Tech Notes 💻
☃️ January 2023 ❄️
Required Email Safety Training ⚠️
All staff have been receiving an invite to complete email safety training.
You'll receive it every Friday morning until completed. As of 1/19/23, over 60% of staff have completed it. We need this to be 100%. Seriously. We have had accounts compromised at the individual level and have been very fortunate to have thus far avoided any large-scale ransomware or breach event. We cannot allow for that to happen, and this type of training is one way to avoid such a fate. This is not a huge ask and it is not optional.
- An example of the invite email is shown below.
- The link will take you to the training.
- When you get to the training site click on Start Course.
- The training consists of three videos that should run consecutively once started and will take 6 minutes to watch. If you stop a video part-way you will be able to resume it where it was left off.
There is only so much we can do on a technical level to avoid having a compromised account or worse; ultimately it comes down to individual choices and being able to recognize, report, and resist potentially malicious communications.
Initial Email with training invite will look similar to this:
The training dashboard - click Start Course to continue:
Click the play button on the first video listed to begin the training.
Content should resume where it left off if paused or interrupted.
2018 MacBook Swaps
Reminder that we are about 2/3 of the way through making the rounds with staff who have a 2018 model MacBook. We need those to complete the process of updating the sub bags, which still have the 2015 model.
Sub Plan Google Share Drives
We are moving to a common format and implementation of how Sub Plans are housed within Google drive.
Here's where we will end up:
- All schools will use a SHARE drive called School - Sub Plans (School being the name or initials of the school).
- All teaching staff at the school should create a folder with, minimally, their last name. If there are any repeated last names in a building, you should duel for who gets to use it. No, add an initial or other indicator so that a sub can easily find the folder.
Why are we doing this? Mostly because it's the polite and professional thing to do in order to simplify the experience for the brave souls who sub in our district. And also because it takes a little bit of the guesswork out of finding material, makes it easier to set up sub devices, and helps with standardizing any training or onboarding materials for sub staff.
The drives are built. Any building with an existing non-Share drive version that needs assistance with migrating should designate someone to submit a help ticket so we can facilitate moving content over as needed. (Then again, clean slate! New year, new you!)
Printer 49.#### Errors
You try to print something, very likely a PDF, to an older HP printer, and it just sits there telling you it has a 49. something or other error.
What to do, what to do.
First, send that print job to PrintRelease, one of the newer copier/printers in the building.
Next, submit a help ticket so we can go in and clear out the job. It's going to be stuck there otherwise.
Those older HP printers (I'm looking at you model 4250 and 4015, especially) are workhorses and almost old enough to drink, but they struggle sometimes with certain types of files. They are ever so slowly being phased out, but we are (approaching) not (almost) quite (working on it) there (anytime now) yet.
Updates: ClassLink Launchpad
We are gradually rolling out the ClassLink portal for logging into common systems.
Single Sign-On (SSO) via ClassLink Launchpad
ClassLink will provide a portal which is a single point with which to access all district sites, apps, and resources. You will sign in once to the ClassLink portal using your district email and password and then be able to access Google, Canvas, and nearly every other digital resource without authenticating again. This will be available across every platform - Mac, iPad, PC, and Chromebook.
Login Integrations - Roadmap
Infinite Campus, Seesaw, IXL, Meet the Teacher, and certain HMH texts already are using ClassLink.
- Skyward is being switched to ClassLink login process throughout January.
- Additional integrations will be communicated as built or planned.
AI
To request tech help
The fastest and best way to get help is by opening a ticket using one of these contact methods. Less effective and in some cases inconsiderate: Sticky notes, direct emails, or giving out the direct phone extension of whatever tech person you happen to have known forever.
E-mail: helpdesk@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Web: https://whd.shakopee.k12.mn.us/
Phone: 952-496-5100
If you need a call-back please add a good number and time to contact you in ticket.
Whenever possible and necessary we may also use remote support tools such as Splashtop to assist you.
Details help! For instance, student name and ID number is useful when submitting a ticket in regards to a student issue. Or letting us know if you already tried common troubleshooting steps such as restarting. "Student 123456 had this specific problem on their iPad starting at 9 AM this morning." is a much more useful starting point than "I have student with a problem." We appreciate the detail and it helps speed up the process of resolving an issue.
📢 Please stop emailing tech staff directly! Try helpdesk@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Shakopee Instructional Technology Services
Email: helpdesk@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Website: https://techtools.shakopeeschools.org/
Location: 1200 Shakopee Town Square, Shakopee, MN, USA
Phone: 5100