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Issue 11 - 2016 │T1 │W9

Oliver hits 1,000 schools! News item

ITD’s Library Project team is currently migrating schools from OASIS Library to Oliver at the rate of 35 schools per week.  Next week will see the project reach a major milestone with the installation of the 1000th Oliver school.  Evaluations and feedback have highlighted that students and teachers are enjoying the benefits of their interactive experience with Oliver and their ability to use the system from both school and home. It includes features such as access to DoE digital resources, ebooks and other digital content providers.  School library staff have commented positively on enhanced library management processes. They have also responded well to the 12-week implementation process, the introductory and advanced training and the virtual user group. Oliver application support from Softlink has also been well received. The rollout schedule for Term 3 2016 to the end of the project in Term 1 2017 has been released and can be viewed at the School Library System website.

Connected Classroom hardware Information item

Several years ago, all schools in NSW received a Connected Classroom kit with videoconference equipment, a desktop PC, an interactive whiteboard and a projector. While the vendor warranty for this equipment has expired, NSW DoE will swap out any faulty component aside from the desktop PC if the school logs a service desk call.  If needed, schools should replace the PC, keyboard and mouse with a HP Advanced desktop bought from DoE contract. To have that new PC installed, simply log a call.

Getting ready for Office 2016 Tip item

As announced in Technology News for Schools a few weeks ago, some time during term 2, we can expect to see Office 2016 for Windows as part of UDM to allow schools to deploy it to their site when they are ready to do so.  One step in getting ready is to ensure all of the local programs and systems your school uses that integrates with MS Office are actually compatible with Office 2016.  Schools often use 3rd-party admin programs that link with MS Word, Excel or Access and it would be prudent to ensure these programs work with the newest version of Office before wide deployment is undertaken.  You may need to contact the vendor if updates are needed.

What’s new in Office 2016? Link item

Microsoft has released a set of quick guides to highlight the main new features of each of the Office 2016 desktop programs:

Connecting Aruba WAPs  Tip item

All Aruba wireless access points (WAPs) have two connection ports, used for two very different purposes.  One is usually labelled ENET and the other CONSOLE.  Multiple cases have recently been reported of schools installing or moving their WAPs and finding they don’t work.  This is often because they have plugged the lead into the CONSOLE port, rather than the ENET (ethernet) port.  The console port need never be used by schools, so it’s best not to plug anything into it.

Aruba Wireless Access Point

Sharing iPads at school Information item

Many schools have invested in iPads and have been sharing them in class with their students.  Most users would be familiar with the iPad’s persistent storing of credentials where a student or teacher authenticates for Internet access and the iPad remembers that user’s credentials continuously.  This means that other users who share the iPad are automatically signed on with the original user’s credentials and are never prompted for their own. To get around this, some schools chose to block access to the Safari browser in the Restrictions and instead use the Chrome app which prompted each user for their credentials.  Unfortunately, a recent update to the Chrome app saw it adopt the iPad’s keychain policy meaning it now behaves the same way that Safari does. It’s very important that schools that share iPads are aware of this and that teacher credentials are not stored in iPads used by students.

STEM Programme Index 2016 Link item

The first national STEM Programme Index  or SPI 2016 was produced by the Office of the Chief Scientist. It’s a very useful guide containing business, university, government and community-led STEM initiatives. SPI 2016 will help teachers and students access over 250 science, technology, engineering and mathematics programmes. These include in-class, after school, holiday and on-line activities and resources, catering to a wide and growing range of students. Make sure you share this great resource with teachers at your school!

Outstanding T4L rollout orders News item

While the bulk of T4L orders have now been fulfilled and completed, delivery of some HP notebooks is still outstanding. We understand that HP have now contacted all affected schools to acknowledge the delay and to advise that deliveries are expected to be completed by early term 2.

Recycling eWaste Information item

Following last issue’s article on this topic, we have heard from schools that have been contacted recently by commercial eWaste recycling companies offering collection services (sometimes for a fee).  Schools should take advantage of the vendor-provided eWaste collection service provided with all T4L rollout and discretionary purchases of computers. All devices must be erased and ensure that no software (including operating system) remains on the device.

Projector lamp recycling Link item

As more classrooms install data projectors, school storerooms have become repositories for failed projector lamps.  Most lamps are pressurised to extreme levels, contain chemicals such as mercury and are housed in glass.  They are fragile and should never be thrown out with regular waste.  Epson Australia has recently announced a Projector Lamp Recycling Program and accepts lamps from any manufacturer and will recycle and re-use 97% of all lamps received. Simply take your old lamps to any of their ten collection points in NSW/ACT for disposal.

Have you seen this error? Tip item

Some schools have been seeing this error appear on their non-SMART interactive devices when running SMART Notebook 11.4. The error occurred when our “collaborative licence” allocation was exceeded recently.  The licencing server has now been updated.  One way of getting rid of the error is to uninstall then reinstall SMART Notebook.  But there is a much quicker way – just follow this handy guide.

Smart Notebook error message

Fixing the language in GAFE Tip item

If your margin measurements in Google Apps are in inches, the date format is wrong, or the spell check keeps wanting to change organise to organize, then it’s probably got the default setting of US English for language.  It’s very easy to change, and will fix the issue across all of the GAFE apps.  Just do this:

  • Open Drive
  • Click the gear icon at the top-right
  • Click Settings
  • Click Change language settings
  • Click the pencil icon
  • Click English and choose Australian

Thanks to Eric Land for sharing this useful tip!

Technology Scholarships Link item

Among the many 2016 Premier’s Teacher Scholarship opportunities now available, two are specifically related to technology in the classroom.  For teachers in rural/remote schools, there is the Samsung Technology Scholarship and for all teachers, there is the Emerging Technologies Scholarship.  Both of these award $15,000 to put toward a study program of up to five weeks, with your school also receiving relief funding to cover your absence. Applications close on Friday, May 6.

YouTube for staff News item

As reported in our last issue, YouTube is now available for DoE staff to upload videos, create playlists and save favourites.  Just sign into Google Apps via the portal, then go to youtube.com and when you click Sign On at the top-right, you’ll automatically be signed in.

TV display in the school foyer Tip item

Many schools have mounted a large monitor or TV in their foyer to display news and event information for parents and visitors. Often they have set up a computer running a PowerPoint slideshow, meaning a PC needs to be setup as well.  But most modern TVs have a USB port and can display a slideshow of photos (JPEGs).  So all you really need is to export your PowerPoint to JPEG images, copy them to a USB stick and tell the TV to display a slideshow.  No more need for a computer. Simple!

More T4L news in Week 3

Information Technology Directorate publishes T4L news for schools three times every term. Remember to share each issue with your staff!

NSW DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE