@WDMCS Staff: Problems using Outlook at home? Do you use MediaCom?

UPDATE on 12/4/2014:

Although the issue hasn’t been addressed by Mediacom, they have provided users with a work around that can be performed on each machine.

Step 1) Open Internet Explorer

Step 2) Visit:     http://cas.wdmschools.local    This will bring up a redirect page from Medicom.

Step 3) On this redirect page, click on SETTINGS

Step 4) Under SEARCH GUIDE SETTINGS, select the OFF button and click SAVE.

After marking this setting, then close Internet Explorer and then open Microsoft Outlook.

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original message….

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Frustration! from Bev Sykes

We’ve had a number of reports over the last few weeks that WDMCS staff are unable to use Microsoft Outlook while at home, but everything works just fine when they are at school.  Unfortunately, the reports were sporadic and we originally weren’t able to confirm or replicate the reported issues…. however, we now have identified what’s in common with all the reported issues.

All of the users reporting these issues are using MediaCom services at home.    Some users have found that they can connect VPN first and then Outlook works and others have reported that Outlook doesn’t work with or without VPN.

Q1. I use MediaCom at home, so what are my options?
A1.  Option 1 is to turn on VPN services first, then try to connect with Outlook.  If that doesn’t work, you’ll then have to use the web mail interface until the issue is resolved.

Q2.  When will the issue be resolved?
A3.  We don’t have a time frame from MediaCom.  We have a support ticket with them, but the case is already over a week old, so we’re not sure what the time frame for resolution will be.

Century Link classroom technology grants available

The CenturyLink Foundation and Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency are working together to award technology mini-grants to Iowa educators who are interested in fostering innovative classroom uses of digital learning tools. The goal of the CenturyLink Teachers & Technology Grant Program is to provide support to educators who wish to utilize digital technologies to foster deeper thinking and greater agency by students.

The purposes of this competitive mini-grant program are to

• improve student learning through the innovative use of digital learning tools;
• enhance the development of students’ deeper thinking and problem-solving skills;
• foster greater student agency, control, and ownership of their learning; and
• increase educators’ understanding of how to best integrate technology into student learning experiences.

All grants are to be utilized by educators to benefit students in their classrooms.   More information is available at:  http://www.centurylinktechgrants.org/about2015/

 

Also be sure to check out our 10 tips for writing a classroom technology grant.