CHS - ICT Induction
CHS ICT Induction
Written by R Brown September 2020 - Updated September 2024 by R Brown
Cardiff High School
ICT Induction Guide
Written and updated by R Brown & R Eaton September 2024
Foreword
Welcome to the Cardiff High School network, over the coming pages you will find everything you need to know about the school's network and how to get the most from the system and the ICT Support team.
We hope you enjoy using our facilities and look forward to your feedback.
Login & Credential Management
When you join Cardiff High School you will be issued with the following main accounts:
- School Network – This is your main account which provides access to the schools ICT network.
- Sims – You will be given a separate and different username and password for Sims access
- Email – you will be issued with an official @cardiffhigh.cardiff.sch.uk email account which provides a searchable address book for all staff & students and follows the same format as your Hwb email account. For example, the Hwb email address JonesY566@hwbcymru.net is also JonesY566@cardiffhigh.cardiff.sch.uk Any email sent to either of these two email addresses forwards to the same email address box
Other Accounts:
- Cardiff High School uses Google for Education applications and Google Classroom as our VLE (virtual learning environment). Your Hwb account / email address provides you with access to your Google for Education account.
- Your Hwb account also allows use access to Microsoft Office 365 and allows you to download and install Microsoft Office on a set number of PCs at home.
- Your Hwb email address is also your username for Class Charts. A link to Class Charts with instructions to set your password will be sent to you via email.
- Pupil email addresses use Hwb and follow the same pattern for example edwardsN555@hwbcymru.net
Passwords
All network passwords must adhere to a complexity rule which consists of:
- A minimum of 8 characters including numbers, a capital letter and a special character.
- must not contain any part of your name
- must be changed at least once every 90 days. And you cannot use any of the previous 3 passwords.
Your network account will be locked out after 4 failed login attempts and will be automatically unlocked after a period of 30 minutes. A member of the ICT support team can reset your password at any time should you need to login before the 30-minute period has lapsed.
Password safety
- Always use a unique password which is not used for other sites, systems or services
- Use something that could not easily be guessed by a person or algorithm
- Do not use sequential numbers or letters such as Password123 or Passw0rd
- No longer rely on switching an O with a 0 as this technique is not as secure as it once was
- Consider using a passphrase such as " ^(CoffeeForDinner)^ "
- Keep your password to yourself
Other useful Tips
- At times the ICT support team will need to login into your account to test any rectifications due to a raised support request. You DO NOT have to give your password to us but you need to contact us so we can give you a new password after we complete the work to your account.
- When you access the network for either the first time or after we reset your password or if it has expired you will be asked to select a new password when you login.
- NEVER under ANY circumstances share your password to anyone. Whatever happens on the network under your account you are liable for so should work be deleted, system faults occur or network attacks, illegal activity take place etc. You will be held accountable. Think as your network and Hwb accounts as bank accounts (you wouldn’t want people having access to your money, the same applies to your accounts). Please do not be tempted to allow a pupil to use your account to complete work or to log in using your account at any time
- Remember usernames and passwords are YOUR identity, whenever you leave a computer unattended press CTRL+ALT+DEL and lock the screen or press Windows key + L to lock the screen. You MUST however return to the computer before the change of lesson unlock the computer, save your work and logoff so that other people can use the computer after you have finished. If you do not logoff and a member of IT staff must log you off, as we do not have your password, you will lose any unsaved work.
The Network Desktop Environment
When you log into a network PC the following desktop with some variation depending on your role and location will appear. Please note that you are not able to save files to the desktop, change the background or move and arrange desktop icons.
We have tried to keep the start menu and desktop as clutter free as possible this, however, can make programs hard to find. For ease of use we have areas on the start menu such as general, subject areas, interactive whiteboards etc. which help to categorise things. With relation to the desktop as shown above we have tried to ensure everything you see has a purpose and is labelled with a meaningful name. If you are unsure about any aspect of the system, please feel free to call into the IT support office, email ithelpdesk@cardiffhigh.co.uk or dial Ext 249 (Richard Eaton) or Ext 239 (Richard Brown) or ask a member of the ICT support Team for help.
Network and External Drives
All your work is saved in your own personal user account (often called ‘home directory’ or ‘home drive’) This drive is always drive N:\ and all your files saved in this location are backed up 3 times daily. 07:00, 13:00 and in the evening. Please note whilst every possible effort is taken to ensure we have backups of your data we cannot be held responsible in case of data loss. It is advised to upload a copy of your files to your Google Drive or Microsoft One Drive directory if they are particularly important. Please note that this only applies to non-sensitive and non-confidential data.
Other network drives you might see include:
- S:\ “Sims” – you don’t save here this is just connected so you can access Sims
- O:\ “Curriculum” – this is where you save resources for Teaching and can be accessed by other staff
- H:\ “Leadership” – you will find information from the Management Team on this drive. Some of which could be commercially sensitive. Please do not save documents here unless requested by a member of the Leadership Team. Access to this drive is restricted.
- L:\ “Longman” this drive is read only this is connected so that science resources can run correctly and is not used for any other purpose
- K:\ “pastoral” this is an access restricted drive which contains pastoral information
- T:\ “Teaching & Learning” – In this area you will find Planning & Reflection / Pedagogical Development etc.
- I:\ “Student Resources” – Save class resources here which you want students to access
- Q:\ “Student Data” here you can access students “My Documents” to carry our marking and see progress of their work
- J:\ “AS Comp” – Used for AS Computing students & Staff only
- W:\ “Welsh Bacc” – Used for Welsh Bacc resources only (Students & Staff)
- M:\ “Not Backed up” – Save any data on here which is not required to be backed up such as large video files, photographs etc. As indicated no backups are taken of this Drive!
External Drives
External drives such as portable hard drives and USB flash drives can be used although we strongly advise against keeping your only copy of data on an external drive as they can be easily damaged, lost or stolen and do eventually fail. Recovery of data from a failed external hard drive is a specialist service, which cannot normally be carried out by the school’s IT support staff and can prove to be very expensive if it is at all possible.
All external storage devices must be encrypted using Bit Locker encryption before use. For more information on Bit Locker encryption and data security please see the IT support online documentation through Help Scout or contact a member of the IT Support Department
Data Backup
In Cardiff High school we carry out the following backups to help to keep your data Safe. **Please note we can't guarantee to be able to restore your data**. We always do our best, but time and space factors may mean we are not able to restore your work so the sooner you let us know the more chance we have of getting your work back. If you can't live without it make a copy to your school, One Drive or Google Drive folder!
Backup level 1 - All Core Data - Sims, Staff & Students Work Backed up daily to an alternate location within the school building & Replicated Monthly to a secure Offsite backup
Wireless Networks – Which One and How do I Use Them?
Within Cardiff High you will see several wireless networks being broadcast, below is what they are and what you can do on them
Please note that there is no wireless network for pupils to use and that passwords for wireless networks must not be shared with pupils under any circumstances
Staff WIFI - Please use this for staff personal devices such as iPads, personal Laptops and smart phones and for internet access only. School laptops do not work on this network. Please contact a member of the IT Support team for the password.
Teaching Device - This network is the one you need to use with your school laptop for access to network resources. Your school laptop should automatically connect to this wireless network. No personal devices can be connected to this network.
Chromebooks - This network is for use with school Chromebooks only. School Chromebooks will automatically connect to this wireless network.
CHS Guest – This wireless network is for use by visitors to the school at events such as conferences and professional learning. If you require access to this network for an event, please contact a member of the IT Support team for the password.
Department Specific Networks – In some areas of the school you may find department specific wireless networks being broadcast. These are only for use by those departments with their designated devices.
Laptop Warranty & Support
Your Lenovo Laptop comes with a 5-year next business day warranty. If it is faulty or gets damaged, please log a call on the IT helpdesk by emailing ithelpdesk@cardiffhigh.co.uk and we will arrange a repair on your behalf.
Remote Access to the Network from Home – Via VPN
It is possible to connect your school laptop to the school network remotely using the Internet and the installed VPN software. If you are unable to do this or it does not seem to be working correctly, please see the IT support online documentation available through Help Scout, contact a member of the IT Support Department or log a call on the IT helpdesk by emailing ithelpdesk@cardiffhigh.co.uk
Your Computer & Antivirus
All school provided and managed computers have Antivirus installed and it will update daily no action is required on your behalf except pressing the "Update" button if prompted, however should you receive a warning regarding a virus or suspicious activity please let us know as soon as possible.
ICT Support
IT Support is available during Term Time and when possible, during Holidays. Support is provided by two ICT Technicians and the ICT Network Manager. Richard Eaton (IT Technician), Chris Powell (IT Technician) and Richard Brown (ICT Network Manager). Support hours are between 08:00 – 16:30 Monday – Thursday and 08:00-16:00 Friday. Availability on weekends is on request and subject to overtime approval from the Headteacher. This MUST be requested a minimum of 1 week in advance.
All ICT Issues need to be logged via the ICT Help desk. This can be done by simply e-mailing Ithelpdesk@cardiffhigh.co.uk
Requests for support over holiday periods may not be possible as system maintenance will take priority during these times due to us working within a limited time window.
Purchasing IT Equipment, Software and Services
Please do NOT purchase any IT equipment, software or services unless this has been authorised by the ICT Network Manager. Our experience will ensure that you purchase the correct licences and hardware, that what you purchase is able to be used within our network infrastructure and that you get the best deal possible. We have many years of experience in negotiating costs and deals with our suppliers and a vast knowledge of products and services available which will save you time and money.
Internet Access
Please note ALL internet access is monitored and recorded. This is to protect you and our students.
You will (As a full time / temporary member of staff) be issued with an official CHS Email address. This is not for personal emails and should be used only for official school business. The IT department monitor emails and have the right to pass management of your account onto a manager should you be away from school for a period of time. We reserve the right to open your mailbox and check its contents should we believe there is a legitimate reason.
Data Security
Please do not divulge or share confidential data, take confidential data (Parents phone numbers, student’s addresses, photographs of students etc., off site by any means printed or digital) contravention of this will trigger the schools disciplinary policy which may lead to termination of employment and / or legal action.
Keep your passwords private, use the schools ICT systems only for official school business and don’t be afraid to ask for help from us if in any doubt.
Printing
To print within the school, you will need to be an authorised member of a department.
When printing a document you will see a papercut “Popup” asking for the department in which you wish to charge. Please review the number of pages and the cost and once you have selected the departmental account the printing cost will be deducted Once a document has been printed The cost of printing is 8p colour and 2.5p Mono on the Epson Printers in communal areas, and 2.5p mono A4 4p A3 and 13p Colour A4 15P A3 on the Reprographics machines. In DT on the A3 Epson Printers the cost of Printing is 8p for a colour A4 Page, 12p for an A3 Colour Page, 4P for a Mono A3 or A4 Page.
Printers can be found in all ICT Rooms, Offices, Reprographics, ART, DT, & IT Support.
To save on printing costs it is highly recommended that you use the Reprographics department for all volume printing as the savings are considerable.
Room Booking
Booking an ICT room or resource such as a learning space, learning hub, outdoor classroom etc. is very straight forward. Please click the room booking link on the desktop or the school website and enter your username (you will find this in your E-mail inbox) along with instructions of how to use the system. Should you require any assistance please let us know.