School ICT News Bulletin No. 287 - 13/05/2020 Published by ICT Solutions eBulletin Items Free Advice, Guidance and Provisioning of digital education platform by ICT Solutions IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Remote Access Service IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering Off Core Network Equipment Over Half Term Period Important Information: Census and Assessment Guidance 1. Free Advice, Guidance and Provisioning of digital education platform by ICT Solutions As you may have seen in the Government communications, they are recommending using either Google or Microsoft digital education platforms to support and deliver remote learning. Other suppliers may be marketing you to take advantage of Government funding to move to one of these platforms but we can provide this service free of charge if you register your interest before 31^st May 2020. What is a digital education platform? It's a place where your pupils' learning experience at home can continue as close to normal as possible. The platforms are purpose-built for remote learning in a way that a school website isn't. In short, if you set up on one of the platforms, you'll be able to: Assign and assess work, providing feedback remotely Communicate with staff, students and parents in real time, using written word, voice and video Facilitate collaboration between groups of pupils and teachers For either G-suite for Education or Microsoft 365 we can: Set up your own tenant, ensuring security and compliance Provision user accounts for staff and students Migrate your existing emails across to your new platform/tenancy Set up Microsoft teams or Google Classroom for all classes or as per your requirements Enable Microsoft Teams video or Google Meet video calling and live meets Provision online secure shared files areas Provide online training and webinars – 1 hour free training will be included in your set up package. To help you establish which platform is right for you, a comparison guide is now available - https://covid19.thekeysupport.com/covid-19/deliver-remote-learning/make-tech-work-you/feature-comparison-g-suite-education-and-office-365-education/?marker=content-body To register your interest in setting up your own tenancy please complete this form and we will be in touch with you shortly to discuss your requirements. https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=lOM_8mowLU-yDq7UATSAsV_upC52Ec5EjQhZD-wIFptUMUZQVVRUUTFFSVJZN1E2VU1CTUxOQ0RCTy4u We are working directly with both Microsoft and Google Education teams for remote support best practice. Join us for a Microsoft teams broadcast on Thursday 14^th May at 10.00 am to find out more about Remote Learning with Microsoft tools (We hope to have a Google one soon as well). Join Microsoft Teams Meeting +44 20 3855 5143 United Kingdom, London (Toll) Conference ID: 783 984 036# 2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Remote Access Service As more and more people are now working remotely, we are naturally receiving requests from Schools/Academies to access resources from home, primarily Star Accounts. Unfortunately, whilst we do not offer a remote access service, if you are using the Updata network, they can provide you with a quote for theirs. With some additional configuration from your IT support team you will then be able to access your Star Accounts database by RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). Further information about the service can be found here - https://icteducation.norfolk.gov.uk/page.aspx?id=1117 For More Information: Please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk 3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering Off Core Network Equipment Over Half Term Period We would like to ask schools to refrain from turning off the power to the core networking equipment over the forthcoming half term holiday period. Core networking equipment includes routers, switches and servers, often in a wall or floor cabinet. These devices are monitored by ourselves and Updata and turning off the power results in false alarms. This could potentially result in your school incurring a charge for an engineer visit. Services Affected: Schools Internet, email and any service accessed via the internet Services Not Affected: All other school systems which do not access the internet When: 22nd May 2020 - 31st May 2020 What You Need To Do: If there is no alternative to powering off the communications cabinet and core equipment then please contact the Service Desk to advise us in advance For More Information: Please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk 4. Important Information: Census and Assessment Guidance In light of the current Coronavirus Pandemic the DfE have cancelled or paused all but the most essential data collections, services and requests from all educational and care settings until the end of June 2020. This means that both the School and Pupil Census Summer 2020 and Statutory Assessments have been cancelled. Therefore, we will not be publishing any guides on our website on how to run the census or complete assessments until we have further guidance from the DfE.

School ICT News Bulletin No. 287 - 13/05/2020

Published by ICT Solutions

eBulletin Items

Free Advice, Guidance and Provisioning of digital education platform by ICT Solutions
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Remote Access Service
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering Off Core Network Equipment Over Half Term Period
Important Information: Census and Assessment Guidance

1. Free Advice, Guidance and Provisioning of digital education platform by ICT Solutions

As you may have seen in the Government communications, they are recommending using either Google or Microsoft digital education platforms to support and deliver remote learning. Other suppliers may be marketing you to take advantage of Government funding to move to one of these platforms but we can provide this service free of charge if you register your interest before 31^st May 2020.

What is a digital education platform?

It's a place where your pupils' learning experience at home can continue as close to normal as possible. The platforms are purpose-built for remote learning in a way that a school website isn't.

In short, if you set up on one of the platforms, you'll be able to:

Assign and assess work, providing feedback remotely
Communicate with staff, students and parents in real time, using written word, voice and video
Facilitate collaboration between groups of pupils and teachers

For either G-suite for Education or Microsoft 365 we can:

Set up your own tenant, ensuring security and compliance
Provision user accounts for staff and students
Migrate your existing emails across to your new platform/tenancy
Set up Microsoft teams or Google Classroom for all classes or as per your requirements
Enable Microsoft Teams video or Google Meet video calling and live meets
Provision online secure shared files areas
Provide online training and webinars – 1 hour free training will be included in your set up package.

To help you establish which platform is right for you, a comparison guide is now available - https://covid19.thekeysupport.com/covid-19/deliver-remote-learning/make-tech-work-you/feature-comparison-g-suite-education-and-office-365-education/?marker=content-body

To register your interest in setting up your own tenancy please complete this form and we will be in touch with you shortly to discuss your requirements.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=lOM_8mowLU-yDq7UATSAsV_upC52Ec5EjQhZD-wIFptUMUZQVVRUUTFFSVJZN1E2VU1CTUxOQ0RCTy4u

We are working directly with both Microsoft and Google Education teams for remote support best practice.

Join us for a Microsoft teams broadcast on Thursday 14^th May at 10.00 am to find out more about Remote Learning with Microsoft tools (We hope to have a Google one soon as well).

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

+44 20 3855 5143 United Kingdom, London (Toll)

Conference ID: 783 984 036#

2. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Remote Access Service

As more and more people are now working remotely, we are naturally receiving requests from Schools/Academies to access resources from home, primarily Star Accounts. Unfortunately, whilst we do not offer a remote access service, if you are using the Updata network, they can provide you with a quote for theirs. With some additional configuration from your IT support team you will then be able to access your Star Accounts database by RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol).

Further information about the service can be found here - https://icteducation.norfolk.gov.uk/page.aspx?id=1117

For More Information:

Please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk

3. IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Powering Off Core Network Equipment Over Half Term Period

We would like to ask schools to refrain from turning off the power to the core networking equipment over the forthcoming half term holiday period. Core networking equipment includes routers, switches and servers, often in a wall or floor cabinet. These devices are monitored by ourselves and Updata and turning off the power results in false alarms. This could potentially result in your school incurring a charge for an engineer visit.

Services Affected: Schools Internet, email and any service accessed via the internet

Services Not Affected: All other school systems which do not access the internet

When: 22nd May 2020 - 31st May 2020

What You Need To Do:

If there is no alternative to powering off the communications cabinet and core equipment then please contact the Service Desk to advise us in advance