Chris Casal, a technology coordinator at PS 10 Brooklyn, presented key strategies for overcoming common technology challenges in schools at the 2014 School Technology Summit. The presentation covered troubleshooting issues with devices like iPads and Chromebooks, accessing blocked sites like YouTube, and maximizing the use of Google Cloud Print for printing needs. Additionally, Casal emphasized the importance of adaptability and resourcefulness in addressing technological obstacles for educational benefit.

1. Chris Casal
Technology Coordinator/Teacher
P. S. 10 Brooklyn (15K010)
ccasal@ps10.org
Twitter: @mr_casal
Hack the DOE
Making it Work Even When You Thought You Couldn’t
School Technology Summit 2014 - 7/30/14
Presentation Materials:
http://goo.gl/irH2Mo (case sensitive)

2. What doesn’t work?
The usual suspects
YouTube is blocked
Flash wont update
iPads wont update
what else…?

3. My top tricks
Flash, iOS updates, Chromebook & iPad printing

4. iPads wont update?
No problem
Running iOS 6 or older?
can’t update on DOE network
use Configurator via USB
take device home & update to iOS 7
Running iOS 7?
problem is solved, will update in DOE
might need to wait for quiet network time (ie: before or after
school)

5. No Flash on iPads?
No problem
Download either:
Rover - plays Flash, geared toward edu content
Puffin Lite - plays all Flash for a limited time
Puffin - unlimited Flash access

6. Flash won’t update?
Of course it won’t, installer is blocked by the proxy
Download full version here:
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/otherversions/
Bottom of page click: your operating system/
browser combination is not displayed, click here for
older versions of Adobe Flash Player.
Scroll to Flash Player Archives
Download latest version (it’ll be 100+ MB)

7. Flash pt 2…
A .zip file downloads
Double-click to open
Navigate to the main folder (not the “debug” one)
For Mac users:
double click the “_pkg.dmg” file and then use the enclosed
package to install & distribute
For Windows users:
double click the one of the Windows files (either .msi or .exe - to be
honest I’m not sure, I’m a Mac guy, nay a Windows box in sight)

8. Flash pt 3
Here is a step-by-step tutorial of how to update Flash
within the NYCDOE (Mac specific)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/xxmtzsc1cc9e1co/
Flash_Update_setup.pdf

9. Easiest way to update
Flash?
Use Chrome
the Flash updates are embedded within the browser
auto-update so you should never have a problem

10. Print from a Chromebook
Why?
It’s a Chromebook, everything is in the cloud
It’s paperless, that’s kind of the point…
Ok, you really need to print?
log in to your Google account on a printer-connected
computer & print away

11. or Print from Chrome
Log in to Chrome, the browser, on a machine already
configured to print
Go to Settings -> Show Advanced Settings
Google Cloud Print -> Manage -> Classic Printers ->
Add printers
this will add locally connected printers to your
Google Account
sign in to a Chromebook, with the same account,
and print away…

12. Print from an iPad
Not to be snarky, but again, why?
Ok, you really need to print…
Easiest to use Google apps
Chrome, Drive, Docs, Sheets, etc
Follow steps for “print from Chrome” on previous slide
Google iOS apps will see your “classic printers” when
you tap “print”

13. Chromebook & iPad
printing: caveats
It does not seem to work on all DOE printers
my iPad can print to our X646 ATS printer but not a
C782 in the same room
both printers added to my Google account, but only
one works, it’s a bit of trial & error
and yes, I can print from my iPad on the instructional
VLAN wifi to Administrative VLAN printers…

14. Caveats cont
Have not tried Apple Air Print printers as none are DOE
approved
Benefit to Google Cloud Print over Apple’s Air Print is
the ability to use existing printers, where possible

15. YouTube
the scourge

16. Not really
Get YouTube unblocked
submit request: https://apps.nycenet.edu/
Applications/Filtering/
Principal needs to approve
It’s more a bandwidth issue than a content one
we unblocked it but if more than 3 machines in a
room are playing a video the network stalls

17. Principal wont approve
YouTube?
Try these sites, that often stream YouTube videos (or
content similar to YouTube) even if YouTube the URL is
blocked:
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/
https://www.khanacademy.org/
http://www.schooltube.com/

18. Prep your YouTube lesson at
home
Find the video at home, download it to your Drive or
Drobpox or Box account, then play that clip in school
clipconverter.cc
keepvid.com
savefrom.net (or just as “ss” before “youtube” in the
URL to prompt the download - as in
www.ssyoutube.com….)

19. Websites…
because sometimes the easiest hack is
knowledge

20. Unblock sites
Web filtering request
https://apps.nycenet.edu/Applications/Filtering/

21. Schoolview
http://schoolview.nycboe.net/principal/
Need to be within a school to access
Shows network health, bandwidth usage, MDF
temperature, etc
Great resource

22. TechShare
https://techshare.nycenet.edu/sites/
FinanceAdmin/DIIT/operations/TechShare/
default.aspx
Intranet site accessible outside of DOE
Great discussion board
Access to DOE software for download
including Mac & Windows OS, Office, etc

23. Wireless Client Configuration
https://www.nycenet.edu/applications/wcc/
Pages/Schools.aspx
find wifi information for other DOE schools

24. Network Grounds
http://networkgrounds.com/bookmarks - Flash
http://networkgrounds.com/mobile - text/html
NYCDOE bookmarks
visual catalog of all DOE services
Built by Dan Morio of CFN 405

25. What do you need?
Lets solve some problems while we’re here…

26. Hacking
It’s about changing the way we approach things
and making the most of what we have for the
benefit of our students
Be inspired, follow Michelle Cordy @cordym
Watch this: http://youtu.be/puSPuSviWaE?t=20m15s (20:15-26:06)

27. Contact
Presentation Materials:
http://goo.gl/irH2Mo (case sensitive)
!
Christopher M. Casal
Technology Teacher/Coordinator
P. S. 10 (15K010)
Email: ccasal@ps10.org
Twitter: @mr_casal
Diigo: mrcasal
slideshare.net/mr_casal
thecasalos.blogspot.com
ps10ipads.wikispaces.com