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We strive to keep you informed about technology news related to Education.
Please  with teachers, IT directors, anyone who would be interested.
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 Iowa EdTech Update - First of the Year!
September 2024
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 A SYBAC Milestone
Students selected for the 10th SYBAC Council
This year, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of ICN's Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC), and we are excited to introduce the students who will make up our 10th group. Over the past decade, we've had an amazing journey discussing broadband issues, advancements in internet technology, and listening to our future leaders share their insights on what matters in today's world.
We have a lot planned this year! We will keep up on the latest tech trends, work on a community service project, get cybersecurity certifications, and deepen our understanding of the statewide fiber optic network. Our monthly virtual meetings will feature experts from various fields, including healthcare, cybersecurity, and networking, all of whom play a vital role in driving technological advancement in our state.
To see the list of students and learn more about the council, please check out the article on our website.
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Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council Update
 2024-2025 School Year Kickoff Meeting
We recently held our first meeting of the year with the SYBAC students, where they had the opportunity to meet our new Executive Director, Ryan Mulhall. He delivered an insightful presentation on the ICN's fiber optic network, explaining its functionality and our collaborative efforts to enhance internet connectivity for the people of Iowa.
We kicked off our session with introductions, giving us the chance to learn about each student and the areas of technology that excite them the most. We talked about our objectives, meeting expectations, and reviewed the projects and certifications they will finish during their time in the council.
To wrap up the session, we highlighted the exciting opportunities we have in store and the special guests we will meet over the year.
To learn more about the history of SYBAC, check out our outreach page.
Who is your Account Consultant?
Our dedicated Account Consultants support every region of our state. Below is a useful list of the various territories along with the corresponding Account Consultant assigned to your area. Please refer to the map above for the color codes representing each territory. Here is a PDF version of the AC Map for your convenience.
North-West Territory (Blue)
David Rogers, 515-725-8970
david.rogers@icn.state.ia.us
North-East Territory (Yellow)
Joe Tjaden, 319-240-3528
joe.tjaden@icn.state.ia.us
Central Territory (Purple)
Doug Farrell, 515-725-0249
doug.farrell@icn.state.ia.us
South-West Territory (Green)
Jessica Schlesselman, 515-725-4726
jessica.schlesselman@icn.state.ia.us
South-East Territory (Red)
John O'Conner: 515-725-4658
john.oconner@icn.state.ia.us
Do you have any other questions or suggestions?
ICN Connections
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Are you planning to attend ITEC this year?
If you will be at the ITEC conference in Des Moines, we invite you to visit the ICN office to connect with your Account Consultant and discuss your account.
We look forward to seeing you!
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Youth Cyber Summit - Save the Date!
Iowa State University is hosting a Youth Cyber Summit on October 12 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
The participants will have the opportunity to engage with top experts and explore the world of cybersecurity. Be sure to RSVP online to save your spot for the event.
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HIGHLIGHTED SERVICE
 Zoom and ICN Partnership
ICN has teamed up with Zoom to offer your school a range of flexible and comprehensive features. Zoom’s cloud-based communication platform will provide ICN’s state-wide secure fiber optic network with robust solutions for voice and communication needs to suit your classroom!
Allamakee CSD was the first customer to jump on board with the new partnership between ICN and Zoom. The Zoom solution brought a reliable application which includes components of scheduling, digital signage, visitor management, virtual reception, workspace booking, and Zoom rooms. Read more about it the Allamakee CSD Zoom case study.
E-RATE Update
E-Rate News for K-12 Education & Library Customers
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Every year schools and libraries can enhance their network technology, making sure their students and teachers can have a secure Internet connection to access digital resources.
The federal E-rate program helps schools and libraries cover service costs annually through an application and competitive bidding process. Visit our E-rate Services article to learn about what ICN services qualify.
We provide Managed Firewall and DDoS mitigation service that are now covered under the cyber security pilot program. Find out more about What ICN Services Qualify for E-Rate on our website.
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Funding Opportunity
Apply Now for Career Academy Incentive Fund
The Career Academy Incentive Fund offers specialized grants aimed at fostering collaborations between school districts and community colleges to enhance access to career academy programs, particularly those offered through regional centers. Each year, the Iowa Department of Education allocates up to $5 million in grants for projects that align with the established criteria. The total number of grants awarded depends on the available funding and the variety of applications submitted.
Find our more about it on the Department of Education's website.
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Presidential Primary Sources Project
 Last Year's PPSP Sessions are now available!
The 2023 PPSP sessions are now available for you and your students! These recordings feature insights from National Park Service and Presidential Library experts on the legacies of presidents like Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Washington, with a focus on primary source analysis. Conducted from January to April, these sessions are perfect for students in grades 4-12.
Iowa Communications Network (ICN) is Iowa’s only authorized Research & Education Network giving our education customers exclusive access to Internet2 services.
 Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program
FCC Website
https://www.fcc.gov/
The Schools and Libraries Cybersecurity Pilot Program will provide up to $200 million to selected participants over a three-year term to purchase a wide variety of cybersecurity services and equipment.
Modeled after the FCC’s Connected Care Pilot, the Pilot Program will evaluate the effectiveness of using Universal Service funding to support cybersecurity services and equipment to protect school and library broadband networks and data in order to determine whether to fund them on a permanent basis...
Note: Click here to see a complete list of eligible services and equipment.
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 DMACC Becomes First College in Iowa to Offer Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Workforce Program
DMACC
https://www.dmacc.edu/
DMACC, one of the largest educational institutions in Iowa, is preparing students for jobs of the future through a new partnership with the Intel® AI for Workforce Program. DMACC is the first college or university in Iowa to offer the AI-focused program, which is designed to help students build critical Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills as employers increasingly incorporate AI into their operations.
“DMACC is a leader in workforce training,” said Rob Denson, DMACC President. “We’re excited to be the first college in Iowa to offer the AI for Workforce Program in partnership with Intel. AI is already integrated into many facets of our lives, and employers across a variety of industries, including data science, health care, automotive, industrial, manufacturing, agriculture and more, report that they are already using AI or plan to do so soon. Our goal to help our students build the skills they need to flourish in the growing field of artificial intelligence and to give Iowa companies a competitive edge...”
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 Why Schools Need an Incident Response Recovery Plan Today
EdTech K-12
By: Brian T. Horowitz
Incident response plans provide a critical blueprint for how schools can withstand a cybersecurity attack or natural disaster and maintain cyber resilience. However, a 2023 CoSN survey revealed that only 41 percent of K–12 schools had implemented an IR plan.
For many technology leaders, time can be a hindrance in forming a plan, explains Neal Richardson, technology director for the Hillsboro-Deering School District, in New Hampshire.
“The typical operations of school, day in and day out, don’t leave a whole lot of time to actually sit down and focus on developing that response plan,” says Richardson, who oversees cybersecurity and IT for the district’s five buildings, which include four schools and an alternative learning program...
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More Than a Newsletter
About the Iowa Communications Network
The ICN is a state-of-the-art fiber optic network providing broadband and telecommunications services to its authorized users including high-speed Internet, data, voice, security, and consulting services. The authorized users of the ICN include: K-12 schools, higher education, hospitals and clinics, state and federal government, public safety, National Guard armories, & libraries.
Contact Us
Iowa Communications Network
Phone (515) 725-4692
Toll Free: (877) 426-4692
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