Disadvantaged children across England are set to receive laptops and tablets

[saggu]

this is not email ID. this just takes to the same web link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19

 

Any one has got ant contact email?

[timbo343]

Take the spaces out the that i added. I added the spaces to take out the link to a mail client

[saggu]

Take the spaces out the that i added. I added the spaces to take out the link to a mail client

 

Yes that worked!

I contacted them and they were very quick in response. Also explained that Primary maintained school don't fill the form The LA is in charge of it. They decide on devices. we will support in allocating them to the families. Further they also guided me whom I can contact in my LA regarding this.

 

Thank you for your help.

[mb2k01]

I've not been able to get the actual specific make / model etc, but I have managed to confirm that these are the general minimum specifications of the device types:

(Posting with permission from the DFEPCS Team)

 

Edited May 12, 2020 by mb2k01

[Ditto]

Thanks. I'm a bit out of the loop nowadays on licensing, but I had to look up 'Windows 10 Pro Shape the Future'. When did that come out and is anyone using it?

[robyholmes]

Thanks. I'm a bit out of the loop nowadays on licensing, but I had to look up 'Windows 10 Pro Shape the Future'. When did that come out and is anyone using it?

 

My understand of 'Shape of the future' just means 'Educational Licence'. So its a discounted licence but can't be resold to non education settings. The OS itself isn't any different and you can replace it with your chosen OS.

 

*However, this is Microsoft licencing and no one fully understands it so this is just my understanding of it..

[Ditto]

*However, this is Microsoft licencing and no one fully understands it so this is just my understanding of it..

Yep! Even MS staff:)

[mavhc]

Luckily the chromebooks have Linux on, to avoid such complications

[MYK-IT]

Whilst we wait for an email (from today, onward) to register for Computercenter's TechSource, has anyone had, or found clarification in relation to the 4G Dongles? As in what devices they are? Network? Data allowance and crucially if it it has some form of safeguarding filtering too?

 

Additionally, I am also required to provide a 4G Dongle solution for some students outside the remit of this government scheme and just wanted to know what other people used? More so in respect of filtering as some may be used with personal devices, as opposed to a school supplied device. I'm aware of 4G dongles (as I've been using a 4G router-based solution for my own internet for a few years) and for convenience, prefer to use PAYG Sims from the likes of Smarty (3), Voxi (Vodafone) or GiffGaff (O2) etc, but it is the (lack of) filtering that may be an issue.

 

I suppose a potential (alternative) solution, would be something similar supplied by https://www.schoolsbroadband.co.uk/mobilebroadband - at least that would be a one-stop shop in case of issues? (especially if they supplied the dongle, sim card and associated data plan / billing).

 

Thanks.

[GoatSheep]

My answer from DFE at the start of May...

 

The 4G hotspots will be a SIM card. The SIM will connect to the network with the strongest signal in the surrounding area. It will have 3GB of data delivered over a six month contract. You, as the responsible body, will be able to redistribute the data allowance between devices if required.

[DrCheese]

The 4G hotspots will be a SIM card.

lol wat

[paulkerton]

It will have 3GB of data delivered over a six month contract. You, as the responsible body, will be able to redistribute the data allowance between devices if required.

 

Hold on, is that 3GB = 15GB over six months, or 3GB total, so 500MB a month?

[DrCheese]

It'll be interesting watching these devices run out of data in about 5 minutes after an update for the OS is released.

[LeMarchand]

The 4G hotspots will be a SIM card.

 

 

Makes sense in many ways. Would need to be removed from the device to be used elsewhere.

It'll be interesting watching these devices run out of data in about 5 minutes after an update for the OS is released.

 

 

Don't worry! The team behind this will have disabled everything but security updates! There's no way they wouldn't have factored this in. [/sarcasm]

[enjay]

Hold on, is that 3GB = 15GB over six months, or 3GB total, so 500MB a month?

 

Either way, it is completely unfit for purpose. 1GB gives you around 2 hours of Youtube or an hour on Zoom, so even if it is 3GB per month, that isn't enough to support even basic home learning.

[enjay]

Is anyone else still waiting on the email which was due yesterday? @timbo343 has clearly had theirs as they posted some of it, but neither I nor the Headteacher have had ours (we did get the email last week telling us to expect it though).

[paulkerton]

Either way, it is completely unfit for purpose. 1GB gives you around 2 hours of Youtube or an hour on Zoom, so even if it is 3GB per month, that isn't enough to support even basic home learning.

Oh certainly, but to me it read as 500MB a month, which I can get through in about 5 minutes on a good day!

[Andycat]

Is anyone else still waiting on the email which was due yesterday? @timbo343 has clearly had theirs as they posted some of it, but neither I nor the Headteacher have had ours (we did get the email last week telling us to expect it though).

 

Not had mine yet

[pete]

Also waiting on the letter.

[timbo343]

To be honest, the govt might have been better going to SMARTY or THREE to get an unlimited data tariff for £20 per month or even a 100Gb limit a month.

 

3Gb over 6 months works out to be 500Mb a month.

 

3gb over 6 months (180 days) works out at 16.6Mb a day.

 

If this is true, i think the phrase "don't use your daily allowance up at once" springs to mind.

[MYK-IT]

Updates, including Technical Guides

 

https://www.computacenter.com/uk/supporting-online-learning-and-safeguarding-technical-guides?

 

Appears that the Chromebooks / Windows devices will have internet filtering (via CISCO Umbrella) but the 4G Wireless Routers will not.

 

Additionally, Microsoft devices will have security settings already configured and managed by the Department for Education (DfE) using Microsoft Intune, until October 2020.

Edited May 20, 2020 by MYK-IT

[robyholmes]

Updates, including Technical Guides

 

https://www.computacenter.com/uk/supporting-online-learning-and-safeguarding-technical-guides?

 

Appears that the Chromebooks / Windows devices will have internet filtering (via CISCO Umbrella) but the 4G Wireless Routers will not.

 

Additionally, Microsoft devices will have security settings already configured and managed by the Department for Education (DfE) using Microsoft Intune, until October 2020.

 

Interesting to see this as the information received said they didn't come with filtering or MDM.

[pete]

Appears that the Chromebooks / Windows devices will have internet filtering (via CISCO Umbrella) but the 4G Wireless Routers will not.

 

 

That conflicts with the response I got (today) when querying data caps on 4G:

 

The form factor will be as a Myfi style device with SIM pre-installed

 

The SIM will only be provided with a 4G hotspot. DfE have contracted a 6 month data contract with a 3GB monthly data limit. The 4G service is filtered. It will be possible for a responsible body to redistribute the data allowances between devices if required.

[MYK-IT]

That conflicts with the response I got (today) when querying data caps on 4G:

 

The form factor will be as a Myfi style device with SIM pre-installed

 

The SIM will only be provided with a 4G hotspot. DfE have contracted a 6 month data contract with a 3GB monthly data limit. The 4G service is filtered. It will be possible for a responsible body to redistribute the data allowances between devices if required.

 

To be honest, I was only going from the HOW TO SET UP YOUR 4G ROUTERS Technical Support Guide(s) where no there was no mention of filtering (whereas the guides for the Chromebooks and Microsoft devices mentioned CISCO Umbrella)

 

At least you've had confirmation that the data allowance was monthly, as opposed to over the 6-month period.

Edited May 20, 2020 by MYK-IT

[pete]

To be honest, I was only going from the HOW TO SET UP YOUR 4G ROUTERS Technical Support Guide(s) where no there was no mention of filtering (whereas the guides for the Chromebooks and Microsoft devices mentioned CISCO Umbrella)

 

At least you've had confirmation that the data allowance was monthly, as opposed to over the 6-month period.

 

Yeah, I'm still chasing them about the ability to top up the data caps. 3GB/month isn't going to cut it given most subjects are trying to do a couple of live lessons per week.