YellowJacket wireless network

We have upgraded our wireless capability over the past couple of months.  We now have two wireless networks, 1.) OCSD-WLAN(private) and 2.) GUEST-WLAN (public).  Anyone may connect to the public wireless using these instructions.

The private WLAN is only for district-owned devices.  These devices will require a wireless key which can be installed on district devices by Computer Services staff members.

The new wireless will eventually be district-wide.  At this point, it is only available in these hot-spot locations:
1. High School rooms 222, 224, 301 and 311
2. High School Library
3. Center Street School - 2nd floor of new building (vicinity of the library)
4. District Office (189 Main Street) 5th floor only
5. Middle School Main Office Suite
6. Middle School Library

Hot-spots will be added to Greater Plains, Riverside and Valleyview schools in weeks to come...

HS/MS Technology User Group- Nov. 29th

The High School/Middle School Technology User Group's next session is coming up quickly.  We next meet one week from today, on Tuesday, November 29th from 2:30-3:30 in HS224.  This next session  we will cover The Right Tools for the Right Job: 30 Tools in 50 Minutes - which is one of our SimpleK12 webinars.  This webinar, by Steven Anderson, is a useful overview of a variety of curricular technologies covering images, collaboration, brainstorming, and much more.

As always, you can register for User Group sessions directly from the district calendar.

You can also go directly to the registration form here.

Participants may obtain 1/15th in-service credit for these sessions.

In-service credit for SimpleK12 TLC webinars and courses

Good news!  Teachers can now obtain in-service credit for completing SimpleK12 TLC webinars and courses.  See here for guidelines.

K-6 Technology Literacy Benchmarks

Last June your elementary library media specialists worked hard to update the district's Technology Literacy Benchmarks for students in grades K through 6.  These benchmarks are all aligned with the NETS (National Educational Technology Standards) and will become more important as you look at the new Common Core standards. You can find our Technology Literacy Benchmarks on the district web site here.

Want to use your hand-held to download district email?

As more and more of you are acquiring mobile computing devices, you might find it helpful to have your GroupWise email downloaded to that device via a protocol called POP3.  Instructions for doing just that (along with instructions for lots of other helpful things!) can be found on the Computer Services web site www.oneontacsd.org/ComputerServices . Follow the "How To" link, and look for "GroupWise" to find the document on "Accessing Groupwise Email via a POP3 Client".

Mobile Access to eSchool for Teachers!

Do you have a Smartphone?  If so, perhaps you would like to use the Mobile Access Center to take attendance right on your hand-held device.  This would be especially helpful for PE teachers, right?

Try it out using this link (you'll want to bookmark this link on your SmartPhone). https://eschoolapps1.core.stier.org/MobileAccess/Login.aspx

Log in using your eSchool User Name and Password.  You should leave the Domain field blank.

Enjoy!

SimpleK12 Teacher Learning Community

Have you had a chance to take a look at the goodies in SimpleK12?  You will find some of the below topics in there:



•iPads in Education

•Google Tools

•Blended Learning

•Classroom Management

•Student Collaboration

•Time-Saving Tools for Teachers

Check it out here! (if you need a reminder of the initial password, touch base with Computer Services or your building library media specialist).

Technology User Group - October 25

Our next Technology User Group is taking place next Tuesday, October 25 from 3:30 - 4:30 PM.  This session, geared towards elementary teachers, will be at the Valleyview Elementary School library.  During this session, we will provide an overview of the new SimpleK12 Teacher Learning Community, as well as have an open discussion/Q&A session on instructional technologies - what's working, what you would like more help with, etc.  Go here to register!

Where do you fit on the TIM matrix?

Thank you Deb Dalton, for reminding me of this great "Technology Integration Matrix" or TIM from the University of South Florida.  I hadn't seen the tool in a few years, and it's even better than before.  Here is a description of the tool, in their own words:

The Technology Integration Matrix (TIM) illustrates how teachers can use technology to enhance learning for K-12 students. The TIM incorporates five interdependent characteristics of meaningful learning environments: active, constructive, goal directed (i.e., reflective), authentic, and collaborative (Jonassen, Howland, Moore, & Marra, 2003). The TIM associates five levels of technology integration (i.e., entry, adoption, adaptation, infusion, and transformation) with each of the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments. Together, the five levels of technology integration and the five characteristics of meaningful learning environments create a matrix

Supported browsers for eSchool

Our eSchool student management system is currently somewhat limited with regard to the Internet browsers you can use.  New and improved browsers are popping up all of the time - but you might find they work great for everything except eSchool!  I've been told that this will change in the near (read 6-12 months out) future.  In the meantime, please stick to the below browsers for best access*.

eSchool - Administrative use --> You must use Internet Explorer version 8** or lower.

eSchool - Teacher Access Center --> Internet Explorer version 8** or lower, Safari, Firefox

* Note - best access = least frustration.  One teacher reported using Google Chrome for entering grades and comments only to find later that none of his work actually saved.

** Internet Explorer 9 has not yet been approved. 

Access your F drive from home

How many times have you wished you could access your F drive - that is, your district network space - from home?  Well now you can!  Whether you are a student or a staff member, you may access your network drives via a new utility called Network Storage.  Students will find a link to Network Storage under the "For Students" link on the district web page.  Staff will find this link under "For Staff", "Login". Users will be prompted for their network username and password.  Once logged on successfully, you will see any network drive you have access to.

Want to upload a file that you just finished working on at your home computer?  Simply click the File menu, and choose Upload. This will put a copy of that file ON your F drive where you can continue to work on it and/or print it when at work/school.

Want to download a file from F so you can work on it at home?  Navigate through your folders until you find the file.  Right-click the file and choose Download...  You will be prompted to choose a location to save this file on your home computer.  When you are done working on the file, be sure to return to the above step to upload that file back to F.