The Universal Services Administrative Co. has added Wi-Fi Hotspots as a Newly Eligible E-rate  Equipment and Services. 

• On July 18, 2024, the FCC adopted a Report and Order ([FCC 24-76]) making Wi-Fi hotspots and mobile wireless Internet services for off-premises use eligible for E­Rate program support.
• This will allow eligible schools and libraries to start Wi-Fi hotspot lending programs so that their students, school staff, and library patrons with need can check out E-Rate­ supported Wi-Fi hotspots and services to engage in remote learning.
• Accordingly, the FCC adopted certain limitations, including funding caps per device/service and budgets entities, to ensure Wi-Fi hotspots are more effectively targeted to those with the greatest need.

• Wi-Fi hotspot: a device that is intended to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to a hotspot user as its sole function.

• Wi-Fi hotspot funding requests limited to fixed, three-year budget cycle. First cycle funding years (FY) 2025 - FY 2027.

• The budget is the maximum amount of pre-discount funding permitted for Wi-Fi hotspots and/or service over three funding years.

• Independent School or District Budget= [student count x (20 hotspots/100 students) x Cl discount rate] x$630

• Calculate Wi-Fi hotspot and service budgets by multiplying student count by 20% (i.e., 20 hotspots per 100 students) and multiply by the Cl discount rate. This number is rounded up to the nearest ten. The applicant then multiplies that rounded number by $630 to determine the three-year pre­discount budget.

• Applicants may not request more than 45% of its three-year budget in any one year.

Click here for USAC's full webinar slide desk on this release.

Please follow this link for information about the Virtual Teacher Program.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_YmNJe0_gYrUD-5VwwLAGIB7Sd2eNkrhZrFMFboaLvk/edit

For more information:

Karen R. Leonard, Ed. S.

Director of Education Technology and Computer Science

Oklahoma State Department of Education

2500 N. Lincoln Blvd., Suite 315

Oklahoma City, OK 73105

(405) 521-3364

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission Public Utility Division is offering free E-Rate and Oklahoma Universal Service Fund (OUSF) training for schools and libraries. Due to travel concerns associated with COVID-19, the OUSF E-rate training will be held virtually on Feb. 24th.

The training will include discussion on the following topics:

• Navigating the new OCC/OUSF website
• Eligible service providers
• Overview of affidavit
• Bid reviews and contract concerns
• OUSF funding process
• Form 470 changes
• Category Two overview
• Best practices for filing funding applications
• E-Rate program rules and compliance
• Funds for Learning

Staff will also conduct an open question and answer session for participants.

OUSF & E-Rate Training for Schools & Libraries
Feb 24th, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Register here

If you have questions, contact Maura Shortt at maura.shortt@occ.ok.gov.

Apple has released an emergency software update for a critical vulnerability in its iMessage product that can affect personal devices such as the iPhone, the Apple Watch, and the Mac computer. The flaw allows spyware to infect anyone’s system. The vulnerability was captured by a digital research lab as resulting of analyzing a phone that was infected with Pegasus spyware.

The Pegasus spyware can infect an Apple device without the victim’s knowledge using a novel “zero click remote exploit” which allows anyone to break into a victim’s device without the victim knowing. Using this method, Pegasus can utilize almost every aspect of a personal device to gather data and send it back to malicious actors.

 

Apple has released security updates to address vulnerabilities—CVE-2021-30860, CVE-2021-30858—in iOS and iPadOS. CISA is aware of public reporting that these vulnerabilities may have been exploited in the wild.

 

It is highly encouraged that Apple users review the iOS 14.8 and iPad OS 1.48 updates and apply them. For more information, on the updates please visit this link.

One Week Left! Don’t Miss the Sessions You Need From the Speakers You’ll Love! ISTE U’s Summer Learning Academy, Aug. 2-13, features six webinars on the topics you and your students will need most when you return to school: Designing for inclusion Supporting student well-being Accelerating student-driven learning And they’ll be led by education luminaries who will provide research-based practices and proven resources to help you reimagine learning. Check out these sessions, then save your seat at this bestselling PD event for just $35: In “Power and Empowerment: Honoring By Decision and Design,” Andratesha Fritzgerald will explore the notions of power and empowerment made evident in educators’ decisions, designs and outcomes, and unpack how antiracism and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) can help honor every students’ identity, culture and learning needs.   During “Strategies for Raising Equity and Advancing SEL in Lessons,” Jorge Valenzuela will dive into the “Equity and SEL Integration in Lessons Framework” and show you how to create culturally responsive learning experiences that focus on equity, incorporate sound teaching strategies and use technology creatively. When you join “It’s Imperative! Add Access to Complex Text” with Savanna Flakes, you’ll get literacy strategies and technology tools to ensure students with disabilities have meaningful access to grade-level text and experience successful “language gain.” Rachelle Dené Poth will lead “Fostering Connectedness and Promoting SEL” where you’ll hear about the five social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies and explore ideas for creating a flexible, student-driven environment where students build confidence, develop relationships and collaborate on a learning adventure. During “The Recipe for Success to Create Deeper Learning Experiences for Students,” Kat Crawford and Kaylah Holland will show you how to deepen classroom learning with purposeful lesson design, culturally relevant materials and active learning experiences.   And in “Awaken Student Innovation: Project-Based Maker Learning and Design Thinking Challenges,” Caroline Haebig will provide tips for helping all students think creatively, and share ready-to-use activities that develop their maker and design thinking skills. The Summer Learning Academy also includes three microcourses you can complete at your own pace and a passionate and connected learning community – all for just $35!

StopRansomware.gov is the new ransomware homepage for federal government agencies to pool resources that can give businesses and organizations of all sizes the opportunity to better protect their networks. The website will also highlight the latest ransomware-related alerts from these agencies.

Ransomware cases are on the rise. DHS and DOJ officials report that in 2020 there was a 300% increase in the amount of ransoms paid, compared to the previous year. Ransomware incidents have become more destructive and impactful in both nature and scope. Malicious cyber actors target critical data and can propagate ransomware across entire networks. These cyber criminals also increasingly use tactics, such as deleting system backups that make restoration and recovery more difficult or infeasible for impacted organizations. The economic and reputational impacts of ransomware incidents, throughout the initial disruption and, at times, extended recovery, have also proven challenging for organizations large and small.

Register for the FREE Apple events!

On June 15, 2021, the Federal Communications Commission announced that the first application filing window for the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program will open at noon Eastern time on Tuesday, June 29, 2021. The window will be open for 45 calendar days, closing on Friday, August 13.

As part of our ongoing collaboration with ISTE, we are excited to extend a discount offer for ISTE U’s Summer Learning Academy 2021.

This two-week PD program in August will help K-12 educators move from surviving teaching during a pandemic to thriving with the intentional use of technology to meet the new realities of learning.

Designed for teachers, tech coaches and directors, librarians and media specialists, the Summer Learning Academy will ensure that teams of educators are taking the best of what they’ve learned forward into the new school year. The program will focus on understanding and meeting the needs of all students, social-emotional learning, and delivering instruction in flexible learning environments. Learn more at iste.org/sla21 or in the attached flyer.

Normally $35 per person, OKSTE members receive a Summer Learning Academy discount code for $10 off, for a total registration cost of $25.  Be sure to visit this link and use the code SLA21AFFIL at checkout.  You will need to create an ISTE account or log in to an existing account to check out.

ISTE U_Summer-Learning-Academy-2021.pdf

 OK-LSAMP is a consortium of Oklahoma colleges and universities working together to develop programs aimed at increasing the number of students from under-represented populations who receive degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines. Current goals and activities of OK-LSAMP focus on undergraduate research experiences, graduate school preparation, and international experiences.

The OK-LSAMP program is hosting a Summer Webinar series on Wednesday evenings from 3-5 with the goal of connecting stakeholders and voices in the STEM 'pipeline' for Native American students in Oklahoma...with a focus on increasing the capacity and culturally centered efforts for K-20 STEM education.

Gathering in support after a tough year...

OK-LSAMP hopes you will gather 30 min before and after our formal presentation to touch base and encourage each other after a tough year!  The presentation will be recorded (for everyone), but the discussion 30 min before/after will not.  

Registering for the first two is easy!
To get the meeting links, please visit and scroll to the bottom of: https://ok-lsamp.okstate.edu. You will need to sign up for each meeting.

May 26th, 3-5pm - What is Ethnocomputing? Strategies for Culturally Centered Technology Education

June 9th, 3-5 pm - How and why to Participate in the National American Indian Science & Engineering Fair (NAISEF)