Forgotten Your Password Over the Summer?

It happens to the best of us.  If you ever need to reset your password for your email/Google accounts, you can access the Staff Password Reset portal.  The link is below, and it can also be found on the Staff Links homepage.

New phone? New Duo!

If you changed to a new phone over the summer, you will need to transfer your Duo information to the new device.  Thankfully, this is a process you can do by yourself by following the directions below.  If you encounter any issues, please submit a helpdesk ticket.

Printing: Now Even Easier

All district computers have been moved to a service called Directprint for improved printing performance. This upgrade includes advanced print features (e.g. stapling, hole punching) on Chromebooks, secure printing for sensitive documents, and more reliable performance. See the directions below for how to access these features:

Teacher Help Hub

If you are looking for information to start your year with all our various technology tools, we have compiled a guide that you can search to help with technology in your classroom. If your question can't be answered, please see your ITSS or BTC (see below), or put in a Helpdesk ticket for further assistance.

Support at Your School

When you need help at your school, you have a variety of people that you can speak to.  This may include:

• Instructional Technology Support Specialist (ITSS) for help with curricular and teaching technology matters;

• Building Technology Co-ordinator (BTC) for first-level technology repairs;

• Technology Support Specialist (TSS) for more advanced technology Support.

Click the image to the right to see more details about how these people can help you, or click below for a list of these roles at your school:

Innovation Funds 25-26

If you are looking to add new tech for students into your classroom, or to upgrade a free teaching tool to the premium version, you can apply for Innovation Funds from the Technology Levy to support your project.  $5/student FTE is allocated to each building.

Applications for Innovation Funds will be reviewed only once this year in November, so be sure that you send your proposals in sooner rather than later.

Full details of the program and how to apply can be found below:

Robots for Check-Out

Are you looking to integrate Computer Science into your classroom?  Would hands-on devices help your students to visualize concepts?  Looking to start a coding club?  The Department of Technology has several sets of coding robots that can be checked out to classrooms, and can provide support for integrating these into your curriculum.  A full list can be found on our website:

Read&Write for Google

Snap&Read and Co:writer have become one new product: Read&Write.  This new extension provides all the functionality of the old tools, plus new features like a visual dictionary, online highlighting, read aloud practice and more!  The extension has been pushed to all student Chromebooks, and staff can download it from the Chrome Web Store below.  Look for more info and training in the Fall Training Series.

Seesaw - now for PK-5

Seesaw is a powerful learning tool and student portfolio that has been available for K-2 students for the last few years. This year we are expanding Seesaw to all elementary students, and will be moving several curriculum resources to the platform.  More information and training will be available in the Fall Training Series, but you can click below to explore the platform now:

Clever Badges

Clever Badges have been regenerated for all K-1 students for the coming year.  If you have students who were using Clever Badges last year, you will need to print new ones for them.

If you have new students who enroll in your class, you can print a Clever badge for them by following the directions on our Clever Page.

Newline Boards

If you have changed schools or classrooms, you may now have a Newline Interactive Board in your class.  To help get you started, you can refer to the user guides and videos on the support site below.

For schools who had Newlines installed over the summer, you will receive training at your school before the end of August.

Symbaloo is now Staff Links

The old Symbaloo pages will close at the end of September.  Student homepages have been set to Clever, and staff will see a new Staff Links page as theirs. Please be sure to remove any Symbaloo bookmarks.

There will be a course on Clever during the Fall Training Series for those wishing to know more.

ParentSquare Staff & Parent accounts are now separate

Staff members who are also parents now have two accounts. Follow these instructions from your staff account to add your parent account so that you can log into both accounts at the same time and easily switch roles without logging out. Notifications are managed separately (i.e. parent alerts on your phone and staff messages in your work email). This change keeps your work and personal information separate and provides flexibility and control. 

Establishing Tech Routines for Media Balance

At the start of the school year, it's important to establish clear routines for how students will access, manage, and regulate the technology in the classroom.  With the new rules around Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) in classrooms, this will be even more critical.

Below are two lesson plans for Elementary and High School to help you start the year.  Middle Schools will address this through their Designated Time lessons provided by our district.

Lock Before You Walk

Before you leave your desk or classroom, remember to lock your electronic devices. Unlocked devices allow anyone to access their contents and your personal information.

• On a PC, press Windows + L

• On a Chromebook, press Search + L

• On a Newline Board, tap the power button

Watch Out for Phish

The number one threat to school cybersecurity is phishing -- emails that try to steal your personal information by pretending to be someone else.  Make sure that you protect all our student and staff information by following these rules:

1. Always verify the sender's email address before trusting their information.  Auburn staff all have @auburn.wednet.edu in their address.

2. Never click on links or open attachments from unknown senders, or senders that look suspicious.

3. Never give out your password and type it in a website unless you are sure the site is genuine.

4. Use the "Report Message" button in Outlook to flag any suspicious emails. 

To help students, there is a lesson plan on phishing that you can use in your class.

Skyward Help for Teachers, Employees & Staff

Data Services in the Dept of Technology is here to help you with all of your Skyward needs. From updating your security access, to training a new office member, to setting up a seating chart, to running that budget report. Think about Skyward - think Data Services! Watch this column for updated Skyward news and submit us a ticket to fix it.