Week of November 28, 2022

Protect Yourself, Your Data & Your Students' Data

'Tis The Season....for giving and sharing.  However, it's also a high season for theft and scammers.  Please review the following to ensure you are protected 

@ TTSD...

1. Long-term (24hrs+) storage of student and staff data should be limited to TTSD file servers or TTSD Google Drive. Student and staff data on your TTSD laptop for longer than 24 hrs is not permitted....this includes your downloads folder.  
1. TIPS:
1. Develop a habit of emptying your "Downloads" every few days.
2. After downloading student (Synergy) or staff (IV) data on your laptop, use it immediately and delete it OR upload it to Google Drive and then delete it from your laptop.
2. Only use TTSD approved apps and software with students.  Using Google to log in to an online resource is not safe unless the vendor has signed a Data Privacy Agreement (check here to view TTSD approved apps if the apps you use are safe...please STOP using any that are not listed and place a tech request to seek guidance on getting the vendor to sign a Data Privacy Agreement.
3. Do not leave your laptop in your car.

@ HOME... 

1. Use secure passwords and a password manager like Bitwarden to help you manage your passwords.
1. Sign up for Bitwarden HERE (free version)
2. Install Bitwarden extension for Chrome HERE
3. Bitwarden Tutorial 
2. Do not use the same password for your bank, email, Google, Facebook, etc. Using Bitwarden (or another password manager) allows you to remember ONE main password and let the password manager provide unique passwords for each site you use. 
3. Be EXTRA cautious of "great deals" you find on an unknown website or through an email that sounds too good to be true.  

📌  BE SAFE; THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK!   

    

Down Day Weekend - Sunday, December 4, 2022

The first Sunday of EACH month is reserved for the IT Department to perform disruptive (but necessary) maintenance on our networks systems.  With 24/7 access to online resources for our staff and students, we have reserved the FIRST Sunday of each month to perform this work.

Please note Sunday there will likely be disruption to various systems that may impact your access to: TTSD accounts, network resources (wifi), internet filter and Mac/iPad "Self Service"

 

Week of October 31, 2022

Update Your Computer - Internet Filter & Mac OS

It's important that you complete a few necessary steps to ensure this weekend's work will be successful for you on Monday, Nov 7th.

If you have a TTSD Mac (Macbook laptop or iMac lab for your program), please follow these 2 steps by Friday Nov 3.  NOTE: Both steps below will restart the computer. Staff is advised to save all their work before attempting either action.

STEP 1: Upgrade LightSpeed Internet Filter

1. Open Self Service application.   
   
   
2. Click "Install" on "Lightspeed 2.0.2" 
   
   
   
   
3. Your computer will need to be restarted (please note you will need to know your to login after restart)

STEP 2: Upgrade your Mac to MacOS 12.6.1 (remember the importance of this from your recent 2022 Cybersecurity Canvas course training...)

1. Click the Apple icon (upper right corner) --> select System Preferences.                
2. Find and click "Software Update" 
3. Verify the update says Monterey 12.6.1, after doing so, click "Update Now".     
   
4. Your computer will restart (please note you will need to know your TTSD account to password after restart)

Update Your Computer - Internet Filter on Windows Computers

If you have a TTSD Windows (laptop or lab for your program), please follow the steps below when prompted on your device.

1. Your TTSD computer will prompt you to update your "LightSpeed" internet filter software in the coming days.  Please note this is a valid software update.  Please accept this prompt/update.  You will want to makes sure you have any open files saved as this will likely restart your computer on its own - if not please restart your computer after the installation is complete. (please note you will need to know your TTSD account to password after restart)

Down Day Weekend - Sunday, November 6, 2022

The first Sunday of EACH month is reserved for the IT Department to perform disruptive (but necessary) maintenance on our networks systems.  With 24/7 access to online resources for our staff and students, we have reserved the FIRST Sunday of each month to perform this work.

Please note THIS Sunday there will likely be disruption to various systems that may impact your access to: TTSD phone system, network resources (wifi), internet filter and Mac/iPad "Self Service"

Week of September 26th

 Down Day Weekend - Sunday, October 2, 2022

The first Sunday of EACH month is reserved for the IT Department to perform disruptive (but necessary) maintenance on our networks systems.  With 24/7 access to online resources for our staff and students, we have reserved the FIRST Sunday of each month to perform this work.

Please note Sunday there will likely be disruption to various systems that may impact your access to: TTSD phone system, network resources (wifi), internet filter and Mac/iPad "Self Service"

OCTOBER is Cyber Security Month 

Please be on the lookout for TTSD's own Cyber Security Course (invitation coming through Canvas - https://canvas.ttsdschools.org).  Please complete this class between Oct 3 and 14th.

Other useful resources to learn more about Cybersecurity Month:

• Teach Others How to Stay Safe Online
• Be A Cybersecurity Awareness Month Champion

Week of September 19th

Digital Resources for Students at TTSD:

As we have launched into the 2022-23 school year, there have been many requests about apps that our staff and students use on a daily basis.  Here at TTSD we take the protection of student and staff data very seriously.  Student and staff data should not be shared to an outside vendor without approval.  See below for how to request this for new apps/resources. Below are some highlights of the current TTSD approved apps in use, how to access them, and how to request something new:

1. What are the current approved TTSD apps for students?  Click HERE for a full list!
2. How do students access these apps?  Most TTSD approved apps are available either through Clever sign in/or ipad app OR Canvas (like Edgems, or the new Comprehensive Health Curriculum for secondary)
3. Found a new educational app that requires students to sign in?  Please complete the App Request form before using any digital resources/apps that require a student to log in.  IT will work with the vendor to sign the Oregon data confidentiality agreement to ensure our student data is safe.

Google Docs, Sheets & eMail Tips & Tricks

TTSD has been a Google Apps for Education district for over a decade.  However, every day there is something new we learn to do in Google Docs.  Here are a few fun tips and tricks:

• 
  Did you know in Google Docs...
• You can insert special characters using Insert >> Special Characters menu item? You can then search for the character or DRAW it to find a match.
• You can turn on speech to text to create your document using the Tools menu > Voice Typing?

• Did you know in Google Sheets...
• By highlighting the column header of the sheet after you have filtered, you will get a count of how many rows are remaining?

• 
  Did you know in GMail....
• You can learn a staff member's job title and phone extension by hovering over their name after entering it in the To: field on an email?

• Did you know in Google Calendar....
• You can enter the people you want to meet with in the "Meet With" box on the left and it will show you your schedule on top of their free/busy schedule to find the best time to meet. You can then click and drag the time slot you want and it will create an event with all of those listed in "Meet With" already invited.

And... How to Type Special Characters on a Mac:

Week of August 28, 2022

Welcome Back! 

Your TTSD "Back to School" Digital Check List:

ALL STAFF:

• Forgotten Password? 
• Call x4051 (IT Help Desk)
• 
  REMEMBER: You'll need to click "AdminByRequest" before installing... 
• new printer (Adding a new printer on a Mac computer)
• Mac and Windows computer updates (run updates weekly)
• anytime you are prompted to enter "an admin account"...
• Technical Issues?
• FASTEST way to get support is to Submit a Tech Request:
• LINK: Tech Request
• EMAIL: helpdesk@ttsd.k12.or.us
• Employee Access - Click here to Get set up!

ALL TEACHERS:

• Clever is already auto-rostering your classes into your digital resources
• LOGIN with Google
• What TTSD digital resources are available by adopted curriculum, grade level, subject? 
• TTSD App Dashboard
• Refine your search with Advanced Search - by grade, subject, 
  
• Canvas Quick Tips:
• NEW Teacher Template
• Publish your classes!
• Remind tool (access through Clever)
• How do I send class announcements?
• Top 10 ways to use Remind

ELEMENTARY: 

• All students & teachers should use Clever to log into: SeeSaw, Learning A-Z, Twig, ThinkCentral, and all other resources on their iPads
• Please no reward stickers (or any stickers) on student iPads 😳

SECONDARY:

• 2022-23 Canvas Course Setup Checklist for MS & HS - Cross listing, Grade Passback, etc
• G-W Comprehensive Health Skills - Middle & High School KB Article

HIGH SCHOOL:

• Lightspeed Classroom (replacing NetOp for High School for classroom management on Chromebooks)

Week of August 1st

 

Down Day Weekend - Sunday, August 7, 2022

The first Sunday of EACH month is reserved for the IT Department to perform disruptive (but necessary) maintenance on our networks systems.  With 24/7 access to online resources for our staff and students, we have reserved the FIRST Sunday of each month to perform this work.

Please note Sunday there will likely be disruption to various systems that may impact your access to: TTSD phone system, network resources (wifi), internet filter and Mac/iPad "Self Service"

Software & App Ready Dates for Fall 2022

Curious to know when you can begin accessing a particular system for the new school year with new 2022-23 student data? Please see overview below and detailed link at the bottom:

• July 19, 2022 = 2022-23 school year data initial load
  • Versatrans, Destiny, Blackboard, Synergy, SSAM, Titan/Nutrikids
  • iPad Apps assigned by (new) school available & (new) grade
• Aug 8, 2022 = 1st Clever Sync
  • sharing to include apps that share by school & grade
•  Aug 22, 2022 = 1st Synergy Gradebook sync (25th for MS)
  • Clever apps that share by classroom/course
  • Canvas courses created for teachers
  • Remind
  • iPad Apps assigned by (new) classroom available
• Sept 1, 2022:
  • Parent/StudentVUE available
• Sept 6, 2022:
  • student access to courses in Canvas

For a Detailed List of Apps by their 2022-23 Readiness Status, please visit: 
https://ticket.ttsd.k12.or.us/support/solutions/articles/19000062203

Week of June 13th

 End of Year Checklist for All Staff & Teachers

• Year-End Checklist: Teachers, Computers & Carts << LINK

End of Term GRADEBOOK Checklist (Canvas, INC, Synergy)

The end of the school year is a fast-paced time when everyone is looking to help students complete the term.  Please refer to the following KB articles to help you with Canvas > Synergy gradebook sync (make sure you know about "remaster grade passback" and how to support students who are receiving a grade of Incomplete ("I")

• Grade Book End of Term Checklist (Canvas & Synergy) << IMPORTANT
• Supporting Students Past Term End Dates in Canvas

Canvas Updates: Fall 2022

• "Google Assignments LTI" will be the primary Canvas integration for Fall 2022:
• Allows for a template/copy for each student
• SpeedGrader integration (available this summer)
• Visibility to "work in progress" for teachers
• You can REUSE your 2021-22 course content:
1. Identify the course that holds the information you would like to copy into a new course.
2. Go to the course that will receive the material you wish to reuse and select Setting > Import Content into this Course.
   
• Canvas is available for Summer Classes - please just submit a Tech Request to have a course made for you.  You will invite your students to your summer course (not rostered from Synergy)
• There will be NEW Course template for 2022-23 (Preview and Self-Enroll as STUDENT: https://ttsd.instructure.com/enroll/93LHLF)

Canvas User Guides for New Quizzes Feature:

1. What is New Quizzes?
2. Instructor Guide New Quizzes Lessons
3. Student Guide New Quizzes Lessons