Author: Mark Salzer

WayneRESA’s January EdTech Updates newsletter

Wayne RESA’s January EdTech Updates brings you the latest news, tech tips, and professional learning opportunities in educational technology that they are aware of or are coordinating. Some staff may want to check out their offerings.

Two are shown below:

Fully funded Data Science + AI learning opportunity for educators! CSforMichigan, in partnership with Bootstrap, is sharing a chance to attend Data Science 4 Everyone, a weeklong immersive experience focused on Data Science and AI. Join educators June 22–26, 2026 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque – with airfare and lodging fully covered. Participants will follow a full-week curriculum from partners like Bootstrap, CourseKata, Youcubed, or Dataspire.

🗓 Apply by January 15 (rolling acceptances begin February 9). Teams from the same school are encouraged, and full attendance is required.

MISTAR-Q Training: MISTAR-Q Academy for Teachers

Registration is open for
MISTAR-Q ACADEMY for Teachers
Spring Session – Jan 19 to Apr 13, 2026

Teachers are invited to participate in MISTAR-Q Academy for Teachers, a FREE training to hone MISTAR skills.

Working online at your own pace, you will complete activities designed to increase your skills and knowledge of teacher apps including Class Attendance, Grade Book, Seating Chart, reports, and more. This course is especially beneficial for teachers new to MISTAR-Q.

You may earn between 1.0 and 17.5 SCECHs, depending on which topics you complete by the end of this 12-week course. At least two topics must be completed to qualify for SCECHs.

Should I register for MISTAR-Q Academy if I previously participated in Monarch?
If you completed Monarch, you completed all content in MISTAR-Q Academy. If you participated in Monarch but did not complete the course, you are welcome to register, but your progress will not transfer from the old Monarch course.

Register here – after registering, watch for emails by Jan 19 with details on how to get started. Registration fee is FREE / $0.

Please note, this course is offered twice (fall and spring) each academic year.

Microsoft Office 365 desktop apps access truly ending for any still using those apps

Last year we posted news that Microsoft had notified our district that they would be ending our access to Microsoft Office 365 desktops apps when they retired our licensing program (Office 365 A1 Plus) on August 1, 2024. Their announcement impacted all school districts with the same licensing. While they stated that after August 1st, 2024, anyone that had downloaded and installed Office 365 versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint would find those programs no longer work, some staff found that they actually could still use them AND only now, more than a year later, are encountering notice that their access to the apps are definitely going away later this month. Microsoft has revoked our A1 Plus licenses within our system, prompting those notices.

So fortunately, some users enjoyed a bonus grace period of better than a year, but from our department’s perspective, regrettably, that is coming to an end. As we shared in our other blog post, here are some options for impacted staff:

Use the Google Workspace for Apps (Recommended). As a Google Workshop for Education district, it is strongly recommended that staff use Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc. All of these apps (and more) are available through Google Drive.
You can still use Microsoft Office 365 online since that licensing remains. Browse to portal.office.com and sign in using your email address and network (not Google) password. All files created using the desktop apps can be open and edited within the online suite.
Use a free office suite alternative, such as Libre Office, which is available in the Company Portal for those that want to download and have installed a desktop office suite. Libre Office is highly compatible with Microsoft Office documents. It can open and edit all of the Microsoft Office file formats, as well as save in those same file formats. See this video guidance for how to set it up to natively load and save in Office formats.
Departments/schools interested in purchasing licensing for Office 2024 for one or more of their staff can submit a service request so our department can work with the requester on their purchase and our installation. Current REMC pricing for Office Standard runs through June 2027.

How to find and remove Google results with your personal info

Google offers a way to search and learn if your personal information is available via their search engine. When you use “Results about you,” you can find out if your personal contact info, like your home address, phone number, or email address shows up in search results. If it does, they offer a way for you to possibly remove it.

See this help article for more about this service and tips on how best to use it.

Alternatively, If you want to request removal of a result for someone else, or if you don’t want to log in, you can use the detailed removal request form instead.

Last month a staff member was texted on their personal cell phone from someone pretending to be a district administrator. The bad actor is believed to have located their cell phone number via a Google search. Reducing your personal details available online can reduce the chances that a bad actor tries to leverage them for ill intent.

Happy Thanksgiving and a Housekeeping Request

We hope you enjoy your Thanksgiving break! Before you leave Tuesday afternoon…

WOULD YOU PLEASE SECURE ALL VALUABLES in the classrooms and office spaces you inhabit. This includes laptops, document cameras, Apple TVs, remotes, and interactive pens.

Further, if it is equipment you handle, would you please make sure all iPads and Chromebooks are in their carts and those CARTS ARE LOCKED and plugged in before leaving.

Finally, would you please also POWER OFF any of the following equipment, if it is equipment you handle:

projectors
sound amps
SmartBoards
desktop computers
monitors
printers

THANK YOU for your cooperation.

How staff change their network password

IMPORTANT: Before changing your network password, staff should remove the PCCSK12-Staff Wi-Fi network from all personal devices (for elaboration, see details at bottom). Failure to do so could lock your account. After changing your password, you can re-add devices with your new password.

Option 1 (before your building date) – you must be signed into a district Windows desktop or laptop to do this

Press CTRL + ALT + DEL
Click on Change a password
Enter your current computer password in the Old Password field
Type in your New Password (see New Password Policy at end of the document)
Type it again to Confirm Password
Press the Enter key to continue
Option 2 (On your building’s enforcement date or after, a prompt will appear if your password is not in compliance)
- Reboot a district Windows computer by pressing the Windows key on the keyboard
- Then click on the Power icon in the lower right corner of the pop up window
- Click on Restart
- After the reboot, login with your computer user name and computer password
- You will be prompted to change it
- Enter your current computer password in the Old Password field
- Type in your New password (see New Password Policy at end of the document)
- Type it again again to Confirm Password
- Press the Enter key to continue
- Notes:
  New Password Policy:
  - Minimum 15 characters.
  - Complexity is optional (no mandated uppercase, lowercase, numbers, or symbols).
  - No forced expiration: Passwords only change if compromise is suspected.
  - Suggestion: Use a passphrase; combine unrelated words for easy recall [e.g, ocean-sun-grape (Do not use this password)].
  PERSONAL DEVICES guidance to remove the PCCSK12-Staff Wi-Fi network
  
  MOBILE PHONE: On a cell phone – Go to your phone’s Wi-Fi settings, find the PCCSK12-Staff network, tap the “Forget” ,”Forget This Network” or trashcan option. If you don’t see it immediately, look for an advanced option or a three-dots menu. The exact steps and menu names can vary slightly between Android and iPhone, but generally involve going to Settings > Wi-Fi and then accessing the settings for the specific network, in this case, the staff network, so to remove it, temporarily from your phone.
  
  After your password has been changed, you can again discover and connect to that network, and will then input the updated password. See http://links.pccsk12.com/staffwirelessinstructions
  
  APPLE MAC: To forget the PCCSK12 Staff Wi-Fi network on a Macbook, go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS) > Wi-Fi. For macOS Ventura or later, click Details next to the network and select Forget This Network, or click the three-dots icon next to this network and choose Forget This Network.
  
  After your password has been changed, you can again discover and connect to that network, and will then input the updated password. See http://links.pccsk12.com/staffwirelessinstructions
  
  CHROMEBOOK To forget a Wi-Fi network on a personal Chromebook, go to Settings > Network > Wi-Fi > Known networks. Find the PCCSK12-Staff network, click the three dots (More options) next to it, and select Forget.
  
  After your password has been changed, you can again discover and connect to that network, and will then input the updated password. See http://links.pccsk12.com/staffwirelessinstructions
  
  WINDOWS 11: To forget the PCCSK12-STaff Wi-Fi network in Windows 11 either go through the Quick Settings menu by right-clicking the network and selecting “Forget,” or through the Settings app by going to Network & internet > Wi-Fi > Manage known networks and clicking “Forget” next to the network.
  
  After your password has been changed, you can again discover and connect to that network, and will then input the updated password. See http://links.pccsk12.com/staffwirelessinstructions

MasterLibrary Schedules (MLS) Facility Integration

As previously shared, the district has a new facilities management system called MasterLibrary Schedules (MLS), which now serves as our replacement for the Virtual Event Management System (EMS).

For those that need to reserve district spaces, please read through this post and familiarize yourself with the basic instructions for logging into, and learning how to use, this new system.

MasterLibrary is currently used within the district for building maintenance and IT requests via ML Workorders. Staff will use their same district Google login credentials when accessing MLS.

MasterLibrary Schedules (MLS) direct link (https://mi50.mlschedules.com)

Once logged in, the facility request procedures are similar to our previous system (EMS). However, to further assist you with navigating the new platform, here are a few resources that you may find helpful:

Basic User Quick Start Guide
Getting Started Guide – Training Videos, Glossary, FAQ
Make a Request (Video)
Using the Calendar
Additional Reports

To reiterate, effectively immediately, Virtual EMS has been phased out and all staff members must make facility usage requests in MLS by going directly to https://mi50.mlschedules.com (feel free to bookmark), click Log in with Google and sign in with their current district Google account creds.

Once your ML Schedules account is created, you can immediately start making facility reservation requests. Booking confirmations or other communications regarding your request(s) will automatically be sent to your district email.

Additional resources:

Add a Shortcut to Your Desktop
Submitting a Tech Request in ML Workorders
Staff Tech Request (Link)
web page of this announcement https://links.pccsk12.com/MLSchedulesinfo

All requests for building space will need to be made ONLINE directly through MLS and will no longer be processed manually by Facilities.

– For questions or issues relating to booking FACILITIES, please email Marie Rogers.

– For AUDITORIUM / THEATER usage, please email Paul Bird.

– For any technical issues with MLS, please follow the instructions above for reaching out to IT.

Please note, we will be offering several virtual drop-in sessions via Google Meet throughout the month of August for interested staff. Revisit this page as it will be updated with those dates and times.

Thank you in advance for your patience as the district rolls out this new facilities reservation platform. With hundreds of requests coming through on a daily basis, your booking requests and any questions that you may have about MLS will be addressed as quickly as possible.

Google Vids

Vids can help deepen learning opportunities, up-level instruction, and inspire the next generation of storytellers in a variety of scenarios, for example:

Educators can support diverse learning styles and help students retain information with instructional videos and deep dives on complex concepts.
Students can work on video projects and review recorded lessons.
Education leaders can easily incorporate video in their school newsletters and create internal training videos for staff. Vids is also integrated with Google Workspace for Education tools like Google Assignments, empowering educators to easily assign video projects or post video explainers right to their students.

Why you’d use it

Similar to other productivity tools like Docs, Sheets, and Slides, Vids includes an easy-to-use interface and the ability to collaborate in real-time and share videos securely from your browser. You can easily get started with a variety of templates organized by use cases to create a new video. From there, you can add motion with animations, transitions, and photo effects, and customize your video using the Vids royalty free education-friendly stock content library or your own media directly from Google Drive or Google Photos.

To start, open Google Vids and choose an option to create a new video. You can create a new video or make a copy of an existing video for editing.
You can use Vids on your computer with the two most recent versions of these browsers:
- Chrome
- Windows only: Microsoft Edge
- Other browsers may work, but you might not be able to use all of the features.
Dive into Google Vids with their free, self-paced online training course, designed specifically for educators and available now in the Google for Education Learning Center. You can also leverage this one pager to get a quick summary of what you can do with Vids.
Visit the Help Center to learn more about getting started with Google Vids.

Reprise: Tech-To-Do’s Year-End Checklist

As you make plans to close up your classroom for the summer (and enjoy a well deserved break), please note and in some cases, take care of, the following items as the timing dictates:

Save, Update, and Share Your Content
1. Current Canvas courses will close and get placed in your past enrollments. However, there are considerations to check in the End of Year Canvas Post. Also note Canvas Studio is being Discontinued for 25-26 School Year. If you have videos currently stored in Canvas Studio that you wish to retain, you will need to download them by the end of August (see this blog post for more info).
2. If you are leaving the district or hoping to collaborate with colleagues over the summer you might review this post: Sharing Digital Resources with Colleagues – P-CCSK12 Tech
3. Clever: Staff and Students will have access to all clever resources throughout the summer. Clever syncing will be on pause starting on Monday June 10, 2025 giving student’s access to their 24-25 teacher’s pages and links until around mid-August when syncing will resume for the 25-26 school year. If you’re interested in learning how to make the most of Clever in your classroom, consider looking at training and ideas here.
4. IXL: PCCS’s digital subscription for K-5 elementary students will continue throughout the summer. Students will have access to their NWEA skill plans (which were just updated with any spring scores) all summer. Students will have access to any current teacher starred skills through around mid-August, you might consider un-starring skills for students because they travel with students from year to year. Students in 5th grade currently will lose access around mid-August when syncing begins for the 25-26 school year as they will then be recognized as 6th graders.
5. Edpuzzle: AFTER your grades have been transferred to the gradebook, it’s recommended that teachers delete their Edpuzzle classes. Issues can sometimes arise when Canvas courses that were integrated with Edpuzzle are copied from one year to the next. It is recommended that teachers delete their Edpuzzle classes before the new school year starts and new students join your classes. Please follow the directions in Edpuzzle’s Best Practices: Closing Out the School Year.
Tech Housekeeping: Secure, Return, and Power Off (typically around the last day of school)
1. Please comply with the directions of your principal and main office to turn in or secure all classroom technology equipment such as document cameras, microphones, interactive pens, and remotes.
2. Please also secure or take home all District-assigned devices (laptop, Chromebook, iPad, etc.), as well as all personally-owned devices.
3. Power off projectors/IFPs, sound amps, and desktop computers.
  1. You may leave printer and copiers plugged in and powered on
4. Follow the care suggestions for classroom audio

Tech-To-Do’s Year-End Checklist

As you make plans to close up your classroom for the summer (and enjoy a well deserved break), please note and in some cases, take care of, the following items as the timing dictates:

Save, Update, and Share Your Content
1. Current Canvas courses will close and get placed in your past enrollments. However, there are considerations to check in the End of Year Canvas Post. Also note Canvas Studio is being Discontinued for 25-26 School Year. If you have videos currently stored in Canvas Studio that you wish to retain, you will need to download them by the end of August (see this blog post for more info).
2. If you are leaving the district or hoping to collaborate with colleagues over the summer you might review this post: Sharing Digital Resources with Colleagues – P-CCSK12 Tech
3. Clever: Staff and Students will have access to all clever resources throughout the summer. Clever syncing will be on pause starting on Monday June 10, 2025 giving student’s access to their 24-25 teacher’s pages and links until around mid-August when syncing will resume for the 25-26 school year. If you’re interested in learning how to make the most of Clever in your classroom, consider looking at training and ideas here.
4. IXL: PCCS’s digital subscription for K-5 elementary students will continue throughout the summer. Students will have access to their NWEA skill plans (which were just updated with any spring scores) all summer. Students will have access to any current teacher starred skills through around mid-August, you might consider un-starring skills for students because they travel with students from year to year. Students in 5th grade currently will lose access around mid-August when syncing begins for the 25-26 school year as they will then be recognized as 6th graders.
5. Edpuzzle: AFTER your grades have been transferred to the gradebook, it’s recommended that teachers delete their Edpuzzle classes. Issues can sometimes arise when Canvas courses that were integrated with Edpuzzle are copied from one year to the next. It is recommended that teachers delete their Edpuzzle classes before the new school year starts and new students join your classes. Please follow the directions in Edpuzzle’s Best Practices: Closing Out the School Year.
Tech Housekeeping: Secure, Return, and Power Off (typically around the last day of school)
1. Please comply with the directions of your principal and main office to turn in or secure all classroom technology equipment such as document cameras, microphones, interactive pens, and remotes.
2. Please also secure or take home all District-assigned devices (laptop, Chromebook, iPad, etc.), as well as all personally-owned devices.
3. Power off projectors/IFPs, sound amps, and desktop computers.
  1. You may leave printer and copiers plugged in and powered on
4. Follow the care suggestions for classroom audio

Author: Mark Salzer

Why you’d use it

Save, Update, and Share Your Content

Tech Housekeeping: Secure, Return, and Power Off (typically around the last day of school)

Save, Update, and Share Your Content

Tech Housekeeping: Secure, Return, and Power Off (typically around the last day of school)