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Reddit’s r_k12sysadmin Credits: @r_channels @reddit2telegram
What do you or your school use to inventory Makerspace equipment?
I've been tasked with getting something in order to help the shrinkage in our Makerspaces. Basically tools, Arduino's and other non-consumables. We've got some solid ideas around process such as re-organizing, categorizing and using tool trays but I wondered what software or service other schools were using to actually inventory and/or check in and out?
https://redd.it/1akef5l
@r_k12sysadmin
Wizer-training vs KnowBe4
I was wondering if anyone with Wizer-training that transitioned from KnowBe4 or vice versa?
We are looking into leaving KnowBe4 and implementing Wizer(cost efficiency).
From the start, we have noticed that there is a lack of amenities which is assumed based on the annual savings that would incur.
https://redd.it/1akamki
@r_k12sysadmin
Respondus Intune
Has anyone installed respondous lock down browser on a Windows device managed by Intune and the students have basic priveleges? My past experience is that the browser will not install and launch without being installed with admins rights.
https://redd.it/1ajw85q
@r_k12sysadmin
Photo repository ideas
We're looking for some ideas for collecting photos in an easy way.
Ideally something that a teacher or staff can create a folder and drag and drop into. It would be sort of read only once uploaded.
I have this grand idea so they our PR person can grab photos out that are semi organized. The thought behind it is for teachers in classrooms or field trips or other school events.
Ideally web based. We are a Google district if there's anything that integrates for that even better.
https://redd.it/1ajkqpe
@r_k12sysadmin
E-sports, adding domains to an allowed list
We're supposed to be helping the E-sports team with a scrimmage today, and its through PlayVS. Playvs has a list of Nintendo domains that you need to allow, but we have a Meraki network. Am I supposed to be allowing these through the firewall, or is it content filtering? Thanks.
https://redd.it/1ajgso5
@r_k12sysadmin
Charging for Damages
We are a small school (292 kids) with an equally as small budget. Up until now we have only been pursuing damage charges on devices/charges/cases for our secondary students. However, our 3-5 graders are the ones that damage them the most- dropping them, dropping 7 gallon stainless cups on top of them, then spilling water all over it, etc. Does anyone also charge elementary students for damages to their devices? Our k-2 does the least amount of damage since the computer stays at their desk all day, but 3-5 travels between classes and they are harder on them than my secondary kids are.
https://redd.it/1ah849k
@r_k12sysadmin
Disable Contact Card for OU in Google Workspace
Hi everyone,
We are a K-8 charter and it was recently brought to my attention that students can view any staff members phone number by simply hovering over their email in Gmail.
Does anyone know of a way to turn this off or prevent phone numbers from showing?
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https://preview.redd.it/4u7cwntnk8gc1.png?width=345&format=png&auto=webp&s=d561d6c55fe3870d9f193e2c7487a387fe85f0f3
Thank you!
EDIT: I did look this up pretty extensively, but all of the returned solutions were unrelated or didn't have the answer. It seems others have had this issue.
https://redd.it/1ahe41k
@r_k12sysadmin
PSA HP Smart App auto-installing on Windows
Hello,
I had the privilege of finding out about the HP Smart issues today (Article for context), unforunately I learnt it the hard way. 🙃
Not only is Windows automatically installing the HP Smart App on all our Dell and Lenovo end-user devices (basically: all of them) but it has gone through and changed the device information for all our printers to HP Laserjet M101-M106! Thankfully most people don't use the App and we use Papercut as a middle-man so only one person has noticed, but that's going to be a pain to clean up.
I've tried a few things to resolve this issue on a test system as we wait for Microsoft to stop forcing the app to install and break things. I've removed HP Smart and HP Smart Doctor from the system (the latter requires you quickly delete the files after you stop the process, since it will restart itself) and got rid of OneNote (wasn't in use) as per this reddit thread.
I also found where the metadata is for Xerox drivers from this support post, deleting that and reinstalling the driver seems to have made it so the Xerox Print and Scan Experience works properly again.
Hopefully that helps anyone else in my position. 😩
https://redd.it/18okdp3
@r_k12sysadmin
Question for the group, insecure devices on the network
Just curious about how others handle these requests. I was asked to install this device on our network. I balked and said no as we have no idea the level of security on it. Just curious as now I have to find information on it's security, and how you handle requests like this?
https://redd.it/18oi8o8
@r_k12sysadmin
Super has asked me to turn on teams guest access...
Super has asked me to turn on teams guest access. Not for any educational reasons. Let give you a little back story. For variety of reasons we are still in our beginnings of our teams rollout. Our small school district (13 sites) has about half the schools using teams and no students yet.
I had planned on turning on guests down the road.
He wants guests enabled so he can create a regional super / assistant super team.
We suggested he asks his association amoung others. We brought up most of our tech team will have access to his stuff in the back end. We were also worried about being target for hackers. I know mitigate we can mitigate some of this by turning on MFA for guests. I believe we can setup sensitivity labels so that these users can't mistakly join other teams. The tech department is going to be the only ones to create guest accounts. Any other technical advice would be greatly appreciated.
https://redd.it/18o75xb
@r_k12sysadmin
AAC Apps - Proloquo2go Alternative
Good Morning Everyone. Does anyone know of a chromebook alternative to proloquo2go? Its an app for nonverbal students and is pretty pricy and is currently the only reason I still manage ipads. I don't think there is but i figured id ask. Thanks.
https://redd.it/18nnwni
@r_k12sysadmin
Network Administration?
Our Network Administrator has found a new position and will be leaving us in a couple weeks. We've been lucky to have him on staff as he is the architect, installer, and maintainer of everything network; I'm not sure we'll be competitive enough salary-wise to find another with those skills.
So, I'm curious, how do you all approach network administration in your districts? What do you have your own staff do? What do you contract out? What skills do you depend on external software solutions to take care of? I'm trying to consider how we might have to shift duties and get creative if we can't find a 1:1 replacement. Any insight you can offer would be great.
For some context: Minnesota, K12, 5600 students; 1:1 iPad K-4 and 1:1 Windows Laptop 5-12; Microsoft 365 district (no Google).
https://redd.it/18nal87
@r_k12sysadmin
trying to apply a GPO to a specific security group not working?
So i have some students that are the bane of my existence and i am having to go pretty tight on some policies that i only need to apply to a security group so only those within that group get the policy.
so i created a new organizational group, then created a security group with a test user within the new organizational group. then back to GPM i make a new GPO, link the new GPO to the organizational unit, then after that, i add the group to security filtering under scope, then i go to delegation and i give the security group permissions for read and apply group policy.
when doing all of that, changes do not apply to the user within the security group.
Then i thought, oh ok, is probably the fact that the student is in another OU that hes picking up that specific OUs policy, and that seems to be the case, so i assigned the policy to the middle school OU, and added the Security group to the security filtering of the new gpo so it would only apply to the test account, and gave the group the same read and apply gpo permissions. But when i try any other account within that OU it applies the policy that should only be applied to the security group.
So im a bit defeated here and was wondering is any could could lend a hand and point em in the right direction as i am doing something wrong obviously. Also if there's any other way to apply all the policies of they home OU, but added policies for certain users i am all ears.
Thank you!
https://redd.it/18n7mvk
@r_k12sysadmin
Issue with Drive Sharing?
Anyone else seeing sporadic issues with Drive not sharing files? Some users are getting "Sharing not available at this time"
https://redd.it/18mzyif
@r_k12sysadmin
Cisco 8841 - Network Port
I'm going to cross post this, but I'm curious if I have a bad batch of phones or about a bug. We have 8841s deployed throughout the district and I'm finding many that stop passing network traffic to a wired desktop computer. I've run into it about 4 times now. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
The phones are hardwired to the wall, then hooked to a desktop computer through the second network port on the back. Thanks
https://redd.it/18mvcwg
@r_k12sysadmin
Looking for advise on Classroom Management and Web Filtering options
Greetings,
A district I work with went with a single vendor for their web filter and classroom management, based on lowest price. That vendor, that sounds like Blockski, has been terrible for them. Numerous issues and no solutions.
So I am coming to the masses to see what you would recommend. They are no longer using "single pane" and pricing as their two requirements so it can be different vendors for each function. Their only requirement is that it work on IOS, Chromebook and Windows.
Thanks
https://redd.it/1akcsri
@r_k12sysadmin
ChromeOS Lenovo 100e
Has anyone else experienced Wi-Fi issues with the latest ChromeOS update and the Lenovo 100e Chromebooks?
https://redd.it/1ajxgk2
@r_k12sysadmin
Manufacturer Certification/Partner Programs
Short question: is it worth it to apply for partnerships with the manufacturers that offer programs (i.e., Dell/Lenovo/HP)?
Specific question: in the Terms for DellTech Direct I see a requirement for two individuals at each site. The issue here is that I am a one-person shop for a fairly small school. We currently have about 100 Dell Chromebooks, and that number will increase as I plan to continue to purchase Dell Chromebooks. I have not specifically contacted the Dell Care team with this question as of yet. I would like to hear back from you all about whether it is even worth investing the time and energy to enroll in the partnership programs available.
https://redd.it/1ajr3hi
@r_k12sysadmin
Degree vs certifications vs experience for upward mobility?
You have a clean slate. No degree, no certifications, no experience. You can go get your degree and wrack up student loan debt, you can study on your own and pay for the certifications out of pocket, or you can try to get an entry position and start collecting hands on skills and be able to meet the "or X amount of years of experience" substitute on most job applications.
Which route would you recommend to someone just starting out? Is the 15k-30k for a degree worth it? How far can certifications take you especially in EdTech? Will 10+ years of experience get you to those upper management jobs?
https://redd.it/1ajictc
@r_k12sysadmin
Common Chromebook issues
Hi all,
I created a post in r/chromeos asking about some of the issues people have faced with their Chromebooks. I am doing a research paper for school on some of these common issues, and what students could possibly do to fix the issue, or at the very least free up some of the tech department's time by troubleshooting. My tech department has a Google Form where students can sign up and detail their issue their having with their Chromebook, and they have kindly shared the Excel spreadsheet with me. So far, the 3 big ones seem to be battery, keyboards, and screens. Hinges seem to be in the mix too, since my school opted for 2-in-1s (Dell Chromebook 3100 2-in-1's to be specific.)
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I have come here today to ask all of you: when dealing with Chromebooks, what are some of the most common issues you see?
​
Thank you all, and have a great day!
https://redd.it/1ahcfzl
@r_k12sysadmin
Teacher laptops
We currently use Dell laptops, but I am wanting to move away from windows and have everyone (minus admins with their desktops) on chromebooks. Smaller district and easier from a management standpoint.
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Does anyone use dell chromebooks for staff devices, and if so, which one do you use? I obviously wanted to get them some nicer ones than the ones we give the kids.
Also, trying to see if we are still able to use secure print with our Konica Minolta printers if we switched to chromebooks. Anyone with chromebooks use secure print with their KM printers?
https://redd.it/1ahe3x4
@r_k12sysadmin
informacast or multicast issue with ip speakers
My district uses advance network devices ip speakers ( IPSWD-RWB ). At one particular site I've been running into this issue where the bells or announcements will cut out. They will continue to play just fine on the cisco phones but cut out on the speakers. We use GRE Tunnels for multicast traffic from our Main site to the troubled site. We have the same setup across the district and our layer2 and layer3 switches are configured almost identically. No other site has this issue. If you have insight or perhaps advice on where I could look it would be greatly appreciated.
https://redd.it/1ahd9ta
@r_k12sysadmin
Singlewire Informacast
Is Singlewire Informacast pretty much the leader in the K12 mass notification space? We've been using Omnilert for years, just to send out text messages. However, I'd like to start utilizing the mobile and desktop apps to alert users to potential emergencies but I'm not sure how robust it is.
Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you.
https://redd.it/18ohlb3
@r_k12sysadmin
PowerSchool notifications hitting limit with Google Gmail
Hey all,
We recently switched from exchange to gmail and are having issues with PowerSchool hitting the limit on the gmail account causing it to be flagged as spam and getting locked out. This causes PS notifications to stop working.
Anyone else out there using gmail with PS? We have roughly 6000 students.
https://redd.it/18oegkr
@r_k12sysadmin
Old School Technology
https://redd.it/18nqfz3
@r_k12sysadmin
Classlink/Chromebooks - Quickcards
Does anyone have documentation on how to setup quick cards on a Chromebook with Classlink? I can't find any documentation of what settings need to be changed in Google Admin.
Thanks
https://redd.it/18nlzof
@r_k12sysadmin
Found on r/iiiiittttt.
https://redd.it/18naxjg
@r_k12sysadmin
HP 11 G9 LCD issues
Has anyone had an issue with the HP 11 G9 LCDs specifically with pixel issues or black lines showing up on the screen?
I have a small amount of these devices but just seen 3 with similar issues all under a year old and no visual damage.
https://redd.it/18n1i4u
@r_k12sysadmin
Need some input on an HVAC development
So the stand-alone OEM computer that runs our HVAC software experienced a mechanical failure with the HDD, and manufacturer support for the computer has expired. The company that handles our HVAC wants to know if I can create a VM on our hypervisor so they can install the software there. Alternatively, we can purchase another stand-alone computer from them.
Any input on spinning up a VM to host the software? Good? Bad? Ugly?
https://redd.it/18mxx1j
@r_k12sysadmin
Deceased student Google account and FERPA
Sadly, our district recently had a student take their own life. I am the primary Google Admin and Securly manager with my small K-12 school. Would there be any point in examining this student's Google account and internet search history (Securly)? Is this even legal? Also what procedures, if any, would you do to secure this student's data so that nobody could try to get in to their account? Would you pass or share any of it with the parents or just leave it alone?
https://redd.it/18mr6kt
@r_k12sysadmin
