January 2022 Technology Newsletter
By: Michael Kealy
Google Storage Policies Changing - No Longer Unlimited Storage for Schools
Each education customer will be allocated a minimum storage pool of 100TB to share. Please review files you store in Google Drive and delete any old/unused files especially media files such as pictures and videos.
Reminder: Please remove files that you no longer need/use
The Technology Department noticed that many users throughout the district have many files that they have not accessed or used in a very long time. Please clean up your district server home drives and delete any old files that you may no longer need/use.
To tell which files are the oldest you can sort your folders by "last modified" which will show you the last time a file was modified. Files that have not been modified in over a year or more should be considered for deletion.
REMINDER: Use Classlink To Login To District Software
Data Privacy Week January 24-28, 2022
- Use Virtru to encrypt email correspondence that contains any personally identifiable information or sensitive information. (Name, Address, Student ID Number, etc...)
- Always practice the "principle of least privilege" when sending and sharing data by limiting it to those people who really need to be included.
- Check the district's list of approved software before using a website or software in your classroom. Many websites and software providers seek consent through click through agreements to collect personally identifiable information. Only those websites/software providers listed on the approved list have been vetted by the district for NYS Ed Law 2d compliance.
Is the Flying Car Finally Here?
Google Updates
Originality reports are now available for Google Slides files
What’s changing
You can now use originality reports on Google Slides files, which were previously only available for Google Docs.
Originality reports allow students and teachers to compare work against billions of web pages and books on the internet, making it easier to ensure academic integrity of the work. It can be used when submitting or receiving files within Google Classroom and Assignments.
Who’s impacted
End users
Why it matters
Students widely use slides to showcase academic work. By expanding the originality reports feature to run in Slides, students can ensure they’ve properly integrated external ideas into more of their work, while instructors can check for potential plagiarism in more assignments.
Additional details
Originality reports are available for all Google Workspace for Education users, but teachers will still need to turn on originality reports for individual assignments in Classroom.
If you have a Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals account, you can turn on originality reports for 5 assignments per class. Unlimited originality reports are available for the Teaching and Learning upgrade or upgrade to Google Workspace for Education Plus
Additionally, students can check their Slides file for originality before submitting it in Classroom. When the student file is ready and submitted, their teacher will receive an originality report for the student’s work.
Getting started
- Teachers: Visit the Help Center to learn more about how to turn on originality reports in Classroom.
- Students: Visit the Help Center to learn more about running an originality report on your work in Classroom or Assignments.
Rollout pace
- This feature is now available for all Google Workspace for Education users
Availability
- Available for Google Workspace for Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Education Plus customers
- Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers
Resources
Live translated captions in Google Meet are now generally available
What’s changing
In 2021, Google announced a beta for live translated captions in Google Meet. Google's now making live translated captions generally available for select Google Workspace editions.
Meeting participants can translate English meetings to:
- French
- German
- Portuguese
- Spanish
Translated captions are available on Google Meet on web and mobile devices.
Who’s impacted
End users
Why it’s important
Translated captions help make Google Meet video calls more inclusive and collaborative by removing language proficiency barriers. When meeting participants consume content in their preferred language, this helps equalize information sharing, learning, and collaboration and ensures your meetings are as effective as possible for everyone.
This feature can be particularly helpful for all-hands meetings or training meetings with globally distributed teams. Additionally, translated captions can be impactful in education settings, allowing educators to connect and interact with students, parents, and community stakeholders with diverse backgrounds.
Availability for meeting participants
Meeting participants will be able to use live translated captions if the meeting is organized by a user in beta or an eligible Google Workspace edition.
Getting started
- End users: This feature will be available by default and can be enabled in Google Meet on the web by going to Settings > Captions > Translated captions or on mobile by going to Settings > Captions > Live Captions > Translation Language. Visit the Help Center to learn more about translated captions in Google Meet.
Rollout pace
- Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 12, 2022
Warning banners in Google Drive alert users of suspicious files
Quick Summary
At Google Cloud Next 2021, Google announced additional protections to safeguard against abusive content. If a user opens a potentially suspicious or dangerous file in Google Drive, Google will display a warning banner to help protect them and their organization from malware, phishing and ransomware. These warnings are already available when opening Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drawings.
Michael Kealy
Beacon City School District
Email: kealy.m@beaconk12.org
Website: https://www.beaconk12.org/domain/24
Location: 101 Matteawan Road, Beacon, NY, USA
Phone: 845-838-6900
Twitter: @techkealy