Tech eNews 2-10-2012

Topics for this Tech eNews 2-10-2012

1. New E-mail Login Screen – why you might get “incorrect password”

2. New E-mail Tips & Tricks

3. Next Round of Innovation Grants $2,500

4. Certified Personal Days Calendar – now with improved privacy

5. OSPI Required Survey for Certificated Teachers and Administrators

6. PowerPoint Refresher Class Still Has Space – 2-16-2012 from 4 – 5:30PM

7. Inventory is Underway at Cape/CCMS

8. Sean’s Suggestion for the UserBox on the Konica Copiers

9. Need help?  Please ask!

10. Tech Blog Has Archive of eNews and other Tech Related Articles

1. New E-mail Login Screen – why you might get “incorrect password”

A common frustration that’s come up with the new e-mail system is getting a message saying you’re entering the “incorrect password” when you know it’s the right one.  The problem might be this:  When you follow the link from the district website, For District Employees page, to the e-mail login screen, it knows that you’re using a washougalsd.org e-mail, and you don’t have to enter that part.  If you click Log Out, it takes you to a generic Google or gmail login page, where you do need to enter it. 

Here’s a handy way to remember which is which: 

If the background is green, and you have a district logo, enter just first.last as the username

If the background is grey, and there’s NO district logo, enter your WHOLE e-mail as the username.

The password is the same for both!

2. New email system Tips & Tricks

You can set a fun, personal look to your new e-mail interface. To do this, log into your washougalsd.org e-mail, then click the Sprocket in the upper right corner.  Choose Mail Settings.  Click once on “Themes” in the bar below the sprocket (it’s the farthest to the right).  Click any of the boxes to “preview” the new themes.  If you want to go back to the plain grey one, choose “light”.

You can create a signature file for yourself, too.  A signature is a block of text that gets added to the bottom of each e-mail you send out.  Usually this would include your name, title, and contact info, but some people include a quote or other fun information.  To do this, click the Sprocket in the upper right corner, choose mail settings, and look for Signature under the “General” tab.  It’s about 2/3rds of the way down.  Make sure you click “save changes” at the bottom of the page after you’re done!

To report Spam, click the Exclamation point icon while a message is selected. 

If you want to review messages that have been flagged as SPAM, do this: 

Hover your mouse above the list of Labels, below the word “Inbox” in the left column of your e-mail.  Choose “More” from the bottom of the list.  It’ll drop down, and show you the SPAM folder.  Click on it, and you’ll see the list of messages that the e-mail system thinks are junk e-mail.  If there’s a legitimate message in there, click it once, then click the Not SPAM button.  This will teach the e-mail system that this is not a message that should have been flagged.

You can find more tips on the new system on the Tech Blog

3. Next Round of Innovation Grants $2,500 deadline 3/9/2012

The Washougal School District Technology Committee is interested in having teachers pilot new and innovative technology that might be adopted into wider use as part of the standard classroom model. To further this goal, the technology committee is seeking proposals from staff for technology they are interested in piloting. Applications must meet these criterion:

Technology funded through this mini-grant must lend itself to Tier 3 teaching. (for a definition of Tier 3 teaching, please visit the OSPI Tech website at http://www.k12.wa.us/EdTech/ ) The Technology should have an impact on student learning.  Technology funded through this mini-grant should have applications for several curriculum areas and grade levels.

The technology should have reasonable support and system requirements. Technology should be inexpensive enough that it could be made part of the district standard. Applications should cost less than $2,500, and cannot be for software or subscriptions to online services.

Grant seekers should be interested in piloting the technology, and also willing to share their experiences with the committee, and to co-teach a class on utilizing the technology if it were adopted in wider use.

If you are interested in learning more, or would like to fill out the application, you can find the application on the District webpage under Business/Operations then Technology. 

If you have any questions, please contact your building's tech committee representative or Les Brown at ext. 3310.

4. Certified Staff Days Calendar – Now with more privacy

Per a request from some teachers, the Certified Staff Days calendar is now set so that it can only be viewed by district staff.  You can find the Certified Personal Days Calendar on the “For District Employees” page of the WSD website.  To view events, you must be logged into your WashougalSD.org e-mail in the same web browser.  If you see just the white calendar grid, you need to open your e-mail, then click the refresh button.

If you have a suggestion for something else that could be added to this page (check first to make sure it’s not already there!), e-mail Les Brown and he’ll look into adding it to share with everyone.

5. OSPI Requried Teacher & Administrator Survey

Certificated Teachers and Administrators are required to take the annual technology integration survey, or PILOT survey.  Classified staff do NOT need to take this. 

Go to http://www.edtech.wednet.edu/pilot/ 

Click on the "Login" button, and enter your NEW Washougalsd.org e-mail address in the Username box (I have updated the PILOT site to use the new ones instead of the old e-mail addresses).  Enter the password you selected previously in the next box, and click login. 

If you can't remember your username/password combo, you can have it automatically e-mailed to you using the "Forgot Username/Password" link. The PILOT site will e-mail you your login and password.  

Once you get in, please choose the "Technology Integration and Proficiency Self-Assessment".  After clicking this link, it'll ask you for your grade level, please choose either Grades K-4, or Grades 5-12 as appropriate.  

When you're done, make sure to click "Submit Answers" at the bottom, and your scores are saved. You can view your results from the main menu, and see how you've improved over the past year.

Teachers must complete the survey by 3/15/2012.

6. PowerPoint Refresher on February 16 4-5:30

There is still lots of space in the PowerPoint refresher class that Les Brown is facilitating later this month.  If you’re interested, just e-mail les@washougalsd.org and ask to be added to the list.  The class will be held in the Excelsior High School Lab from 4 to 5:30 PM.

7. Inventory is underway at Hathaway
The every-other-year district inventory is moving along.  Hathway and Gause Elementary School inventory is done, and work is underway at Cape and CCMS.  Here are some simple steps to help make sure the work in your classroom goes smoothly.

- Make sure any personal equipment is marked as belonging to you and not the district.  A sticker or note stuck to the equipment would be very helpful!

-  Make sure any new WSD equipment to your classroom has a tag

- You must get permission from your building administrator to check out any equipment.  There is a short form they need to keep track of while you have the item away from the building.

- If you have equipment on loan to another staff person, you should have it written down somewhere in your room, or document it with your building’s inventory designee.

8. Sean’s UserBox Directions for the Konica Copier
Sean Elkinton writes that The UserBox is a folder on the copier that stores your documents that you want to print.  It can hold all your print jobs you send there until you are ready to print them.  Once the UserBox is setup on your computer then it functions the same way as a printer so when you print to the copier it is automatically copied to your UserBox.

Here are Sean’s Directions to use the UserBox:

1) login with your code number

2) push the UserBox button

3) push the 2nd item in menu, "Use Document"

4) push "Search UserBox"

5) select your UserBox icon and select OK

6) select the document and push Print

7) push start button

9. Need Help?  Please Ask!

As always, Sean Elkinton, Anthony Collver, and Les Brown are all available to answer tech questions via schooldude, e-mail, or the phone from 8:00 - 4:30.  Even if Sean and Anthony are not in your building, you can get help from them over the phone or via e-mail.  Les is available to do screen-sharing if you’re on a Mac, too!  

If possible, please use the School Dude system to track your request.  You can find a link to it on the District website, under “For District Employees.”  Click on the link in the left hand sidebar to get started.  Contact Sean, Anthony or Les to get the submittal password.

10. Tech Blog Has Archive of eNews and other Tech Related Articles

If you want to read past issues of the Tech eNews, please visit the Tech Blog at http://wsdtechblog.blogspot.com/ and you'll find an archive of this and other Tech topics.