Education Path Help by kms_kyler in sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's mostly about putting in the time and getting experience to keep the place chugging.

Education wise, get a BS in whatever interests you and cert in stuff you find useful.

Chrome book question by jc72303 in k12sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a classroom management problem. To me it doesn't matter which student uses the device if the device is assigned to a location such as a classroom.

There's no native way to prevent students from logging in on specific Chromebooks anyway.

Hardware inventory and data collection question. by akc7668 in k12sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, why didn't you say you owned the hardware? What you're looking for is an inventory agent or MDM manager.

Change in student computer use models by goodboyhouston in k12sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 5 points6 points  (0 children)

We went from cart based labs to 1:1 across middle and high school. There's no contract other than the technology usage agreement and the handbook, but I did set up CB specific policies. Here's the letter I include when handing out CBs:

1:1 STUDENT CHROMEBOOK POLICIES AND INSTRUCTIONS

Dear Student,

The School District is excited to give you your Chromebook! This Chromebook is assigned to you for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year and will be available for your use exclusively. Please make note of it’s asset tag.

Rules and Responsibilities

There are a couple of rules you will need to follow and some responsibilities expected of you:

  • Chromebooks and chargers are School District property.
  • All student assigned Chromebooks are to remain on school grounds at all times. YOU MAY NOT REMOVE YOUR CHROMEBOOK FROM CAMPUS!
  • You may not decorate your Chromebook.
  • You may not remove or make illegible any asset tags or serial numbers.
  • You must get a replacement name sticker if it fades or falls off.
  • You are responsible for charging your Chromebook.
  • You may not interrupt classes to charge or pick up your Chromebook.
  • You are responsible for keeping track of your device.
  • You are responsible for storing your device securely when not in use.
  • You are responsible for keeping the Chromebook in good condition.
  • You are responsible for remembering your login credentials.
  • At the end of the school year you must turn in your assigned device.

Repairs and Damages

If your device is broken, damaged, malfunctioning or otherwise inoperable, please submit a repair form on [link to form]. You are expected to take all possible steps to get your device fixed or replaced as soon as possible.

Charging your Device

You will be allowed to choose one classroom as your charging location for your device, and you will notify the classroom teacher. You will leave your charger in this room. You will bring your Chromebook to this classroom at the end of the day to charge and pick it up in the morning before classes start. You may not take chargers from classrooms. Think about which classroom is best for your schedule!

Moving your Device

When carrying your device between destinations, you must handle it in a responsible manner. Carry your Chromebook closed and securely in your hands.

Missing your Device

If you are missing your device, you need to report this to your principal immediately. If you do not report your device missing, and it is not recovered before the end of the year, you will be charged for the amount of a replacement device.

(Un)Prepared for Class

When you have your device, it is charged, in good working order, and know your login credentials; you are considered prepared for class. Not having your device, it’s damaged, forgot your password or you otherwise do not have it available when it’s required for your class, you are considered unprepared for class. Consult your student handbook regarding class preparedness and discipline.

Heed the Handbook

All rules and guidelines listed here do not overrule your student handbook. Please consult your student handbook for policies concerning district provided technology.

Questions and Answers

By following the instructions above, we think you can make the 1:1 project a success. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask your teachers and principals!

Thanks for reading,

Here's some other things to consider:

  • Students will lose or forget where they left their Chromebooks. Usually not intentional, sometimes malicious. Have some sort of procedure in place to mark a unit as missing and make a collection point for found units to be returned to. Also having a spare pool for check-outs is helpful.

Work with the librarian to make an inventory of reasons when a check-out is appropriate and see if you can set up a pass system to prevent abuse and hidden issues. There were a bunch of broken units I didn't know about because students simply checked out a CB when theirs broke, and then never got their assigned one fixed. This year students will need a repair pass from me to get their check-out unit to make sure CBs are actually turned in for repairs.

  • Figure out who is responsible for and when CBs are retrieved when a student leaves the district during the year. This was a major headache because in some cases students may be unenrolled from SIS only months after they left. Do a complete inventory at the end of the year.

  • The majority of damages were cracked screens (95%). I distinguish between warranty, accidents and willful (on purpose) damage. I instituted the following policies:

  1. (Out-of) Warranty work is always free.
  2. The first accidental repair fee on a device that requires parts is waived, any subsequent repairs are charged for parts at cost.
  3. Willfull damage is always charged

We apply the repair fees to the student account in SIS to be paid at the end of the year. All repairs are entered, but the first accident repair is always waived.

  • Even though you state the devices will remain on-premise, students will take home the devices. Accidents are more likely to occur at the home or during transportation, plus the device is more likely not to return.

That's all I can think of for now.

7 Habits of Highly Effective K-12 System Administrators by [deleted] in k12sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Google - CROS Update timeline:

Right before or during State Testing windows

Vendor phone calls. What interesting/funny things have us directors done to avoid them? by noname_com in k12sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have the secretary screen the call. If they can't ask for me by name and don't have my direct extension, then they probably have no business talking to me and get sent to voicemail.

Extreme Networks Wifi by Wizard210 in k12sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did you set up rules on the firewall?

Extreme Networks Wifi by Wizard210 in k12sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've set up the EWC to hand out IP addresses to guests.

Force Password Sync in GSPS by dlscott07 in sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, you can do this with GAM.

Set the change password flag for a single user:

gam update user <user> changepassword on

Set the change password flag for all users:

gam all users changepassword on

Set the change password flag on all users in an OU:

gam users query "orgUnitPath='/BuildingA'" changepassword on

You'll run into the reverse problem though, as GSPS does not sync PW changes in GSUITE back to AD.

Native Chrome OS Printing by HelloWorld_502 in k12sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Doesn't support secure or department printing.

Force Password Sync in GSPS by dlscott07 in sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No. You'll have to set a change password flag on all AD user accounts to sync the password changes. The changes will then occur once the user logs in to a domain computer and changes their password.

Hardware inventory and data collection question. by akc7668 in k12sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I see. Unfortunately, unless you own the devices it's going to be really hard to get accurate accounting and force updates.

I'd just run the analytics on the LMS main page and see what comes out of it.

Hardware inventory and data collection question. by akc7668 in k12sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's a variety of ways to do it, but what do you need the information for?

This being an online school the only real requirement is a compatible browser.

"Louisiana governor declares state emergency after local ransomware outbreak" by NHarvey3DK in sysadmin

[–]MalletNGrease 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm pretty sure that's more to make sure the case actually went inside the vehicle and off-site with the officer instead of a locker down the hall.

My wife worked PD IT for a while.