School ICT News Bulletin No. 192 - 13/09/2011

Published by ICT Shared Services

Staff password policy enforcement for staff NSIX Google/SIMS login

Subject: Staff password policy will be enforced for staff NSIX Google/SIMS login details on 22/09/2011

Services Affected: School staff Google email accounts and Sims OpenHive login

Services Not Affected: Pupil Google email account and any other ICT services

When: 22^nd September 2011 from 16:00 hrs

In the interests of security, ICT Shared Services previously updated its password policy for school staff members.  Please see ICT Shared Services eBulletin number 181 and 185 (http://www.ict.norfolk.gov.uk/eBulletin/default.asp?ID=148) for details.

This policy is automatically applied to newly created staff accounts and when staff change their own password but it is now necessary that all existing staff accounts meet this policy.  We will be issuing an email notification to all staff who have a password that does not meet the required policy to ask them to change their password.  If this has not been carried out by 22/09/2011, ICT Shared Services will automatically reset their password and they will not be able to access their Google/SIMS account with their old password.

From the 23/09/2011 this may lead to an increased number of “I can’t log in” enquiries from your school staff.

What you need to do

On the 23/09/2011 request an up-to-date list of NSIX username/passwords by visiting the following link http://www.ict.norfolk.gov.uk/SSO/WebCall.aspx and choosing your school from the drop-down list.  A file containing your staff details should be delivered to your school via Avco Anycomms within 2 hours.

For more Information

Please check the news desk for updates or alternatively contact the service desk ict@norfolk.gov.uk or telephone 0845 3033003 if you have any further queries.

Author: Amanda Carr

Google VLE and Espresso update

Introduction
You will be aware from MI Sheet 152/11 that the Google VLE is being offered to schools following a successful pilot.

ICT Shared Services is using Google Apps to provide simple to use, secure and supported VLE functionality for those primary and special schools who do not wish to use Fronter and to replace Netmedia. Over 100 schools have signed up for the Google VLE.

We advised you through the ebulletin that we had entered discussions with Espresso to investigate the possibility of a single arrangement for all schools in Norfolk subject to approval

Previously we told you that the contract for Espresso ends on 31^st August 2011 and the grant funding is no longer available. The new contract would secure the price for the next 3 years and that schools will need to pay.

Espresso kindly agreed to continue providing content until the end of September to allow time to complete the discussions and advise you of the contract costs.

Google

Google VLE Implementation

We have configured the VLE for the 60 schools who have returned the information we requested and we will be contacting the named contact at each school about what happens next to get access to their template.

Reminder for schools who have signed up but not returned the additional information – we will configure your VLE as soon as we receive this information.
 

Google VLE Support during the project rollout
 

• A Welcome Pack will be provided with access to support guides.
• Support during implementation will be provided by ICT Shared Services for those schools who request it at no cost to the school.
• Members of our Locality Teams (groups of ICT Shared Services' staff that focus on a particular geographical area or cluster of schools) have been trained in the Google VLE, so they are able to support schools to obtain greater benefits.
• ICT Shared Services will provide support, maintain corporate pages of external links and create how to guides and help pages.
• Focus groups will be held termly to develop the service further based on your requirements.

Google VLE Support costs from April 2011

Support for the Google VLE is free until March 2012 but will be chargeable from April 2012. The pricing for support for Google VLE will be dependent on the number of schools that sign up, as follows:

Currently approximately 130 schools have indicated a wish to take the service but we know many other schools are waiting until they know the pricing.

Pricing is based on the costs to deliver namely:

2 members of staff to support the Google VLE for up to 200 schools

3 member of staff to support 200 to 300 schools

or 4 members of staff to support over 300 schools.

Training for ICT Shared Services staff

Integration with other content providers.

We are developing the integration for access through the Google VLE to E2BN learning resources. We are also reviewing the availability of other cloud based applications based on school feedback and will integrate them via the Google VLE.

Schools will be able to select the Google VLE support option through the Contract to Purchase process from Children’s Services later in the year for the 3 year period from 1^st April 2012.

Google VLE Sign up
You can still sign up to the Google VLE by typing the following address into your internet browser or clicking the link below. You will need to login with your NSIX account (this is the account that you use to log in to Google Mail / SIMS i.e. joebloggs1nr@nsix.org.uk). https://sites.google.com/a/nsix.org.uk/google-vle/

If you are unsure of your log in credentials your school are sent a list of log in details via AVCO/Anycomms, which is typically downloaded by the school secretary.

Google VLE Training

Advice and support on how to use Google with learning and teaching in the classroom is available by contacting Jill Duman, Advisory Service at jill.duman@norfolk.gov.uk or telephone 01603 307785. A programme of training for Google is also available from Advisory Service.
 

Espresso Education

Espresso Contract renewal – subject to contract finalisation

The new contract with Espresso Education will commence from 1^st September 2011 for 3 years. The pricing below is based on schools committing to the contract for 3 years.

The Norfolk Contract price per pupil is £4.40 - this price reflects the price to be paid to Espresso. There are no county on-costs or charges from ICT Shared Services.

Schools that previously contracted with Espresso prior to the County paid arrangement

The credit still owed to individual schools by Espresso and the outstanding benefit remains a contractual obligation between the school and Espresso and won’t be without prejudice to any days owed.

If schools do not wish to sign up to the new 3 year contract then their balance of days will be honoured by Espresso Education.

Espresso contract sign up

We are now asking schools to confirm sign up for Espresso for 3 years by completing the form here or emailing ictcontractsteam@norfolk.gov.uk  by Friday 23^rd September 2011 to ensure content can be provided.

You will not be able to access the service after 30 September 2011 unless the school has either

• Entered this county contract or
• made your own arrangements directly with Espresso

by  23^rd September 2011.

If you have any questions

For Google VLE please email tanya.allen@norfolk.gov.uk

For Espresso Education please email ictcontractsteam@norfolk.gov.uk

Created on: 08/09/2011 17:37:38

SIMS Management Information System

Further to MI Sheet 174/11 which reported that ICT Shared Service was reviewing all the project support responses in response to the feedback from schools, we can now confirm that this review has been completed and the actions described below are being put into place to:

• give a good experience for schools moving into the MIS project and
• support those schools who have already moved to SIMS to resolve any remaining concerns, make it easier and faster to access support options and increase confidence in using SIMS.

For Schools in the project rollout to move to SIMS from September

• Created a Welcome Pack with key steps in the project process, highlighting the steps that schools need to carry out for a successful implementation and what is done by ICT Shared Services and Capita.
• Revised the Project Training Programme with Capita based on school feedback to focus on the areas that you have told us are important and using schools’ own data during Days 3 and 4 of training subject to internet availability.
• Improved communications including a weekly bulletin to the office@ email address to keep schools informed of what is going on and advising schools of any known problems, workarounds and resolution dates
• Roadshows have been set up by ICT Shared Services and Capita to advise schools of all the project processes, what they can expect in the project and support after they have migrated

An email invite will be sent out to schools who have yet to migrate over.

For Schools that have already moved to SIMS

• Created an information pack of resource materials available which will be emailed to schools in early September.

• Updated website content for support
• Created a report comparison document from e1 to SIMS
• Creating an events calendar with links to support guides for key processes such as Pupil census
• Offering a series of support workshops –

These workshops are free of charge and will be hosted by ICT Shared Services and Capita. Based on feedback numbers will be limited to 30 at each session on a first come, first served basis.

SECONDARY SUPPORT WORKSHOP

To book on this Secondary support event please complete the form here

PRIMARY SUPPORT WORKSHOPS

To book on these Primary support events please complete the form here

SENIOR LEADERS IN SCHOOLS WORKSHOPS:

To book on the Senior Leader events please complete the form here

ICT Shared Services apologises for the problems some schools have experienced during the earlier phases of the project. The project review has shown that the fundamental problem was caused by poor communication and lack of easy access to relevant information.  

The project and support area are now under the management of Tanya Allen, Schools Systems Support Manager. We are confident that the steps taken will resolve the problems for future migrations and restore confidence in using SIMS. 

We will continue to update schools via the e-bulletin and weekly updates to the office@ email account with progress of each improvement described above.

For any queries please email ict@norfolk.gov.uk or telephone 0845 303 3003

Created on: 08/09/2011 17:33:17

Broadband Service Update

You will be aware from MI Sheet 173/11 that a major piece of work to relocate the Norfolk Schools Internet eXchange (NSIX) Internet Service Provider (ISP) services from the Baynard House Data Centre in London, to Norfolk, was scheduled to take place between the close of business on Friday 26th August 2011 to be completed by Monday 29th August 2011.

We are pleased to announce that this work was successfully completed.  

An immediate benefit for all schools connecting to the Norfolk Broadband service is an increase in Internet capacity and speed from 300Mbp/s to 1Gbp/s.  Further benefits include enhanced resilience and a design that gives us greater flexibility and room to grow making sure that we can meet your demands today and into the future.

Some of the core NSIX components affected during this move included:

• Internet service
• Bluecoat proxy and Internet content filtering service
• Post holder (generic) Microsoft Exchange email service
• Web hosting service
• Community ISP service

Norfolk County Council's ICT Shared Services team, together with BT, look forward to providing you with a better schools broadband experience today and into the future!

Created on: 08/09/2011 15:57:36