June 2019 Technology Newsletter
By: Michael Kealy
Personally Identifiable Information and NYSED Law 2-D
It is important for all employees to know what Personally Identifiable Information is and how to protect it.
Personally Identifiable Information is defined by NYSED as:
- The student’s name
- The name of the student’s parent or other family members
- The address of the student or student’s family
- A personal identifier, such as the student’s social security number, student number, or biometric record
- Other indirect identifiers, such as the student’s date of birth, place of birth, and Mother’s Maiden Name
In anticipation of the proposed regulations, and in the spirit of the law, the Technology Department has enabled some features to assist staff members from accidentally sharing documents that may contain sensitive or Personally Identifiable Information with outside users through GMail or Google Drive Documents. In the event that Personally Identifiable Information is detected you may receive a warning similar to the pictures posted above.
Some information that may trigger these alerts include emails and files that contain:
Names
Birthdates
Email Addresses
Phone Numbers
Student ID Numbers
Drivers License Numbers
ABA Routing Numbers
Taxpayer Identification Numbers
Credit Card Numbers
To also protect the unauthorized viewing or release of personally identifiable data the district implemented a policy change that requires users to sign into their Google Account after every 8 hours.
As NYSED amends and shares the new changes with the district we will disseminate appropriate information. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and remember you are stewards of the data entrusted to you.
PowerSchool Summer Roll Over Planned For 7/16-7/17
Google Updates
Update all linked content with one click in Docs and Slides
What’s changing
Who’s impacted
End usersWhy you’d use it
The Linked objects sidebar gives users the ability to quickly access all linked content to see if anything is outdated and update all the content with a single click.Gmail confidential mode launching on by default on June 25, 2019
What’s changing
Who’s impacted
Admins and end usersWhy you’d use it
Dynamic email in Gmail becoming generally available on July 2, 2019
What’s changing
Earlier this year, Google announced dynamic email in Gmail. On July 2, 2019, this feature will become generally available.Who’s impacted
Admins and end usersWhy you’d use it
With dynamic email, you can easily take action directly from within the message itself, like RSVP to an event, fill out a questionnaire, browse a catalog or respond to a comment.Take commenting in Google Docs, for example. Instead of receiving individual email notifications when someone mentions you in a comment, now, you’ll see an up-to-date thread in Gmail where you can easily reply or resolve the comment, right from within the message.
How to get started.
- End users: Once dynamic email in Gmail launches, users will begin seeing dynamic emails from senders who are sending dynamic emails., if you’ve enabled it. Additionally, users can also turn dynamic mail off for their individual account by following the steps in the Help Center. Note: The “display external images” setting must also be enabled in order for dynamic emails to be displayed.
Additional details
This feature is currently only available in Gmail on the web, with mobile coming soon.Future of the Classroom: 8 Emerging Trends
- Digital Responsibility
- Life Skills & Workforce Preparation
- Computational Thinking
- Student-led Learning
- Collaborative Classrooms
- Connecting Guardians & Schools
- Innovating Pedagogy
- Emerging Technologies
Read the full report by clicking HERE
Reminder: End of Year Technology Equipment Collection
Staff Laptop Collection
The Technology Department will be collecting laptops from all staff members. This will allow the Technology Department to perform updates on individual devices. Each individual staff member has to return his/her equipment please do not send it via inter-office mail or with a friend.
During the updates the content on your laptop will be deleted including, but not limited to, photo's, video's, documents, etc... In preparation for the collection process you are strongly advised to back up your content to Google Drive. If you need additional assistance please submit a Technology Help ticket prior to 6/19.
To better assist the Technology Department staff will be required to complete a brief "Technology Collection Survey" which can be found HERE, prior to returning their laptop and checking out for the end of the school year. Staff members that have not been issued any technology equipment are required to complete the survey as well. Please review the survey prior to the week of 6/19 in case you have any questions you need to direct towards the department. After the week ending on 6/21 the Technology Services Staff will not be able to assist with survey questions due to the collection of both student and staff technology equipment during the week of 6/24.
Once you have completed the survey, you can return your laptop (with the charger) to the Beacon High School Library on Tuesday, 6/25 or Wednesday, 6/26 7am-12:30pm and 1:15pm-3pm daily. Please be advised that the Technology Services Office will be closed for lunch between 12:30-1:15pm each day and we will not accept equipment during this time. When your equipment is returned a member of the Technology Department will provide written verification for your building principal that you have completed these procedures based on your building checkout process.
If you have unused, broken, or obsolete technology equipment in your classroom that needs to be removed please submit a technology help ticket ASAP, prior to leaving at the end of the year, with a description of the equipment, whether it works or not, and the specific location in which the equipment can be found. During the summer a member of the Technology Department will remove the equipment. Please do not send technology equipment, wires, etc... to the Technology Department, a ticket must be submitted.
Student Technology Collection
Chromebooks
The Technology Department will begin collecting High School Chromebook carts beginning Tuesday, June 18th. Rombout Middle School Students will return their Chromebooks on the following dates:
8th Grade 6/17
6th Grade 6/18
7th Grade 6/20
*Please encourage students to bring fully charged Chromebooks on these days.
The Technology Department asks that Elementary School teachers place Chromebook carts in the hallways of their school on 6/26. If you have a Chromebook cart that has damaged or missing Chromebooks please submit a technology help ticket prior to 6/18.
iPads
Lastly, any teachers that use iPad's purchased by the district in their instruction should submit a technology help ticket requesting that the Technology Department pick up the iPad(s) in advance of summer. Please perform an iCloud and/or Google Drive backup prior to submitting the ticket as all content on the iPad will be deleted as we perform updates.
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation!
Reminder: Adobe Flash Is Going Away in 2020
Check the websites you frequently use and in your instruction now to see if they use Adobe Flash as Adobe announced in 2017:
If the website(s) you use contain Adobe Flash please begin thinking about alternatives. Adobe has said they will end support for this product on 12/31/2020.
Have A Great Summer!
Best regards,
Mike
Michael Kealy
Email: kealy.m@beaconk12.org
Website: https://www.beaconk12.org/Page/43
Location: 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY, USA
Phone: 845-838-6900
Twitter: @techkealy