Information

Recently, there has been a good bit of focus on online learning opportunities. Some of this has been in response to the COVID-19 virus. Some are suggesting implementing online learning for students. 

Dearborn Public Schools has been supporting and championing online learning for over 10 years. We are internationally* known for our online learning and support through iLearn (which is based on Moodle). Every teacher has the ability to create an online course through iLearn. There are currently over 700 courses created in iLearn. Every day we have students accessing iLearn from within the district and outside the district. 

We have a rich history of meeting student needs. For example, over the last few years, we have had several students who are homebound. We have provided opportunities for the students to be part of their class through video conferencing and other supports. We had a recent case where a student had a medical issue, came to school, but couldn’t physically join the class. We quickly set up a video conference so the student could fully participate in the class. We have a student with a visual acuity who can’t see the board. We’ve enabled this student to see and hear everything clearly. We have created resources like a spelling course for fourth grade that is student-focused and self-paced. Teachers only monitor the spelling course to provide additional support when needed. The entire course is online. We created a summer school Biology course that is completely online as well. 

Tools

So, what are some of the tools that we provide? These are all tools where we own the data. Student information is NOT shared with an outside vendor.

iLearn

iLearn (which is based on Moodle) is a truly online classroom experience. Teachers can provide a wide variety of activities and resources. Below is a small sample of the things that teachers can do:

• Self-paced study guides
• Interactive Video
• Peer Editing
• Online quizzes
• Formative Assessments
• Choose Your Own Adventures
• Flashcard creation
• Glossary creation (both personal and classroom shared)
• Discussion formats

BigBlueButton

BigBlueButton (BBB) is integrated with iLearn. BBB allows teachers to create their very own “WebEx”. BBB includes video, integrated whiteboard, screen sharing, break-out rooms, and chat. Students can join, but only teachers can create a “class”.

E-Voting

E-Voting allows teachers to quickly perform Formative Assessments. Integrated through iLearn, once set up it doesn’t require the students to log in. This is a great tool to collect and evaluate understanding. It can also be used to highlight believes, misunderstandings or just catch the attention of students.

Student Sites

Student Sites allow students to create their own blogs and web sites. This is based on WordPress (which powers roughly a third of the Internet). Student sites are limited to viewing within Dearborn Public Schools members for security and privacy concerns.

Mahara

Mahara is our ePortfolio system. This allows students to create an electronic portfolio. The portfolio can link to existing work or work created within the portfolio. This is also integrated within iLearn.

Teachers can also use Mahara to create a portfolio. Some of our teachers submit their Mahara portfolio as part of their annual evaluation.

MyPD

MyPD is where we provide online professional development for our staff. This is also based on Moodle. This not only provides learning and resources but allows teachers to experience Moodle as a “student”. Recently, we have extended some of that training to other local school districts as well. 

iBlog

All teachers should have a web site through iBlog. This allows teachers to keep students, families, and the community aware of activities within the classroom. Parents can subscribe to receive email updates.

Other Tools

We also provide links to additional tools that the district does not host.

• GSuite – Google Tools including Docs (Word Processing), Sheets (Spreadsheets), Slides (Presentation), Drawing (well, Drawing), Drive and more.
• Google Classroom – a way for teachers to share, collect and organize documents from students
• Discovery Education
• Khan Academy – a variety of videos
• Code.org
• Edmentum – some schools by subscription
• Edgenuity – special enrollment required
• Read Seed – integrated through iLearn.
• Hypothesis – integrated within iLearn. Allows students to Annotate websites and PDF’s.

There are more tools available. Check out our website. Click through to the Student Portal.

Curriculum Resources

The reality is that many of our curriculum resources have online material. Many of our textbooks and teaching materials are now available online. Here is a partial list of the resources with online components that we currently use:

• AgileMinds
• iReady
• Ready Gen
• Eureka Math

Technology Coach

We have a Technology Coach who supports teachers in implementing technology in their classroom. Amy Gwizdz (our Technology Coach) partners with teachers throughout the district to support technology use. We offer training every summer on the effective implementation of technology through iLearn. This year, we’ve even added Saturday training for teachers. 

Challenges

Realistically, technology can’t replace a teacher in the classroom. Teachers and students vary in their technology skills. Access to online tools varies for students and staff. While we have a robust, dependable network within Dearborn Public Schools, home access can vary greatly. This is true of network speed and type of device. Doing online work on a rate-limited cell phone plan with a cell phone that has a four-inch screen is very different than completing that same work on souped-up PC with 27” inch monitor that is connected via fiber.  

Conclusion

Again, Dearborn Public Schools has a long tradition of supporting and providing online learning. Not only have we long been leaders in online learning, but we continue to support effective technology use throughout the district. 

* Chris Kenniburg was invited to be the Keynote Speaker for the MoodleMoot in Japan. Chris Kenniburg and Troy Patterson have presented at the United States MoodleMoot. Amy Gwizdz, Robert Harrison, Chris Kenniburg, and Troy Patterson also presented at the MountainMoot ( a regionally recognized Moot). Troy Patterson and Chris Kenniburg have both been acknowledged as “Particular Helpful Moodlers” by the leadership of Moodle.

Well, it’s been a banner year. Unfortunately, the banner year is in identity theft and breaches. The number of reported breaches in Education rose from 1,257 in 2018 to 1,473 in 2019. The number of sensitive records exposed in the Education field tallies up to 3,606,114 (an increase from 1,414,624 in 2018). Non-sensitive records exposed tallies up to 22,747 (which is down slightly from 39,690 in 2018). Thus, breaches in the Education sector are mostly increasing. These are the reported breaches.

This is not surprising as more and more of our life is conducted online. More and more of our information is housed online as well.

For us, this information falls into two camps: work and home. We take security very seriously here at work. We also want to help inform you about what this means for you at home.

Work

We have taken many steps to help promote safety and security at work. Here are just a few examples:

• changed password requirements so that users would be encouraged to create more secure passwords
• removed local Admin rights to computers to protect against malware installation
• added banners on emails that come from unverified domains
• updated settings for security issues

Please remember that many of our staff have access to important data for students and staff. It is staff responsibility and legal obligation to protect that data.

Phishing is one area where we see attempts to collect user information. We regularly block phishing attempts. However, it is up to end-users to help us identify some of these. It only takes one incident to put all of us at risk.

Home

We’ve published tips (like “Password Management“, “Password Tips“, “Phishing Attempts Continue“, “Can You Spot the Phishing Attempt” and even a Comic to explain Phishing).

These are all still valid. Remember, it only takes a second to give up information that can compromise your security. I have a friend who basically spent two solid months of his life trying to recover from an identity thief situation.

Generally, more and more people are using their phones to conduct business and their online life. Phones are a bit unique. Our defenses tend to be at the lowest while on a phone (frequently we are doing something else, rushing to do something else, etc).

Tips

1. Think before you Click – Remember links are how many problems start. You should always know why you are clicking a link. When in doubt, you should type the URL in the URL box yourself instead of clicking on a link.
2. Never share your credentials – This is illegal (like Federal law illegal) while at work. It is a really bad idea everywhere.
3. Update – Updates generally fix security issues. Do be aware of pop-ups that purport to be an update though.
4. Password Management – Utilize strong passwords. Do NOT reuse passwords. A password manager is the best way to make that happen.
5. Be aware of Phishing – Know the hallmarks of a phishing attempt. Be critical of requests and links that require you to sign in.
6. Back up your Data – Back up your valuable data using the 3-2-1 method.
7. Be wise – Do NOT fall into the “it can’t happen to me” camp. Everyone is a target. Cybercriminals don’t know their targets. Your data is probably already out there and available from one of the data breaches. Check out “Have I Been Pwned” to see if your email address was part of a breach. This will show you where and what was accessed. (*Note that 1Password now owns this site so there is a “soft” sales pitch for 1Password).

We have a wonderful opportunity to teach students to Annotate digitally. This pilot is used through iLearn. It is very simple to set up. Basically, you just add an activity in iLearn. See full instructions below:

• Annotating in iLearn through Hypothesis

This will create a gradable activity in iLearn. Remember that grades can be synced over to Mi-Star.

Here are a few general Hypothesis resources that might be useful to students as well:

• Student Annotation in iLearn through Hypothesis
• Annotation etiquette for students
• An Illustrated Guide to Annotation Types
• Adding Images, Videos, and Links to your Annotations

Since this is a pilot project, there are still pieces under development. There are a few more neat features that are planned.

We continue to see phishing attempts. Please note that you should always look at the FULL return email address. This is especially true if an email seems oddly worded.

These phishing attempts will have some “real” information, the name of a principal, the name of the school, the phone number of the school. However, the return email address will be different.

Previously, we posted tips on avoiding phishing scams. Those tips are still good.

• SPAM and Phishing
• Phishing Comic Tips
• Phishing Tips

Some reminders (if you didn’t read above), of what you can do to help protect yourself:

• NEVER enter your user name and password into a Google Form
• Always look at the actual email address the email comes from
• Hover over a link, without clicking on it, to see what the URL is (hint: https://www.imrippingyouoff.com) is probably not a link that you want to follow.