iTech Update
May 25, 2017 | Volume 3, Issue 4
2017 Technology Survey
Each year we ask our staff, students and parents to take a brief survey that helps guide our direction as a district and a department. In addition, it provides information on how we can better support our staff and students. Please take a few moments and complete this short but important survey for us before the end of the school year, and please assist in disseminating it to your students and families. The staff survey will be emailed out shortly as well.
Staff Survey: CLICK HERE
Student/Parent Survey: CLICK HERESave the Date! CDA District Kickoff Conference
The 3rd annual Technology Kickoff Conference is being merged with all of our back-to-school Professional Development for SD271. This will be the first official day back for most staff, and lunch will be provided in lieu of the back to school breakfast.
Check out the Kickoff Conference Website for more information. Keynote and session information will be posted in early June. Registration will be open then as well, and will be sent to staff for sign ups before the last day of school.
Monday, Aug 28, 2017, 08:00 AM
Lake City High School, North Ramsey Road, Coeur d'Alene, ID, United States
Summer Device Check-in
In an effort to keep track of our many mobile devices, we need all staff to complete a "Technology Equipment Turn In" form if you have a district mobile device (Laptop, iPad or Chromebook), and turn it into the school office with your device, or without it if you are planning to keep your device to work with over the summer. We will provide each building office with a list of the staff iPads, laptops and Chromebooks in your buildings, and technicians will be on hand to assist as much as possible during the summer checkout process.
Ch ch ch changes...for 2017-18
- A focus on tech tools such as Explain Everything for students to show their thinking. More details in the video below and coming in August.
- Upgraded wireless access points at all Elementary schools.
- As part of the replacement cycle, touchscreen HP Chromebooks are coming. Every school will receive at least 1 cart.
- Doubling our internet access speeds from 1 gigabit per second (gbps) to 2 gbps. This is an increase of 10x from our 200 megabit per second internet speed in 2014-2015, which reflects how many devices we have now, and how much they're used.
- Replacing Infocenter with Google Sites. :)
- And many other projects.
Replacement Dates for iPad 2, 3 & Mini & Summer Maintenance
IMPORTANT:
In addition, we are moving all iPads from our Lightspeed mobile manager to a new software management system called Jamf this summer. All district owned devices will be wiped, reset, and enrolled in the new system starting in July. Our apologies for any inconvenience, but as many of you know, Lightspeed has not performed up to our expectations.
Staff devices will need to be backed up by the user before leaving for the summer. Instructions for this process are detailed below. We are unsure if a full backup will be able to be restored once we move to the new manager, but it is always a good idea to have a backup of any important or sensitive data from your device.
Google Updates
Netop Vision for Chromebooks
Just launch the Chrome App for teachers on your computer or Chromebook and choose your class from Google Classroom to get started. Check out this Quick Start Guide for more information.
Leaving the district or want to backup your Google account data?
Meet the Tech Dept: Kimberly Shandy
We recently hired Kimberly Shandy as a 1.0 Instructional Technology Specialist starting next year. Dan Kirkbride is dropping down to half time to help with his family business. The other half of the position comes from an increase in state technology staff funding.
Kimberly comes to us from Oxnard, CA, where she has taught elementary and middle school since 2002. For the last 4 years, Kimberly has been a technology coach in a school with 1:1 devices, with a focus on leveraging technology to improve student learning. She also has experience and training in Project Based Learning (PBL), as well as STEAM concepts and activities. Kimberly has her BA in Psychology from San Diego St. University, and her MA in Education Administration from the University of Phoenix. She recently relocated to CDA with her husband and 4 children.
Please join us in welcoming Kimberly!
SD271 Technology Department
Email: dkirkbride@cdaschools.org
Website: cdaschools.org/itech
Phone: (208) 664-8241