Tech Notes 🖥️

Sites and software access and various types of information are consistently being added to the Launchpad.

The fastest and best way to get help is by opening a ticket using one of these contact methods.

Web: https://shakopee.incidentiq.com/ (Preferred)

E-mail: helpdesk@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.

If you email a tech directly for an item that should be a help ticket, it slows down the process. This is especially true if they happen to be out that day. Our expectation for professional courtesy is that the help ticket system be used when appropriate for the request.

We have implemented additional security measures for district Microsoft (shakopee.k12.mn.us) and Google (shakopeeschools.org) accounts. These measures will restrict logins to locations within the United States and Canada for all staff, students, vendors, and contractors. This initiative aims to further protect our district accounts and services from potential outside threats.

If you or a student require expanded access for specific accounts or events, please submit requests through the District Helpdesk (iiQ) under the following category:

• User Accounts > Security/MFA/2FA > Out of Country Access

All requests will be reviewed and assessed based on current cybersecurity threats associated with the requested destination country. (Also keep in mind that some systems such as Infinite Campus may block logins rom other countries regardless; nothing we do bypasses those types of security measures).

If student requests could come from counseling or admin staff, that would be preferable since it would imply that the request has been reviewed and deemed appropriate for that student's academic situation.

The community voted to renew the levy, and that is an immense relief in the immediate sense, and an opportunity over time to continue to maintain and improve our systems.

Most of our projects are mapped out well in advance, with some stretching out over years. Examples of multi-year projects are audiovisual system updates and the camera system overhaul. Renewal means we will be able to continue that work; it does not necessarily mean accelerating anything since there is still labor involved (we have a finite number of people and hours in the day).

Areas where there was more uncertainty pending the outcome include additional cybersecurity measures, physical security improvements and integration, potential replacement of the phone system (current system will no longer be supported by vendor as of 2028), and other projects. As always, we will be judicious and transparent with expenditures since funding like this is always rooted in public trust that their dollars are being used to benefit students and support a high-performing district.

Many of the items in the Shakopee Bookmarks list are now redundant since they can (and should) be accessed via ClassLink Launchpad. Therefore, over winter break it will be pruned to remove any of those redundant items. As we identify items for removal in the meantime, you'll notice a star at the end of the item name.

ELEMENTARY NEWSLETTER

MagicSchool AI

• Ideas for elementary teachers to use MagicSchool
• The latest MagicSchool updates: Lesson Hook, Role Play, Podcast Outline
• Customizing and sharing student rooms
• MagicSchool AI YouTube Playlist

Apple Classroom

• A brand new step-by-step video for using Apple Classroom (our Tech Tools article has been updated as well)

Seesaw

• Family engagement: Using Seesaw Messages
• Student engagement: Using student voice and video
• The latest Seesaw updates: Reading Fluency Assessment Tool and Focus Mode
• Seesaw Classroom Dailies
• Organizing your Seesaw Library
• Links to past Seesaw highlights like Formative Assessments, Seesaw Frames, and Presenting Seesaw Activities to your class

SECONDARY NEWSLETTER

• The latest MagicSchool updates
• A new Apple Classroom setup video
• Canvas Updates including AI summary/translation and updates to SpeedGrader
• Antimatter - a cool tool to try 😉

Staff & Student charts showing current version of macOS (as of this newsletter going out).

If you are a student with upcoming testing, we will start by encouraging, then requiring an Operating System update.

If you are on any macOS below version 14 (Sonoma) we will be sending reminders directly to device.

Everyone should be on macOS 14 Sonoma or higher. Running an operating system that is one or more versions behind can impact functionality and delay resolution of issues.

Notes for running updates found below; please start any updates via Self Service!

Reminder: Any iPad app, MacBook or PC software, on-line service, Google extension, or site that requires a login that is not currently documented or approved for use must be submitted for review via the digital resource request form.

Requests via the form will now automatically generate a help ticket for follow-up.

Also keep in mind that things can change. An app's terms of service or privacy policy may have been fine in the past but with a fresh review may not meet our expectations. Systems that were manually maintained in the past may need to be automated. There are many reasons to revisit a previously approved (or "grandfathered in") application.

Chart below shows completed, in-progress in and on deck schools for camera system improvements. Once the initial work is done at each school. we'll make a second pass through all buildings to address any areas that might have been missed or need a revision of some sort, and to replace a specific brand of digital camera (OnCam) that is functional but not as reliable as we would like (from the 2016 system updates where tech was forced out of the discussion by a certain former employee).

Here's a snapshot of how MagicSchool is being used so far this year.

We are continuing to make our way through lists of iPads and MacBook device swaps. Tech will reach out to you when a replacement device is ready.

MacBooks: Right now we are targeting MacBooks that are older than the M1 model (2021 or older, generally speaking); any we do not get to this school year will be handled next fall in next batch of devices.

iPads: Any pre-8th gen model iPad is scheduled for replacement; we still have well over 300 or so remaining so this effort will be on-going, likely through the remainder of the school year to get them all.

Linked below and available in ClassLink Launchpad, the Google Drive Guide is documentation on how to manage My Drive and Share Drive files. This is INTERNAL documentation (specific to us and proprietary) that supplements our existing notes on TechTools (also linked below).

Key takeaways: Be mindful of how files are shared. Share selectively, not globally.

Email: helpdesk@shakopee.k12.mn.us
Website: https://techtools.shakopeeschools.org/
Location: 1200 Shakopee Town Square, Shakopee, MN, USA
Phone: 5100