BYO Handout
If my child brings a computer to school, will they have wide-open access to the internet?
No. If your child brings a laptop to school, the internet access we provide is heavily filtered. They will not be able to access Facebook, for example, or other sites identified as inappropriate. We filter out categories by adult content, gambling, illegal/questionable, chat and online communities, fantasy sports, bad reputation/proxy/hacking sites, online shopping, alcohol, dating, and other sites that have been identified as not in-keeping with our code of conduct.
Please note: If you provide mobile hot spots for your child (for example, through your cell phone provider), these are not controlled by the school and provide unfiltered access to the internet for anyone who connects to it AND are prohibited for use in school.
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Who is responsible for my child’s computer while it is as school?
As with any personal property brought to school, your child is solely
responsible for its handling and care. To that end, we can not provide
any maintenance or support for your equipment. If your child is having
difficulty connecting to the internet, we can provide some basic
troubleshooting assistance, but any maintenance, updates or repair are
the sole responsibility of the owner of the equipment. Students will be
expected to secure their technology when not in use. The school cannot
be held liable for any theft or damage of equipment brought onto school
property.
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What if we can not afford to provide a computer for our child/children?
The school will provide equipment for the day, in school, for students who do not have their own access for class (this would include
students who simply forgot to bring it). We are also committed to ensure no child's instruction is limited by a lack of technology. Parents who cannot afford a computer for the child/children, should contact the school Principal or their Guidance Counselor directly to discuss options.
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What if my child does not bring his/her computer to school?
Currently, if students have not brought a computer to school for
whatever reason, they should go to the library before schools starts and borrow one for that day in school. Students have access to their school
network drive for any files they might need to save and access from
home, or they can use email, thumb drives or cloud applications to
store files between school and home. Students will find that working
on their own computers makes the transition between home and school
more seamless. However, we do realize there are times when it simply
is not possible to bring their computer to school. We will gladly work
with our students to cover these situations.
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What is recommended to purchase?
(Please note,
if you have a functioning laptop at home that is in working condition
and has wireless capabilities, this should be sufficient. It is not
expected that you purchase new equipment.)
Through our research, we found the most adequate tool for a student
was a pen-based (tablet/slate, also known as a 2-in-1) computer. Pen-based technology
overcomes all barriers for students in class (for example, think about
how you would take notes online in math class without a pen-based
system; or how you would WRITE Chinese characters, not just type them;
or easily illustrate something with a simple keyboard). Teachers prefer this type of machine for students. However, it is
better to have a technology device supplemented by paper-pencil, if you
cannot afford a tablet/slate.
Your decision will ultimately be a personal one based on your
preferences and needs. At the minimum, it would be recommended that
whatever you purchase have at least 2G of memory (hard drive sizes will
vary but are usually more than adequate). We are a windows-based school, so your most compatible machine to what we have will be a windows-based system. However, it is completely your decision if you opt to purchase an Apple brand computer.
At this time we are encouraging you to provide a full computer
(ultrabook, laptop or slate/tablet). Droid-based systems, chromebooks, eReaders or
iPads, etc. will not allow students to completely access the software they
presently use for class. If they bring in those systems, they may
not be able to use them with some of the educational sites and
software required for classwork or homework. At this time, for a fully-functional experience, you need a
windows-based system or one running OS X or higher from Apple.
Summary Device Comparison Chart by Lenovo
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How long should a purchased laptop last?
In our experience, it depends on the care given to the computer and
the quality of the computer, but you should expect a laptop, being used
daily, to last at least 3 years. It definitely could last 4 years,
depending on care. Regardless, you most likely will want to plan on
replacing the battery after year 2. Many extended warranties will cover
the battery, but talk to the place where you are purchasing it to
verify (it sometimes will depend on the brand and the type of
warranty). You may also want to consider an accidental damage warranty
that could cover expensive breaks not caused by normal wear and tear.
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If we purchase a computer through CDWg, will the district maintain it?
No. Maintenance of a personally owned computer is the responsibility
of the owner. There are many vendors in the area, as well as warranty
service providers, who are available to assist you with your
technology maintenance needs. If students are having difficulty
connecting to the district’s internet service, basic troubleshooting
assistance will be provided.
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Is anything else recommended?
Any accessory purchases are at your discretion. Some people may opt
to purchase additional tablet pens or batteries.
-- It is recommended that you purchase a laptop sleeve or case to cushion the laptop in a backpack,
or to protect it when carrying it separately.
-- 2G of memory is a
minimum recommendation; often purchasing more memory for a computer
up-front will positively affect its long term usability (though you
can upgrade memory at any time if the system supports it).
-- Students
would be encouraged to backup or save files to a
cloud-based account (like google drive or dropbox), not simply save files to the local machine, to have a safe place for critical files (although simply sending important files to themselves on
email is often sufficient backup for their purposes).
-- Headsets or earbuds are good additional
items to have.
It is your choice to purchase extended warranties or
accidental damage warranties. You may also check with your home
insurance to see if your laptop would be covered in the event of theft.
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What about software?
As a district, we use Microsoft Office products for our word
processing, spreadsheet usage and presentation software as well as Google apps. Students of Indian Hill Schools are able to download and install Microsoft Office for free on up to 5 laptops in their household (including the one they bring to school). This license is good for as long as they are a student at Indian Hill.
Virus protection software is always recommended, and Microsoft AntiVirus software is available for free online (and comes already installed on current Windows systems). Most other software needed is available for free through the internet.
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Will students be using their computers every day in every class?
Students will use their computers to support and enhance their learning and as
directed by the learning opportunities of the class. For some students,
this will mean taking notes during class, taking online tests, online research, as well as using it as directed for activities, for others this may mean simply using it as
required in the lesson. Not every lesson every day will use
technology. However, it is helpful for students to have access to their
computers as questions arise and for just-in-time learning.
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Why has Indian Hill School District decided to move in this direction with every student having their own computer in class?
From our study of 1:1 schools, we found that technology empowers
students. In student hands, guided by an informed teacher, it further
enhances, enriches and personalizes the student’s learning experience.
In the schools we visited, we witnessed, and it was reported, that
students were more organized, had more choice (and subsequently more
ownership of their learning), were more engaged in problem solving and
analysis, and applying their learning. The technology further supported
the learning of each student individually. We want this learning
environment for all of our students to adequately prepare them for their
future.
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What is the plan for other schools in the District?
BYO technology is currently in use at the Middle School. At the Elementary School, chromebooks are provided 1-to-1 in all classes. At the Primary School, chromebooks are provided 1-to-1 for second grade. In first grade, students share tablets in their classrooms as needed, and in Kindergarten they use iPads where applicable.
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If financial assistance is needed for participation in this program, who is the contact person?
If you are looking for assistance with acquiring a computer for your hcild, contact your Building Principal or Guidance Counselor directly.
Articles of Interest: (This section will be used to add links of
interest relative to the idea of 1:1 computing in the classroom)