Monday, November 30, 2020

Technology Update (Week of November 30th)

THIS Weekend = Maintenance: We reserve the first weekend of each month to perform system and network maintenance to ensure the heath and security of our computer systems.

  • Please anticipate possible interruptions in service on Sunday, December 8th (email, Synergy access, Google Drive login, etc.)
  • Communication will be sent to families/students as well.


Monday, Dec 7th, we will be placing a new security feature when you login to the Employee Portal.  Beginning Monday, login to the Employee Portal will now require two-factor authentication for your security and you will be prompted for a code that will be emailed to you.

Status Update for Common Apps: Canvas, Meet/Google, Synergy, TTSD WebFilter: As we continue to maintain all systems related to Comprehensive Distance Learning, there are times when systems or services fail or are slow to respond.  

  • Please visit the TTSD Knowlegdgebase website (http://kb.ttsd.k12.or.us) for status updates on these popular, widely used apps:


Sunday, November 22, 2020

Technology Update (Sunday, November 22, 2020)

  1. MORNING EMAIL SENT TO ALL STUDENTS, grades 5-12: Over this past weekend, all K-12 TTSD student Google account profile pictures were changed to student school photos.  During a time when teachers cannot physically meet in a classroom with you, it's more challenging for them to get to know all of their students. By making your student account profile picture your student photo, it makes it that much easier for teachers to connect with students -- and for them to recognize faces with names.

  2. REPORT CARDS (QT1):
  3. Reopening 2020 - Digital Resources for Quarter 2





Sunday, November 15, 2020

Technology Update (Sunday November 15, 2020)

  1. IPad Battery Life - iPads are not capable of live streaming a video conference (like Google Meet) for 4 hours straight without being charged or plugged in during the day.... 
    1. The IT department is getting increased calls from concerned parents regarding their iPads not staying charged all day while staying connected to Google Meet during classroom “breaks” or work time.
    2. Battery hardware issues? = iPads that cannot hold a charge for an hour. Troubleshooting - look for the charging battery icon on the iPad, close unused Safari tabs/windows (we’ve seen some students with 100s of tabs open), try a different outlet or cable, try using the iPad while plugged in during class.  
    3. When students are not actively participating in a live class, students should DISCONNECT from Google Meet.  Keeping Google Meet active for hours at a time requires a LOT of bandwidth and battery life, which may require iPads be plugged in. 
  2. November 16th: Quarter 2 = NEW TERM!
    1. Check out the KB articles to help you set up your new course cards (MS & HS teachers):
      1. https://kb.ttsd.k12.or.us/articles/view/846
    2. Elementary Teachers: Look for new grading period (Quarter 2) to help “Reduce the clutter” in your Canvas grade book, beginning November 19th!
  3. Fine Tuning your Online Classroom:
    1. Google Meet:
      1. Breakout rooms = small group work and discussions to build opportunities for student=talk
      2. Troubleshooting?  Update Chrome browser, close extra tabs and applications, minimize the number of “extra” applications you may have open/running (AirServer, Jabber, etc.)
        1. TIP: try connecting to Google Meet off your iPad/Chromebook and share your screen using this 2nd device...
    2. Canvas Features/Tips:
      1. To Do list details
      2. Notifications = where to easily find Teacher Comments
      3. New Analytics“:
        1. Guide for teachers View course grade and participation analytics, Send a message to all students based on specific course grade or participation criteria
        2. Guide for Students: Student-specific overall grade, online participation, communication

    3. Digital Resources that use Clever:
      1. Looking for a direct link to digital tools that use Clever?  (RazKids, Adelante, iReady, Naviance, etc. ) Complete this form to have the resource added to your Canvas Course menu(s): Canvas Menu Link Request



Friday, October 30, 2020

Weekend Technology Maintenance - Potential Interruptions

Parents, Students & Staff,

As a Technology Department, we reserve the first Sunday of each month to perform maintenance on our network/system maintenance to avoid multiple interruptions throughout the month. We always try to keep interruptions to a minimum. 

This Sunday, November 1st is our regularly scheduled technology maintenance "down-day."  

 

Please plan accordingly for potential interruptions to the following over this weekend:

  • ALL STUDENTS: Login through Google to resources . This could include access to: Email, Google Docs, Canvas, StudentVUE. 

  • HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS: Additionally, this may impact login to student Chromebooks.  We recommend not performing any Chrome OS updates over the weekend.

  • K-8 STUDENTS: Student iPad access to Self Service (to download Apps) - beginning Saturday

 

Please look for additional information this next week from your schools on updating your devices and apps to keep them up to date for best success!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Padres, estudiantes y Personal,

 

Como departamento de tecnología, reservamos el primer domingo de cada mes para realizar el mantenimiento de nuestra red / sistema para evitar múltiples interrupciones durante el mes. Siempre tratamos de mantener las interrupciones al mínimo. 

Este domingo 1 de noviembre es nuestro "día de inactividad" de mantenimiento de tecnología programado regularmente.  

 

Por favor planifique debidamente por posibles interrupciones de lo siguiente durante este fin de semana:

  • TODOS LOS ESTUDIANTES: inicie sesión a través de Google para acceder a los recursos. Esto podría incluir acceso a: correo electrónico, Google Docs, Canvas, StudentVUE. 

  • ESTUDIANTES DE LA ESCUELA PREPARATORIA: Además, esto puede afectar el inicio de sesión en los Chromebooks de los estudiantes. Recomendamos no realizar ninguna actualización de Chrome OS durante el fin de semana.

  • ESTUDIANTES K-8: Acceso de iPad para estudiantes a Autoservicio (para descargar aplicaciones) - a partir del sábado. ¡

 

Por favor busque información adicional de sus escuelas la próxima semana sobre cómo actualizar sus dispositivos y aplicaciones para mantenerlos actualizados para mejor éxito!


Wednesday, October 28, 2020

Update from Technology (Week of October 26th) - Down Day Sunday is THIS weekend!


November Network "down day" This Weekend

  • Sunday, November 1st "Down Day"
  • Please communicate to your families during conferences:
    • No App download from Self Service - Sat & Sunday
    • Sunday afternoon - reinstall most used iPad Apps Canvas Student, Google Meet, etc. 
  • Email and text communication will also be sent to our families Friday to explain how some services may not be available (like iPads' Self Service) over the weekend.


Parent Tips for Canvas

  • Canvas Parent App: 
    • Quick access to:
      • Class grade
      • Missing/Late Assignments & Alerts
  • Web Browser Canvas Access (even on a mobile device): https://ttsd.instructure.com
    • Missing/Late Assignments
    • To Do List (Up Next) for all students/children
    • Comments from teachers >> Found under Grade Menu


G Suite Enterprise for Education 

  • At the end of September Google ended their "Free" access to G Suite Enterprise for Education.  We renewed our licensed with Google Enterprise to gain advanced features of Meet, including:
    • Larger meetings (up to 250 participants)
    • Live streaming for up to 100,000 in-domain viewers
    • Record meetings
    • Attendance reports
    • Breakout rooms
    • Q&A
    • Polls
  • If you do not have these tools, please place a tech request and we will work with you and your TTSD account. 


HP Printer Issues

  • Some crazy new printer errors are popping up on Macs who are trying to print to HP printers.
  • If you see the following message, please submit a tech request for a quick fix.



Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Google Meet Released Breakout rooms, Polls and Q&A (for browsers)

Creating "Breakout Rooms" & "Polling" with Google Meet:

  • The "long awaited" polls and breakout room function is now (slowly...) coming to TTSD staff, beginning today.  This new feature will roll out slowly across our district.  To see if you have it, within a Google Meet session, look in the upper right corner by Chat and your icon and you may see this new tool (see screen shot).  It appears TTSD students have use of these tools when using Google Meet through a browser, like Chrome or Safari.

  • As we begin our testing of this new feature, we will continue to update this KB article with tips and tricks.  At this point in time, we know using Google Meet on an iPAD using SAFARI browser allows for the use of these new tools for students as well.  We will continue to test and research regarding the Google Meet app to see if these features will roll to the app as well.  

Highlights - Canvas Assignments, Screen Recording, Teaching Online


Monday, October 5, 2020

Technology Update, Monday October 5, 2020 (Middle School Students & Staff)

 

Hello Middle School Parents and Middle School Staff:


This weekend we performed our monthly network maintenance.  We also completed a transition back to our original internet filtering process  for all middle school students.  This morning (Monday, 10/5/2020), between the work performed over the weekend and this additional change that needed to be pushed out to our 6th graders' iPads, we had an issue with students using Google Meets during their Morning Meeting.  I apologize for the disruption and lack of communication to our 6th grade families over the weekend notifying them of this change. 

To ensure your child's ipad is working properly, please:

  1. Log into the "TTSD Web Filter" (before 11pm or after 6am [due to curfew restrictions back in place]) 
  2. Open the "Self Service" app  
  3. "Reinstall" Google Meet  

And, as always, please remember to continually check for iOS updates and run any that appear (Settings >> General >> Software Update).  The newest version for TTSD iPads is iPadOS 13.5.1.

Thank you.


Susan Barnard

IT Director

Tigard-Tualatin School District

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Google Meet Grid View, Updated = REMOVE Meet Grid View Extension


Google Meet now has the capacity to host a grid as large as 7x7 (49 "tiles") in the Chrome browser on Macs, Windows & Chromebooks.  To access this new feature...

  • Click the three dots in the lower right corner while participating in a Meet
  • Choose "Change Layout"
  • Select "Tiled" 
  • Use the slider bar at the bottom to select the # of tiles to display.



See below to uninstall... 




Uninstall an extension

  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Select More  and then More tools and then Extensions.
  3. Next to the extension you want to remove, select Remove.
  4. To confirm, select Remove.

Tip: To remove an extension that's a button on the browser toolbar, right-click the button and select Remove from Chrome.







Friday, September 25, 2020

Update, Friday September 25th

 Top Technology Tips for Staff:

  • Google MeetWhat You Need to Know! - best practices and options for securely hosting Google Meets to minimize unintended guests. 
      • Q: How can attendees enter your Google Meet session?
      • Q: How do you remove someone from your Meet session?
      • Q: How can students join by phone?
        • A: During the Meet, click Add People and enter the student's phone number to call the student/family into the Meet. 

  • Keep it Simple
    • As we end our 2nd full week of Online School 2020, focus on the basics: community, connection, routine and getting to know the BASE tools: Meet, Canvas, Google Docs.
      • Review the Digital Resources to Support Reopening 2020 list of "intro" apps to build a strong foundation for students/families to get use to their student devices and a TON of new tools.
      • In Canvas, keep your assignments simple.  Use one submission type multiple times (JUST use the media submission or JUST use the textbox, etc.). Students need to experience success on submitting their assignments so they can focus on the lesson and not the tool for submission.

Keep up the Great Work!  Some amazing stats this week:
  • 1200+ Google Meet sessions hosted THIS WEEK alone
  • 11,250 unique users connected to Google Meets THIS WEEK alone (more than TWICE the maximum attendees this past spring)
  • Elementary school Canvas activity (since Sept 14, 2020)
    • Assignments = 78,358
    • Discussion Topics = 1,697


Sunday, September 20, 2020

Update from Technology (Week of Sept 21st)

Welcome to the SECOND week of TTSD online school! Here are some updates from last week and tips for this upcoming one:


  
 






Friday, September 18, 2020

K-5 Network Issues (8:35am Friday)

 We are still experiencing network issues with our internet filter.  Today is grades K-5.  We are working quickly to remedy this issue for the rest of the day.  Please try to join your class again after ~5min.  Thank you.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Technology Status Update - 9:34am

As a district, students in grades K-8 continue to see network problems when the majority of our K-8 students simultaneously join a live video session (like Google Meet).  We had this issue again today at 9:04am. Please visit the technology blog website (http://techblog.ttsdschools.org) or subscribe to TTSD_Tech Twitter (https://twitter.com/TTSD_TECH) to watch for continued technology updates.

Monday, September 14, 2020

1st Day of School - Recap

Hope you all had a very good first day of school.  It was certainly filled with new experiences.  We fixed the internet filter issue this afternoon. We will continue to watch it very carefully tomorrow.  Thank you for your patience!  

NOTE:  Please make sure your Google Meet links are active and prominent on your Canvas home page 😆

1st Day of School! 2020-2021

 We are experiencing some capacity issues with our TTSD internet filter for our students in grades K-8 using iPads. We are working to resolve the issues.  The symptoms are student getting kicked out of Google Meets and getting a message that "...could not open the page -- Server stopped responding"

Thursday, September 3, 2020

More About Meet Features

 Update sent by Google today, September 3,2020:


A safer, more engaging Meet experience

Earlier this year, we announced new features coming to Google Meet to improve moderation and engagement. Today, we’re sharing more details about these upcoming launches and when they’ll be available. Here are a few highlights:

  • In September, we’ll kick off with a larger tiled view of up to 49 people and an integrated Jamboard whiteboard for collaboration. We’ll also release new controls so moderators can choose to always join first, end meetings for all participants, disable in-meeting chat, and much more.

  • In October, we’ll launch custom and blurred backgrounds to provide some extra privacy. Breakout rooms and attendance tracking will also be launching for all Google Enterprise for Education customers, allowing for more engaged classes and insights on participation.

  • Later this year, we’re rolling out hand raising for all customers and Q&A and polling for G Suite Enterprise for Education customers. Plus, we’ll launch a new temporary recordings feature which will be available to all Education customers for free (premium recordings will still be part of G Suite Enterprise for Education). 

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

New Features Coming in Google Meet - September & October

Interactivity in Meet 



Opportunities for interactivity are critical for distance learning and we’re sharing new features to increase engagement with your students virtually:

Launching in September

  • A larger tiled views with a 7x7 grid so you can see up to 49 students at once 

  • A collaborative whiteboard with Jamboard in Meet so you can encourage students to share ideas and try creative approaches to lessons 

Launching in October

  • Blur or replace backgrounds so everyone feels more comfortable during distance-learning classes. Note: Admins can disable custom backgrounds as needed.

  • Attendance tracking to see and track which students attended virtual class (G Suite Enterprise for Education) 

  • Breakout rooms so educators can split classes into simultaneous small group discussions (G Suite Enterprise for Education) 

Launching later this year

  • Hand-raising to help you identify students who may need help or have a question 

  • Q&A features to provide a way for students to ask questions without disrupting the flow of the class discussion or lesson, and polling to engage students to share their voice (G Suite Enterprise for Education) 

Sunday, August 9, 2020

TWO Weeks of In-Person STAFF Technology Support (M, W, F : 8-11am) @ Hibbard

Hello TTSD Staff,

If you have a question about your TTSD technology-issued device or need to pick up/drop off a device, we are creating times for you to stop by Hibbard Admin Building on M, W, F for two weeks, beginning August 10th through August 21st.  A technician or support person will be available in the Hibbard Board Room from 8-11am. on these 6 dates.  

You will need to:

  1. Submit a Tech Request
  2. Indicate WHEN you would like to stop by on M, W, F  8-11am on Aug 10, 12, 14, 17, 19 or 21st. 
  3. Wait for a confirmation on the date and time from a Technology staff member.
  4. When you arrive....
    1. Please ensure you are wearing a mask/PPE.
    2. Bring your device with you.
    3. Sign in at the front desk.
    4. Wait outside/in your car for the Technician to call you in (please watch the door).
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we try something new to improve our ability to support you during this time & prepare for fall reopening. 

Monday, June 8, 2020

End of Year IT Department Warehouse "Fire Sale" for iPad 6 Gen.

We have five "iPad 6 Gen" (last year's model) available at 50% discount

  • Instead of $294, we are offering these last 5 @ $150!  FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED.  To secure your order/purchase, you must work with your bookkeeper to enter a warehouse requisition in Infinite Visions. 

NOTE: The iPad 6 isn't the most current iPad version, but this is a STEAL for an ipad that works with the Apple Pencil!


Possible Jabber Issues this AM

The Technology Department is looking into a possibly issue with Jabber (home/software access to your TTSD phone) this Monday morning.

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Update, Week of June 1, 2020

TOP TECHNOLOGY TIPS FOR STAFF




  • ALL TEACHERS: Please complete this Classroom Instruction & Technology Tools before June 9th.
    • And... please look for the corresponding student survey with instructions to post in your online classroom.

  • All students in grades K-11 (with exception of 5th grade and 8th grade and students who know they will not be returning to TTSD in the fall) will keep their devices over the summer for continued learning (See TTSD Summer Reading Challenge through SORA).  
    • (incoming) 9th graders will pick up their Chromebooks & 6th graders will pick up their iPads after July 1st. See your school for details on (current) 5th grade and 8th grade device drop off times.





Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Update, Week of May 25, 2020

TOP TECHNOLOGY TIPS FOR STAFF





1. Quarter 4 Report Cards: 

It's about that time of year again - time to post grades! 
 
Elementary school report card window opened this week.  Secondary school grading window opens June 8th.  This year, the process is the same as always, but there are a few modifications due to Distance Learning.  As always, there is a knowledgebase article available to support you during this time.  Specific links to your grade level grade book and grade posting can be found here:





2. Using Grid View in Google Meet these days - and all of a sudden it stopped working correctly?


Grid View has recently updated their extension - you'll need to update it to get it working correctly again. 
 
1. Click on the GRID icon in the upper right corner of your Chrome Browser and select "Please Install Chris Gample's official release..."(bottom)


2. And click on the "Add to Chrome" button














Wednesday, May 13, 2020

EMAIL SCAM: "Are you available?"

ALL STAFF:

There are several versions of the "are you available?" email message being sent to TTSD from what looks like your principal, but comes from a NON TTSD staff email account.  Please always:
  • Be aware of the SENDER's email address before you respond
  • If it seems like an odd request - contact the individual directly (phone, text, start a new email message to them, etc.)
  • Purchasing requests via email for gift cards are not allowed.
  • If you think that you found spam or a phishing email, please use the "Report spam" button at the top of Gmail.

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

TTSD Email Update :: "Delivery Status Notification (Delay)"

Our email archiving system is having some troubles with the amount of emails being sent during a given period of time.  We are working to resolve this issue, but if you see the following message, please note YOUR ORIGINAL EMAIL HAS SUCCESSFULLY BEEN SENT to the recipient. This is only the copy of the email for the archiving system at TTSD that has been delayed.  We are working to get rid of these notices to our users.  No action is required by you.  You may delete these notices.  Thank you.


Monday, May 4, 2020

Update, Week of May 4, 2020

TOP TECHNOLOGY TIPS FOR STAFF


teacher appreciation

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week TTSD Teachers!


AMAZING TTSD TEACHERS!
Look what you accomplished in April 2020:
    • 4800+ GOOGLE Meet VIDEO SESSIONS
    • 3000+ hS students regularly using TTSD chromebooks @ home
    • 7500 ES and MS students regularly using TTSD ipads @ home
    • 403,117 student Google files (107% increase)
    • 2.8M student emails (+70% increase)
    • 2000 active google classrooms, with 10,000+ posts
    • SEESAW: Last week alone per school: 9000 posts, avg. 600 parent visits 


REMOTE LEARNING SUPPORTS:







Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Update, Week of April 20, 2020

TOP TECHNOLOGY TIPS FOR STAFF


1.   Google Meet UPDATE  



    1. By Invitation
      1. Limits both WHO & WHEN Meet link is available
      2. Recording available to all invited guests
    2. Post a URL 
      1. Easy to share link to join (SeeSaw / Google Classroom post).
      2. Must "admit" each attendee outside TTSD staff Google domain. (ie students)
      3. Must "remove" attendees at end of session to prevent rejoining later.
      4. Recording must be intentionally shared.

2.   Refining Your Google Classroom Posts to Easily See Who May Need Support

  • Classwork >> Create -- (1) Assignment, (2) Quiz Assignment, (3) Quiz:  These 3 Google Classroom Classwork posts when used with a "Due Date" are an easy way to see student's work and know who is able to participate in Distance Learning.  The following Classwork events each have a due date feature: 
    • Which allows students to:
      • See the assignment on their Google Calendar
      • Know the timeframe they should be working on an assignment
      • Lists the assignment on their "To Do" list in Google Classroom
      • "Turn In" the assignment to communicate to the teacher they are ready for feedback.
    • And allows teachers to:
      • See a quick tally of who has participated and who has not for easy access to a list of students who may need some support.
      • Review assignments that students have "Turned In" and  
      • Easy access to individual private feedback to each student.
  • Classwork >> Create -- (1) Materials, (2) Assignments without Due Dates: These Google Classroom Classwork posts - "Materials" & skipping the due dates on an assignment, will NOT:
    • Show on Google Calendar
    • Be listed on the Classroom "Upcoming" section as a reminder to students

Additional Google Classroom Tips:





Week of March 11: Update on Generative AI @ TTSD

Generative AI at TTSD: "Generative AI, like a digital assistant, learns from examples to create new content such as images, text, or mu...