COVID-19 Update: Guidance on badges, IDs and Moodle courses

With enhanced telework in place, certain routine functions like changing your SI password or ensuring your operating software remains licensed, will have different timetables and processes. Of note:

Password Expiration

All SInet password expirations have been extended to 150 days (versus the 90-day policy previously in place) to make it unlikely you’d need to change your password while working remotely. This means that if an employee’s network password was about to expire today, they would now be granted an additional 60 days before they’d need to change their password.

If, for any reason, your password does need to be changed while on telework, please go to myid.si.edu or click on MyId / Password Reset under SI Resources on telework.si.edu.

Windows License Expiration

If a Smithsonian Windows laptop does not connect to the network every 180 days via a direct ethernet cable in your office, or connecting to the SI-STAFF wifi, or even by remotely using VPN, the user will likely get a “Activate Windows” pop-up notification that they have a 30-day grace period before the machine will be unlicensed and become disabled. See the below image for an example of the pop-up notification.

If you receive that message, please contact the OCIO Help Desk (202-633-4000 or OCIOHelpDesk@si.edu) for resolution. It’s an easy fix with the help of an OCIO desktop technician.

QUICK START: Creating Online Courses in Moodle

OCIO has become aware that interest in Moodle has greatly increased since enhanced telework began. To meet the high demand of staff wanting to learn how to use the Smithsonian’s Internal and External Moodle sites to create online learning courses, OCIO will offer a quick-start blended learning course for new training providers.
The course includes webinars, a practice course, other online activities, and coaching to help you get started on your own. The first course runs from March 30 to April 3, with another scheduled from April 6 to 10. Slots are limited and supervisor approval is required.

To learn more and sign up, copy and paste this UR Lhttps://si-vmerplms.si.edu/moodle/course/view.php?id=1889 into the Enter an internal resource field in the upper left of telework.si.edu.

If you have questions, contact Mia Musolino in OCIO (202-633-6356).

Related posts:

ICYMI: Highlights from the week that was Feb. 8 – 14, 2020 COVID-19 Update: What does “closed to the public” mean to me? Derek Ross named director of the Office of Planning, Design and Construction. Thank you, Mrs. Haupt.