Tech Update 12_18_07

Teachers,

This Tech Update consist of information on the following topics:

• Laptop and Projector check-in: Don't leave in classrooms, check-in to library for winter break by 12 noon on Wednesday if possible.
• Elementary T2 Report Cards: Now Ready for grade entry
• Atomic Learning: "Just in Time" Technology training tutorials
• Virus Alert Reminder: Don't download or open unfamiliar or unexpected files or attachments.
• 1 to 1 Student Laptop Project: 7th grade implementation has begun.
• Teacher's Laptop Upgrades: Completed
• SmartBoard Projector Installation: Winter Break completion
• Power Teacher Link: Available in Squirrel Mail

Happy Holidays!

More information on these topics visit our Tech Update Blog Dec. 18 entry at
http://wbaistechupdate.blogspot.com/ or read below. Please let me know if there is a topic you would like me to address in a future Tech Update.

Laptops and Projector check-in: Please check-in all laptops and unmounted projectors to the library by 12 noon on Wednesday Dec 19 if possible. It's O'kay to keep you teacher's laptop during break but no laptops or projectors should be left in the classrooms.

ES Report Cards: ES Teachers feel free to enter your T2 report cards grades as soon as you have them assessed. Process is the same as for the 1st Trimester.

Atomic Learning: Find many "Just in Time" technology training tutorials to assist you with skill development on many of the software applications in use at WBAIS. More information available on the library web site under Schoogle > online Resources.

Virus Alert: Virus are a constant threat to our network. Remember to never download or open attachments you are not expecting. Beware of reoccuring email with attachments regardless of the appeared sender. The best thing to do is delete the messages no matter how many times you receive it. Check with the sender to see if it really came from them before opening any unexpected attachments.

1 to 1 Student Laptop Project: All 7th grade students are participating in or pilot 1 to 1 student laptop Project. Please assist us in monitoring student use and care. Inform the middle school office if you observe any inappropriate use of the laptops. If you find a Dell Laptop Unattended, please bring it to the Middle School Office. If successful this project is the beginning of a phase in to other grade levels. Read more about our Laptop project at http://wbais1to1.blogspot.com/

Teacher's Laptop Upgrades: All teacher laptop upgrade requested Have now been filled. Future upgrade request proposals will be accepted during the budgeting process.

SmartBoard Projector Installation: Completion expected during winter break

Power Teacher Link: Available in squirrel Mail

Season Wishes: The Technology Team and I would like to Wish Everyone a joyful and restful winter break.

As always Kim, Susie, Fred, Gintas and myself are ready to provide you with any assistance needed.

Keep Computing!

Your Friendly IT Guy,
Steven Roberts
Technology Coordinator
Walworth Barbour American International School

"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator." by ~Ralph Waldo
Emerson~

Teacher Laptops - Update and Upgrade

Dear Teachers,

I've just been informed by the vendor that the teacher Laptops we were expecting delivery of today are not in country. He is checking on a delivery date and will let me know. As soon as I know more, you'll know more. My apologize to the 4 teachers who have been patiently working without a laptop.

In the mean time, If you would like an upgraded (not necessarily new but a later model)laptop because your level of use has change to included higher level processing, please let me know. Send a email request to me with "I need a Laptop upgrade" in the subject line. It's important to include the subject line so your request will not be misplaced. In the body of your email please include the following detailed information:

Name:
Current Model:
Why are you requesting an upgrade:
Examples of the use you are planning include software and computing task:

Upgrades will be based on laptop availability, your current model and your request content. Please be detailed in your request. Our Goal is to make sure our tools are matching our needs.

Keep Computing!

Steve

Tech Update 9_5 - Tech Support Delays please be patient

Good Day Teachers

Due to the upcoming MAP testing of all students grade 3-8, I have had to priorities Gintas's time to preparing the Labs for testing of up to 84 students at one time. We have put out a feeler for extra tech help with Sami off to college and hope to have someone on board soon. Until then Please be patient with your request as we prepare for this important project. I know computers and printers have not all settled into their new address and therefore are not functioning consistently. Please feel free to visit Susie, Kim, or Fred to use their lab computers to do needed printing. I don't think they would mind you quietly printing during a class if a computer is available. Also some printing can be done from the Library computers.

I believe we now have all computers identified and in there new locations. All teachers have some means of connectivity either a desktop or laptop. Phones have been delivered and 10 more are on request. This completes Phase 1 of our computer move.

Currently we are working to complete, Phase 2: All lab workstations up and running. Classroom computers and printers are connected. Missing items are located and extra items are moved from your workspace. Survey of needs due to lose items will be conducted.

We have begun and will soon proceed with, Phase 3: Smartboard installation to designated spaces begins. Laptop kits up and running. Phone Use Training. Classroom replacement of missing items if available. New teacher laptops purchase. 1 to 1 project and mobile lab laptops identified.

Keep Computing!

Steve

Your Friendly IT Guy,
Steven Roberts
Technology Coordinator
Walworth Barbour American International School

"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator." by ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Tech Update 8_24 Hardware installation

Below are the Phases we are going through to continue getting our
technology hardware online this year. We are finishing up Phase 1 and have begun Phase 2. Please email "help" if you have no way to connect either by your teacher laptop or one desktop in your room. Include "I have no way to connect" in the subject line.

Phase 1: All teachers and Admin staff are able to connect with their laptops or one desktop computer if they have no laptop. Phones delivered. Survey of what is in your work space from last year and what is missing.

Phase 2: Classroom computers and printers are connected. Missing items are located and extra items are moved to your workspace. All labs up and running. Survey of needs due to lose items.

Phase 3: Laptop kits up and running. Smartboard installation to designated spaces begins. Phone Use Training. Classroom replacement of missing items if available. New teacher laptop purchase. 1 to 1 project and mobile lab laptops identified.

Phase 4: New Teacher's New Laptops distribution. Laptop upgrade request for retuning teachers submitted and granted according to availability. Projector need Survey, 1 to 1 project laptops and mobile Lab purchased.

Phase 5: Laptop upgrades distributed. 1 to 1 laptops distributed. Laptop Mobil lab circulated.

Please Note: Cable connections should be accessible in all locations at this time. Wireless connectivity is still being configure and signal may fluctuate considerably form location to location.

Keep Computing!

Your Friendly IT Guy,
Steven Roberts
Technology Coordinator
Walworth Barbour American International School

"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator." by ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Tech Update 8/20

Dear Faculty and Staff,

Just wanted to update you on a few tech items:

1. Classroom Technology Setup Update
2. Lab check-out Update
3. Drop-in lab, Elementary to Library
4. Sami Tech Assistant

Descriptions below

1. Sometime Monday morning someone from the tech team will be visiting your classroom to take an inventory of your computer situation (Fred - HS, Kim - MS, Susie - ES, Steve - Library building classrooms). Please be prepared to give us the following information:

• Do you have all of your classroom computers from last year, including all parts (mice, keyboards, etc.)? If not, what are you missing?
• Are your computers hooked up?
• Did you have a printer last year? Do you have it now? Is it hooked up?
• Do you need anything else to get up and running with your technology from last year?

We will follow up on new technology planned for your classrooms once last years technology is up and running smoothly.

2. The library will begin tech lab checkout to classes beginning NEXT MONDAY, AUG. 27th. This will include periods when classes are not taught in Labs A (media lab), Lab B (publishing lab), Lab C (checkout lab) and Lab E (ES lab). We hope to get laptop kits out sometime soon as well. Currently there are 10 laptops that need repair. With this in mind, please plan your classes accordingly.

3. For now the ES Lab will remain a drop in lab most periods of the day. Feel free to drop by to use a computer and print. As soon as the library drop-in area is open, this lab will be used for class checkout only and all drop-ins will be redirected there. Hopefully this will happen sometime the end of this week.

4. Sami has been hired for the next 2 weeks as Gintas' helper. Although we have all gotten used to him being around for "general help" until now, he will have specific tech related task to preform and may be entering your classrooms from time to time as Gintas or I would. we would appreciate it if you would keep this in mind and not side track him with other request.

If your have any questions or topics you would like addressed in future Tech Updates feel free to email me at sroberts.

Thanks and keep computing!

The Tech Team

Your Friendly IT Guy,
Steven Roberts
Technology Coordinator
Walworth Barbour American International School

"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator." by ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Tech Update 6/6: Classroom technology move and SmartBoards

This tech update consist of the following topics:

• Technology Move: Preparing classroom computers and Printers for the move
• Technology Move: Other additional classroom technology equipment
  
• Next Year's Technology: SmartBoard distribution for next year.
  
• Next Year's Technology: New and replaced technology for next year.
  
• Future Technology: Teacher Feedback

More information on these topics is below. Please let me know if there is a topic you would like me to address at a future Tech Update.

Tech Move Computers and Printers: Your clean classroom desktop computers should have a move label on the CPU, Monitor and Keyboard. Mouse, Power and other cords should be bundled with a move label. Printers should also have a move label. You will also need the tables you are currently using for computers on the new campus so label them also. We will pack out Lab 24 last so it will be online until June 14 for your use.

Tech Move Additional Equipment: If you have additional classroom technology equipment (Hubs, access points, switches etc.) Contact Gintas or myself for assistance disconnecting, collection and packing of these devices.

Next Year's Tech - SmartBoards: SmartBoards and Projectors will be placed in 11 locations as an additional installation after we return in August. The following teacher proposals were identify for smart boards earlier this year. Denise Goldsmith, Tim Petine, Mary Wescott, Pam Zaidel, Hellen Phan, James Margolis, Abby Chill, Paula Benveniste, Victoria Banks, Susie Trifman and Kevin Johnston. I will double check location with you before installation.

Next Year's New and Replacement Technology: Due to the move, we will wait until the dust has settle after the new school year begins to address Technology needs. This will give us an opportunity to find solutions that align with the vision and network configuration on the new campus. For now expect to have your current technology in place for the beginning of next year. I am storing request in a folder I will address after we are up and running properly on the new campus.

Future Tech - Teacher Feedback: Due to end of school task and the move I will delay the staff survey I mention in an earlier Tech update. Our exploration of a 1 to 1 student laptop project with 7th grade next year will be a good trial for how we meet our computer needs given the design of the new campus. Your feedback is definetly needed to determine our preparedness and options for 1 to 1 use on other grade levels, assess our currently level of integration, and identify teacher training needs. I will work on a survey tool this summer to assist with this. Thank you for your patience.

Keep Computing!

Your Friendly IT Guy,
Steven Roberts

Technology Coordinator
Walworth Barbour American International School

"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator." by ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Tech Update - Digital Clean-Up and Move

Teachers and Staff,

As we continue our packing please take some time to physically clean you monitor, keyboard, mouse and/or Laptop. This may be a good task for a volunteer that is helping you. I am attacking a document I copied from the Internet called "Cleaning Your Computer." Please read it before cleaning your computer. There are some cleaning practices you should avoid.

Remember to back up all school related files that you cannot afford to lose to a CD or other external storage device. It has come to my attention that we can expect a minimum of 20% of our overall data to be lost during the move. Please back up your data incase your files are apart of this 20%.

It is important that we regularly clean-up our valuable server space. Please delete all duplicated or unneeded files from you server folders. If you have not already learned to do so, managing your server files is probably one of the most important skills in today's computer use. File search features are being improved to search your files in much the same way as Google searches the Internet. A well maintained file structure will return the most accurate results.

Many of our online tools and resources will not be affected by the move. Squirrel Mail, WBAIS Web Site, BlackBoard and Atlas Rubicon should all function as normal during the move. Fell free to use these as needed from your home computers during the move. More information to follow on the availability of PowerSchool, G Drive and other WBAIS Network Systems. Once the network on the new campus is up running and tested we will let you know.

If you have any questions or concerns about the move of technology to the new campus please let me know.

Keep Computing!

Steve

Your Friendly IT Guy,
Steven Roberts
Technology Coordinator
Walworth Barbour American International School

"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator." by ~Ralph Waldo
Emerson~

Technology Update 4/25/2007

Teachers,

This Tech Update consist of information on the following topics:

• PowerSchool Web Access - cache pages not displaying changes
  
• Passwords - Keep them secure - Biggest security threat
  
• Technology Move - Hardware and file backup
  
• Laptop Project Phase 2 - Student Laptops

More information on these topics is below. Please let me know if there is a topic you would like me to address at a future Tech Update.

PowerSchool: when accessing PowerSchool through a browser please remember that information submitted may need a page refresh to view. Sometimes cache will cause a page to view as it did before the information was submitted. Please be careful not to submit the information twice. This can corrupt the system and cleaning up the data base is a time consuming task.

Passwords: It is advisable to change your account passwords from time to time for security reasons. The easiest way to hack an account is because of a password easy to observe (Shoulder Surfing) or simple to guess. You can check the security of your password and how easy it can be guess by visiting http://securitystats.com/tools/password.php

Technology Move: Our current plan is to make a lateral move of your room's hardware to your new space on the Even Yehuda Campus. For example, Computers currently in your classroom will be moved to your classroom on the new campus. Next year after you have had time to get use to your new space and we have check connectivity, we will assess your technology needs and plan needed adjustments. I strongly recommend you take this opportunity to make an external backup (CD or external storage device) of all your school related computer files. Include those on the server as well as any files you may have on your hard drive. This will provide an additional level of backup during the move. If you need any assistance contact a tech team member.

Laptops Program Phase 2: Phase 1 of the school's laptop program was focused primarily on teacher laptops. Teachers using laptops help prepare for students using laptops. The new campus is designed with this type of laptop culture in mind. The AIS Technology Committee and I recently reported to the Board our school preparedness for a 1 to 1 laptop program. A one-to-one laptop program is designed to meet computer access needs by having a laptop assigned to each student. This will provide computer access whenever and wherever needed. One-to-one laptop programs are being initiated at schools around the world. An Action Plan Committee was formed to explore this possibility and report action recommendations to the board. A project is recommended that will pilot a 1 to 1 program with our 7th grade students. This is model after some of the laptop programs we researched and is a low stress approach to the program. 7th graders are familiar with the culture and environment in middle school. Our 7th grade teaching team has key practices in place and is keen about the program. 7th grade is currently using the laptop kits on a regular basis. A pilot program will allow us to learn to do by doing. It is a gradual way to explore one-to-one student computing, address key issues and customize a program for our entire school community. Your feedback is needed to determine our preparedness for 1 to 1 use on other grade levels, assess our currently level of integration, and teacher training needs. I will be working on an assessment tool that will begin to give us this feedback. I hope to have it to you soon. Your input is an important part of this project.

Keep Computing!

Steve

Your Friendly IT Guy,
Steven Roberts
Technology Coordinator
Walworth Barbour American International School

"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator."
by ~Ralph WaldoEmerson~

Tech Update - Backup your files and PowerSchool

Teachers,

Now that we are in the 2nd half of the school year, I would like to remind you to back up your data. School related files should be saved to your server folder. Servers are backed up regularly. Photos, videos and personal files should be backed up to an external device or CD's. Make sure to keep your backups away from your computer in a secure place. If your hard drive crashes or your computer is lost or stolen it's not the hardware that's missed, it's the data that can't be replaced. As a pass colleague of mine use to stay. "There are two types of computer users. Those who have lost data and those who are about to lose data." Back up now.

Middle Schools and High School have now completed a full grading term with PowerSchool. MS/HS teachers, if you haven't already, I strongly recommend that you do your Final Grade SetUp for 2nd Semester terms and record your grades regularly. This will allow you to easily give your students a grade in progress consistent with the final grade weighting whenever requested. It will also simplify your end of year reporting by just adding your final grades to your gradebook. All 1st Semester/2nd Quarter teacher comments should have been deleted by you from PowerGrade or PowerSchool Teacher. I suggest you begin your future comments with a date notation. A simple Month and day "2_13" or "2/13" at the beginning of your comments will make it easy to determine how current it is. Also this will allow you to do log style comments that can easily be used for progress reports.

Elementary School Standard base reports are currently being set up in PowerSchool to closely model the current reports. I apologize for the delay but this is a time consuming process. I plan to have all regular class report cards in PowerSchool to complete this year. Thank you for
your patience.

As always Jen, Susie, Fred, Gintas and myself are ready to provide you with any assistance needed.

Keep Computing,
Steve

Your Friendly IT Guy,
Steven Roberts
Technology Coordinator
Walworth Barbour American International School

"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator."
by ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Tech Update - email filtering and PowerGrade use

Here are a couple of updates to assist you with your technology use.

If you have mail mistakingly going to your spam folder try putting the From addresses of newsletters or mailing lists into their addressbooks. We are exploring a script that will tell the filters to allow mail from these addresses into your inbox.

Please remember to quit PowerGrade when moving from location to location on the wireless network. Leaving PowerGrade open and losing connection just for a minute can cause an error message and may corrupt your PowerGrade file.

Also for security reason do not leave a computer unattended or allow students to use a computer with PowerGrade running.

Keep Computing,
Steve

Your Friendly IT Guy,
Steven Roberts
Technology Coordinator
Walworth Barbour American International School

"The man who can make hard things easy is the educator."
by ~Ralph Waldo Emerson~