Tech Department Newsletter
February/March 2020
The Technology Department is here to support and help!
Issuetrak - Use this link for all Technology Support Requests
"Good" Issuetrak tickets have specifics and detail:
a) What is the problem? - be specific
b) What have you tried to do already? What was the result? - be specific
c) Is there a best time to get your device? - let us know, we will try to accommodate.
Issuetrak Tickets Closed
Issuetrak Tickets - The Technology Team is Hard at Work!
The Technology Department is working hard to support you!
# of Issuetrak tickets closed:
January 2020 = 125
December = 288
November = 353
Remember to add as much detail as possible to your Issuetrak tickets to help our team.
If any questions, please email Greg Ko, Director of Technology
Welcome Kristine Coffelt to the Technology Department!
Upping Your Use of Technology in the Classroom - Follow the SAMR Model
Digital tools such as Chromebooks and iPads are becoming more prevalent in classrooms. Here in CVUSD, we are moving closer to 1:1 Chromebooks to Students. However, how they are being used in the classroom can vary from low-level student learning to higher engaging with deep learning.
Have you heard of SAMR? It's similar to Bloom's Taxonomy.
These are the levels that describe how technology tools impact teaching and learning.
How are you using technology?
Substitution - basic tech use, low level student learning
Augmentation - basic, mid level student learning/engagement
Modification - intermediate instruction = higher level of student learning
Redefinition - highest level of use of technology and student learning
Technology in the Classroom - Expeditions - 3D Learning
Using Google's Expeditions, students are able to take virtual field trips to faraway places and visually see with 3D goggles. This offers an exciting and engaging learning experience for students. Currently, there are over 900 Virtual Expeditions already created visiting not only faraway places, but also seeing inside the human body, different kinds of sharks, places in outer space, and points of interest.
Alex McMurray at Creekside Middle School used Google Expeditions to visit India to see the Himilayas, Darjeeling Teas Estate and other points of interest. Students were highly engaged while they listened to pre-made narrations of features without leaving their seat.
Peter Vallejo our Technology TOSA helped provide technical expertise and will bring all of the materials to support your Expeditions. Email Peter to set up your next lesson!
CVUSD Technology TOSA Specialists Peter Vallejo website and useful resources.
**SAMR - This lesson qualifies as Augmentation of a lesson. The 3D virtual tour instruction augments a basic lesson from textbook or from website learning with an improvement of student experience (3D). To move this lesson to Modification level, students could produce group level note taking and presentation using audio/video sharing their learning experience(s).
Technology Classroom Grants
*Please have all technology grants approved by your principal and Greg Ko, Director of Technology
Educators of America are driven to not only supply teachers and educators with the classroom technology they need, but also train them to use it in the most effective ways possible. Classroom teachers may apply for grants to receive effective technological tool that will assist in bettering student achievement. Educators of America classroom technology grant applications are reviewed on a quarterly basis and responses are given accordingly (January, April, July, October). Applications must be specific and contain details including what technological resources are being requested, how they will be used, and what long term strategy will be employed to ultimately increase student achievement and technology integration.
Chromebook Refresh Update
Many of you have received new Chromebooks replacing old ones in your carts. This is part of our Chromebook Refresh to replace aging Chromebooks. By the end of May 2020, the Tech Department will have completed the first phase and replaced close to 2700 Chromebooks in the District. During the next 2020-2021 school year, another 2400 Chromebooks will be replaced.
Chromebooks are being replaced due to wear and tear and because of software expiration.
Broken Chromebooks
General Care for Chromebooks
Technology Department is Improving Communication to You via Status Page
The Technology Department has created the Castro Valley Unified Status Page in an effort to increase our communication regarding integral technology system statuses. We will update this page any changes, interruptions, announcements, and updates to the following services: Internet, Aeries, Jive VOIP Phones, and Issuetrak Trouble Tickets.
You can subscribe to updates by following the link on the page to ensure you are getting the most recent information.
New CVUSD Digital Curriculum Support
The use of technology is growing, and CVUSD has started utilizing digital based curriculum in the classrooms. These include StemScopes (Science), TCI (Social Studies), Study Sync (ELA), and McGraw Hill. Implementation has mostly been in the Middle Schools and High Schools and almost all of the above curriculum is being delivered on new Chromebooks. This new curriculum has involved teacher training (Ed Services) as well as technology support (Technology Department) to ensure that the curriculum can be effectively used in the classrooms.
Each of the software systems require unique implementation plans. As publishers have shifted their curriculum online, each publisher has created their own ways to roster the digital classrooms, add students, and manage teacher accounts. The Technology Department is working closely with Ed Services to learn and create better pathways to provide teachers support with their accounts and rostering their students. We are doing our best, please email if you have questions, Denise Hohn, Lauren Baoicchi, or Greg Ko.
See our Technology and Ed Services Support Chart below.
*Picture from Edmentum.org
CVUSD Internet Infrastructure Upgrade - Measure G
We are proud to announce that we are in the middle of our major Internet Infrastructure Upgrade made possible by the Measure G Bond. Our current network of switches, cabling, and WiFi access points is 7+ years old. In the past years, we have added thousands of users, as well as increased our data usage and bandwidth. Starting in January 2020, our bandwidth will be doubled to help ensure that we have a enough speed and data for your classrooms.
This major project will include added and replacing network cable on all campuses, upgrading and adding WiFi access points to all campuses, and replacing almost all network switching gear on all campuses. This upgrade will replace aging equipment that has struggled to keep up with the growth and increase of our use of technology. The project will be completed in different phases through the end of the school year. We are anticipating no business hours downtime for Internet and will be communicating with your site administrators during your school site's project.
*Picture from Salient Networks
Digital Citizenship Pilot by Our Site Technology Mentors
Our amazing Site Technology Mentors have been reviewing several options for digital citizenship. In the next couple of months, there will be more discussions about how best to teach our students responsible digital citizenship habits for safe internet use.
Student Digital Citizenship is about students learning and understanding safe, respectful, and responsible use of the Internet and devices. This includes password protection, social media use, cyber-bullying prevention, and understanding internet information fake or real.
Internet Safety - Phishing Emails in Your CVUSD Account
Many of you have received email phishing attempts with your CVUSD email accounts. These emails have stated that they know your usage, have video of you, and are demanding some form of payment. Mark these as spam as it will help Google Gmail identify and filter similar emails.
During the holidays, there might be a jump in phishing attempts. Be careful! You can share the link with your family members to help educate them and increase their Internet Safety.
Phishing emails try to get the user to click on or reply with information. These emails are often sent in large blasts to organizations or groups of people from hacked accounts. Many phishing emails have improved their levels of deception by including small tidbits of personalized information such as name or email addresses or even city of residency. See the quiz/tutorial link below to help education and protect yourself.
Take the Quiz
Using the Staff Override Login (for website override)
The Staff Override Login is designed to give teachers an opportunity to access some websites that are filtered for student safety but provide education under supervision by the teacher.
This will mostly benefit Elementary Teachers that want to use YouTube as it is blocked at all Elementary level sites.
The link is located on the District Website under Staff Resources.
Library Digital Research Resource for Teachers
Skills for the Future
Do you want to know how many sick days you have left? Your Benefits? The Employee Online Portal now live!
The Employee Portal is now live! We have moved out of Beta and ready for employees to use this fantastic window to your employee data.
The Employee Online Portal is an online interface to most of your HR information. You can see your benefits, sick leave, paychecks, and more. The link will take you to the Alameda County hosting site. Please follow the directions to register and create your account. Don't forget to create a secure password!
Employee Online Portal (from our district website under Staff Resources)
Goodbye Windows 7
Windows 7 end of life for support will be January 2020. All devices running Windows 7 will need to be upgraded to Windows 10.
Public Records - Email, documents, texting and more
Technology Department
Paul Rose, Network System Admin
Steve Mei, Network System Admin
Paula DeLaRiva, Student Information Systems
Kristine Coffelt, Student Information Systems
Barbara Dunn, Cathy Zen, Yann LeRoy, Amanpreet Grewal, Computer Operations TechniciansEmail: gko@cv.k12.ca.us
Location: 4400 Alma Avenue, Castro Valley, CA, USA
Phone: 510-537-3000 1249