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Issue 30 - 2017 │T4 │W3

 

Link - access past issues in the archive

New standard Wi-Fi contract News item

Together with Procurement Services Directorate, ITD is pleased to advise that DoE schools and corporate offices can now purchase new Aruba Wireless products via the DoE eCatalogue. Three Aruba Instant Wi-Fi models have replaced the previously available access points:

These bundles include a mounting kit and offer the convenience of a four year next-business-day replacement warranty and support. Accessories for these models are also available on the eCatalogue. This term's issue of Technology News for Schools (week 5) will include further advice regarding these new models and compatibility with older Aruba hardware.

Image: New Aruba Wireless Access Points

Connecting Country Schools News item

NSW DoE is now leveraging the new Wi-Fi contract in the delivery of the recently announced Connecting Country Schools project. This significant NSW Government project will deliver new wireless connectivity solutions to more than 900 school communities in regional NSW over the next two years. Primary schools will receive fully-managed Wi-Fi with supporting network infrastructure, installed in every learning space, while high schools will see the complete replacement and upgrade of their legacy DER Wi-Fi systems. The solutions will include a mix of the new Aruba models to deliver appropriate Wi-Fi coverage into all areas of each school. This term's issue of Technology News for Schools will include further details about this exciting investment for our country students and communities.

Image: Connecting Country Schools

T4L device roll out update News item

The ordering window for this year's rollout has now closed. Thanks to all schools that promptly lodged their requests using the online form. We are now processing these and focusing on delivering HP base desktops, notebooks and monitors as the first drop. Commencing last week, deliveries are being scheduled and we will start to see these arrive in schools. All deliveries should be completed by Week 9, Term 4. During November, we will see a rapid increase in the number of deliveries. These will include all remaining devices including desktops, notebooks, Chromebooks and iPads.

Click this image for a larger view

T4L Roll out deliveries Information item

The delivery phase of the T4L rollout has commenced and schools will need to sign-off on shipments. The couriers will report to the front office to advise they have a T4L delivery. The following tips will assist with this process:

  • Staff have on-hand a list of exactly what the school ordered
  • As deliveries arrive, cross them off the list
  • Count the boxes and make sure this matches the delivery paper work
  • Check boxes for damage – visible damage could indicate it may have been dropped causing damage to the equipment
  • Don’t sign for significantly damaged or incorrect box counts compared with the delivery paper work

Note: Depending on the make-up of the orders, schools may expect more than one shipment - desktops including monitors and mobile devices and Apple equipment. For all questions and enquiries please email the T4L mailbox, T4L@det.nsw.edu.au

Miss the Apple/Google webcasts? Information item

In September, both Apple and Google ran two great webcasts for DoE schools to introduce them to the iPad and Chromebook devices now available on the T4L roll out and for discretionary purchase. They focused on the educational benefits these devices bring to the classroom and offered an opportunity to ask questions via the online chat function in the webinar. In case you missed them, both were recorded and in just a half hour each, you'll be able to catch up!

School Website Service upgrade News item

If you completed the migration survey from the SWS development team recently, you’ll already know that the School Website Service is heading for a significant upgrade! The new platform for the service which hosts almost all NSW public school websites, is Adobe Experience Manager (AEM). Last week, Peter Vicary, Executive Director Communications and Engagement announced: “The dynamic and improved SWS will once again lead the way in providing you with the tools you’ve told us you need, to make your websites compelling across all digital devices - and that will grow with your school well into the future”. AEM will offer schools increased functionality and customisation options as it’s rolled out from 2018. The SWS development team is working closely with Adobe to tailor the platform for schools. The survey, which is looking for an indication from authors and approvers about their content migration preferences, is still open for feedback. We look forward to hearing from your school.

Separating DoE and TAFE email News item

Last term we advised about the separation of the department's email domain from the TAFE staff email domain. This work was completed in September. The final step of this process will take place on Friday 10 November 2017 when TAFE staff details and email distribution lists will be removed from our Global Address List. Unless you communicate regularly with TAFE staff, it’s unlikely that you’ll need to take any action. If you do communicate with TAFE staff, it’s a good idea to store their details in your personal Contacts, so you can continue to easily communicate.

Futures Learning PL in Term 4 Professional Learning item

Futures Learning supports continuous professional learning in the areas of innovative learning and teaching practice. We aim to support educators to see the potential of educational technology, learning space design and transforming learning experiences for students and teachers. Our high quality professional learning courses are available through the year. Check out our Term 4 calendar to see the great professional learning courses on offer.

FUTURE.stories - 3D Printing Peer item

One of the standout experiences at the Young Creators Conference held recently at the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences was the 3D Printing Learning Lab. This collaboration between The DoE's Technology for Learning Innovations Team and Cambridge Park High School, enabled students at the conference to learn all about both 3D design and 3D printing. Unlike typical student learning experiences, this one was led by students, for students. Read their great new FUTURE.story! Make sure you also check out all of the published issues of FUTURE.tech and FUTURE.stories at the T4Lengage site.

Visit Cambridge Park High School's FUTURE.Story

Also, take a look at our brand new FUTURE.tech page all about Edison Robots!

Brekkie with a Tekkie is back! Professional Learning item

Some readers will surely remember the early-morning casual learning videoconference series called Brekkie with a Tekkie from a few years ago. The T4L Innovations Team at ITD, together with special guests, are bringing it back as a monthly event! The first breakfast Adobe Connect webinar will cover:

  • What's new in Class Tech? - Greig Tardiani (ITD)
  • What's in my cupboard? - Cathie Circosta (Hoxton Pk PS)
  • School Focus - Adam Watson (Cambridge Park HS)
  • T4L News update - Stu Hasic (ITD)
  • Online chat - everyone attending

When: Wed, 1 November 2017 from 7:45 - 8:15am
Poster: Hang this in your staffroom
Where: Your staffroom via Adobe Connect
Who?: All of your staff are invited. Webcam / mic not required
BYO: Coffee cup and International Roast / Pablo

Click to print a poster for your staffroom!

ICT Thought of the day Fun item

Image: ICT thought of the day

Students as learning leaders Peer item

When it comes to spreading the benefits of integrating ICTs in the classroom, cross-pollination is often the most-effective way. That's what began out of a chance meeting between a teacher from Robertson Public School in the Southern Highlands and presenters from Gymea Bay Public School in southern Sydney at a tech afternoon held in term 2. That led to an email discussion which eventually grew into students and staff from Gymea Bay running a special week-long professional learning and sharing event for multiple schools around Robertson! Each day focused on doing something different in terms of digital learning with class groups - 3D printing, SeeSaw, robots, early learning and more. Throughout the days, students led much of the learning that was happening. Thanks to Gymea Bay for sharing this great video!

Click to watch this great video from Gymea Bay PS

BYOD survey results Information item

Thanks to all the schools that filled in our super-quick survey about BYOD in schools. The responses are helping provide us with greater visibility of the take-up of this option. If your school hasn't responded yet, the survey is still open. We'd love to hear from schools that don't currently offer BYOD, as well as those that do - and to what extent. Here are the interesting results so far:

Image: BYOD survey results - click for larger image

Google Drive File Stream News item

The Google Drive client that is used to sync Drive content with your Windows or Mac computer is discontinued. Google recently replaced it with Drive File Stream which can access Google Drive files on demand. The new client streams a user's Drive files directly from the cloud to a PC or Mac. This frees disk space on your computer and reduces network bandwidth consumption for schools. The other big advantage that Drive File Stream offers is the ability to stream content stored in Team Drives as well as your personal Drive. You'll need local administrator access to install File Stream on your device. We are currently investigating packaging the client for the eT4L Software Catalogue.

Say farewell to MyFiles News item

As advised in previous issues, the MyFiles service in the DoE staff portal will be decommissioned on 17 November 2017. Staff may still be using MyFiles as a method to access work-based data files from home. For those staff, an alternate solution will be required. For their home folder contents, users should take advantage of their provided Cloud storage services - Google Drive and Office 365 OneDrive. Some schools may also want to consider SharePoint Online or Google Team Drives as a way to make Faculty share content available for access by staff from home.

eT4L MacOS Build update News item

Apple MacOS Sierra (10.12) was first provided to eT4L schools as a standard build for their Apple iMac desktops and Macbooks at the start of 2017. When Apple updated their Mac devices mid-year, the eT4L build was no longer compatible, so these newer devices could not be netbooted via eT4L. ITD has been working on updating its MacOS Sierra build to ensure these newer models included in the T4L device roll out, can be joined to eT4L. Following testing in pilot schools, the solution has now been rolled out to all school eT4L Servers and is available for deployment to newer iMacs and Macbooks from Tuesday 24 October. Apple have recently released MacOS High Sierra and have changed the way it can be deployed. While schools are able to manually update Macs to High Sierra, it is not currently supported under eT4L or via EDConnect. Work will continue on developing standard solutions for newer releases of MacOS with eT4L.

Apple update coming up next

Apple education team update Information item

  • Apple iPad trade-up: Did your school invest in iPad 2? These devices are no longer supported by Apple and can't run iOS 11. Did you know you can trade-in these devices? Apple Retail offers up to $70 per iPad 2 when put toward purchases of new iPads. Contact your nearest Apple Retail store for more details.
  • Apple phone support: Reminder - As part of the department's agreement, Apple phone support is available for schools and staff, for ALL Apple products - not just new items purchased by the school.  If you have any questions just call EDConnect on 1300 32 32 32 then press 5 for IT support and follow the Apple Care prompt and PIN instruction. This service is also open after hours by calling Apple Care direct on 1300 760 237and quoting PIN 3232.

Schools with old Windows PCs Information item

ITD's Information Security Unit regularly monitors the DoE wide area network (WAN) for vulnerable devices that could risk the integrity of the WAN. Some schools still have devices connected to their network running Windows XP, Vista and 2000. Microsoft has discontinued security update support for these platforms and it is the school's responsibility to decommission and remove these old computers from the network as soon as possible, before the end of this year.

Image: Old PCs still on the network

Schools with old servers Information item

While the department provides eT4L standard servers to all schools, many choose to add additional servers that they use for a variety of purposes, such as:

  • Webservers for a school website or Moodle
  • Terminal Servers for remote access
  • Fileservers and NAS devices for additional storage

All of these servers are connected to the school's network which in turn makes them available on the DoE WAN. As such, they are the school's responsibility and it is imperative that these servers are maintained to ensure the integrity of the WAN. Server operating system security updates must be regularly applied and older Windows 2000, 2003 and legacy Linux servers should be removed from the network or upgraded to a supported operating system. If servers are required, they should be built as eT4L Member Servers. Please contact your local Schools ICT Support Team for advice on setting up an eT4L Member Server.

Images - Windows Server 2003 End of life

SketchUp for Schools in G Suite News item

Recently launched by Google for its G Suite for Education customers, SketchUp for Schools is now enabled in our G-Suite service. It is designed to work in Chrome browser on Windows/Mac and on Chromebooks. This browser-based version of the popular 2D/3D design and drawing tool automatically saves work in the user's Drive folder and is also integrated with Google Classroom. To access SketchUp for Schools, open your Google Drive then click on the waffle menu (nine dots) at the top-right of Drive (click More if not visible on the first pane). Some useful guides are also available online. For high schools needing professional drawing and modelling functions, DoE still offers SketchUp Pro 2017 for FREE for installation and use on Windows and Mac computers.

Renew your Adobe subscription Tip item

Many staff take advantage of the $12.25 annual subscription to access the full Adobe Creative Cloud suite. But as that first year runs out, it's important that staff follow the correct procedure for renewing their subscripion. To take advantage of this special price that DoE makes available to staff, please remember to visit the above (Kivuto) website to re-order a new subscription and obtain a new redemption code. That code can then be applied to your Adobe account to renew your subscription for another year. If you choose the option to renew your Adobe subscription from within your Adobe account, you'll be signing up for Adobe's regular pricing. Depending on the subscription option you choose, you may be locked in at this far higher price. Please advise staff at your school to avoid confusion.

More news.T4L in Week 6

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

NSW DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE