Tech Bulletin - Spring 2022
Supplements - Late Additions to EOY Spring 2022 Tech Bulletin
The deadline for Summer BTA course proposals has been extended to Mon, 6/6. Please submit any course proposals for the summer by then.
Teachers are asked to follow the directions on this Google form (also available from the Teacher Portal in Power School) to review and confirm the accuracy of their Course Rosters for the year, by June 17, please. As previously announced, the annually submitted Course Rosters are used by NJ DOE for the SGP's and mSGP's, likely to be resumed in 2023-24. Please report any errors to the school office and then resubmit the form when corrected. Teachers need to submit the form only once for all their courses.
Here is a form with images and step-by-step for implementing 2-Step or MultiFactor Authentication (MFA) in Google. It was composed by Greg Matyola of Hanover Township. All staff and teachers are asked to have implemented 2-Step Verification by June 15, per the directions below.
Table of Contents
Summer 2022 BTA
There will be a BTA this summer. Courses will run between 7/6 and 8/31 - they cannot be offered before 7/6, nor after 8/31. They can be remote or in-person.
Course proposals can be made between 5/16 and 6/6. Remember to identify an Administrator who will approve the course, as well as specific dates and times.
Registration for summer courses will begin 6/7 and end on 6/20, with BOE approval on 6/21. There can be no roster adjustments after the BOE approval.
End of Year Tech Procedures
Teachers and staff can continue to use Spiceworks to report issues throughout the summer. The mobile app for Spiceworks works even outside the District.
Please use the category of "_SUMMER WORK" to report any significant repair that could be performed over the summer. Please discuss any major requests with your Supervisor or Principal. Electrical work, including new outlets, should be reported by the Principal/Supervisor to Facilities as a work order. Routine repair/requests, such as Chromebook/computer repair, software support/login issues, should continue to be reported as normal in Spiceworks.
To enable summer learning in district and other programs, students in all grades, except current kindergarten, will keep their Chromebooks over the summer. Their devices and accounts will remain functional throughout the summer. Students in grades 6 and 8 should bring their devices with them to their new schools.
Students newly enrolled over the summer into grades K-8 will be issued Chromebooks at the start of school in September. Newly enrolled high school students will receive a Chromebook when they register.
Students and families can use -until August 19- this Remote Help Desk to report issues, including requests to change passwords for security reasons, or to report trouble with a device or software. The link to this form will be published on the District web site. After August 19, students and families will be asked to hold onto their devices and then bring their device to school and work through the school Library for repair, as standard.
Teachers must take with them over the summer those tech devices that are checked out to them personally in the Library/inventory system: their Chromebooks, the charger, the Digital Adapter (TrippeLite), tablet (if issued) and Jabra. Do NOT leave those things behind.
Teachers are asked to collect the peripheral devices related to classroom display systems (remotes, pens for IWBs, document cameras, etc) and store them in a plastic bag that they will be delivered to the Librarians. Please label the plastic bag with the room number, include a note with the location of any other equipment or devices. Please do not lock away, in your desk or a closet, this peripheral equipment. It is needed to prepare for September.
Be sure to back up all data to your Google Drive. Your profiles will be removed from the interactive board PC/mini.
New Staff ID's are to be emailed to boeid@bloomfield.k12.nj.us with the Subject: Full Name , and in the Message Body: School and Position (Title).
Confirm and place orders for batteries (AA, AAA, etc.) in your building/department with supervisors/principals. Please don't submit a Tech Help Desk ticket for these supplies.
Please notify your office and the school Librarian if you become aware that a student / family will be moving away over the summer. We want to collect their equipment before they leave.
Security Enhancements in June
Before June 15, in order to comply with a requirement of the company that provides our cyber insurance, all faculty and staff are asked to turn on '2-Step Verification' in your District Google Account.
After you turn on "2-Step Verification" in your Google account, as on the left,
when when you log onto a new device, you will receive a prompt on your phone.
This will ensure that no one is hacking your account.
FAQ
WHY are we doing this?
We are required to implement Multi-Factor Authentication by our cyber insurance carrier.
Do I need an Internet connection to implement Google 2-Step Verification?
To receive the Passcode or request via SMS you need only cellular service.
You can also use Google Authenticator if you have neither Internet, nor cellular service. See the directions to the right.
Do I have to go through 2-Step Verification for ALL the devices that I use?
All devices that you use to access Google MUST be authenticated, but any device that you have used since December 1 should already be on your list of verified devices and will NOT require you to dual-authenticate.
Suppose I don't want to use my cell phone?
Follow the directions below to print a set of 10 8-character codes that you can use in place of the text message or Google Prompt.
Why am I NOT receiving a Google prompt? Why do I always receive a text?
You must be logged into your phone with your District account to receive prompts of "Yes, It's me" or "No, Don't allow."
How to Turn on '2-Step' Verification in Google
In brief, to turn on "Two-Factor Authentication" in Google, (1)log into your Google account, (2)click on your personal icon in the top right corner, (3)click on 'Manage your Google Account', (4)click on "Security" and then (5)scroll down to "2-Step Verification" and turn it on, then (6)follow the on-screen instructions. You will have to provide a telephone number to your cell phone to receive texts to receive the message with a code to enter. There is no compromise of your personal device. This is wholly and merely a security feature for your District account. (Ideally, you are logged into your District Google account on your phone, so that you will by default receive the Google Prompt and just have to click Yes or No.)
Alternatively, just be logged into your District Google account and click on this link: https://myaccount.google.com/security Then scroll down to "2-Step Verification," turn on the feature, and follow the prompts to receive the text message.
Everyone has to have turned on "Two-Step Verification" by June 15. Teachers, secretaries and staff (NOT students) must have enabled "Two-Step Verification" by June 15.
As explained in the video, while you will have to receive an authenticating message with a prompt or code whenever you log onto a new device, such as Chromebook or computer, with your District account, you will NOT have to authenticate to any device that you have logged into over the past six (6) months. Your list of already active devices is under "Security" and "Your Devices". All the devices below would NOT require the user to receive a message with a code.
The only time a teacher will have to receive and acknowledge a code on their phone is if they (A)log into a device under Incognito mode or (B)log onto a device that has been re-imaged or cleared of their profile or that they have never logged into before.
If you are concerned about NOT having any cellular service in the room where you teach, you can download and install the 'Google Authenticator' app, which will provide a six-digit code on your phone, even if there is no cellular service.
Is there a way to turn on two-step verification without having to provide a cell phone number? IS THERE ANYWAY TO TURN-ON TWO-STEP VERIFICATION WITHOUT PROVIDING A PHONE NUMBER?
The user can click the 'show more options' button to use a Security Key [that is purchased]. Outside of that, the options would involve a phone; either a number or being signed in to a phone via a Google Prompt. As a temporary measure, they could use a phone to get the initial phone verification call/message and then switch to using the backup codes as a secondary option. The user could then remove the phone number.
(Google Support) - Amplified IT Support, May 17, 2022, 3:36 PM
Third Method of Implementing 2-Step Verification
WITHOUT ROUTINE NEED OF A CELL PHONE
A third option for implementing 2-Step verification is to print out a set of eight digit codes that you can use in place of code texted to your phone. In fact, as long as you have these codes, you do not need your phone at all. You must still use your cell phone once when you activate or first turn-on 2-Factor Verification (as explained above), but once you have turned on 2-Factor Authentication, you will not need to use your phone again, if you follow the directions below-
Create a set of backup codes
To store your backup codes somewhere safe, you can print a copy of your backup codes, follow these directions-
- Go to your Google Account.
- On the left, click Security.
- Under "Signing in to Google," click 2-Step Verification. You may need to sign in.
- Under "Backup codes," click Continue .
- From here you can:
- Get backup codes: To add backup codes, click Get backup codes.
- Create a new set of backup codes and inactivate old ones: To create new codes, click Refresh .
- Delete your backup codes: To delete and automatically inactivate your backup codes, click Delete Delete .
- Download your backup codes: Click Download Codes .
- Print your backup codes: Click Print .
Sign in with a backup code
- Find your backup codes.
- Sign in to your Google Account.
- Click Try another way.
- Click Enter one of your 8-digit backup codes.
- Enter one of your unused backup codes.
Tip: As each code can be used only once, mark the code as used.
Tips:
- Print your set of codes. Remove your name/email - just cut it off. Then shrink the printed page on the Konica-Minolta copier to the size of a credit card. Save the shrunken page in your wallet, purse, or where you can recover it. When you use one of the codes, cross it off.
- If you lose the codes or think your backup codes were stolen or you run out of codes, create a new set. To create a new set of codes, click Refresh .
- When you create new codes, your old set automatically becomes inactive.
To Find your lost backup code on your computer, search your computer for: "backup-codes-username.txt with your username. For example, if your username is google123, search for: Backup-codes-google123.txt. You'll need the codes downloaded to your computer for this to work.
(See https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1187538?hl=en&ref_topic=7189145.)
Tech Plans for 2022-23
Please be aware that beginning over the summer, after July 4, all new enrollments / registrations will be online.
Moreover, students who move within the district will complete an online form in the Parent Portal. Building secretaries will receive some training in this new online form for change of address. Parents who inquire about a change of address should be referred to the Office for access to the online form.
Students and teachers in grades 5-6 will have access to WeVideo for online video production and editing of projects and learning resources. Thanks to Mrs. Rice and Hughes of the MS for bringing BTA courses to the elementary schools on this terrific program in the spring.
Please be aware that beginning this summer ALL new registrations and enrollments for school will be conducted online. Parents can do the district web site, click on Student Registration, and they will see a link for New Student Registration, which brings them to a site with links and directions for enrolling new students. Approvals are online and parents are notified by email of any errors or omissions.
[T]he cyber threat level in New Jersey is currently set to ELEVATED, which indicates a significant risk due to increased hacking, virus, or other malicious activity that compromises systems or diminishes service. . . .The NJCCIC recommends users and organizations . . .implement security controls that help prevent account compromise, including strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA) where available.
