Tech eNews 2-28-2013

Tech eNews for 2-28-2013

1. Missing toolbar items in Excel 2011
2.  Wireless expansion project underway
3.  eVAL Signup for Certificated Staff
4.  Need help, please ask!
5.  Updating your e-mail to log into School Dude
6. Take home rights to software


1. Missing Toolbar items in Excel 2011
If you're used to the tool bars in Office 2008 for Mac, you're used to having a specific set of buttons on each row of your tool bars, with certain items like "format borders" always being visible.

In the newer versions of Excel and Word 2011 for Mac, the applications will start hiding items from your "ribbon" if the Excel/Word window is not full screen.  For instance, when you shrink an Excel Spreadsheet, you'll end up with a sub-set of the tools available, and there's not a way to get them back without making the window larger (or digging in the menu to find them).  Click the link below for a Tech Blog article about how to customize the buttons and get your most-needed buttons back!

http://wsdtechblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/toolbar-items-missing-in-excel-2011.html

2.  Wireless expansion project underway
WSD Tech Staff Sean Elkinton, Linda Henderson, and Kenneth Mai are busy installing wireless access points to expand the WSD network into all areas of each building.  The new wireless is a more robust system that should provide much faster throughput, better coverage, and a more stable connection to the network.  It also features a “guest” network which is OK to allow students to access from their personal devices.   The Tech person in your building can help you set up district owned devices to connect to WSD.  For personal devices, you can connect to guest using the password you can get from your building support person.  The guest wireless password will be changing quarterly, so make sure you check the Tech eNews next month for the new password.


3.  eVAL Signup for Certificated Staff
Certificated staff should sign up for eVAL trainings to support their collection of evidence for TPEP.  The deadline for WAE members to sign up is March 5, 2013.  Here is the sign up link:
https://docs.google.com/a/washougalsd.org/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dGhaSFJ4SjBFeWFBSDBNQkRLYXM5dHc6MQ

4. No Problem Too Small – Please ask if you need help!
Sean, Linda and Kenneth are here to support district staff in your work educating children. If you run into a technology problem, please don’t hesitate to ask us for help. We’re only able to help if you let us know you’re having a problem!

5.  Updating your e-mail to log into School Dude
Some staff have asked about School Dudes still using the "old" Washougal.k12.wa.us e-mail addresses.  There isn't a way for us to mass-change all of the addresses, but if you want, you can update it for your account.

Log into school dudes using the normal link, on the WSD "For District Employees" page, using your and click the "settings tab" at the top (in the blue bar).

Click on either Maintenance or IT (it will update both)

Enter your new e-mail address in the box where it says E-mail address, then put in the submittal password and click submit.

You can contact Sean, Linda or Kenneth if you need help or don't know the School Dude password.

6. Take home rights to Microsoft Software
Yes, there are "take home rights" to some of the software that you use in your classroom, which includes Microsoft Office 2010/2011, Sophos Antivirus, Inspirations, and if you are at WHS, Adobe Creative Suite 4.

There's a form, created using a template from Microsoft, that outlines the "rules" around this use. It's located on the WSD Technology page, under the Business/Operations menu on the WSD Website, also linked here:
http://www.washougal.k12.wa.us/business_operations/technology.htm

It's called the "Take Home Rights Agreement" and in a nutshell, it says you'll use the MS software for work related purposes, and that you'll uninstall it if you ever leave your job at WHS. Note that for both the Microsoft software, and the Adobe software for WHS, your at home use is restricted to work related purposes, which would cover things like lesson planning, working on school projects, grading student work, etc.

You're entitled to the same version of MS Office as you have at work on your teaching computer.

If you are interested in this, please download the form, sign it and initial in the row of lines, and send the form along with a blank DVD to Les Brown. He will copy the installation media onto the DVD, and send it back to you.