Not-so SMART board

One of the most common requests for support at AC involves SMARTboards, and the SMART Notebook software. Here's some troubleshooting items to help you.

"There's no image on the projector"

1. Check that the projector is on


2. Check that the projector is on the correct source (input). This is usually "Computer 1", but in some cases may be "HDMI". Although many projectors are different, look for the button labeled "Source" or "Input"


3. Check that the adapter is securely connected to your computer. A quick way to tell is by clicking on the AirPlay menu bar icon and seeing what the mirroring state is.

[caption id="attachment_520" align="alignnone" width="287"] A connected display[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_519" align="alignnone" width="211"] A disconnected display[/caption]

"The image on my projector is just a blank desktop"

Toggle mirroring on or off. The keyboard shortcut is Command-F1 (F1 is located just the the right of the ESC key)

"My SMARTboard pens are not working" or "My SMARTboard is not responding to touch"

1. Ensure that the USB cable is connected between your computer and the SMARTboard. A red or green light on the SMARTboard bezel (600 series boards) or on the pen tray (800 series boards) will illuminate when connected and powered on.


2. If the light is red, try running the connection wizard. You can find this by launching SMART Settings from the SMART Menu bar icon, or by searching for SMART Settings in Spotlight Search


3. If the connection wizard doesn't resolve the problem, or if the light is flashing green, the SMART software needs to be manually restarted. Launch Activity Monitor (use Spotlight Search), and scan through the list for anything in red. Force it to stop with the "X" button at the top of the screen. Then run step 2 above again.
   

Tickets, please!

What is this ticket thing Brian is always yammering on about? I sent him an email already!

AC's technology department manages all the requests for support using a ticketing system. This helps ensure that requests are triaged and prioritized in the order they were received and based on impact to the classroom. Our ticketing system is called Spiceworks, and it's pretty awesome. It handles our inventory, support communications, reporting, purchasing and shipping - all for free! This system was put in place in the fall of 2011.

How does it work? Glad you asked! Teachers, students, parents and even equipment can submit a request for support with a simple email to our support address. It's not an employee email address, but a specific address just for support requests. Users can get help by visiting the IT Portal

Then the magic happens! The Spiceworks software checks the email inbox every minute and turns your email request into a technical support request ticket. It breaks out the category, requestor, related equipment, and all the other details. And that's when it gets noisy... A notification gets sent to my phone, my watch, my computer, and my iPad. The timer starts and records various metrics like "time to resolution", "time to acknowledgement" so I can strive for continuous improvement. Spiceworks will send you a reply that your ticket was created, and give you routine updates as I attend to your issue. Magic, right?

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke

How can you help? Using the support email address is the biggest help. As you can see, it's more than just simple email at work. But since you asked, here's a couple tips:

• Read the email responses from Spiceworks, newly labelled as "AC Help Desk". Reply to the emails to add additional information, cancel the request, or to answer a question I might have come back with.


• Always use a short but descriptive subject line. Avoid things like "Help", "My Computer", "Question". Use phrases like "Install GarageBand on iPad Cart" or "Bake a dozen cookies".


• If you need me to meet you someplace, let me know when and where. I'll do my best to accommodate specific requests, but remember that I'm only one person.


• Help a friend out if they're unable to email and create a support ticket.


• As always, your continued patience is always appreciated. I love being able to address every items as quickly as possible, but sometimes it's just not possible to be in two places at once.

Secure Wireless

AC's secure wireless network is the safest way to be connected. To join AC's secure wireless, select "allendalecolumbia" as the wireless network.



You will be prompted to accept a security certificate. That's OK.

Then you will be prompted to enter your username and password. This is your AC network password, and the same one used to connect to the laptops and lab computers around campus. All staff, faculty and students have a network password.



Don't forget to forget!

Your computer will still remember the academic or student networks. Tell your computer to forget them like this:

1. Choose "Open Network Preferences" from the Wi-Fi menu


2. Select your Wi-Fi icon on the left, then click the Advanced button


3. Locate any networks in the list that you don't recognize and press the "-" button to remove them. The fewer you have the quicker your computer will connect to Wi-Fi. You can also choose to change the order.

Forgetting from your mobile device

1. On iOS, select Settings > Wi-Fi


2. Tap the name of the network


3. Tap the "i" button after the name of the network, then choose the red "Forget this Network" button

1. On Android, go to Settings > Wireless


2. Tap the name of the network


3. Click the "Forget" button at the bottom of the window

Adding New Printers

To add a new printer, follow these steps:

• Search "Managed Software Updates" from the Apple Spotlight Menu
   
• Click Optional Software after the update check is complete
  
• Scroll to or select the printer you're looking for from the list, and check the box next to it
• Click Update Software List
  
• Click Update Now. You can choose to log out, but it's usually not necessary.

Managed Software Update has all the brains behind it to ensure that the printer gets properly set up with all of the correct options and software.

AC Launches New Recruitment Program

After a whirlwind Southeast Asian recruitment and goodwill mission that took our school's administration some 17,000 miles around the globe, Allendale Columbia School is proud to announce one of our most ambitious programs to date.

Karyn Vella, AC's Director of Admissions explains, "Everyone deserves a chance at an education where students are free to dig deeper and have real and relevant experiences. We've analyzed the data, crunched the numbers and identified a group that we need to get in the door. That's why, starting today, we're going to redouble our efforts to reach that small but very significant population."

Working hand-in-hand with newly-appointed Director of Marketing & Communications, Courtney Dixon, Vella envisions a media-blitz unlike anything the school has ever attempted. Says Dixon, "Karyn is very committed to this. When she asked me about aerial signage, I reached out to my contacts at Goodyear and made it happen. It's very exciting."

At the core of this admissions push is the target demographic: young children who want to grow up and work in an independent school. In particular, this independent school. "Teaching is a most noble profession" remarked Mick Gee, AC's Head of School. "From a very young age, even before they attend school, they play 'school'. If we can bring them in the door now and shape their view of what a modern education looks like, then we can truly change what the 21st century classroom looks like. Well, at least the latter 2/3 of it. Our employee-alums are our most valuable treasure because they understand this best of all."

Dixon and Vella have worked hard with their focus group, coordinated by AC Librarian and Class of 1989 alumna Judy van Alstyne. Revising feverishly into the night on many occasions, the group is ready to launch with the tagline, "First here, then... right back here". "I think that really captures what we're trying to accomplish," beamed van Alstyne, speaking before a crowded Curtis Performance Center. She was joined onstage by other notable alums who've returned to Allendale Columbia to give back to the experience that shaped them, including Amy Mealey and Brooke Harter-Wheeler.

Billboards featuring employee-alums will begin dotting the I-490 corridor between downtown and Eastview Mall starting April 1st.

This post is an April Fools joke and not intended to represent any actual programs Allendale Columbia School may be offering. See last year's April Fools post.

Data are priceless

Our cost for a 3rd gen iPad with Retina Display in the 32GB configuration is about $638, with software and accessories. But the value is on the data. That price cannot be measured. So please remember to backup that data. iPads are, unfortunately, not indestructible. But an ounce of prevention, in the form of a regular backup regimen, can mean the difference between "I have all my notes, so this test will be easy!" and "Gee, I wish I could remember the stuff I was taught back in September..."

Here's a set of guidelines for managing your data in a mobile & connected world.

Multiple Personalities, In Order

Working in a school artificially causes you to lead a double life. I remember as a young student, thinking that my 1st grade teacher actually lived at the school, in our classroom. It had cots, a sink and snacks - what more could she need?

It turns out I was wrong about Mrs. Butterly. She had a nice home and family and likely had lots of hobbies. But this is just a simple example of how we have many versions of ourselves that we share with others. Next time you're talking with friends or family, notice how your voice, mannerisms and expressions change when you answer the phone from an unknown number. We all have many public selves.

Our online interactions are another example of our public online personalities. Whether you're a school teacher or a paralegal or a phlebotomist, chances are you have a work email and a personal email. Maybe you have multiple Twitter accounts too. Here's a tip I use to help keep my multiple personalities in order:

1) Use Google Chrome - It's fast. It's secure. It's free. And it creates a sandbox around your online personalities.

2) Click the Menu button and select Settings - figure 1.



3) Click Add User.

What will this do?

All of your bookmarks, passwords, logins and auto-complete information will now be separate between your personal and work profile. For example, if you have Gmail set to remember your login, it will automatically login to the correct account based on which profile is active. As you can see from the first image above, I have two browser windows open - one as my blue work profile, and one as my home profile, where I moonlight as a ninja.

Once you have both windows open, you can then open Bookmarks Manager in each window, and sort bookmarks between work life and personal life. If you have a SmartPhone, you can sign in with your personal or professional profile (your choice) to determine which facet of your personality you wish to carry in your pocket.

Clicking on the personality icon allows you to switch between the profiles as needed.

Stay tuned for a future post on how to manage your multiple personalities in Facebook.