January 2020

Top News: Ken Shelton, Tech Connect Keynote Speaker

Tech Connect 2020 Keynote Speaker

We are very pleased to announce that our keynote speaker for this year's Tech Connect will be Ken Shelton.

Ken currently holds an M.A. in Education with a specialization in Educational Technology, as well as New Media Design and Production. An educator for over 14 years, he most recently taught technology at the middle school level. As a part of his active involvement within the Educational Technology community, Ken is an Apple Distinguished Educator and a Google Certified Innovator. Ken has worked extensively at the policy level and was named to the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction's Education Technology Task Force. Ken is the ISTE Digital Equity PLN 2018 Excellence Award winner.

Ken has had the privilege to speak at many major conferences and events around the world as well as schools and school districts. He brings a worldly breadth of practical experience, knowledge, and perspective. One of Ken's recent talks looked at characteristics of explorers, engineers and entrepreneurs to see how we can help our students prepare for what lies ahead of them -- it can be viewed below. Ken has also provided consulting support to many companies, State Departments of Education, school districts/systems Nationally and Internationally, as well as non-profits such as the California Emerging Technology Fund's School2Home program which is designed to support closing the Achievement Gap and Digital Divide at low-performing California middle schools.

We are so excited to welcome him to Auburn and invite him to share his knowledge and passion with Tech Connect!

Tech Tools

Canva - Now Free!

While Google Slides are an easy way to introduce students to desktop publishing, it lacks many of the powerful features that professional programs have. Canva -- a fully-online desktop publishing platform -- is now free for educational users!

Choose from a wide range of templates to get started, and bring in your own photos, text, and graphic elements to make your publications really stand out.

To get started, complete the application linked below:

Canva for Education Application

How Do I Get My Favorite Apps Onto Student Chromebooks?

On both teacher and student Chromebooks, apps are available for download through the Google Play Store. Apps are reviewed for their data security and privacy policy agreements before becoming available on the Google Play Store for Auburn staff and students.

To request that an app be reviewed, fill out the New Software Request form.

All reviewed apps are listed on the ASD Data Security website. Choose "Android Apps" at the bottom of the spreadsheet to see the reviews.

Instruction

Media Literacy

Our students are growing up in a world that is increasingly rich in media - print, television, movies, radio, podcasts, websites, social media, etc. In order to ensure that they are equipped to understand and critically evaluate the messages they encounter daily, it is vital that educators employ Media Literacy in their work.

ASD has adopted the Center for Media Literacy framework to provide teachers a common vocabulary for this work and give a simple, five-question approach to Media Literacy that will:

engage students in relevant content
provide a filtering system for critical thinking and discernment about any media message, anywhere, anytime, anyhow
support content knowledge acquisition on a lifelong basis
positively impact health and behavior choices
empower students to represent themselves effectively as active citizens and contributors

To get started, check out the ASD Media Literacy page below or connect with your school's librarian.

ASD Media Literacy Page

Cheat Sheet for Substitute Teachers

To assist guest teachers at ASD with classroom technology, the Department of Technology put together a half-sheet Quick Start guide. Due to the numerous different configurations for technology, one of the most common concerns for guest teachers is connecting to a projector or LFD. To that end, space is available on the reverse side of the guide for teachers to write their own, individualized directions for their classroom device.

These "Quick Start Guides" are intended to reside in a classroom teacher's sub folder. Please see your Office Manager to complete yours and ensure your guest teachers have a smooth experience in your class.

Data Security

Safety Tips for ASD PCs

All Auburn staff have access to sensitive and personal information about students and colleagues. When you walk away from an unlocked computer, access to all of your accounts is open to potential theft of personal information including medical, academic, and/or financial data.

To quickly lock your computer every time you walk away, just press the Windows key + "L" on your keyboard. This will immediately lock your computer and require a password when you come back to it - keeping vital information secure.

At the end of the day, it is recommended that staff log off their PCs and laptops keeping the internet connection open for monthly updates.

Ransomware

Over the break, a fake email was sent to many ASD staff using an administrator's name in the "from" address line. When the email was examined it was confirmed to be coming from an external source, not from the supposed ASD sender. The subject line or the body of this email contained a question similar to “…are you available..?”.

This is a phishing email and should not be responded to at all. Please forward these or other suspicious emails to postmaster@auburn.wednet.edu and delete immediately.

If you responded or provided information, please contact helpdesk so the status/security of your district login/email can be reviewed. If you have questions, please contact postmaster or helpdesk. Thank you for your continued diligence.

A map of cyber attacks at K-12 districts in the Puget Sound region since 2016

SpamTitan Filter Update

Over winter break, ASD transitioned from SpamTitan to Microsoft’s Advanced Threat Protection spam filtering system. As part of the final adjustments of this work, you may continue to receive messages from SpamTitan. The items continuing to go into SpamTitan are SPAM. Parameters are in place that prevent individuals outside of ASD to send email directly to SpamTitan. These emails will now show in your junk Email folder. The notices from SpamTitan will go away in the coming days as the transition is completed.

Check your Junk Mail in Outlook for missing emails. For information on how to manage your junk Email in Outlook, please see the new web page on the Instructional Tech Website. Thank you for your patience during this transition.

Shout Out!

Student Created Google Expedition

On January 13, two teachers from Ilalko Elementary School, Michael Martin, and Amy Anderson, along with Ethan, a 5th grade Ilalko student, presented their innovative work with virtual reality to the ASD School Board. Using Google Tour Creator, students developed virtual tours of college campuses, with text and narrative written by the students. Employing Common Core standards, media literacy principles, and technology skills, staff and students were able to bring research writing into the 21st Century and create engaging experiences that will extend beyond the classroom.

Virtual Reality Board Presentation 1.13.20

Presentation given to the School Board

IMG_2282.MOV

Ethan in action!

Changes in the Department

DOT’s Executive Assistant Marie Berger concludes her service with us next Wednesday, January 22, as she retires and moves to Camano Island. Equally skilled at responding to the needs of people and tasks, Marie has always gone above and beyond to lift our department toward new heights of performance. We will miss her.

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