Computer Chronicles
Version 10.4, April 2022
Highlights
Please be sure to shut off your computers, Chromebooks, iPads, projectors, document cameras, monitors and any other electronic devices before you head out on Spring Recess.
I hope you all have a restful and stress-free break.
What is Schoolytics?
Schoolytics is a platform to help educators track students' academic progress as it happens. The goal is to help you spend less time organizing and cleaning data, and more time getting meaningful information about your classrooms and doing what you do best: educating kids.
And best of all, it's free!
Schoolytics also has numerous add-ons to make you life easier, like the Late Work Report that gives you a list of all your students' late assignments in one place. No more clicking into each Class.
Schoolytics also gives you to option to export all your data to a Google Sheet so you can play with your data your way.
Why not try it out. Proceed to https://www.schoolytics.com/ and hit that "Free for Teacher" button and check it out.
Global Cybersecurity Threats
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could impact organizations both within and beyond the region, to include malicious cyber activity against the U.S. homeland, including as a response to the unprecedented economic costs imposed on Russia by the U.S. and our allies and partners.
Evolving intelligence indicates that the Russian Government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks. Every organization—large and small—must be prepared to respond to disruptive cyber incidents.
The cyber threat level in New Jersey is currently set to ELEVATED, which indicates a significant risk due to increased hacking, virus, or other malicious activity that compromises systems or diminishes service.
Please continue to be *extra* vigilant. Think before you click and report anything you think seems "off".
Thank you!
Two Factor Authentication
One way to make things harder for attackers is to use Two Factor Authentication (2FA) on your accounts. Nowadays, many financial institutions and other accounts require the use of 2FA. I would strongly suggest that you add this level of security to your account as soon as possible.
If you'd like to turn this on for your account, click on your account profile on the top-right corner of any Google service page and click on "Manage your Google Account".
Once on your account page, click on Security on the left-hand sidebar. You'll see the "Signing in to Google" card and can click on "2-Step Verification" to turn it on (if it already states that it is ON you are all set).
Click on "Get Started" on the following page and walk through the steps to get 2-Step Verification turned on. You can use a cell phone as a second form of authentication.
For step-by-step directions, you can watch the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJKWDDj1Wgw
Pro Tech Tip
You can now start a Google Doc for taking meeting notes and export guest responses to Google Sheets right from Google Calendar.
Magni Momenti Notitia
- "Think before you click."
- Got a tech problem? Please submit a help desk ticket here. Be sure to use the Google button to login.
- Visit the Information Technology page on the district website for the latest news.
- Which superhero likes spring the best? Robin.
Stuff I have been reading/watching:
- Bernards Township School District Writes Parents About Data Breach
- Is Your District's Cybersecurity Program Up to Date?
- Techquity: Why access is only one part of achieving edtech success
- Epic and Lego partner to build a metaverse for kids
- Tracking threats: More students being arrested for troubling social media posts
- How to Make an NFT, Then Sell It Online
- Microsoft Obtains Court Order to Take Down Domains Used to Target Ukraine
"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex, overwhelming tasks into smaller manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."
- Mark Twain
Conceived, written and produced by
Michael Elson 💻
District Technology Coordinator
Join Technology Updates on Remind: https://www.remind.com/join/elson or text @elson to the number 81010
Email: melson@sapublicschools.com
Website: http://www.sapublicschools.com/departments/information_technology
Location: 32 08’59.96″ N, 110 50’09.03″W
Phone: 732.387.3559
Twitter: @sapublicschool1