on Mastery in Minutes Tutorials on the left navigation bar.
4. Choose a category.
5. Choose a session from the list.
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Distance Learning Courses
There are several Distance Learning courses
available 24/7 through self-paced
asynchronous instruction at no cost to
Darlington County School District
employees. The courses have been designed
for the adult learner to include simulation
and authentic assessment.
From the PowerSource Main Page
1. Click on the Training tab.
2. Click on the Distance Learning
option in the information screen
middle of the PowerSource window.
(You may have to use the arrow to
move to the correct screen.) You will
also see it in the Online Training
section of the page.
3. Click on Take me to the
PowerSchool Courses. This will
bring up a window with several
choices that you can request.
4. You will be taken to a screen where
there is a brief description of the course.
Click on it to select it.
5. Click on Request.
6. The course will be added to your
Transcript.
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You can begin a course, or stop and resume it at a later time. To locate your transcript to begin or
resume a course follow these steps:
1. Click on the Training tab.
2. Click on Take Me to the Courses in the right
navigation bar.
3. Click on View Transcript.
4. Click on Launch to begin/resume your
course.
User Guides
You have access to many
PowerSchool user guides. To
access them
1. Click on the
PowerSchool tab at the
top of the screen.
2. Click on PowerSchool
User Guides in the left
navigation pane.
3. This will take you to a
screen where you can
choose the manual you
need. They will be
located in the left
navigation pane.
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Managing Your Tabs Using Tabbed Browsing
There will be times where you will have to use tabs when you use PowerSchool.
Adding the Tab Mix Plus to Your Browser
You will want to download a program that will help you
manage your tabs.
1. Open Firefox and type in
https://addons.mozilla.org/enUS/firefox/addon/1122
2. Click on Add to Firefox.
3. Click on Install Now.
4. You will have to restart
Firefox.
Renaming and Resizing
Tabs
You can rename your tabs to
match the name of the site. You will need to change these
settings in Tab Mix Plus.
1. Go to Tools.
2. Click on Tab Mix Plus Options.
3. Click on the Display icon.
4. Click on the Tab tab.
5. Put checks in the boxes beside “Tab width fits tab title”
and “Use bookmark name in tab title”.
6. Click Apply.
7. Click on the Menu icon.
8. Put a check in the box next to Rename Tab.
9. Click Apply.
10. Click OK.
How to Save Tab Settings
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Open tabs to all locations desired - Use Ctrl/T to open new tabs.
Right-click on the tab to rename it.
Click check box that states “Rename this tab permanently for all address”
Click OK.
Do this for each tab.
Right click on each tab again and choose Lock Tab.
Click on Bookmarks.
Select Bookmark All Tabs.
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9. In the Folder drop down list, change to Bookmarks
Toolbar.
10. Type PowerSchool in the Name box.
11. Click Add Bookmarks.
12. A folder named “PowerSchool” should appear on
the Firefox toolbar.
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