Office of Digital Teaching & Learning May Newsletter
- Thu, May 12 2022
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This month we are excited to share helpful tools and opportunities for cybersecurity practices, digital funding, and highlights of what’s happening in the digital learning space with your colleagues across Arizona!
May newsletter highlights:
- Cybersecurity tools and practices for schools.
- Emergency Connectivity Funding window closes in a week – don’t miss it!
- Summer professional development opportunities.
- Questions about ADM for AOIs? We’ve got an exciting opportunity to meet with School Finance.
Cyber Security
Cybersecurity is a big, complex topic! It’s an elephant, and we want to help you tackle it one bite at a time. This month we’ve gathered real, tactical, and practical resources:
CISA Best Practices: This site is getting a lot of traffic lately and provides some great, high-level tips on what entities should be doing to protect themselves and their most critical assets, especially in the face of increased threats from Russia.
IT and Security Policy Templates: this site contains all of the State IT and Security policies. The Information Security policies start with section P8000: Information Security, and templated versions of each document are provided. Each policy is separated out by each type of security control so entities can filter.
K12 Six: a non-profit membership group that has free resources available designed specifically for K12 schools.
Essential protections – In cybersecurity, there will always be issues. These outlined essential protections will help schools avoid incidents. Take the time to read this!
K12 Cyber Incident Map: no one is immune! Stay informed and use what’s available to you.
Cyber Resources K12 in Arizona:
The State of Arizona currently has a program that provides cyber resources to local and tribal government entities in Arizona. Starting in July 2022, the State of Arizona is seeking to expand their support to also cover K12 public districts in Arizona, at no cost for the schools! The included resources are:
- Anti-Phishing / Security Awareness Training (SAT)
- Advanced Endpoint Protection (AEP)
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Web Application Firewall (WAF)
- Converged Endpoint Management (XEM)
We are looking to capture your interest in participating in this upcoming program. Priority will be given to smaller and less-resourced organizations in the order of when requests are received. For school districts that wish to participate in the grant program, please complete the Arizona Local & Tribal Governments Cybersecurity Grant Participation Request Form.
* Note: this program is managed by the Arizona Department of Homeland Security. The Office of Digital Teaching & Learning will keep you updated when the new grant is approved and ready to implement in K12.
K12 SIX Cyber Security Map
The K-12 Cyber Incident Map is a great tool that can help your LEA stay up to date with the latest cyber security information in your area. This map is an interactive visualization of cybersecurity-related incidents reported about U.S. K-12 public schools and districts from 2016 to the present. ‘Cyber’ incidents include:
- unauthorized disclosures, breaches or hacks resulting in the disclosure of personal data (purple pins);
- ransomware attacks (yellow pins);
- phishing attacks resulting in the disclosure of personal data (blue pins);
- denial-of-service attacks (green pins); and
- other cyber incidents resulting in school disruptions and unauthorized disclosures (red pins).
For analysis and trends of K12-specific cyber incidents, read the annual ‘State of K-12 Cybersecurity’ report series.
If your LEA has not filed its not too late! The ECF window is open until May 13, 2022. ADE offers training and assistance applying. More than 40 schools participated in the ADE Emergency Connectivity Fund Training with Milan Eaton and Shelby Brown last week. Did you miss it or have questions about applying? It is not too late email Milan Eaton today!
Professional Development
The Office of Digital Teaching and Learning (ODTL), is partnering with experts in digital learning to present the 10 & 10 Webinar Series. 10 minutes of content, 10 minutes of Q & A. Each session is intended for K–12 community members. Check out our recorded series on Digital Citizenship in partnership with Common Sense Media and our Blended Learning series in partnership with ASU Prep Digital. Click the button below!
CSPD Week is happening this June!
Exciting news! Registration is officially open for Arizona #CSPDWeek. Arizona K-12 teachers are invited to join us for this free computer science professional development opportunity from June 20th-24th, 2022. Learn more and register today!
This month we are excited to highlight Maricopa Unified School District’s technology team for their willingness to share their data and security practices and experiences. Christine Dickinson, Technology Director at MUSD, will share about the implementation of their protection platform at next week’s Technology Townhall meeting. K12 schools across the nation need help to address cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and collaboration among K12 peers and practitioners is one of the best ways to keep up with incidents and responses. Thank you to MUSD for stepping forward to share and start this important discussion!
The Office of Digital Teaching and Learning has a brand new LinkedIn page! On our page we post our latest updates, data, solutions, community building tools, digital tools, and more. Help us grow by following and sharing our LinkedIn page!
Monthly Technology Townhalls open to Arizona K12 educators and practitioners. Get updates from the Office of Digital Teaching and Learning about potential technology solutions for Arizona schools, provide feedback and input about potential solutions, and discuss needs and resources among colleagues from across the state.
- Dates: Second Mondays of the month (excluding July and December)
- Time: 1:00-3:00pm MST
- Format: Hybrid with an in-person and virtual option. In-person option hosted by schools throughout Arizona. Tours are usually offered after the meeting for in-person participants.
- Advanced registration required: please sign up to attend below. Attendance is open to K12 staff and faculty across the state.
- Meeting details: The objective of a Technology Townhall is for the Office of Digital Teaching & Learning to present recommended technology solutions for schools and collect participant feedback. This meeting is open to the K12 community and participants at each meeting may vary. Meetings are documented and materials will be available on the ODTL website. Participants must register in advance to attend meeting.
New Times! Digital Office Hours
Each week the Office of Digital Teaching and Learning (ODTL) will host Digital Office Hours.This is a great way to share ideas and needs about digital practices and space, and meet the ODTL team. Meet, mingle and learn on your schedule!
This month mark your calendars on May 19th for a Special Drop-in visit from School Finance! ADE's Charlie Martin, Deputy Associate Superintendent of School Finance will be our special guest to answer all of your ADM & AOI questions!
May Digital Office Hours Topics:
May 5: We’ll be hosting live from Shonto Preparatory School in Shonto, AZ!
May 12: Technology Townhall recap
May 19: School Finance drop-in visit. Ask your ADM and AOI Questions!
May 26: Summer Digital Learning
Pop in anytime from 11:00am - 1:00pm MST Thursdays (excluding holidays).
Register for Digital Office Hours
Meet the Team
We are proud to connect you with the Office of Digital Teaching and Learning team. This small but mighty group is building this program to serve Arizona schools with the resources they need for digital teaching and learning.
Connectivity Team
Subscribe to the ODTL Newsletter
Alecia Henderson is the Computer Science and Educational Technology Specialist in the Academic Standards Section at the ADE. Within this role, Alecia provides updates on standards information regarding computer science and educational technology. This includes providing resources, professional development, and direct support around the implementation related to teaching and learning for computer science and educational technology. For the last 10 years, Alecia has worked in a variety of ways in the Laveen School District as a classroom teacher, k-8 technology teacher, and instructional coach. Her passion includes providing educators with tools to support their students, she is excited to support educators across the state. Please reach out to Alecia at [email protected]
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Educators and School Leaders Registration is Open
Share your knowledge beyond your classroom walls by becoming a presenter at our upcoming ADE virtual
“Title IV-A & B Symposium Building Better Tomorrows” July 14 – 15, 2022
Join Title IV-A and IV-B (21st CCLC) for two engaging days of learning at our virtual 2022 Symposium, Building Better Tomorrows. Hear from peers and experts who will explore relevant topics facing education emphasizing well-rounded education, safe and healthy students, effective use of technology, youth development and family engagement. Attendees will have opportunities to visit the exhibit hall hosted by state-wide community partners, join a panel discussion around funding the future and participate in mindful moment activities which can be implemented into daily routines both in and out of the classroom.
Register by July 11, 2022, and receive access to all sessions for one year!
Registration may be completed using a purchase order, check, Visa or Mastercard through July 11th. Following July 11th, registration must be purchased using a Visa or Mastercard. $100 per person.
