School ICT News Bulletin No. 316 - 14/09/2023Published by ICT Solutions eBulletin Items- Removal of 0845 Service Desk contact number
- Important Information: Change to staff Google NSIX accounts
- Rydal Communications Webinars - September 19th/26th & October 3rd
- Google bite size sessions available to Schools/Academies in September and October
- Schools Broadband Webinars - September 20th & 27th
- Cyber Security Webinars - September 20th & 21st
1. Removal of 0845 Service Desk contact number
As a reminder, our previous Service Desk contact number of 0845 303 3003 has now been switched off. Please note, that our contact number is 01603 475603, so please update your records accordingly.
For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk
2. Important Information: Change to staff Google NSIX accounts
We are re-sharing this article, as a reminder, following the start of term and a number of support tickets raised.
From week commencing April 3rd we will be implementing a change to the way that Google NSIX accounts are managed for staff accounts. Currently, if an NSIX account holder moves to another School/Academy which also has NSIX accounts provided by ICT Solutions, their account will remain active and transfer.
However, due to GDPR and subsequent recommendations, staff accounts will no longer be transferred when a staff member moves to a new School/Academy. Once they leave and their details are no longer on the data we receive from their former site, their NSIX account will now be suspended 1 week later, and they will no longer be able to access their account. Their account will then be scheduled for deletion at a later date.
It is therefore very important that staff which are due to leave your School/Academy understand that their Google email account and associated Google applications including Drive, Classroom, Calendar etc. will no longer be available 1 week after they leave, and they will not be able to access any content associated with their account after that time. It is their responsibility to ensure they have backed up any data they wish to retain, and you may also wish to update your leaver policy following this change.
If your School/Academy has Google NSIX accounts and you have a new member of staff joining from another NSIX School/Academy, you will now need to contact us with their details so we can arrange for them to be set up with a new NSIX account.
If your School/Academy has Google NSIX accounts and you have a new member of staff who is also continuing to work at another NSIX School/Academy, you will need to contact us with their details so we can arrange for their account to be linked to both organisations.
There will be no change to the way student accounts are managed. If they move to another School/Academy which also has NSIX accounts, then their account will be transferred and remain active. If they don’t move to another NSIX School/Academy, their account will be suspended after 7 weeks and scheduled for deletion at a later date.
For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk
3. Rydal Communications Webinars - September 19th/26th & October 3rd
In preparation for the termination of the Capita network in March 2024, Rydal Communications have announced that they will be hosting webinars on a Tuesday, over the next three weeks. This gives you an opportunity to see their services and ask any questions that you may have.
The dates are as follows:
Once you have registered, you will be sent an email with a link to the webinar, which will be carried out via Teams. If it does not come through to your inbox, please ensure you check your ‘junk’ mail folder.
For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk
4. Google bite size sessions available to Schools/Academies in September and October
The below sessions are free for Schools/Academies to sign up to and get some insights about some of the new features of Google.
Practice sets (20 minutes) - 14th September, 1pm & 4pm
Teachers fear assessments as much as students do, but that’s mainly because of all the marking that comes with it, as well as managing emotions in the classroom when children get stuck. What if we could make testing learning outcomes more fun, interactive and engaging whilst giving teachers automated performance insights at a glance in Google Classroom? Coming exclusively to paid editions of Google Workspace, practice sets will be just what they need.
In this session we will show you all you need to know to create and run your own practice sets.
Introduction to Bard (soon to be Duet AI) & Google Lens (20 Minutes) - 18th September, 1pm & 4pm
Teachers can normally spot when students produce “work” which is not their own. With the development of AI, teachers still need to be one step ahead. Using AI tools such as bard teachers can develop vital skills for their students such as self checking, proofreading on information they research. Also, through using AI, save time writing emails, letters, assessment feedback and progress reports, as well as differentiate work whilst personalising your lessons. Join us for this informative session to develop the use of AI in your practice.
Google Lens allows the use of devices available in the classroom to scan text, read aloud to students, identify objects for further learning and create augmented reality experience all from the comfort of your own classroom.
In this session we will show you all you need to know to start using AI in your classroom.
Interactive questions for YouTube videos (20 minutes) - 26th September, 1pm & 4pm
In this session we cover interactive questions directly in a YouTube Video, within Google classroom. Interactive questions are a great way to engage your students and keep them learning. They can be used to assess student understanding, provide feedback, and encourage participation. If you're looking for a way to engage your students and keep them learning, interactive questions are a great option, whilst also adding pace to your lessons along with personalised learning.
In this session we will show you all you need to know to start adding interactive questions into You tube videos which you can then instantly share with your Google Classroom as assignments for students to complete.
Useful Apps and extensions; Including Canvas, Cursive and Read Along (20 Minutes) - 3rd October, 12pm & 4pm
Are you looking for a way to make teaching literacy more engaging and effective for your students? Look no further than Canvas, Cursive, and Read Along!
Canvas is a digital platform that provides teachers with access to a wide variety of literacy resources, including levelled readers, interactive activities, and assessments. Cursive is a handwriting app that helps students learn and practise cursive writing. And Read
Along is a reading app that helps students improve their fluency and comprehension.
Together, Canvas, Cursive, and Read Along form the perfect trio for teaching literacy. They provide teachers with everything they need to help students learn to read, write, and speak at their own pace and level.
In this session we will show you all you need to know about using some Chrome Apps to aid the development of literacy in the classroom using your existing technology.
Google Smart Canvas: The future of collaboration in the classroom (20 Minutes) - 10th October, 1pm & 4pm
Google Smart Canvas is a new suite of features that make it easier for people to collaborate in real time. It's perfect for the classroom, where students and teachers need to be able to share ideas and work together on projects.
Do you spend a lot of time typing the same things over and over again in your Google Docs? If so, then Google custom building blocks are the perfect tool for you.
Custom building blocks are reusable snippets of text that you can save and insert into your documents. This can save you a lot of time, especially if you're writing long documents or if you have to type the same information frequently.
Do you need to make decisions with your team or class? Google Docs voting can help you do it faster and easier.
With Google Docs voting, you can create polls and surveys that allow your team or class to vote on different options. This can be helpful for making decisions about anything from the next team lunch to the final project for your class.
In this session we will show you all you need to know to above how to save more time with the new Google Smart Canvas.
To sign up to any of these sessions, please visit the following registration form:
https://forms.gle/qqudJto3eEb57gCv8
5. Schools Broadband Webinars - September 20th & 27th
Further to their webinars last term, Talk Straight T/A Schools Broadband have announced further webinars on September 20th and September 27th for Schools/Academies.
Details of the webinar and joining details are as follows:
Choosing the Right Broadband Partner for Education
Capita Updata is ceasing all connectivity, filtering & security services to schools by March 2024, meaning you will need to organise a replacement service. We know for some, organising the service transfer is a daunting prospect. Attending this webinar will prove invaluable, whoever you choose as your new provider.
The webinar will cover:
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Your Broadband options
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Why Safeguarding & Security is at the Heart of what we do
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DfE and Prevent Duty compliant Safeguarding Platform to support DSLs
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How our customers are fully protected from DDoS attacks
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How we give you control to make web filtering changes
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Why we have faster response & resolution times
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How our high availability & redundant systems keep you connected 24/7/365
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How we can support any Capita Updata early termination fees with up to 6 months free
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Answering any of your questions
September 20th
10:00 – 11:00 - https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1568445e-954d-443c-b800-94c097f9fed2@0a5eca69-1670-4e2d-a145-57adf8d8bec6
14:00 – 15:00 - https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/525f154c-8053-4092-9389-cfb4f2d6d1d6@0a5eca69-1670-4e2d-a145-57adf8d8bec6
September 27th
10:00 – 11:00 - https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/1a309768-fe4b-4bfb-8d68-cab4ba9d42d1@0a5eca69-1670-4e2d-a145-57adf8d8bec6
14:00 – 15:00 - https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/e0d735af-f015-4129-ab72-9ec03bba9788@0a5eca69-1670-4e2d-a145-57adf8d8bec6
For more information, please contact the Service Desk on 01603 475603 or ict@norfolk.gov.uk
6. Cyber Security Webinars - September 20th & 21st
Are you interested in improving your cyber security knowledge?
Join Secure Schools to learn simple ways to help protect your school from cyber-attacks and watch a demonstration of their new online platform. Secure Schools are pleased to host four webinars for schools and trusts in Norfolk at the following dates and times in September.
To sign up for one of the sessions, click the link below and complete the short registration form:
September 20th - 10:30 hours
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2394230982242227803
September 20th - 14:30 hours
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2360404507013962329
September 21st - 10:30 hours
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/2620302667541148764
September 21st - 14:30 hours
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/7881065584216806240
About Secure Schools
Secure Schools is based in Suffolk and helps schools protect themselves against cyber-attacks. They offer an online platform that includes staff training, a phishing simulation tool and a library of cyber security policies. Secure Schools also offer internal cyber security audits and system security testing.
To learn more about Secure Schools, click the link: https://www.secureschools.com/uk/
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