links open in new tab


Issue 22 - 2017 │T1 │W6

 

Link - access past issues in the archive

Using Third Party Software: Risks Information item

Many principals are considering or have directly engaged the services of external IT providers of online teaching, learning and administration applications. Unlike Departmental systems, whose security and privacy is managed by the Information Technology Directorate, school principals take responsibility for third party systems that they install. In considering the purchase of particular products, important issues requiring consideration include:

  • Privacy implications of an online service including identity, health, academic, and financial/legal information;
  • Security of information;
  • Service provision and support.

An article on information security resources for schools, including an online security awareness module, is available in this issue of Technology News for Schools on page 3. An information pack that provides further assistance to principals on this complex issue will shortly be provided to schools. Advice and support is available from your local ICT Support team.

Interactive touchscreen panels Tip item

The department's Interactive Solutions catalogue contains a wide variety of projectors, interactive whiteboards (IWB) and interactive touchscreen panels for schools to purchase from DoE- contracted suppliers via the DoE Online Catalogue. In recent times, schools have been moving away from IWBs with separate projectors and looking to the convenience of interactive LED touchscreen panels. The catalogue provides schools with a wide variety of choice in this area. However, when a school contacts a vendor to demonstrate their products, the vendor may suggest looking at alternate devices that fall outside the range endorsed for T4L. Some newer panels offer the option of a built-in computer to save the need to connect a school computer, turning the device into an all-in-one system. The problem with this is that the built-in computer more than likely is not compatible with eT4L and cannot be F12-built. This means no easy access to file shares and printers, no remote software deployment and limited or no support if you have technical difficulties. Schools must not purchase touchscreen models not in the catalogue. Procurement Services Directorate and ITD are continuing to revise and refresh device offerings to ensure schools have access to the latest complying devices and technology available.

LED Touch Panel

Discretionary Hardware update News item

New model HP Windows notebooks for 2017 are being finalised now for discretionary purchase. As HP have refreshed their offerings, a significant testing and preparation process to ensure eT4L compatibility had to be completed. Two new model notebooks will be offered shortly - base non-touch and advanced touch.

Web Filtering in NSW DoE Information item

Web filtering is designed to provide a safe browsing environment for students and staff as expected by the community. The department uses centrally-managed filtering software by BlueCoat. This software classifies all websites according to their subject matter into filter categories. Teachers and students have different filtering access according to their year level, group and role. To assist teachers with identifying whether a desired internet resource is blocked for their students or not, simply use the Internet Filtering - Web Filter check tool under My Applications in the staff portal. If you believe a desired site has been incorrectly blocked, you can log a request to have the site reviewed, and if appropriate, unblocked for specific year groups. The web filter team receives on average, 700 requests per term from school staff to block or unblock sites and general filtering queries.

Office 2016 Templates fix News item

Since the release of Windows 10 for schools and Office 2016 being a core component, schools have been taking advantage of the new features in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. ITD subsequently received reports that in some circumstances, schools' Internet bandwidth was being impacted with traffic automatically generated by Office 2016 programs. Investigations determined that Office 2016 automatically updates its built-in design templates. After testing in schools and consultation with Microsoft, a fix was identified and released to all eT4L schools on Friday 24 February. This change at the back-end stops the automatic update feature for templates, reducing the impact of this feature in our environment. Design templates will continue to be available within the Office suite via manual download whenever needed.

Computer Science Unplugged Link item

Who says you need a computer to teach concepts of computer science? Many schools are introducing coding to their students as a great way to teach problem solving and critical and computational thinking. But perhaps introductions to coding should come through alternate learning activities? CS Unplugged is a collection of free learning activities that teach Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around. It was originally developed so that young students could dive head-first into computer science, experiencing the kinds of questions and challenges that computer scientists experience, but without having to learn programming first. Their principles page explains the rationale behind the innovative and practical activities offered. All of the activities included are open source, released under a Creative Commons licence, so you can copy, modify and share as desired.

Sorting activity

Google Search Education Link item

Effective internet searching is a critical skill for our students and staff to develop. Google Search Education is another useful educational resource from Google. The site offers multiple lesson plans at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The live training section offers a series of YouTube videos that teachers can present to their classes to reinforce their learning as well as develop critical and independent thinking skills. Students will be able to become skilled searchers and learn to analyse and critique search results.

ICT Thought of the day Fun item

Image - Thought of the day

Collaboration at Nowendoc PS Peer item

Nowendoc Public School is 70km from Walcha and a proud member of the Wild Rivers Alliance of small schools. They had a brilliant idea for a future focused, cross-curriculum learning resource in English and Visual Arts. Staff teamed up with education advisors in a writers' workshop to further develop it as part of Learning Systems’ Collaboratus project. The workshop and subsequent online collaboration was an authentic hands-on teacher professional learning exercise using today's learning tools and resulted in the newly released Collaboratus: Through the gate. Nowendoc's students road tested the idea and used OneNote to collaborate as designers, illustrators, writers, editors and curators to complete a multimodal text, "Why we love Australia". Their end products were made with Google Docs and Slides and turned into virtual art galleries using a range of online tools. Students were highly engaged as they participated in this learning and the DoE's online collaboration tools (Office 365 and G Suite) are now used daily for learning and teaching. Watch Nowendoc’s inspiring story on Filmpond and try out the Collaboratus: Through the gate resource with your own class.

Click to watch Nowendoc Public School's story

Looking for a network cabler? Information item

Network cabling is a critical part of any school's infrastructure and there are laws and regulations which apply to its installation. In government sites, including public schools, it is a mandatory requirement to engage government-contracted cablers. In addition, all cabling must follow the department's Structured Cabling Standards to ensure a quality outcome. The basic minimum standards are:

  • Cabling works should be engaged via Request for Quotation
  • All fibre and copper cabling must be as outlined in the DoE Structured Cabling System Specification document available from your local Schools ICT Support team
  • All new Cat 6 & Cat 6a cabling must be Low Smoke Zero Halogen with LSZH printed on the cable jacket
  • All new data outlets and patch panels to be labelled
  • Manufacturer's Certification and test results are to be provided to the school as per the department's standards

It's important to follow the standards and not risk the problems associated with hiring local electricians or cablers that are not government-contracted. Your local ICT Support team is able to assist with advice about your networking needs, developing an appropriate RFQ document and identifying suitable contractors. Select "Network patching/cabling" under "all other IT Support enquiries" when filling in the EdConnect online form linked above.

Cabling installed by government contracted professionals

Windows 10 on ex-DER laptops Tip item

Some eT4L high schools that have F12-built their former DER laptops (X130 and X131e) for Windows 10 have discovered the WiFi does not work and cannot be enabled using the keyboard function key. The problem has been confirmed and Lenovo are assisting with investigations. The reason the problem is only affecting some schools is because of a widespread DER work practice that suggested WiFi be disabled prior to refreshing DER computers for Windows 7. This practice causes the issue with Windows 10, where the built-in Lenovo software is unable to detect and enable the WiFi controller once Windows 10 is installed. Until Lenovo provide a fix for this issue, please ensure that WiFi is ENABLED on laptops before building to Windows 10.

Futures Learning PL options Information item

Futures Learning professional learning opportunities are now available for Term 1 in MyPL. Courses include:

  • Flexible Learning Spaces by Design
  • Innovative and practical professional development transitioned from MacICT

In addition there will be opportunities to attend a Future Focused Immersion Experience at the Futures Learning Concept Space, Australian Technology Park. Contact the Futures Learning team via email at FuturesLearning@det.nsw.edu.au or phone 9244 5506 for more information. You can also follow us on Twitter @FuturesLearning.

Flexible learning spaces

eBackpack closedown News item

In our previous issue, we advised about the final phase of the DER NSW program close-down. The closedown of the legacy eBackpack service is also now commencing. eBackpack allowed for limited cloud storage of student and staff data for all high schools and for primary schools that choose to opt-in to the service. It was accessed via a link in the DoE Portal. Plans are in place to:

  • freeze all eBackpack content created/stored by users from Friday 17 March - i.e. set to Read Only access
  • provide all existing users with a two-week period in which to access their eBackpack share and identify/download any files that they need to keep and save them in an alternate repository - eg. USB stick, OneDrive or GDrive
  • deactivate access to eBackpack on Friday 31 March and delete all remaining content.

If you have any problems accessing your files in eBackpack, please log a call with EDConnect.

More news.T4L in Week 9

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

NSW DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE