I.T.S. a Tech Update
September 15, 2021
Important Apple Security Update for iPhones, iPads, and MacBook Computers
Apple held its annual Apple Events live on YouTube this past Tuesday in which it announced the release of various new products, including the iPhone, the iPad, the Apple Watch, and new Airpods. Along with this release, it also sent out a new and important security update to all of its devices. This new update on iPhones and iPads is called iOS/iPadOS 14.8. It also released a security patch for MacBook laptops and Mac desktops who are already updated to Big Sur and this would be 11.6.
It seems that the bad guys have figured out a way to access devices without the owner ever clicking on a link through a phishing email or a MIshing text. This update will patch up this hole in their operating system (OS), according to Apple. You can find more information on this update at the following Apple support link - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212807.
So what does this mean for EPISD? This means that if you or any of your students are using an updateable district iPad, you need to go into your Settings, click on General on the left, and then click on Software Update on the right and run and install iPadOS 14.8. You'll have to be patient. It will take about 20 minutes to download, and after the update is downloaded you will need to click on Install. The install is much faster. Overall, you will probably need 30-40 minutes to install the update. Updates are not automatically pushed by Technology Services. You have to initiate and install them yourself. You can probably start this process when students go to lunch or P.E. and make sure to hit the Install button once the update has finished downloading.
Note - This update can be run on: iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro (all models), iPad Air 2 and later, iPad 5th generation and later, iPad mini 4 and later, and iPod touch (7th generation).
You will need at least 50% charge or more to be able to install the update. Anything less than this and the Install button will be grayed out.
If your or your student's district-issued MacBook or Mac Desktop is running macOS Big Sur, then you will also want to install the security patch, 11.6 to patch up the security issues similar to the iPad and iPhone. Open System Preferences and select the Software Update icon to install the update. This update can also be installed on your personal devices. You can read more at the following Apple link - https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212804
As always, if you have any questions about this update, please contact your Instructional Technology Specialist - https://episd.schoology.com/page/4816008284
Safe YouTube is now VideoLink!
Here is their press release (https://video.link/rebrand):
"Since we plan to support not only YouTube videos but also Vimeo and other platforms, we wanted our brand to reflect this. In addition, not everyone uses VideoLink just to make videos "safe". Some users want to create VideoLinks just to have access to a partial video with a custom page title, or to have no content on the page that may distract from the video itself.
Since SafeYouTube.net links may cease to work at some point in the future, although we hope to keep them online as long as possible, we recommend that you update your links by changing "safeyoutube.net" to "video.link". For example, if your link is https://safeyoutube.net/w/u2U8, you should change it to https://video.link/w/u2U8. The rest of the URL will not change, so you could use a search and replace function (we recommend Notepad++) to replace all links within one or multiple files on your hard drive. If you have links to replace online, you could use the Find and Replace Text feature.
So, if your SafeYouTube links stopped working this is the reason. You can go ahead and edit your links as shown above, but you definitely want to create your safe YouTube links at their new website, https://video.link/
As always, if you have any questions about this update, please contact your Instructional Technology Specialist - https://episd.schoology.com/page/4816008284
Microsoft Teams Reading Progress Update
Extra, extra - Reading Progress is now offering sample reading passages from ReadWorks.org!
*As of Wednesday, September 15th, Reading Progress now offers sample reading passages Kinder through Secondary from ReadWorks.org.*
"Reading Progress is a free tool built into Microsoft Teams designed to support and track reading fluency in your class. Students record their reading on camera or just audio and submit it to you. As you mark and return their work, data is automatically collected and organized in Insights, helping you spend more time with students and less time analyzing data."
All of our teachers and students have access to Microsoft Teams and teachers are able to create a class within Microsoft Teams to take advantage of this great tool. Some of our team members were part of the Beta testing over the summer and we have been keeping up with all the updates to the feature. Reading Progress is not just for elementary, it is for any students struggling with reading, whether they are in the 1st grade or the 12th grade. You can use this tool in general education, bilingual, dual language, and foreign language education. This can definitely be used with new students coming into the country.
Currently, Reading progress supports various languages, including English and Spanish using a feature called, Auto-Detect that listens for the language being recorded. You can find a list of the various languages supported by this tool by going to the following link - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/getting-started-with-reading-progress-in-teams-7617c11c-d685-4cb7-8b75-3917b297c407?storagetype=live#ID0EDD=Supported_Languages.
You can find more information on your Schoology Reading Progress course by clicking on the following link - https://episd.schoology.com/course/5155913815/materials
As always if you have any questions, please be sure to contact your Instructional Technology Specialist - https://episd.schoology.com/page/4816008284
EPISD Classlink QuickCards (QR Code)
What is needed?
- Make sure to use the correct link to EPISD's Classlink. launchpad.classlink.com/episd
- The teacher should generate the QuickCard for students.
- The student device will need access to a built-in or attached camera.
- Allow access to the camera when selecting, "Sign in with QuickCard."
When should we use Quickcards?
- Notice a student or students are struggling to log into district tools or Classlink.
- Not sure what a student username or password is, use it until it is reset or until the information is shared with the student.
- Students are still learning the letters, numbers, and the location of buttons on their device.
Troubleshooting
1. Make sure the camera has been enable for the app. Check Settings/System Preferences>Privacy to make sure this has been activated on the iPad or the MacBook.
2. QuickCards will not work if beginning with QR Code Reader. Students must scan their cards in EPISD's Classlink.
Schoology's Elementary Experience
Attention all Early Childhood and Special Education Teachers
Schoology has just released their Elementary Experience for all Schoology Enterprise courses and this has now been activated by the powers-that-be at EPISD, to be enabled in your Schoology course. This simplified view will make it easier for students in PreK-2nd and any students with special needs to navigate your course and complete assignments, discussions, and assessments with little to no difficulty.
You can learn more by viewing our EPISD Connect presentation here.
Inside the presentation, you will find links from Schoology that will introduce you to the Elementary Experience, as well as show you how to create course materials and assignments that will fit well in this unique view.
Be on the lookout for a Schoology course where we will house all training videos and information having to do with the new elementary experience.
New Password Change Procedures
There is a new way that you and your students can change your EPISD password in case you are having any issues login in, or you suspect that someone might be using your account without your permission.
Information Technology/Zendesk has set up a One-Login page that you can use to change your password. You'll need to first log in and set up your One-Login account with your EPISD email and password and then you will be able to change your password as needed. We have included two documents below explaining the One-Login initial setup and a "how to change your password" document.
*Note: All students in 6th-12th grade who were still using their birthdate as their password, had a password change this summer. This information has been shared with principals and PEIMS clerks by Technology Services. Please do not post this new information and password formula on any website, or social media. This information is only to be shared with the students/parents directly via email or face-to-face.*
If you do not remember your current password, or if it does not work on the One-Login page, be sure to contact Zendesk at 915-230-2601.
New Elmo Document Camera Setup
Some campuses are purchasing the new, ELMO L-12W / TT-12W document cameras. It seems that they arrive with the USB to computer feature disabled.
Miracast which is used by most Android and Microsoft devices is enabled by default. This has caused a lot of teachers to become frustrated if they are trying to use the document camera with their Macs and with Zoom.
For those of you that have or are going to be receiving these new document cameras, watch the video below to learn how to set up your document camera to your computer and your digital projector. Also, click on the link below for documentation on how to use it with Zoom, MS Teams, and to view the owner's manual.
Feel free to contact your Instructional Technology Specialist if you have any questions.
Promethean Support Tutorials
As always, you can contact your Instructional Technology Specialist if you have any questions.
- August 31 - September 02 Apple Teacher Vanguard Academy Kick-Off Event
- August 31 - September 02 Webmaster Refresher Training
- September 01 - American Chess Day
- September 03 - College Color Day
- September 05 - National Pet Rock Day
- September 06 - Labor Day Holiday and National Read a Book Day
- September 07 - Grandma Moses Day
- September 08 - International Literacy Day
- September 10 - World Suicide Prevention Day
- September 11 - Patriot Day 🇺🇸
- September 12 - Grandparents Day
- September 13 - Roald Dahl Day
- September 15 - International Dot Day and National Online Learning Day
- September 15 - Hispanic Heritage Month Begins and Mexican Independence Day
- September 17 - Constitution Day 🇺🇸
- September 22 - Fall Equinox
Active Learning Monthly Newsletter
Apple Professional Learning Virtual Conferences - Online
Explore helpful resources, practice new skills, and reflect on ways Apple technology can support great learning and teaching. Hosted by Apple Professional Learning Specialists, these hands-on sessions run for approximately 60 minutes and are offered twice daily, Monday through Thursday. Click on the image to register.
*iPad is used for all sessions unless indicated otherwise.
*Please note the time zone when registering.
EPISD@Home iPad Tips
EPISD@Home MacBook Tips
Three-Minute Quaranteaching Tips
***NEW*** Macsimizing Your Mac - EPISD Teachers and Staff
Course Title: AL201: Macsimizing Your Mac Online Course - Fall 2021
Course #: 202747
Course Section #: 21112
3.0-Hours of CPE Credit
This course will guide teachers in using features and settings that will assist them every day in completing tasks on their new MacBook Air laptops. Most importantly though, it will assist them in creating great resources to use in their lessons and delivery to differentiate the learning which will allow students to achieve mastery in many different ways.
If you are in need of a district-issued MacBook Air laptop, upon completion of the course, you will download your certificate at EPISD University, and schedule an appointment via the Zendesk, or by calling Technology Services at 915-230-2601to schedule an appointment to receive your device.
Click here to register for the course.
EPISD Digital Learning Resources and Updates Courses Hub
EPISD Schoology 101: Professional Development
Course Code - ZMB94-7NCS4
Macsimizing You Mac - Student Edition
Please share the course code with students in grades 3-12th only - 3P9R-88K7-7CQB4
Contact Us
We are Instructional Technology Specialists that serve all campuses in EPISD. We spend most of our time sharing ideas and teaching best practices for integrating technology as a seamless part of learning in the classroom. Please contact us if you are looking for a technology integrated session that would best meet the needs of the students in your classroom.
New Phishing Email Attack
It seems that there is a new phishing email coming into some of our district mailboxes and it looks pretty official.
Remember that no one in the district, especially Technology Services, will send you an email asking you to change your username and password. You will get a reminder that it is time to change your password about every six months, but you will have to initiate that yourself by going to https://episd.onelogin.com, or by calling the Zendesk at 915-230-2601.
If you get a suspicious email, please be sure to report it via a Zendesk ticket. Include a screenshot of the email and make sure not to click on any of the links no matter how real or tempting it may be (Click here to claim your 1 Millon dollar prize!)
Click on the image to view the latest attempt to get your valuable log-in information.
If you have any questions, about suspicious emails, please be sure to contact Technology Services via the Zendesk.