I.T.S. a Tech Update
June 2021
June 2021 Newsletter
Summer is right around the corner, but there is still much to learn! In this newsletter, we are going to share with you some Zendesk information that will be valuable for you and your students during the summertime. Many of you will be working during the summer and so will your students, which means you and your students may need some tech assistance. EPISD Informational Technology (IT) and Zendesk will be open throughout the entire summer to support you as needed. Don't forget to keep your computers and iPads updated over the summer!
- This is our final section on how to save your Schoology courses to your resources as you wrap up the school year. Remember that courses will be archived soon after school lets out. Check out the information in the section below.
- EPISD Zendesk has a new way for you and your students to change your password if needed. Learn how to use the One Login site to do this.
- Learn how students can contact Zendesk if their devices are not working properly.
- We also want to let you and your students know that Zendesk has a form to report Cyber Incident reports. Check out the section below.
- Running out of ideas for the end of the year. We will be sharing a few in our NA, NA, NA, NA, HEY, HEY, HEY, GOODBYE section.
- Getting ready for your virtual end-of-year awards? Check out a great end-of-year awards celebration template that you can use during your end-of-year virtual awards ceremony.
As always, if you have any questions or digital learning needs, please be sure to contact your Instructional Technology Specialist.
Saving Schoology Courses
The video below will show you how to save your Schoology courses to the My Resources area.
If you have any questions, be sure to contact your Instructional Technology Specialist.
Changing Your EPISD Password
There is a new way that you and your students can change passwords 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 log in and set up your One-Login account with your email and password and then you will be able to change your password as needed. You will need to remember the last password you used in the past 35 days or so and then type in your new, and secure password.
We have included two documents below explaining the One-Login initial setup and how to change your password document.
If you do not remember your current password, or if it does not work on the One-Login page, be sure to contact the Zendesk at 915-230-2601.
EPISD Zendesk Family/Student Support
It is important that they fill out all of the information, especially their contact information so that a technician can call get back to them, and help them with their issue.
Be sure to share these links with students and parents so that they can get their device issues fixed.
Device issues - https://tinyurl.com/episdfix
EPISD Application/Program issues - https://tinyurl.com/episdapphelp
For more information, click on the image or go to the EPISD@Home page.
How to Report a Cyber Incident in EPISD
Check to see who the sender is. Many times it will not be an EPISD email, or it might be a student email address, which means that the student's account has been compromised. Remember, if an email looks too good to be true, then it's probably isn't.
If you run into an email that seems to be a phishing/scam email, go ahead and report it to Zendesk via their Cyber Incident Report. If you clicked on any of the links and entered any of your sensitive district information, please be sure to contact Zendesk immediately at 915-230-2601. Otherwise, use the form below to report a Cyber Incident.
EPISD Cyber Incident Report - https://forms.office.com/r/vreqZ0K1jV
EPISD Zendesk Report - https://episd.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests
Na, Na, Na, Na, Hey, Hey, Hey, Goodbye
- Make paper graduation caps for a festive way to celebrate moving on to the next grade. Click here to view how - https://youtu.be/Yt16p3XTqBA
- Here is a fun writing assignment for a future student - This “Letter to a Future Student” Mad Libs is sure to provide plenty of laughs for your class.
- These cute little Goodbye Stars make a great keepsake for your students.
- Planning on showing movies those last few days? Why not make it educational? Check out the tips at this website - https://aroundthekampfire.com/2018/05/classroom-movie-day-ideas-educational-activities.html
- Host a Kahoot game based on things you taught this year for an educational end-of-year activity.
- Use Flipgrid to say goodbye - Flipgrid is a resource that everyone should be using during this virtual teaching time. Flipgrid is free for educational use, and the platform allows students to submit responses to prompts in short videos that can be recorded directly onto the platform. Students are then able to see other students’ videos, so the platform is excellent for building classroom community. Here are just a few of the many prompts you could use on Flipgrid to close out the school year.
- Say goodbye to the school year through a rap.
- Say goodbye to class/grade with an original poem.
- Tell us your favorite memory from _____________ class/grade.
- You’re the teacher: teach me something you learned in my class this year (real or funny)
- Present your best impression of the teacher (this has the potential to be highly entertaining)
End of Year Virtual Awards Ceremony Template
If you'd like to add some music to your presentation, you can download Creative Commons music (non-copyrighted) from the YouTube Audio Library. You must be signed in to a Google account in order to access the music. Don't worry, your EPISD email and password can be used to sign in to everything Google (except Gmail).
Here's the link to the template - https://slidesmania.com/virtual-graduation-end-of-year-awards-using-google-slides-or-powerpoint/
While your there, check out the plethora of education templates this website has to offer.
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.
MacBook Spring Cleaning
Promethean Support Tutorials
As always, you can contact your Instructional Technology Specialist if you have any questions.
- June 01 - Global Day of Parents
- June 06 - D-Day
- June 14 - Flag Day
- June 15 - End of 4th Nine Week Grading Period/Early Release for Students Only
- June 16 - Teacher Work 1/2 Day/Last Day for Teachers
- June 19 - Juneteenth/Freedom Day
- June 20 - Father's Day
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*** EPISD Digital Learning Resources and Updates Courses Hub
EPISD Schoology 101: Professional Development
Course Code - ZMB94-7NCS4
Macsimizing Your Mac - EPISD Teachers and Staff
Course Title: AL201: Macsimizing Your Mac Online Course - Spring 2021
Course #: 202747
Course Section #: 19524
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.
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.