links open in new tab


Issue 29 - 2017 │T3 │W9

 

Link - access past issues in the archive

Your T4L computer device roll out News item

Following a very successful review that included feedback received during last year's roll out, we are relaunching and celebrating.

  • New items have been added to the T4L device list
  • This year's T4L units offer even greater value to schools
  • Better information and videos to showcase the products
  • All eligible sites are included in this year's roll out

The ordering window for this financial year's T4L device roll out opens on Friday, 15 September! A notification email was sent on Monday to the Principal and the school account, advising the T4L units allocated to your school. The new T4L roll out device list provides details and advice for each product, to help with planning your order. If needed, contact your local T4L representative for advice on device selection to best suit your school's needs. To ensure delivery during Term 4 rather than in 2018, please submit your orders using the T4L portal by Friday 29 September 2017. Any sites with outstanding orders will be contacted during week 1 of Term 4.

Click to visit the 2017-18 T4L device roll out page

Apple iPads now available! News item

Information Technology Directorate (ITD) is pleased to advise that DoE schools and corporate offices can now purchase Apple iPads directly from Apple Australia and shortly, via the eCatalogue. Three iPad models have been added to the list of Standard devices for schools:

  • Apple iPad Wi-Fi 32GB - 9.7"
  • Apple iPad Wi-Fi 128GB - 9.7"
  • Apple iPad Pro Wi-Fi 256GB - 10.5"

In addition, the first two models above have been included as options on the T4L device roll out, listed at 0.75 and 1.0 units respectively.

Visit our new iPad Pro page

Join us at our first iPad webcast! News item

ITD is also working with Apple to deliver a series of webcasts over the coming months, to explore powerful ways of teaching and learning with iPad. Our very first webcast will be held next week, where you and your staff can see three great apps for the classroom. We'll also be sharing useful learning resources for teachers and some new tips and tricks for getting the most out of iPad. There'll even be opportunities to ask questions of the Apple Education team via the online chat function in Adobe Connect. Be sure to gather your colleagues and register your school for our upcoming half-hour session on Wednesday 20th September at 3.30pm.

RODC removal in eT4L schools News item

The majority of schools still have a Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC) enabled on their eT4L server and plans are in place to remove all remaining not-required RODCs by the end of Term 1 2018. In plain terms, an RODC is a copy of DoE’s main user database and directory (DETNSW.WIN), stored locally on the school’s eT4L server. Following testing at 40 sites earlier this year, approval was granted to remove RODCs from all school sites. No outages are expected, however affected schools should be aware of their scheduled RODC removal date and report any issues with logging onto devices that day. Further details and a link to the schedule are available on the RODC Removal info page.

Click to see the RODC Removal info page

eT4L Primary server refresh pilot News item

As advised previously, the eT4L servers and older uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) in all of our primary schools and SSPs are due for replacement. A pilot of ten schools was successfully completed last week and this week we commence with the delivery and installation of the new hardware at another 60 schools in the Macquarie Park and Ultimo education areas. All affected schools in these areas will be emailed to both the school and nominated contact accounts. The email includes details of the expected server delivery date and subsequent installation date by DELL's technicians. Your co-operation in assisting DELL to ensure a smooth transition at your school is appreciated. The plan involves completing the installation at all Macquarie Park and Ultimo schools during term 4. All remaining schools in the Tamworth and Wagga Wagga education areas are planned for installation during early 2018. Further updates on this important project will be in news.T4L next term.

FUTURE.stories - Wattle Grove PS Peer item

Students from Wattle Grove Public School are confident using a range of technologies. From Windows 10 PCs to iPads and a range of robotics, they are equipped for a multi-device connected world. They've shared their journey in a new FUTURE.stories feature, to provide other schools with examples of how offering a range of devices enables a variety of different needs and learning scenarios to be met effectively. Make sure you also check out all of the published issues of FUTURE.tech and FUTURE.stories at the T4Lengage site.

Click to read the latest issue of FUTURE.stories

Apple's Women Leading Learning Professional Learning item

Apple presents a fantastic opportunity in January during the school vacation, for female high school teachers. Their FREE Women Leading Learning: Coding Summer Camp event is designed to empower female educators to drive the coding curriculum in their school. This three day event is hosted in Sydney, but accommodation and meals during the workshops are provided free of charge. Interested applicants must:

  • Teach Years 7 - 10 (any learning area)
  • Have their principal's support to attend
  • Have their own compatible iPad to bring to the event
  • Have access to a class set of iPads back at school

You'll learn how to use Swift Playgrounds with your students, regardless of your level of experience with coding. The lessons highlight key coding concepts, while demonstrating how coding is a way of thinking you can apply to other subjects and to everyday life. Register your interest early - closes Wed 20 September!

ICT Thought of the day Fun item

Robotics at Narranga PS Peer item

Narranga Public School in Coffs Harbour have put together a great video to show everyone how they are all continuing to learn through robotics. Students, pre-service teachers, classroom teachers and executive have been working together to learn new skills in coding and robotics. What began as a Stage 3 project led by classroom teacher, Jessica Wilson, has been developed into a K-6 whole-school focus. "Robotics has been fantastic, in that it has allowed us to all learn together," says Assistant Principal, Nicki Chaffey. Watch their exciting learning by clicking the play button.

Click to watch Narranga Public School's video

Quick BYOD survey update Information item

In the previous issue of news.T4L, we included a super-quick survey about BYOD in schools. 250 schools responded and helped 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. We'll aim to provide a detailed snapshot of the results in our next issue.

Apple Care via EDConnect News item

As part of the department's new agreement with Apple, all sites now have access to Apple technical and user support via Apple Care. To make this easy for schools to access, commencing Monday 18 September, just call EDConnect on 1300 32 32 32 then press 5 for IT support and follow the Apple Care prompt and PIN instruction. You'll be automatically transferred to Apple Care where you can get troubleshooting support for Mac and iPad. You can even ask for user support for Apple apps and software, if you have questions about using iMovie or other iLife and iWork programs. This service is also open after hours by calling Apple Care direct on 1300 760 237 and quoting PIN 3232.

Google Team Drives for staff News item

Hot on the heels of the launch of SharePoint Online for all DoE staff that was announced in the previous issue of news.T4L, from 25 August, Google's Team Drives was also launched. Staff will notice a new Team Drives link when they go into Google Drive using their DoE Google account. As we draw closer to the decommissioning of MyFiles, tools like SharePoint Online and Google Team Drives will offer practical cloud-based shares for alternatively accessing work files. While students are unable to create their own Team Drives, teachers can invite their students to existing Team Drives that they have created. We hope you find both of these great team collaboration tools useful!

Google Earth Web launched News item

Google Earth Web is now included for all DoE G Suite users!
A link will be added to the G Suite portal page, but as of now, as long as you have signed into the portal and are using the Chrome browser, it can be accessed using the above link. By signing into G Suite before launching Google Earth Web, the places you explore can be saved and retrieved. Enjoy discovering our planet without the need to download and install the separate Google Earth program - which means it also works on Chromebooks!

Image: Google Earth for the Web

Free alternative to AirServer Link item

Many teachers use AirServer or Reflector as a handy tool for wirelessly projecting their iPad screen to the data projector at the front of their classroom. While both of these tools work really well by using AirPlay to communicate to the PC or Mac connected to the data projector, there is a licence fee for each computer. Recently, Audrey Nay from Sandy Beach PS shared details of a free alternative program called Lonely Screen. This tool provides no-frills wireless screen sharing for iPads for both Windows and Mac, that works really well - and it's completely free!

Web content search filtering Information item

Our Web Filtering team regularly receives requests from schools about blocking and unblocking sites. Recently, questions relating to the Google or Bing search engines on student BYODs have been logged. Whenever any device is connected to the NSW DoE wired or wireless network and the user authenticates to the DoE proxy, the SafeSearch setting is automatically enabled and will apply - even on BYO devices. Like any active filter, Google SafeSearch and Bing SafeSearch aren’t 100% perfect, but it does help with filtering out explicit content across images, videos and websites, to stop it from appearing in the search results. There may be times where content may appear in the results, that might not seem age appropriate. We encourage teachers to provide another layer of protection through classroom supervision. In addition, helpful teaching resources can be found at the department's digital citizenship site.

Image - SafeSearch filtering

Have you set your profile pics? Tip item

Your accounts on the department's Email and Google's G Suite can both have a profile pic (jpg) attached. This helps your content and contributions stand out in a sea of grey avatars when collaborating using these tools. To upload a new photo, it's best if the image is square to start with and around 500 pixels wide. To update your staff Email photo, you must use Internet Explorer 11.

Make sure the photo you choose for your profile is appropriate for work, as it represents you.

Adobe digital creativity PL event Professional Learning item

  • Would you like to learn how to use Adobe’s suite of tools to enhance your teaching and learning programs and engage your students?
  • Have you ever visited ITD's office at Australian Technology Park in Eveleigh?

Now you can do both. DoE's ITD, Learning Systems and Adobe, are running a special, free professional learning event for NSW DoE primary & secondary teachers who are interested in enhancing digital creativity in their classrooms using their Adobe tools. This is an all-day, hands-on event run by NSW Adobe Education Leaders, NSW DoE staff and Adobe experts. It relates to a wide range of (AITSL) Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and will shortly be listed as a registered course in MyPL. The event will be held on Wednesday, 18 October and places are limited. Get full details and register your interest in attending today!

Image - Join us at this great PL event

More news.T4L in Week 3

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