Looking for info on Accessibility? Go here!
It's now more important than ever to make sure that an element of digital housekeeping is maintained in order that no important files or work are lost.
If any digital resource has been created or is owned by someone who then leaves East Renfrewshire Council, that resource will be hard deleted when their Glow account is shut down. Take action to change ownership to avoid this from happening.
Staff leaving ERC - Glow account guidance
✅ Make sure the owner of any Microsoft Team or Google Classroom that you use is either you, or someone who will continue to be at your school during the academic session. Changing owners will also allow you to 'hand over' your digital classrooms to your class' next teacher.
✅ Make sure ownership of any Google Sites, shared Google Drive/OneDrive and any important shared documents are transferred to someone who will continue to be at the school during academic year 2021/2022.
✅ Any staff member or visitor to the school that is using a Glow account that has been created manually by the school's ICT co-ordinator (i.e. not automatically generated through SEEMiS) will need to have that account deleted if they are not continuing in that school.
✅ Any network login accounts created for guests/temporary staff must be deleted as we only have a finite number of licenses.
✅ If any manual Glow accounts have been created for visitors over the course of the year, these should be deleted too.
After recent increase in spam and suspected suspicious emails, here is some guidance for what to do if you receive an email that seems like it could be a scam:
Don't click on any links, open any attachments or sign in with any of your account credentials.
Forward the email with all attachments to: scam@netcraft.com and information.security@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
Delete the email
Please remember that these emails can look genuine so better to be safe than sorry!
Further guidance on this from our Information Security team can be found here (only accessible within ERC buildings) http://intranet.erc.insider/article/8273/Spam-and-Phishing
Some hints and tips below to consider sending on to your teaching staff to minimise any unsupervised engagement on Google Classroom and Teams during the holiday period.
Thanks to Chris Barron at Neilston and Ros Lee in North Ayrshire for sharing these.
GOOGLE CLASSROOM:
· ‘Mute’ Your Pupils
This will remove the pupils’ ability to comment on posts and interact on the classroom.
To do this, click on the ‘people’ tab on your Google Classroom.
From there, click the button to the left of ‘actions’ and this will select all pupils in your classroom. Then click the drop-down menu and select ‘mute’.
· Change Comment Settings on the Stream
Click the settings cog at the top right of your Google Classroom.
When the settings window opens scroll down to ‘general’ and click the drop-down menu next to ‘students can post and comment’.
From the drop-down menu select ‘only teachers can post or comment’.
After selecting this option please click the ‘save’ button at the top right of your screen and your settings will be saved.
MICROSOFT TEAMS:
· Temporarily archive a class Team (click the link for a video)
In ActivInspire, links are sometimes hidden behind a blue globe icon. To get to the link, right click on the blue globe, then select Action Browser, then right at the bottom of the window on the left, click Action Properties. You can then change the Youtube link there.
You can embed Youtube videos in to ActivInspire flipcharts, Powerpoint presentations and ThingLinks, and they will play without the need to go to an Incognito tab or log out of Glow.
These quick videos show you how to do this:
If you are beginning to think about how you could use digital technology in a more purposeful way in your classroom, the SAMR model, developed in 2010 by education researcher Ruben Puentedura can help you to think about the role of technology in supporting learning.
This article explains the model and gives examples of how you can ensure the technology you use in your classroom has the purpose of enhancing and transforming learning.
https://www.edutopia.org/article/powerful-model-understanding-good-tech-integration
Here is some useful advice for storing digital devices over the holiday period:
For Chromebooks: Click on this link for advice: CHROMEBOOKS
For HP laptops: charge the battery to at least 80%. Then, turn off the laptop, unplug it from a power source, and store it in a cool, dry place.
Spheros: Click on this link for SPRK+, or this link for BOLT
ClassVR headsets: Make sure the headsets are fully charged, then switch off each headset and store unplugged in a cool place.
iPads: Store it half-charged when you store it long term.
If you want to store your device long term, two key factors will affect the overall health of your battery: the environmental temperature and the percentage of charge on the battery when it’s powered down for storage. Therefore, we recommend the following:
Do not fully charge or fully discharge your device’s battery — charge it to around 50%. If you store a device when its battery is fully discharged, the battery could fall into a deep discharge state, which renders it incapable of holding a charge. Conversely, if you store it fully charged for an extended period of time, the battery may lose some capacity, leading to shorter battery life.
Power down the device to avoid additional battery use.
Place your device in a cool, moisture-free environment that’s less than 90° F (32° C).
If you plan to store your device for longer than six months, charge it to 50% every six months.
Depending on how long you store your device, it may be in a low-battery state when you remove it from long-term storage. After it’s removed from storage, it may require 20 minutes of charging with the original adapter before you can use it.
The Google Translate app is great as it can translate as you talk, so both your pupil and you can have a conversation and it acts as an interpreter between you both. You could download it to your phone, a school iPad or the pupil’s own device, helping with spoken instruction.
For writing and typing in Cantonese, you can change the Chromebook’s keyboard settings to the L1 language, then use the touch screen functionality so as they can draw the Cantonese characters instead of typing.
To change the keyboard settings:
Log in to the Chromebook as usual
Click on the clock bottom right, and then click on the settings cog near the top
Click on Device on the left
Click on Keyboard
Scroll down and click on Change Input Settings
Click on Add Input Methods
Choose Cantonese
Close that window
To get the on-screen keyboard:
Click on the clock again (bottom right)
Click on Accessibility
Scroll down and click on On Screen Keyboard
To type Cantonese characters:
Click on the keyboard icon down near the clock
Make sure the keyboard is set to Cantonese ( should be a little Cantonese icon down by the clock)
Click on the squiggly line icon (towards the left)
Use the touch screen to ‘type’ Cantonese characters
You can also use the web-based version of Google Translate to translate web pages (including Google Classroom) – details here: https://support.google.com/translate/answer/2534559
Did you know you can access all the files that live in your Google Drive or OneDrive directly from your usual file explorer in Windows?
Google Drive File Stream
Go to the magnifying glass on the bottom right of the Windows screen, click on it, and type Drive File Stream or Google Drive. Then it will ask you to log in to Google, so use your Glow username followed by @er.glow.scot and then your usual Glow password. This will then link your Google Drive to Windows File Explorer, and a new G drive will appear – all your Google Drive files are then there, and you can open and download from there.
OneDrive Desktop app
Go to the magnifying glass on the bottom right of the Windows screen, click on it, and type OneDrive. Then it will ask you to log in to Microsoft, so use your Glow username followed by @glow.sch.uk and then your usual Glow password. This will then link your OneDrive to Windows File Explorer, and a new OneDrive drive will appear.
Did you know you can access FileMaker via these websites? Ideal for updating tracking and other information and no need to request the FileMaker app to be installed on your school desktop or laptop.
You'll need to use these websites either in a school building, or when you are working from home and logged in to a school laptop with your usual ERC username and password.
http://midfmp1201.erc.midway/fmi/webd
http://midfmp1202.erc.midway/fmi/webd
For FileMaker login details, please contact your local FileMaker admin or your ICT coordinator.
Go to Mike Tholfsen's Youtube and TikTok channels - so useful!
In the People tab of a Classroom you own, click in the three dots next to the teacher to which you would like to hand ownership.
Click 'Make Class Owner'. This will send an email to the Glow email address of that teacher. They will need to go to Glow email to get this as the links only work in Glow email. Links don't work if the email is forwarded to any other address.
They click on the link in the email to accept ownership.
Log in to Glow
Click on the blue button below, and click on the drop-down menu at the top left where it says 'My Apps'.
Select 'My Groups' and then you will get two lists: one is the groups that you own (these include Teams that you own too) and the other is a list of groups (and Teams) of which you are a member.
Click on a group to edit details (including making it private), leave the group/Team, delete it, or set another member of the group or Team as the owner.
We have had some questions around the built-in accessibility features of Chromebooks that are available to users of these devices. This slide deck contains information on all of the features of our Chromebooks, and will certainly help those learners who have a Chromebook at home. All features are built-in, switched on and ready for use.
Some schools have had queries from parents and carers about the availability of Google tools on Kindle Fire devices. Unfortunately, Amazon and Google don't get on so well, and as such Amazon have blocked Google's apps from their devices.
This procedure to bypass that block could be a consideration for parents, however this is in no way a recommendation from ERC. It is up to parents if they wish to change the settings of their devices in this way.
Take care if you're owner or joint co-owner of a Team in Microsoft Teams and you are looking to leave the Team:
Please ensure you only 🏃 Leave Team, and don't inadvertently 🗑️ Delete the Team!
There have been incidences in the last week of teams being inadvertently deleted. If you are a co-owner of a Team in Microsoft Teams, but you no longer need to access that Team, then to leave the Team simply click on the 3 dots to the right of the Team name in the list of Teams and choose the 🏃 Leave the team menu choice rather than 🗑️ Delete the team so that your colleagues can continue to still access it!
If you think your Team is no longer required then rather than deleting the Team it is recommended instead to archive the team.
Here's how to archive a team in Microsoft Teams: go to the list of teams at the "Join or create a team" option and then the three dots beside the team name will give you the archive team option. Click the blue button below for more details.
If you do accidentally delete a team, then as soon as possible get in touch, giving the following details about the accidentally deleted team:
1. Team name
2. Glow usernames of some owners
3. Likely date it may have been deleted or last seen) so I can work with the national Glow Helpdesk to find and restore it.
Access Chrome extensions such as Share to Classroom and Read&Write
Staff should be reminded of the fact that no official sensitive data should be stored on desktops etc, devices must be used responsibly, purely for work purposes and only by the employee. Laptops should not be left unlocked and unattended.
The Home Working Policy which is part of the Acceptable Use Policy Framework is below, please share this with staff who are borrowing laptops. Once laptops are returned to schools, these are checked before being used by pupils to ensure that no documents have been stored in an accessible location.
Also below is a useful guide on how to connect ERC laptops to your home wifi.
Please ensure you have logged in to your laptop within school BEFORE taking it home.
If you do not need to access H: drives, departmental drives or Outlook Personal Folders, please log in using the new procedure below.
It's recommended that laptops are connected to your home router via an ethernet cable. You can extend your home network through your electrical wiring very easily by using adapters such as these from Netgear.
Use this link to access your school email from home.
In the username box, type education\ and then your username (no spaces)
These guides detail how ERC staff can use Glow tools for video conferencing with other ERC staff, outside agencies, parents/carers and others.
The serial number is a long series of numbers and letters usually on a sticker on the bottom of a Chromebook. The asset number is usually on a white East Renfrewshire sticker.
If these have fallen off, hit ALT and V on the logon screen and these details will be displayed top right.
ClassroomScreen.com is a webpage that you can use on your Activpanels and ActivBoards to add some useful on-screen tools for your teaching and learning activities. Use pseudonyms for pupil names and remember this is a website so take care not to upload anything confidential. Thanks to Claire and the staff at Carlibar for this tip!
An East Renfrewshire Council Playlist and an Education Department Playlist are available on YouTube. Schools wishing to publish to the Education Department YouTube Playlist should upload their content to the folder below and email communications@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk where a member of the Communications Team will deal with the request.
N.B. Prior to content being placed in this area and uploaded to the education playlist on YouTube, please ensure that the appropriate pupil and parental permissions are in place. No content should be submitted without these permissions.
ICT Coordinators should upload video content to \\midmem03\Video_Uploads (copy and paste this link in to Windows File Explorer) and send an email directly to the Communications Team; alerting them to the upload and informing them of the title and a short description of the video. A member of the Communications Team will upload this to the YouTube Channel using this title and send back the resulting URL by email.
A link can then be created to the video on the school website. Videos can be uploaded as 'unlisted' so that the public can't search for or see a video without being sent the 'unlisted' link first.
School ICT coordinators have access to both Apple School Manager and Lightspeed which are needed to deploy apps to school iPads. Email Scott Carlton (IT tech) for a reminder of these login details.
Select apps from the Apple App store first (first guide) and then deploy to the iPads using Lightspeed (second guide)
Under the Council’s financial regulations, you MUST seek approval from IT before purchasing any ICT related equipment. The IT contact is Sean.Ritchie@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
Professional learning this session is most often taking place online, and while this brings undoubted benefits, sometimes the technology isn’t on our side. To help familiarise with these platforms and provide troubleshooting tips, Education Scotland have produced these guides:
This toolkit is for educators and allows them to share resources to learn more about Google’s technology with Families and Guardians.
Engage your students with interactive votes, polls and question and answer sessions!
Here is a raw download of all apps being used by schools in East Renfrewshire on iPads. This is by no means a recommendation from ERC, due diligence will still need to be carried out as to how the app can be used in the classroom. Hopefully it will give schools an idea of the kinds of apps being used and help to inform decisions.
Uploading pictures to a Glow blog from an iPad can prove to be problematic - thanks to Chris Barron at Mearns Primary for this guide showing how to fix this.
Make sure your Glow emails bounce to your ERC Outlook email so that you don't miss out on important mail - details here:
You can use the class groups that are already set up within Glow to create your own Google Classroom for that group quickly and easily. Thanks to Chris Barron at Mearns Primary for this helpful guide.
All digital devices used in schools should be wiped down before and after use by pupils and staff.
Cleaning of digital devices
Wipes supplied by East Renfrewshire Council to schools are able to be used on digital devices. Please make sure that wipes are not excessively wet when using them on keyboards.
Staff should refer to the local risk assessments and guidance for information on using shared resources in schools, including the frequency of cleaning required.
For cleaning digital devices, ‘Nu-Multi Cleen’ can also be used. This should be sprayed on to a paper towel or equivalent, and then used to clean digital devices as part of the usual classroom cleaning routine.
Special care should be taken when cleaning ActivPanels, please follow the below guidance carefully.
Check out these slide templates from SlidesMania and SlidesCarnival
Create your very own Bitmoji classroom!
OpenShot portable is free software that is easy to download and enables you to edit videos in much the same way as iMovie. It's best to use this software on the 'Staff' login rather than your own ERC login.
Some very useful webinars and resources about how blended learning might look in classrooms.