DCPS Bans Zoom

[Anonymous]

Are any of your schools in DCPS currently using Zoom? Get ready for switching mid-stream.
FYI this message was sent out this week:

DCPS Colleagues,

With increased use of free video conferencing to enable distance learning and staff teleworking, there has been a recent rise in reports of “Zoom-bombing” incidents in which uninvited participants disrupt video conferences with inappropriate content. This has happened to schools, businesses, and colleges and universities using Zoom. Due to recent warnings from the FBI and the Office of the Chief Technology Officer, DCPS staff should not use Zoom for video or audio conferencing.

To avoid such privacy breaches, DCPS strongly recommends that teachers and staff use Microsoft Teams, part of the Office 365 Suite, for video and audio conferencing with students and colleagues. Microsoft Teams can be used to set up conferences with students calling from a computer or a phone for free. Schools and central office staff can ensure secure conferences in Teams by setting the appropriate Meeting Options (see page 6 of the Microsoft Teams quick-start guide) including only allowing “People in my Organization” to bypass the lobby and “Only Me” to present. School staff can also access video training resources on using Teams through the Microsoft Teams Video Tutorials.

For questions on this guidance, please reach out to [e-mail].

Best,

DCPS Communications

Linked news story: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/fbi-warns-of-zoom-bombing-after-2-mass-schools-have-web-conferences-hijacked/2099692/

[Anonymous]

DCPS Colleagues,



As a follow up to our guidance on secure video conferencing, we understand that some schools have setup meetings in Zoom for this week. Please work with your principals to transition meetings to Microsoft Teams by Monday, April 6. Training supports are available through your Cluster Ed Tech Specialists.



For additional questions, please reach out to [e-mail]



Best,

DCPS Communications

[Anonymous]

You can easily secure zoom by setting up a password to the link to solve the problem.

Doesn’t anyone at DCPS know that??? Anyone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can easily secure zoom by setting up a password to the link to solve the problem.

Doesn’t anyone at DCPS know that??? Anyone?

If it’s so easy, why are several other companies banning Zoom?

Zoom was a liability from the beginning. I don’t get why parents can’t get over it and just be ok with Teams.

[Anonymous]

If DCPS is so worried about equity -- which is clearly the case here, the security issue is utter BS -- they would ban all school-directed online learning, Teams included. Because a family that can't access Zoom probably can't access Teams, either.

Can't wait to be learning entirely from packets with zero contact allowed from teachers. That's clearly where we're headed.

[Anonymous]

DCPS sent guidance on March 23 that Zoom was not allowed and teachers should use Teams. Like everything else, some schools listened and some did what they wanted.

[Anonymous]

If you give Larla the password to the link, she can give it to the guy on she met on a “chan” who wants to Zoombomb HS classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you give Larla the password to the link, she can give it to the guy on she met on a “chan” who wants to Zoombomb HS classes.

Just use the waiting room and only allow your students to enter.

[Anonymous]

Can’t you set it up with a waiting room where the meeting leader can let students in individually? Teams is terrible for video calls - you can only see four people at a time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can easily secure zoom by setting up a password to the link to solve the problem.

Doesn’t anyone at DCPS know that??? Anyone?

If it’s so easy, why are several other companies banning Zoom?

Zoom was a liability from the beginning. I don’t get why parents can’t get over it and just be ok with Teams.

I work for a large company that does data backup and security. We use Zoom meetings with passwords.

[Anonymous]

A community college teacher I know had her Zoom lesson disrupted by pornography last week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you give Larla the password to the link, she can give it to the guy on she met on a “chan” who wants to Zoombomb HS classes.

That could happen on any platform.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can’t you set it up with a waiting room where the meeting leader can let students in individually? Teams is terrible for video calls - you can only see four people at a time.

Yes, which is why I am not sure why they are banning it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS sent guidance on March 23 that Zoom was not allowed and teachers should use Teams. Like everything else, some schools listened and some did what they wanted.

Can you please share the guidance from March 23rd that said Zoom was not allowed? I cannot find it in my DCPS email.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS sent guidance on March 23 that Zoom was not allowed and teachers should use Teams. Like everything else, some schools listened and some did what they wanted.

Can you please share the guidance from March 23rd that said Zoom was not allowed? I cannot find it in my DCPS email.

Some schools listened and some schools didn't? Are you listening to yourself right now?

Let's see: school gets cancelled on March 16th. The guidance gets sent in March 23rd. Distance learning begins March 24th. Guess why schools started using zoom! Because DCPS released any of that guidance well after all of the planning for online learning had already taken place.