Borgstrom's Byte Bites

We are pleased to announce that the Monticello School District (ISD 882) Technology Department has been awarded a significant grant of $80,000 through the Building and Cybersecurity Grant Program.
 

This generous funding will be dedicated to enhancing our district's building infrastructure and strengthening our cybersecurity defenses. Investing in these critical areas is vital to ensuring a safe, reliable, and secure technology environment for all our students and staff.

- Jason Borgstrom, Director of Technology

 

Video: Transfer Files to Google Drive: A Quick and Easy Method

Why Use Google Drive Instead of a Shared Drive or Your Desktop?

Using Google Drive to store your documents offers several key advantages over traditional shared drives or storing files directly on your desktop:

1. Accessibility: Google Drive allows you to access your files from anywhere with an internet connection, whether you're at school, at home, or on the go.

2. Collaboration: Google Drive is designed for collaboration. You can easily share documents with colleagues, work on them simultaneously, and see real-time updates.

3. Security: Google Drive provides robust security features, including encryption and secure login, to protect your files.

4. Backup: Storing your files on Google Drive means they are automatically backed up in the cloud. You don't have to worry about losing your documents due to computer crashes.

5. Storage Space: By using Google Drive, you free up valuable storage space on your desktop and local drives, helping your computer run more efficiently.

6. Version Control: Google Drive keeps track of changes to your documents, allowing you to view and restore previous versions if needed. This feature is particularly useful for managing revisions and corrections.

    

Making the switch to Google Drive for document storage not only enhances your productivity and collaboration but also provides a secure, reliable solution for managing your important files.

- Jason Borgstrom, Director of Technology

Here are three preventative best practices to help ensure consistent device connectivity  

• Power Off Daily: Restart or fully power off the device at the end of each day to clear temporary network issues and refresh connections.

   

• Regularly Check for Updates: Ensure the device’s operating system and drivers are up to date, as updates often include connectivity improvements and bug fixes.

   

• Toggle Wi-Fi When Moving Between Locations: Turn Wi-Fi off and back on when moving between rooms or buildings to encourage the device to connect to the nearest, strongest access point.

- Jason Borgstrom, Director of Technology

As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding our organization's digital infrastructure and data, we will be conducting a series of phishing campaigns. These simulated attacks are designed to raise awareness among our staff about the importance of remaining vigilant against phishing attempts, which continue to be a significant cybersecurity threat.

During these campaigns, you may receive emails that mimic real-world phishing attempts. If you inadvertently click on any suspicious links or provide sensitive information, please be aware that this action will trigger a notification, and you will be required to complete a brief training session on identifying and handling phishing emails.

 

We understand that mistakes can happen, and the purpose of this exercise is not to penalize individuals but to enhance our collective resilience against cyber threats. Your participation in these campaigns and subsequent training sessions is crucial in fortifying our defenses and protecting our organization from potential security incidents.

 

To help you navigate through potential phishing attempts effectively, here are five essential tips to keep in mind:

1. Verify the Sender: Always double-check the email address and ensure it matches the official email format used within our organization. Be wary of email addresses that seem unusual or unfamiliar.

2. Check for Grammatical Errors and Anomalies: Phishing emails often contain spelling or grammatical mistakes, unusual language, or formatting inconsistencies. If an email seems poorly written or formatted strangely, proceed with caution.

3. Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: If the link appears unfamiliar or leads to an unexpected website, refrain from clicking and report the email to our IT department immediately.

4. Exercise Caution with Attachments: Be cautious when opening attachments, especially if they come from unknown or unexpected sources. Malicious attachments can contain viruses or malware designed to compromise your device or our network.

5. Be Skeptical of Urgent Requests: Phishing emails often employ urgency or fear tactics to prompt quick action. If an email urges you to act immediately or threatens negative consequences for inaction, take a moment to verify the authenticity of the request with the sender via a separate communication channel.

- Jason Borgstrom, Director of Technology

The first annual Monticello EdTech Conference took place on August 8th—and WOW, did it exceed all expectations!

A huge thank you to everyone who attended! We had over 75 participants from across all buildings in the district, engaging in more than 20 sessions led by our district presenters and experts from EdTech companies like Apple, Seesaw, and Edpuzzle.

Here’s just a taste of the fantastic feedback we received:

• "This was fabulous! Thank you so much for organizing it! I really hope this is offered again in the future."

• "I loved learning more about Seesaw and how I can use it in my classroom. I discovered new strategies to try with small groups this year!"

• "The variety of classes was great. I appreciated the self-paced Google Forms session and the chance to continue learning afterward. The IXL class was also excellent—I use it daily for math, but I found features I didn’t know existed!"

• "Magic School AI was packed with awesome tools, and the advanced Canva session was fantastic."

• "It was amazing to see all the accessibility features available on our iPads!"

   

A few photos from the conference!

Missed out and wish you could access these incredible sessions?

Click here to explore all the presentations

- Jason Borgstrom, Director of Technology