This past weekend has been fraught with dreams in which I was unable to control anything around me. Having a background in psychology and an interest in dream interpretation, I took that to mean that I was internalizing a bunch of stress because I was locked out of my TodaysMeet account that I created using my GAFE credentials. I previously posted my frustrations because this is not the first time that I have had to go WAY of out my way to get access to a technology tool that in all reality should be open.And just to make things clear. TodaysMeet was not blocked by my district’s firewall. But I was unable to get the password reset email from TodaysMeet because we are unable to receive emails from outside of our domain.
Because of my panicked emails which I sent to the Powers-that-Be, I started my day with a phone call from our Director of Technology who then spoke with “someone” in IS. And within five minutes (I’m not exaggerating)…someone from IS called my room. They wanted to see what was happening on my end.
It was interesting to watch them work through all of the possible solutions to rectify my problem (we were screen-sharing). But I know a little about technology, so I tried to troubleshoot things on my end before I sent the email last Friday. I even troubleshooted this weekend on my home computer using my own network thinking that it was a district firewall issue.
And it was.
It turns out that the password email I sent last Friday, prompted TodaysMeet to not accept my username/password combination even though I knew it was the right one. The problem was that my GAFE account could not receive the password reset email from TodaysMeet because they are outside of our domain.
I asked if IS could somehow for one hour lift the ban on outside entities sending to my GAFE account so that I could see if TodaysMeet actually sent me a password reset email. I was told (by two very patient IS techs) that that kind of request needed to go up much higher than them. They mentioned something about the Assistant Director of IT or even our Cabinet (we’re talking all of the Assistant Supts AND the Superintendent) being the only ones who could approve that kind of request.
Geesh. Things were getting serious.
I told the two IS techs that this was an expedited request because I needed the transcripts from my TodaysMeet classes for my CUE presentation. I told them that it didn’t really matter if I could use my GAFE account ever again with TodaysMeet…I just needed the transcripts.
They said they would try their best.
About 15 minutes later, my phone rang again. It was the two techies from IS. They asked me to check my GAFE email.
My latest email was from TodaysMeet with a link to reset my password.
What?!?!
So, I immediately reset my password and logged in to my TodaysMeet account. I finally had access to my transcripts. I.mean.seriously. Someone moved mountains for me. And believe me when I say that I’m so very grateful.
I have so many people to thank…starting with the two techies in IS (D+G), my principal, the Director of Technology, the Assistant Superintendent, and whomever gave the GREEN LIGHT to let an outside entity send an email to my GAFE account.
All is right with the world again.
I’m pretty sure I’m going to sleep much better tonight.
Living the Learning Curve 