15 years down and still growing...

2013... Fifteen years at Highlands has gone by so quickly and every year brings more change than the last.  This year is no exception.  Here are some of the things you should be thinking about regarding technology as we start the year.

1. Change your summer voicemails and email auto-responders to indicate you are back at school.  If you need to set up a new voicemail, call your extension from your own phone, and choose option 5, then follow the voice prompts.  
2. Projectors/Sound Systems - a few classrooms have had projectors added or replaced.  If you require some PD time with the equipment, please let me know and we'll schedule some time with you to get you up to speed.
3. New operating system - All district laptops have been upgraded to OS X "Mountain Lion".  There are several new features that I think will be useful to you including:
1. Notification Center
2. Air Play Mirroring - Send your display to any AppleTV either at school or at home (if you have an AppleTV at home)
3. Safari 6 - Addresses and search are done in the same bar - no more "Google Search" box on the right hand side of the menu bar
4. Universal Access - If you have students with special vision or hearing needs, Apple has made it easy to get to these settings any time by hitting option+F5 from just about anywhere.
5. Easier Sharing - Most apps will let you share via email, AirDrop (another newly improved feature), or even twitter if you have an account.
6. New Names - iCal is now called Calendar and Address Book is now called Contacts
7. New gesture based commands - by swiping with different numbers of fingers in different directions you can make your mac complete actions. 
4. PowerSchool
1. We have updated powerschool and there are a few changes there as well (Surprise!)
1. We can now assign multiple teachers to a section, hopefully eliminating the need for the use of the "FlexNclassname" logins.  We are still working out the details with this and will be sharing more information as we have it.
2. New Gradebook app - Instead of downloading the gradebook application from the PowerSchool website each time you want to use it, you can now find it in your Applications folder.  Just launch it and enter your credentials to get to it.  No need to visit the website first.
3. Schoology integration - Most activities (not all) that you used to perform in the gradebook application will now be completed right from Schoology - We'll give you more training on this early in the year.
5. Google Docs
1. We have created a Google Apps domain for the district.  Your username and password is the same as your school network login, no need to remember separate login and password information.  You can access this at https://drive.google.com/a/district106.net/
2. There will be training on using the basics of google docs early in the school year.
6. Novell Messenger
1. We have had the ability to use internal instant messaging for many years, but it has not been utilized as it could have been.  This year it is an expectation that all staff be logged-in to messenger when they are at school using their laptop.  Messenger will also work outside of the building if you want to connect with other staff or students (Grades 6-8) in real-time while you are at home.  Your username and password are the same as usual, and the address of the server is chat.district106.net , don't change the port number in the login screen.  Let me know if you want me to visit your team and do some PD.  It should only take 10-15 minutes.
7. Teaming - We will be starting to migrate off of teaming this year in a gradual way.  Make sure you talk to your principal to talk about what tasks will remain on Teaming for now.
8. Tech Committee - Tech committee will be reconvening this year.  I'd like to see a rep from each grade level/specialty if possible.  Email me if you will be your team's rep.
9. Contacting the Tech Department - Please continue to utilize the workorder system for the day-to-day requests that you have.  If you have to call for an emergency that is impacting learning your classroom, call the help desk at 3811 and someone will respond right away.  Tim is no longer an initial point of contact for support issues.  If his expertise is required, the case will be escalated to Tim or I through our department processes.  My expectation is that the help desk will be manned at all times when students are in attendance.  If you ever call the help desk during the day and do not talk to someone, please let me know.

I want the tech department to be a resource for you and your students.  I look forward to working with you in making technology an effective learning tool.  Make a personal technology goal for the year and let me know how I can help you achieve your goals.  

Welcome back

Eric