Tech Tips and News for May 12, 2023

Photo by Dan Nelson on Unsplash

Be sure to take a look at the free cybersecurity training that Michigan Catholic Conference is offering. I'm not sure if it will be required at some point, but for now it's voluntary. This is usually how they introduce new requirements, by offering them on a voluntary basis until they've perfected the process. Later they become a requirement. Most of these trainings are held during the school day, with the exception of the June session. The previous sessions are supposed to be posted on their website soon, but I haven't seen them yet. I'll let you know when they are available. Free cybersecurity training is always helpful!

• Your Bank Calling Scam - Wham! Bam! - That's a Scam #5
• MCC Cybersecurity Training in May and June
• 3 Steps to Secure Student Privacy
• What's New in Chrome
• Assign IXL Quizzes in Canvas
• This Teacher Asked ChatGPT to Write a Personalized End-of-Year Peom for Each Student, and the Results Are Pretty Great

Your Bank Calling Scam - Wham! Bam! - That's a Scam #5

MCC Cybersecurity Training in May and June

Michigan Catholic Conference is providing online cybersecurity training for all parish, school, and Diocesan employees who have access to a computer on parish, school or diocesan  network. That includes all ASA employees. The next session is focused on hacker prevention on May 17th at 10:00 am. Register for the May 17th session here. The final session, focused on best cybersecurity practices will be on June 21st at 10:00 am. Two other sessions have already taken place, and I've been assured by MCC that they will be available on demain on the micatholic.org risk management page, although I don't see them there just yet.

3 Steps to Secure Student Privacy

3 Steps to Secure Student Privacy, from Common Sense Education

Here is some very useful questions to ask yourself whenever you are considering a new online resource to use with your students. I'll also add a link to this on the Student Privacy page of the ASA Employee Tech Guide. (Pro tip:  the tech guide is in your magical ASA/DOGR bookmarks folder)

What's New in Chrome

Chrome is in the process of updating to version 113. This page outlines all the new features this version brings, such as memory and battery saving measures, and a reading list to save online articles for later.

Assign IXL Quizzes in Canvas

Teachers can now assign IXL quizzes directly from Canvas. First assign it in IXL, then launch the IXL activitiy selector in Canvas to assign it to the student from their Canvas page. Read all about this update in the IXL blog here. 

This Teacher Asked ChatGPT to Write a Personalized End-of-Year Peom for Each Student, and the Results Are Pretty Great

This Teacher Asked ChatGPT to Write a Personalized End-of-Year Peom for Each Student, and the Results Are Pretty Great, from We Are Teachers by Stacy Tornio

If poetry doesn't easily roll off your tongue, or through your keyboard, get a little help from ChatGPT, BingChat or Google Bard. Feed it a few facts about each child, and you're off to the races.