Coronavirus: General discussion (see opening post for rules)

[Dos_Box]

We have created a new thread, but we are going to have to ask you to keep things relevant as regards to what is discussed.

 

So, please keep away from political criticisms. There is a lot going on and the govt(s) – depending on what country you are in - will follow the best advice they are given and this will differ depending on a lot of local issues such as healthcare availability, current infection levels, national characteristics (do they like to gather socially a lot for example) and other factors.

 

Let’s keep this focussed on the areas we need to pay most attention to such as news updates (without making it political) and things you can do for your schools to help in the event of closure etc.

 

Given the seriousness of the current situation, let’s not distract from that and continue to help each other through this uncertain period.

 

Any post which strays into the political will be removed.

 

For the practicalities of coping with this in schools, please use this thread:

Coping with Coronavirus in education : links, resources, tips and IT concerns

 

Employment issues should, of course, be posted in the Employment Issues and Advice Forum

Edited March 15, 2020 by elsiegee40

[StevieM]

I've had an email from the Berliner Philharmoniker saying that the concert hall will be closed until 19th April, but the concert planned to be performed yesterday went ahead without an audience and was streamed online for free via their Digital Concert Hall, with further performances today and tomorrow.

 

I wonder what will happen with upcoming concerts at the Liverpool Phil. Generally, the demographic of attendees tends to be mostly in the 'senior' category.

[JordanT91]

I've just bought a few more encrypted USB sticks for the teachers who don't have one. I've also sent an email out to all staff about being able to use Office 365 on their personal devices free of charge as part of our school licence. I hadn't routinely shared this information previously because it would have resulted in loads of requests for help.

 

Every little helps.

[6Foot2]

Link: hand washing steps – Lady Macbeth [The Wrong Hands]

 

 

[localzuk]

Our Trust has sent one employee home today, to work from home. They have had a kidney transplant, and are on immunosuppressants, so are our highest risk member of staff.

[Theblacksheep]

Our Trust has sent one employee home today, to work from home. They have had a kidney transplant, and are on immunosuppressants, so are our highest risk member of staff.

 

A very sensible decision.

[gumbygaz]

Anybody else get the email from Smoothwall asking to make sure we're up to date have have paid our bills in the event of a school closure?

[Primus]

Anybody else get the email from Smoothwall asking to make sure we're up to date have have paid our bills in the event of a school closure?

 

No - wait what?

[Reboot_IT]

I actually saw that and thought they were being helpful. If the license is about to end and an order hasn't been raised etc. It could be difficult to get this sorted in the event of a school closure.

[gumbygaz]

I actually saw that and thought they were being helpful. If the license is about to end and an order hasn't been raised etc. It could be difficult to get this sorted in the event of a school closure.

 

I suppose so, perhaps I've misread and being overly harsh. Just seemed as a pay up or we'll not help and it surprised me when companies are providing free services to help, banks allowing mortgages to be delayed etc... just seemed a different stance to take.

[paulkerton]

I actually saw that and thought they were being helpful. If the license is about to end and an order hasn't been raised etc. It could be difficult to get this sorted in the event of a school closure.

 

I'm pretty sure that they were trying to make sure they get paid, rather than be helpful.

All these companies offering free tools and services, and Smoothwall decides to go "pay us if you're gonna close!" doesn't look good, on a number of levels.

Makes it look like their cashflow isn't great.

[Duke5A]

The governor just ordered schools to be closed for three weeks. No idea what this means for me as SLT is still hashing out who needs to report and who doesn't.

 

I also just bit the head off of someone who came into my office to ask a stupid question and felt the need to touch everything while doing it. sigh....

[LeMarchand]

I also just bit the head off of someone who came into my office to ask a stupid question and felt the need to touch everything while doing it. sigh....

 

Everything? Not surprised you weren't happy!

[Reboot_IT]

I'm pretty sure that they were trying to make sure they get paid, rather than be helpful.

All these companies offering free tools and services, and Smoothwall decides to go "pay us if you're gonna close!" doesn't look good, on a number of levels.

Makes it look like their cashflow isn't great.

Did you receive the email? It's not necessarily about being paid it's about planned renewals. I'm in the boat where a license is up at the end of the month and I can imagine the trouble it would cause if this wasn't processed before a closure.

 

This would likely put strain on their support teams as people would be asking for temp licenses to be set up!

[paulkerton]

I can imagine the trouble it would cause if this wasn't processed before a closure. This would likely put strain on their support teams as people would be asking for temp licenses to be set up!

Well I can imagine that would be the case, but I'd like to think they've got some way of exempting the licenses temporarily in case of extraordinary circumstances.

[sippo]

On the plus side of all this, once all passed, that holidays to Italy should be quite cheap to boost the economy?

[FishCustard]

There may also be cheap flights to everywhere as airlines push for cashflow - alternatively if some airlines don't make it and go out of business, prices could go up owing to lack of competition.

[mikeprice]

While we are looking at the positives - anyone wanting to buy a cruise ship should be able to bag a bargain!!

 

 

 

 

not sure why an IT Tech would want a massive cruise ship but I thought I would mention it

[haddsman]

not sure why an IT Tech would want a massive cruise ship but I thought I would mention it

 

Sounds like a great place to host a pirate radio station

[the_quick]

Some interesting request/moves from today:

 

Not my school:

Headteacher sent email to parents, with IT support knowledge, that in case of school closure, school will move to using classcharts, O365 and so on - online services and if you have any problem please email IT Support in our school - email of IT support provided - that was last night

It support came this morning to see 300+ emails from worried parents

 

In my school.

We use VLE, where each department have permission to create their own page, add resources (using g drive) and such - of course lots of departments have not used it for years.

Today management team start asking, how see can we (IT team) can bring all departments pages up to date, with all the resources.

[Ditto]

Some interesting request/moves from today:

 

Not my school:

Headteacher sent email to parents, with IT support knowledge, that in case of school closure, school will move to using classcharts, O365 and so on - online services and if you have any problem please email IT Support in our school - email of IT support provided - that was last night

It support came this morning to see 300+ emails from worried parents

 

In my school.

We use VLE, where each department have permission to create their own page, add resources (using g drive) and such - of course lots of departments have not used it for years.

Today management team start asking, how see can we (IT team) can bring all departments pages up to date, with all the resources.

Perhaps a long term benefit will be those schools that have not made best use of technology to enhance teaching to date, will do so with more open minds in the future.

[Ditto]

Future Learn (MOOC provider born from Open University) have just announced a course on Covid-19. See

https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/covid19-novel-coronavirus

Starts in 10 days - hopefully see some of you there.

[mikeprice]

In my school.

We use VLE, where each department have permission to create their own page, add resources (using g drive) and such - of course lots of departments have not used it for years.

Today management team start asking, how see can we (IT team) can bring all departments pages up to date, with all the resources.

 

resend all the emails with the instructions of how to do it to all the teachers??

 

anything more ain't your job and an hour or twos work per teacher - including probably 90 minutes talking to the teacher to work out what in the name of $deity they want

 

or each teacher spends an hour or so EACH to get stuff up to date that they should have been doing for a week or so anyway

[the_quick]

When VLE was introduced, we did quick session for each department and in depth session for a delegate from each department. Most did a minimum first and not update anything since - that was around 2 years ago.

 

But I guess you are right, we do have to retrain them

[6Foot2]

Link: All the movies and TV shows delayed by Coronavirus – how COVID 19 is impacting the industry [RadioTimes.com]

 

From James Bond, to A Quiet Place 2, here are all the screen projects put on hold due to Coronavirus precautions...