The ICT Monthly Update
November 2019
The SMSD ICT Department
From the Executive Director...
Changes to Student Access to the iOS/iPadOS App Store
Over the past several weeks, the C&I and ICT teams have been collaborating on ways to assist teachers, students, and parents in making our iPad devices more academically focused and functional.
That work culminated in a meeting the morning of 11/06/2019 and involved members of both teams. As of end-of-business on 11/6, action was taken around eliminating student access to the app store on district issued iOS devices. This is to directly support C&I’s efforts around their app approval process. This action will allow the district to limit iPad devices used by students from downloading and using apps that are not on the district’s approved list.
This was an area of concern we regularly heard from teachers, principals, and parents. The C&I team performed their due diligence in communicating with a sample of teachers asking about impact to their classrooms. Overwhelmingly those teachers expressed that this would be a positive step in helping them manage their classrooms.
Additional and ongoing collaboration will take place as we look at other ways to fine tune our digital learning devices and the environment in which they work.
Changes Coming for Translations Inside Skyward
Based on Google’s decision to shut down the Google Translator Toolkit on 12/04/19, Skyward will be removing all Google Translator options from within the software. Skyward would like everyone to be aware that although the Google Translator Toolkit is being shut down, most web browsers have built in translators that can easily be used instead. Therefore, Skyward is advising districts to begin shifting to a browser-based translator as soon as possible to help with this transition.
What does this mean to me?
Parents/Guardians and Students will no longer see the “Select Language” option inside of Family/Student Access or New Student Online Enrollment to translate the application into other languages.
What Can I Do?
Google’s announcement includes links/instructions on how to set up Web browsers to translate. For example, here are some instructions, including video tutorials, to change the language that Google Chrome uses and have Chrome translate the webpages:
https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/173424?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en
Instructions on how to translate other web browsers can be found by doing a search within your browser.
When are the changes being made in Skyward?
These program changes will go out in the June Release Addendum 11 and October Release Addendum 3 updates, which will be released on 10/31/2019. The district is planning on bringing Addendum 3 to production soon after the upcoming Winter Holiday Break.
More information about Google’s decision can be found here:
From the Customer Services workgroup...
By The Numbers
A quick look at the number of supported devices, number of support requests, and the number of support analysts
Supported Devices
The Customer Services workgroup within ICT supports upwards of 40,000 devices. Included in that number is more than 37,000 computers and tablets along with 3,000 classroom projectors, TVs and Apple TVs.
WebHelpDesk Tickets
Over the past 16 weeks, the ICT department has closed more than 17,000 WebHelpDesk tickets! That averages out to more that 1,000 per week and over 200 tickets each day.
Support Personnel Ratios
There are a variety of factors to include when considering support staffing needs within an organization. Commonly accepted end user to support analyst ratios linger in the 100:1 range. This means that for every 100 end users, the organization employs one support analyst. SMSD has roughly 35,000 end users. How does ICT measure up against these commonly accepted staffing ratios? Find out in next months newsletter!
Partnering With Families
Managing iPads Outside of School Hours
Did you know that ICT shares the management of student iPads with families outside of school hours?
Even though student iPads are managed by ICT during the school day, families can use the ScreenGuide Parental Control App to tailor device use while at home. Here are a few examples of the items parents can manage outside of school hours:
* configure daily screen time limits
* remove or hide apps
* lock and disable the iPad
* lock the iPad into a specific app
* remove the passcode
* View device usage analytics
Parents and families should start here. For additional information, please contact your school principal
Principals should start here. For additional information, please contact your ICT Team Lead.
From the NIS, TS, and Security workgroup...
5 Ways to Spot a Phishing Email
Phishing emails are one of the most common online threats, so it is important to be aware of the tell-tale signs and know what to do when you encounter them. Here are five ways to spot phishing attacks.
Read more from Mike James' August 22, 2018 "Stay Safe Online" blog at https://staysafeonline.org/blog/5-ways-spot-phishing-emails/
7 Password Experts on How to Lock Down Your Online Security
By now you know the basics of password security. Don’t write them down, get a password manager, use two-factor authentication whenever possible, and don’t use anything that’s easily guessable. (Looking at you, “111111” crowd).
All of that advice still stands, and you should keep it up. Nice work! But now it’s time for an advanced beginner course. WIRED asked a field of password security experts for their favorite unexpected advice, the best practices that might save you the most headache in the long run.
Read all the tips in Brian Barrett's WIRED article at https://www.wired.com/2016/05/password-tips-experts/
From the Data Services and Programming workgroup...
Skyward System Maintenance
Semester 1 Grades and Report Cards
Information and Communication Technologies
Email: crystalshaffer@smsd.org
Website: https://www.smsd.org
Location: 8200 West 71st Street, Overland Park, KS, USA
Phone: 913.993.8801