October 2012

 Tech Meeting—October 2012:  http://todaysmeet.com/wsfcstfoct12

Betty Weycker

• Staying focused at meetings
• Non-negotiables…keep discussions at tables to a minimum

Pilot Schools:

• Clemmons ES, Rural Hall Elem, Jefferson MS, Kernersville MS, Mt Tabor N. Forsyth

Grants

• There are a hundreds of grants out there for ipad, and other tablets but we are still testing with the pilots schools to determine which device works best with our infrastructure, so the answer is NO if teachers ask about getting those devices onto our network :(  
• She is NOT denying grant opportunities, just because something is "available" doesn't mean we can necessarily support it. 

Power School is the new NCWISE. 

• Pierson bought AAL, and they bought product called Power School.  It is just gonna happen if it’s ready  
• Go to www.ncwise.org  
• Left side, power school icon—FAQ:
•   http://www.ncwise.org/documents/power_school/NC_WISE_PwrSchool_FAQ.pdf

• Or check out more details here:  http://www.ncwise.org/powerschool.html 
  • What is the schedule?—currently implemented by August ‘13  
  • Scheduling will need to be in place early next summer.  
  • It is a good product, parents will especially love it.  
  • Getting it rolled out is Betty's concern  
  • As soon as training is available, they will set it up, if indeed it goes live in August  
  • Go to:  http://powerschool.com/ to look at demos—they are better on there.

EVASS: 

• DPI is now doing what WS was doing in terms of managing the data.  
• Will use email addresses out of NCWISE to manage Evass users  
• they have to populate email addresses in NCWISE 
• as a result email addresses  may start showing up in documents for ncwise

K2 report cards—should now say 2012-2013

Kevin Sherrill--Tech updates:/Wireless infrastructure

• Two wireless networks visible—  
• wsfcs_managed--Primary network for all domain members (laptops and desktops)  
• access it by being a member of active directory and pushes a certificate to those devices  
• With an “off domain device” you can currently authenticate with active directory user name and password

Wsfcs_MLC:  (mobile learning community network)

• Purpose--Getting ready for personal learning devices
• And Guest/off domain wireless network 
• Based on school number:  user for example:  556MLC 
• PW:  school (see tech facilitator)  
• Every school has that account right now 
• Also for vendors and guests who come to the school—call the help desk and get a limited guest account—rather use the guest account then the school MLC account 
• They will be issued on the fly, and will expire in the time frame needed 
• Otherwise Visitors who are long-term need to be loaned a machine to use

• In terms of connecting to an Ethernet wire, that is not supported but it works 
• Policies and procedures for letting people on the network is still in the works. 
• Only way to manage until that happens is to limit the MLC network 
• Long term they will want to use MLC—since it gives out bound internet only –for ipads, tablets, etc.
•  At that stage of the game until personal devices are approved for use in schools, it's just not proper procedure.

Dibbles issues explained

• Kevin will push a new image out to the server, and they will help people backup dibbles, synch before they log-off then do image and it has to go on a wire to update.

Dibbles machine names? 

• a "D" instead of an "I" ??—they will be put on our managed network—should alleviate some of the pain  dibbles has been.
  
• In order to disable MLC they will have to shut that off when dibbles reimage push out is done 
• They also will be turning off user authentication connecting with private devices 
• Will affect wireless tablets that school folks connect to wireless 
• All the personal devices will stop working once they close this user authorization down, (unless they use a wire) 
• Time frame on when they will open back up for personal devices will be announced at a much later date: 
• November 1^st is the date they will shut down the MLC except for the pilot schools 
• Should give everyone a chance to re-image the dibble machines 
• AP phones/Samsung smart phones—as long as the user account is still in the group that will allow user authentication they should still connect to the wireless-–Kevin has a group of mobile phone users 

*Requests for IP phones/classroom drops should be submitted through KACE not anything else

Surplus pickup for the Fall is coming/Carla Miller

• Include only desktops non working that can’t be fixed 
• Dead monitors 
• Still do not have a solution for TV’s unless you want to pay for it 
• VCR’s, dead cameras, 
• Old laptops that do not boot up 
• Blown projector bulbs, put in a zip lock if shattered glass. 
• Fall 12 surplus pickup on the tech facilitator webportal under "request for information folder":  Direct link here 
• Check out document 
• Little green arrow pointing out for check out 
• Most important--type of equipment, model if you have it, serial number, and asset tags helps with fixed assets, machine name if you know it, and ESN:  for computrace 
• If do not know ESN, at least try to get serial number 
• Click on Save 
• Due October 19^th—two weeks! 
• Carla will pull the information the following Wednesday. 
• Email Carla Miller directly if you have trouble 
• Piedmont e-cycling is the company in Kernersville who collects the stuff 
• Will start picking up during first week of November 
• All your stuff should be put in one location

Steven Anderson

•  Technology PD offerings 
• This year, they are "pushing" gaming for kids that are geared toward educational programming

Site for courses:

http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/44870

• Question: Training for Common Core?  integrating technology—TPACK is the one they offer. 
• ITES standards are not in isolation—people should talk to program managers for more ideas with technology integration.
• Moodle courses—some are worth .15 CEU's

School Wires:

• Principals asking to know when was the last time teacher websites were updated? 
• Webmaster can pull "last modified report" 
• Tools 
• Reports 
• Last modified report

• Tells also who all the editors are along with the date 
• Calendar does not show modified unless there is a change to the physical properties of the calendar--does not show as updated if only calendar dates are added 
• Can pull the report as an excel file to sort

Training for new webmasters:  wed oct 10^th

• Needs a email to Evan Herried from Principal

PTSA training—Oct 10^th from 8-11

• Also have to have permission from principal to Evan Herreid

Open labs—for School wires general help

• for general working on website  time—
• October 9th: 8:00-11:00
• Oct 10^th:  1:00-4:00

Learn 360/Melissa Edwards

• Melissa tells teachers to go thru learning village to access 
• Directions for adding new users were in the TBT, and will be again, and there is a page in KACE knowledge base page #65

User:  full email address

Pw:  wsfcs

• Administration tab (if you don’t have it, contact Melissa) 
• Manage locations 
• Search for a user, hit go 
• Will not let you create and account for someone who already has one 
• Add new button down at the bottom 
• Change role to a teacher 
• Password: make it default
• Alternate user name:  you can use active directory user name (saves me time when people forget what their log-in is) 
• Student accounts are wsfcsstudent number and password is also wsfcs

Betty:  Pilot /MLC

• We are looking at pedagogy, infrastructure, etc for the onslaught of new technology including Bring your own device (BYOD)
• Board did approve 1.8 million for purchase of laptops for 5^th grade, 8^th grade, and HS biology teachers
• They also asked for classroom solutions.  They approved Darrel Walker to go to commissioners to ask for funding for classroom solutions. 
• As of today, just PO for laptops has been completed 
• Teachers will have an edmodo group for support 
• WFU is still issuing laptops to freshman as of next year. 
• They are $400.00 and are two years old, no battery warantee, but has DVD drive 
• Leased Lenovo laptops (for $600.00 over three yrs) X131, laptop has considerably more memory than the WFU laptops, 
• Size is in between t410 and tablet 
• Battery lasts 6-8 hours 
• Does not have CD/DVD :(
• Budget is $350,000 to purchase/lease ~ 800-1000 this year
• Decided to continue a partial WFU purchase to provide some DVD’s  support mainly for DPI testing requirements. 
• Will take remainder of the money and gain ~ 2000 laptops from Lenovo 
• So, can have 2/3 of staff with lenovo laptops by Christmas 
• Pick up that last third of teachers with lease program later 
• Does not have final part of the WFU laptops with DVD numbers yet

Laptop Carts:

• Allocated laptops based on the class membership as of 10^th day 
• Cart with 28 laptops for classes of 24 on the books 
• Cart holds 32 
• Betty believes classes will have "more than they have to have" 
• These laptops do have to be plugged in (not like the Dell carts that slide in) but is an easy to manage plug setup 
• DOT will be at schools to help 
• Additional power adapters?  There maybe some 
• Middle and High Schools:  Carts of 32 for classes 28 and above 
• In some cases they will have an additional cart! 
• Every child who takes science should have a device 
• Betty will send us and principals with number of carts and number of laptops 
• If questions, email Betty and she will give better breakdown 
• She will start emails tomorrow

Deployment:   

• They need "to live" in the science rooms (Board members will be visiting) 
• “Have cart, will travel” –other teachers can check out 
• Mobile classrooms may need some tweaking in terms of classroom solutions 
• Nov 6^th is dedicated to training for science teachers—tech facilitators may attend 
• Middle Schools probably start January 
• HS, will get hit first with laptops 
• Dana Wright has testing calendar, and she will work with her to best accommodate high school’s testing schedule 
• Science teachers should plan on attending on Nov 6^th—every effort by principals to see that science teachers are there. 
• Hopefully should be enough devices for teachers to do the training on the Lenovo laptops—will be only mass face to face training—and will be at Glenn High School

Licensing:

• Operating system licenses... 
• 30,000 devices currently in the system 
• Getting ready to purchase ~ 10,000 laptops that need licenses 
• Ees enrollment foreducation licenses (agreement) 
• Now licences are based on the number of employees, once a year payment. Financially it’s a good thing and also get out of the version problems
• Advantage--Don’t have to monitor machine licenses anymore, also gives us "work at home" version for up to five licenses 

• PO went out yesterday on this agreement
• Lease:  36 month lease--~ 200 per year with licensing it ends up being cheaper than the value price of the laptop.  
• Could be at the end of three years they refresh them or buy out of the lease,  
• Goal is to get into a refresh cycle 
• In terms of school purchases (PTA’s etc.) , call them (Kevin) first to discuss the leasing option because the deal is so good. 
• Lenovo will support the machines 
• Betty will put details in TBT

Question:  Is lease only with laptops?

• It can be desktops or laptops and carts
• Do not color mark those machines for inventory—because it is a leased laptop 
• Have had conversation with Patsy Squire—to decide how laptops should be labeled

Classroom solutions: 

• Took out the response systems 
• Betty just needs county  commissioners to say yes

Channel 1:

• We get it free now 
• Channel 1 junior to test in classrooms (commercial free) 
• You can do on-demand—decent content 

Connect Your Community—phase 2

• We are one of 23 sites in the country—won the grant that will provide low cost internet access for low income schools (22 schools)  Time warner--$9.95
• Will also give access to low cost computers
• They don’t know exactly how the download will work at home, probably get a code,
• Laptops will not be checked out to students this year. 
• There will be training for active votes 
• Schools may have to do some creative moving since you just put them in science rooms 
• Don’t move a thing; contact Kevin first—may be easiest thing is to move a teacher.

Sidenotes:

• Best time for web-x sessions??  http://www.polleverywhere.com/web20classroom
• If you see tsunami, put in a KACE ticket 
• Update next Wednesday on classroom solutions 
• It will be a custom design plan 
• ?:  MMC:  replication process slow? 
• Netvistas with new “ees” agreement, trend will be going away 
• Microsoft forefrontanti-virus 
• You-tube for educators:  You-tube policy of one time in 24 hours? 
• Periodically WSFCS  also get panned by Youtube as spam because of 1 IP address 
• Try "watch knowlearn" and search for the video you have trouble with on youtube 
• Angela Wallace will send out a list of faculty and staff soon asking if it’s okay to delete old teachers 
• If you still have a teacher without a webpage, now you can put in a KACE ticket