Old Windows 10 removal update

As announced in our previous issue, the State Government has advised that to maintain information security, all Departments must remove unsupported and vulnerable operating systems from their networks. Unsupported means the manufacturer no longer provides security updates for the version(s). In NSW DoE, the following Windows versions are affected:

Windows 10 v1607 (2016)

Windows 10 v1709 (2017)

Windows 10 v 1809 (2018)

At this stage, the plan is to remove old devices from the DETNSW domain after June 30, 2021. This means that a rebuild to the latest Windows version is necessary to allow these devices to continue to work. Since the release of that announcement, schools are starting to make inroads in their fleet, now with over 65,000 devices added to the newest version, 20H2. Older version device counts are slowly dropping, but it's critical that schools focus on any 1607 and 1709 devices in their fleet.

eT4L Windows Builds - Please concentrate on rebuilding old 1607, 1709 and 1809 devices as soon as possible.

Chrome OS v88 delayed

In our previous issue, we advised that Chrome OS v88 would be pushed out to all DoE-enrolled Chromebooks from May 6. It was decided to avoid disruptions to NAPLAN online testing, that this deployment should not commence until this week. Along with important security updates, this version includes several enhancements for accessibility, a new web camera app and virtual desktops. Each Chromebook will automatically download the update from Google and then install it. This occurs in the background with no impact on the use of the Chromebook. A restart will be required to complete the installation with users notified at the bottom-right of their screen.

Chrome OS v88 starts rolling out to DoE-enrolled Chromebooks this week!

Quicker onboarding for new staff

Last year, we enabled automatic application access for principals, teachers and school administration managers (SAMs). This year we’re adding deputy principals, assistant principals, head teachers, school administration officers and business managers. From 27 May, corporate applications that are commonly needed by these roles, will be automatically made available to staff members, within 24 hours of their start in a new position or at a new site. This will save time for staff, as well as principals and their delegates. Over 18,000 staff starting at a new site have already benefitted! It's saved an estimated 5,000 school hours when compared with the previous allocation process, which was completed manually. We are continuing to work with schools to increase the roles and applications suitable for automation. Find out more about Extended Automated System Access (EASA) on the staff intranet.

Simplifying onboarding of new staff at your school - EASA

Still want LinkedIn Learning?

With the department's LinkedIn Learning service ending on June 30, did you know that many local council libraries offer full access to the same LinkedIn Learning content that you had before at no cost? Many public libraries will provide you with free membership, even if you don't reside in their area - you just need to be a NSW resident and join! The list below will take you to the Library webpage for each council, where you can get more details and find the link to their LinkedIn Learning Portal! And the video at the bottom explains the process at one council's website.

Northern Beaches Council

Newcastle Council

Georges River Council

Liverpool Council

Wollongong Council

Student Filmmaker resources

The T4L team celebrated an exciting collaboration with the Australian Museum by releasing new online filmmaking teaching resources and an original SITU360 STEM immersive video! We want to support teachers to explore a new approach to STEM, by encouraging students to engage with their local institutions or community organisations and film a student review. The self-directed learning fosters creative, technical and leadership skills as students collaborate on a short video production. All the technical skills your students need to know to film their own review is in the Student Filmmaker online course. Students from Elderslie High School used the resources and filmed their own student review of the museum, that you can see at our Student Filmmaker at the Museum page. For those with the stem.T4L VR kit, take a look at what's possible in 360 degree video production! And here's a HOT TIP: Think Chromebooks can't do video editing? Schools can borrow the stem.T4L WeVideo Pro licence for a cloud-based, simplified video editing experience!

Removal of Flash and Java clients

In September 2020, the Department announced the removal of Oracle Java Client from new eT4L builds. This occurred because Oracle stopped providing free, public updates to Java 8 and now requires the payment of user licences to maintain support and security updates. Flash Player reached its end of life in December 2020. Existing eT4L builds did not have these clients removed because it was expected that schools would be rebuilding their devices, to take advantage of the Windows 10 20H2 upgrade, which do not include these old clients. As several months have now passed, to ensure schools only use secure software, Information Technology Directorate will commence remotely uninstalling Oracle Java and Flash Player clients from all older eT4L managed PCs progressively thoughout June. The removal runs silently in the background and a restart is not required. No user action is required for this change. If your school still has a need for Java on some devices, please consider alternative, free solutions such as Amazon Coretto, which is packaged and in the eT4L Software Catalogue.

Oracle Java SE and Flash Player will be uninstalled from Windows devices in June

Telstra contact guide for schools

Telstra provides fixed line and mobile telephony services to NSW public schools. Occasionally, something goes wrong and you need to know where to get support. To help clarify how to get support for your situation, Telstra have produced a Service Delivery Contacts for NSW DoE Schools guide. It covers most scenarios and provides the best contacts for getting the support needed. Please share the guide with your Principal, SAM, and local ICT support staff.

Telstra Service Delivery Contacts for NSW DoE Schools

ICT Thought of the day

ICT Thought - What did Yoda say when Star Wars was released on BluRay? HDMI.

You must sign into Adobe titles

Since May 13, users running 2018 or older versions of Adobe Acrobat DC or other Creative Cloud programs, reported messages like one of these on startup:

Acrobat trial - you can try this product for 7 days
The Serial number you have entered has been revoked
Sign In Required - Please sign in with your Adobe ID

Windows and Mac devices with these older versions of Adobe programs used a serial number activation supplied by Adobe to NSW DoE as part of the Enterprise agreement. However in early term 4 last year, we reported that Adobe moved their products to single sign-on (SSO). The prior serial number has now expired, so users must sign in using their department email address to continue using older versions. Rebuilding your Windows computers to 20H2 will provide access to install the latest Adobe programs. More details at the Adobe intranet page.

Graphic - Sign In Required - Please sign in with your Adobe ID (i.e. your Department email address).

Acrobat Reader or Acrobat DC?

Adobe Acrobat DC was removed from the initial eT4L Windows build almost two years ago. Only Acrobat Reader is pre-installed. This was done because the majority of devices in schools are used by students and if they never need to edit PDFs, there is little point deploying a big, resource-hungry program like Acrobat DC to all devices. If there is a need for certain users to edit PDF files, the Acrobat DC package must be deployed separately from the list of Enterprise software in UDM to their devices. Once installed, it is necessary to sign into your DoE Adobe account to activate all installed programs that are part of Adobe Creative Cloud. Staff and students have no ability or need to sign into Acrobat Reader. It will run without authentication. Please explain these differences to staff and students at school to avoid this confusion.

Adobe Acrobat Reader DC cannot edit PDF files. You Need Acrobat DC for that

Photoshop 2020 back in UDM

In our previous issue, we advised that Adobe Photoshop 2021 was the latest version in UDM for deployment to school devices. However, it has minimum system specifications that make it incompatible with our existing range of base model devices that are mostly used by students. In that article we advised that on those devices, Photoshop Elements should be used instead. Several schools were concerned that the full features of Photoshop were needed for their courses and that prior versions of the software were compatible. As a result, Adobe Photoshop 2020 was re-packaged and re-added to UDM as an optional installation for lower-powered Windows devices. If your school needs the full Photoshop product for base model computers, please deploy the Photoshop 2020 package found in the Enterprise Software section of UDM.

Both Photoshop 2020 and 2021 are now available for deployment via UDM to appropriate devices.

F12 Pre-flight drivers check

If you complete an F12-rebuild of any device, to update it to Windows 10 v20H2, you may notice that one extra pre-flight check has been added before the build commences: "Check if Driver Package Exists". Currently, the eT4L build supports 116 current and previously contracted device models (intranet link) and includes a drivers package for each of them. But from time to time, schools may receive donated devices that they wish to add to their fleet. While Windows 10 offers compatibility across thousands of models, many require a specific set of drivers. If a device you are trying to build passes the pre-flight drivers package check, you can be confident of a successful build. But if it fails, there is a possibility that any attempted build will fail and you have a choice of continuing or not. Devices that fail to build may not be easily recoverable. Further advice can be requested through your local field ICT support team.

Old Apple devices buy-back

Did you know that you can return your old iPads for their residual value through the Apple buy-back program? Upon completion of the online form, an offer is provided to the school within two business days. If the offer is accepted, the devices are collected for free. Once the devices are processed, the offer is confirmed and payment is issued directly to the school's bank account. This service is for all education customers, with a five device minimum. The service is managed by Brightstar, on behalf of Apple. Please be aware that there are specific guidelines that must be followed when disposing of school assets.

Free eSafety PL for teachers

Did you know that the eSafety Commissioner offers free professional learning programs? They cover the latest online safety research, case studies and teaching strategies to help educators integrate online safety into their programs and student wellbeing planning. Young people need to be aware of and cautious about risky sites and modes of communication. They should learn to keep their identities private and understand how to keep themselves safe from relevant risks online and on social media. Teachers can help them to learn to develop empathy, sense of self, coping, healthy behaviours and social skills. Informed students can make all the difference when it comes to reducing cyberbullying, violence and online addictions. The eSafety professional learning program for teachers includes regular webinars and downloadable resources. Please pass this onto all teachers at your school.