Technology Updates

New Tab Added!

posted Feb 11, 2020, 11:09 AM by Jason Carey

Please explore the recently added tab, "Student Data Privacy". This tab will link to a page dedicated to student data privacy. The student data privacy webpage will include information on the district's efforts to protect student data and comply with New Hampshire House Bill 1612.

Snapverter (for Read&Write for Google Chrome)

posted Dec 21, 2015, 5:53 AM by Jason Carey

We're excited to announce that Snapverter is now available for all SAU31 staff and students!

What is Snapverter for Google Chrome?

Snapverter is an add-on for Read&Write for Google that converts printed documents and inaccessible digital files into readable PDF files for easy sharing and reading aloud in Google Drive.
Snapverter uses smart OCR technology to recognize text from worksheets, handouts, book pages, and other printed materials. It can also convert Bookshare® digital publications in DAISY format to accessible EPUB files, which can then be read aloud with Read&Write for Google.
Snapverter can also handle documents with embedded photos, charts and diagrams that are integrated seamlessly in the converted PDF. Simply snap a picture of any document using your smartphone or select any inaccessible digital file, and save to Snapverter’s folder in your Google Drive. Converted files can then be easily shared with students and other teachers on any device - PCs, Macs, Chromebook, tablets, or smartphones.

Getting Started

Click HERE to access the Snapverter User Guide.
Click HERE to access the Using Snapverter VIDEO
Click HERE to access the Using Snapverter from your iPhone VIDEO.

How do I begin using Snapverter with my Google Apps account?

Snapverter has already been installed for you. However, you will need to grant the application permission to run on your Google Apps account. You can do this by following the steps below:

1.) When you first sign into your Google Apps account using the Chrome Browser, a pop will appear.
- Select "Allow" at the pop up screen

That's it! You should be all set. If Snapverter does not automatically appear on your Google Apps account, you can install it directly from the Chrome Store by following this LINK.

Additional Resources from Snapverter:

Complimentary Help and Training options for Snapverter users:

Contacting Texthelp For technical support issues:
US and Canada – call 888-248-2479 or email us-support@texthelp.com

If you need additional support, do not hesitate to request a time to meet with someone from the SAU31 Technology Department via a Help Desk ticket.

Read & Write for Google Chrome

posted Dec 17, 2015, 6:02 AM by Jason Carey [ updated Dec 21, 2015, 5:40 AM ]

We're excited to announce that Read&Write for Google Chrome is now available for all SAU31 staff and students!

What is Read&Write for Google Chrome?
Read&Write for Google Chrome™ offers a range of powerful support tools to help students gain confidence with reading, writing, studying and research, including:

• Hear words, passages, or whole documents read aloud with easy-to-follow dual color highlighting

• See the meaning of words explained with text and picture dictionaries

• Hear text translated into other languages

• Get suggestions for the current or next word as you type

• Turn words into text as you speak

• Highlight text in documents or the web and collect for use in other documents

• Create and listen to voice notes directly inside of Google Docs

• Simplify and summarize text on web pages

Getting Started

Click HERE to access the Read&Write for Google Chrome Getting Started Guide.
Click HERE to access the Read&Write for Google Chrome Quick Reference Guide (explains all buttons in detail).

How do I begin using Read&Write for Google Chrome?

Read & Write for Google Chrome has already been installed for you. However, you will need to grant the application permission to run on your Google Apps account. You can do this by following the steps below:

1.) When you first sign into your Google Apps account using the Chrome Browser, a pop will appear.
- Select "Continue" at the first pop up screen

2.) At the next pop-up, select "Allow"

- If done correctly, you will see a tab with the Read&Write for Google Chrome icon

whenever you open a Google Doc.

- If you click on the tab, the Read&Write for Google Chrome toolbar will drop down for use. Click again to hide the toolbar.

Disabled Toolbar

What happens if I do not see the Read&Write for Google Chrome toolbar? Or, I already clicked "Deny" when Read&Write for Google Chrome asked for permission to my account, what should I do?

Not to worry! Please follow the steps in this Support Article.

If you need additional support, do not hesitate to request a time to meet with someone from the SAU31 Technology Department via a Help Desk ticket.

Additional Resources from Read&Write for Google Chrome:

Complimentary Help and Training options for Read&Write for Google Chrome users:

Contacting Texthelp For technical support issues:
US and Canada – call 888-248-2479 or email us-support@texthelp.com

ACT Aspire Testing This Week / ChromeCart Availability

posted Nov 2, 2015, 5:49 AM by Jason Carey

The following ChromeCarts will be unavailable beginning at 1PM today, 11/2, through the end of the day Friday, 11/6.

NJSHS-Chrome1-DOWN
NHS-Chromecart-English
NJSHS-Chrome1-UP
NJSHS-Chromecart-SS

These carts will be configured to run the ACT Aspire testing browser in kiosk mode. Users will not be able to log in to the ChromeBooks or launch any other applications during this time.

Please plan accordingly.

A Word on Passwords

posted Oct 30, 2015, 7:20 AM by Chris Cooney

It's very likely you've been thinking about passwords wrong for years.

A common tactic for most people when creating a password is to pick a word and to jumble it up. If, for example, I'm super into the Olympic sport of Curling, I might set my password as "CurL1ng99". Look at how clever I am! Nobody would be able to guess that password! A "1" instead of an "i"? And what about those random capital letters, and the "99"? Impenetrable.

Oh so I'd think. I'm wrong. That's actually a rather easy password to crack... and an even easier password to forget. A year down the line, I might be thinking to myself "Dang, what was it? Curl1nG98? No... 89?..."

To help illustrate just how ineffective these types of passwords are, please refer to this comic:

"Hard for humans to remember, easy for computers to guess". Let that sink in.

It's important to remember that the purpose of a password is not to fool another human. Unless you outright tell someone your password, or write it down on a sticky note you mount on the screen, it's very unlikely they'll be able to just guess it on their own. However, rogue computer programs are working all the time to guess peoples' passwords, and its those programs that you're meant to foil by using secure passwords. So it's time to stop thinking in terms of passWORDS, and to start thinking in terms of passPHRASES.

As the comic demonstrated, the password "CurL1ng99" would take maybe a day or two for a rogue program to guess. The password"In1999CurlingWasAwesome" would take hundreds of years. Despite seeming more easily guessable, it is, in fact, more secure by a massive magnitude.

Passphrases are also considerably more easy for folks to remember. They can be a selection of words that mean something to you. A particularly relevant latin phrase, a short motto, a favorite tongue twister. Whatever the combination of words might be, they should be unique and include sensible and easy to remember combinations of capital letters and numbers. A few examples might be:

SometimesBannanasSing5

KickTheBallBobby1

SlammaJammaInToledo22

Some simple combination of words that mean something to you that are easy to remember, and difficult for computers to guess.

Summer Laptop Return/Borrow Instructions

posted Jun 2, 2015, 10:15 AM by Jason Carey

Hello everyone!

The summer is fast approaching! It will soon be time for folks to turn in their laptops for the summer. This is necessary for us in the Technology Department to service and clean these machines, so that they are in peak working order for when you pick them back up in August.

If you have any other technology equipment that you would like to securely store in the Technology Department Office versus your classroom, please file a Help Desk request before June 24th.

If you plan on keeping your laptop during the summer, here are your instructions:

First, you will have to print out, fill out, and turn in the following form to the Technology Department:

Summer Borrowing Agreement

Please turn in the signed agreement form by June 17th or you will be unable to keep your laptop for the Summer. Laptops kept in this way will need to be returned to the Technology Department by August 10th.

If you plan on returning your laptop for the summer, here are your instructions:

NJSHS Teachers: Laptop Drop-off will be located in Room 115 between 7:30AM - 9:30AM on June 24th.

NES Teachers: Laptop Drop-off will be located in the NES Library between 10:00AM - 12:00PM on June 24th.

Summer Technology Support

We will continue to monitor the Technology Department Help Desk during the Summer. If you need support or have general questions please do not hesitate to file a ticket.

2015 - 2016 School Year Laptop Pickup

Laptops will be available for staff members to pick up on August 27th, 2015. Please check your email prior to August 27th for detailed instructions on when and where you can retrieve your laptop.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!!!

Jason & Chris

CLOSED (RFP - Dedicated Ethernet Fiber Circuit)

posted Feb 12, 2015, 6:28 AM by Jason Carey [ updated Mar 30, 2015, 8:21 AM ]

The bidding window for this project has ended.

| Attachments: RFPFiberCircuit_Feb25_Update.pdf

New Website Announcement!

posted Jan 14, 2015, 6:51 AM by Jason Carey [ updated Jan 14, 2015, 10:00 AM ]

We are excited to announce that on February 6th, 2015 the Newmarket School District will transition to it's new website powered by Google Sites.

The site will still be located at: www.newmarket.k12.nh.us

Why Google Sites?

The decision to move to a new website was based on reducing operating costs, increasing reliability, and encouraging user involvement by introducing an easy to use content management solution.

COST: Google Apps for Education is FREE! Our current website is hosted at the Newmarket Jr/Sr High School and resides on a physical server. This server is outdated and would need to be replaced within the next two years. The new site will be hosted on Google's servers.

RELIABILITY: Google guarantees 99.9% uptime for all of it's cloud services, including Google Sites. By hosting offsite the District's website will still be accessible when there is a power outage here in town. During an outage the District would still be able to use the website as a means of communication with the public.

EASY TO USE: Google Sites offers a friendly intuitive content editor. Our goal is to introduce an easy to use solution that will encourage staff members to maintain their own webpage.

FEEDBACK: Please do not hesitate to leave us feedback on the new site. There will be a link at the bottom right hand corner of each page that leads to a feedback from.

The finished product will be a website where information is easily found, content is always up to date, and the needs of the staff, students, and the public are met.

Thank you,

SAU31 Technology Department

Technology Office