January 2025 - Tech drop

Welcome to Tech Drop, Lab's monthly newsletter curated by the Information Systems team. This month's newsletter will focus on a reminder about AI resources, a tip for upgrading your Macbook and some insights from IS on upcoming changes to Duo and WiFi.  If you’re interested in highlighting tech that you’re using in class - send a message to Yosef Tewolde.  Tech Drop newsletters will be archived in our Faculty and Staff Knowledge Base. 

AI Resources 

Lab has a wealth of AI resources available to facilitate teaching and learning. If you’re not sure where to start, consider the advice of University of Pennsylvania professor Ethan Mollick who describes the pedagogical roles that AI can play. These roles are as a tutor, coach, mentor, teammate, tool, simulator, or even a student, each approach offering unique pedagogical benefits and considerations. Once you know how you want to use AI in your instruction you can then select the right AI platform to meet your needs. Below are some of our most used AI tools.  

You can find a one pager with key insights to each tool linked below: 

• Phoenix AI: Built on the ChatGPT-4 model, this UChicago-exclusive tool offers a secure environment for exploring AI. Possible uses range from analysis, feedback, communication and planning.
• Alice: This secure platform, using Google's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude models, allows you to analyze various data types (text, audio, video, even PDFs), use AI as a thought partner and coach and provide personalized learning support. 
• Canva for Education: Go beyond basic design! Canva empowers you and your students to create effective presentations, infographics, and digital portfolios. Explore AI with Canva's Magic Studio for even more creative possibilities to turn ideas into better visuals and presentations. We have rostered Canva to match your PowerSchool rosters to assist with using this with students.
• Adobe Firefly: Ignite creativity with AI-powered image generation. Craft unique visuals for lessons, encourage student storytelling, and bring abstract concepts to life.

With your instructional goal in mind and AI platform selected you’ll want to focus on crafting a prompt to get you the results you want. If your interested in prompting and how you might get started check out these two links: Prompts for Instructors ( Mollick ) and AI Prompts for Teaching Spellbook ( Cynthia Albey ) 

macOS 15 Sequoia Upgrade Available

A new version of your laptop operating system is available for installation, at your convenience. Among many new features, several enhancements for better control of presenting your screen are introduced. When you are ready, open System Settings from the Apple menu. Then in the System Settings window will be a red badge next to “Software Update Available”. Clicking on that will reveal an “Upgrade Now” button to begin the process.

Every new operating system includes security and performance improvements. So in the near future, additional prompts will begin to appear to make sure everyone is up-to-date.

Notes from IS 

Looking to get in touch with IS? Our support address is [e-mail] 

DUO - Two Factor Authentication 

UChicago IT Services Identity & Access Management is beginning  their project to remove the phone call and text message passcode options for two-factor authentication. 

The university is planning to notify all individuals who have used either of these options over the past 90 days and continuing until the phone and text message passcode options close on May 1, 2025.

We would suggest using the Duo Push option or Biometric identifiers on your device ( Face ID on your Apple or Android device ) or Touch ID on your Mac. 

You may find additional information here: Two Factor Authentication Options. 

How to set up Touch ID? 

UChicago Secure is being Retired 

As of March 15, 2025, UChicago-Secure Wi-Fi network will be retired by the University. Faculty, staff and students will need to transition to Eduroam. To connect to eduroam - you will need to sign in with your CNET ID and password. Please visit go.uchicago.edu/eduroam complete registration on the eduroam network. 

Crashplan

Crashplan is the UChicago standard for automatic backups of files stored on your computer’s drive. It will be critical should you need to recover damaged or lost files. This is a reminder to check that your backups are up-to-date by doing a Spotlight search (command+space key combo) for “crashplan” and launch the search result. A window will open revealing information indicating when the last backup was completed. Reach out to IS if the last backup is more than a week old or not completing. Find more information here: Crashplan 

Swank 

Don’t forget to check Swank K-12 streaming library as it provides access to over 30,000 movies and documentaries and foreign languages films for instructional support. These requests will be managed by the MS and HS Library teams for these schools and by IS for EC and LS.

You can also Airplay with Swank. However this feature is only available on Safari web browser. 

Streaming Videos

As a reminder - streaming Netflix, Disney +, Prime, etc will require a hardwire connection. These services will show a blank screen if Airplay is attempted from your device. 

If you need some additional assistance with connecting - check out help desk article: 

How I do stream Netflix, Disney +, Prime? 

Progress Reports and Semester Grades 

Here is the guidance based on section level: 

Early Childhood

Lower School

Middle School

High School 

If you need assistance with progress reports or semester grades in Powerschool - feel free to stop by C212 or create an appointment with Yosef.

Best,