Technology Issues

This is the busiest time of the year for the Department of Technology and, to those affected, every technology issue is the most important one.

Staff will get the best service by submitting technology needs via Freshservice. Please include any information necessary for us to be successful (e.g. username, asset ID/barcode, room number, and description of the issue). These instructions will walk you through how to submit a ticket for assistance.

Work orders are prioritized based on our Service Level Agreement. It is possible that we may have to strategically prioritize items based on scope and type of instructional impact, particularly with the opening of a new school and portables changing locations. This may prevent us from meeting the schedule outlined in the service level agreement.

Windows 11

All ASD desktop PCs have been upgraded to Windows 11 during summer break.  You may only notice cosmetic changes with the new version, but if you would like to learn more, you can find information on our Windows 11 webpage.

If you have lost any critical apps in the upgrade, please submit a helpdesk ticket.

Chromebook Refresh - Secondary

Secondary staff can look forward to October 2023 when their current Chromebooks will be replaced with new, enterprise-class devices.

Rollout dates for each school will be communicated nearer the time, and a one-hour paid training on the new devices will be available for all staff.

Those interested in the details of the new device can see the manufacturer's page.

New Staff Symbaloo

Staff Symbaloo has had a facelift to make this page more useful to all staff (regardless of their role).  More links will be added over the coming weeks, but in the meantime, we hope you enjoy the cleaner appearance and added resources.

To access Symbaloo on the Chrome browser, simply click the home (⌂) button next to the address bar. 

Newline Boards

Staff at Alpac, Evergreen Heights, Gildo Rey, Terminal Park, Washington, and Cascade had their displays modernized over summer to interactive Newline Q boards.

Tech Coaches will be present in these schools during the first weeks of school to help support the transition to these new devices.

For staff looking for self-help guides and videos, check out the new ASD Newline Board webpage.

New in Google Classroom

As you starting up the school year and getting your Google Classrooms up and running, it's a great opportunity to try out some of the latest features. There's lots of of new settings that will hopefully save you time. Here are some of the ones we think you may want to explore:

• Customize Grading Systems - This will allow you to select from numerical, letter grade, proficiency, four-point grading scales, or set up your own. 

• Practice Sets - Transform new and existing content into engaging and interactive assignments that can utilize built-in student supports and autograding. 

• Grading Periods - Set grading periods for your class, and then you will easily be able to see student work within a selected period. 

• Disable Submissions After Due Date - When creating an assignment and setting a due date, you can choose whether to also turn on this feature.

Remember to regularly check Tech Tips for what's new in Classroom throughout the year. 

Lock Before You Walk!

An easy way to protect yourself from unwanted access to your computer is to lock your screen when you walk away.  

On Windows devices, this can be done by pressing ⊞ Win  +  L 

On Chromebooks, the screen is locked by pressing Search +  L 

An unlocked computer is an invitation to bad actors to read your email, look in your Google Drive, change data in Skyward, and more.

If you do leave your computer unlocked and unattended, you may receive a polite reminder card on your keyboard from a DoT staff member.

Skyward Help

The Data Services Website provides help and information for Skyward users with specific pages for employees, teachers, Qmlativ training, and submitting help tickets.