Is there an Internet filter at school to
protect students from inappropriate material?
Yes. The school uses a filter for educational
institutions. It filters out almost all of the
inappropriate web sites. People who post offensive
material continue to find new ways to “get around”
the filters. Teachers inform their students about
what to do if they happen to access an
inappropriate site by mistake (exit quickly and
tell the teacher). Students are held accountable
for using the Internet for school purposes only.
Additionally, teachers monitor Internet use by
mingling with students and using keen
observational skills. Parents are responsible for
monitoring Internet use at home.
QUESTIONS RELATING
TO RESEARCH AND BENEFITS REGARDING LAPTOP PROGRAMS
Where can I find current
educational research about using laptops in the
classroom?
What are some of the
benefits of 1:1 computing?
-
Students have more control over their learning.
-
Students are highly engaged, more motivated to learn.
-
Productivity increases.
-
Problem-solving skills improve.
-
Writing skills improve.
-
Instills a sense of ownership.
-
Increased student collaboration.
QUESTIONS RELATING
TO LAPTOPS
Do we need to purchase a netbook
or laptop for our child if they will be in 9th
grade?
Yes. But they may also bring a
laptop or netbook that is not new but has similar
specifications.
Is theft insurance covered by
the school?
No.
Parents are responsible for obtaining theft
insurance; theft of personal laptops is not
covered by school insurance. Most homeowner
policies will only cover such losses as theft or
damage in a car accident. Some homeowner policies,
however, will allow you to purchase a relatively
economical "rider" providing extended coverage for
your laptop. Check with your agent for the
availability of coverage that includes damage and
theft occurring at school.
Can we install additional software on the
laptop?
Yes, but it is important to know that
additional software (especially free games,
screensavers, and music/video) often cause
conflicts with the school network and cause
productivity programs to run slower. We ask
parents to monitor the programs installed and the
files saved to ensure that the laptop is used as
an educational tool.
What can I do to improve a laptop's
battery life?
There are some very good tips that cover managing
battery power, conserving battery power,
calibrating batteries, and best care practices on
HP's Battery Health webpage. Batteries
typically will last 1 1/2 to 2 years before
needing replacement.
Can
students sign out school-owned laptops for home
use?
No.
Can you add memory to your laptop?
Yes.
How do we connect the laptop to the Internet at
home?
You must have an Internet Service provider
(usually there is a fee). You can install
their software and use the phone modem that comes
with the computer to connect. We are unable to
provide instructions for setting up home Internet
use because of the wide range of services and
equipment that are used. Please follow the
instructions provided by your Internet Service
Provider. If you have any trouble, contact their
customer service department, they are always happy
to help. Due to the many differences in equipment,
we cannot support or provide additional directions
in setting up Internet access at home. Remember
that parents are responsible for monitoring
Internet use at home.
If you do not have Internet access at home, there
are a variety of public wi-fi options available
in DuBois such as the DuBois Public Library or
McDonald's. You can also visit a friend or
family who does have Internet access.
Can I
set up my child's laptop on our home wireless
network?
Yes. We are unable to provide instructions for
setting up a home wireless network, as there are
many ways of doing this, depending on the type of
equipment that you purchase. Follow the
instructions that come with your router and
contact your ISP for assistance if needed.
How
long can I expect a netbook/laptop computer to
last?
We expect a netbook/laptop to be used for at least four years, more if the
student takes good care of it. Batteries usually
last one 1/2 to two years, and are considered
consumables, thus not covered under the warranty
protection plan.
What can you do to keep the laptop running well?
The most important thing is to avoid downloading
from the Internet or installing anything that is
not absolutely necessary. When you install a
program, there are usually many things installed
with the program that you don’t want or need, and
before long they tend to conflict with each other
and cause problems. This includes those cool
screensavers and pointers that kids love to
download. To keep things tidy, be sure to do
regular computer maintenance. Click on the
Netbook Care
page for directions.
How can you install our home printer on the
laptop?
Follow the directions that came with the printer.
Students/parents have full administrative access.
We cannot install home printers or troubleshoot
home printing at school.
How do I check my child's Internet history?
The easiest way to check the Internet history:
1.
Open Internet Explorer
2. Near the top of the screen, click on Favorites, then go
to the History tab.
3.
On the left, you will see "Last week, Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, and today." Click on them to
see the titles of the web sites your child has
been to. If you are connected to the Internet,
clicking on the sites will take you to the sites.
If the history has been cleared, your child is probably
hiding something....
Do
files need to be backed up prior to taking a
laptop in for a simple service repair?
Yes, always!
QUESTIONS RELATING TO A PARENT'S ROLE
What are the expectations of parents with
students in the Tech 21 Program?
We expect parents to be as involved as possible.
Parents need to monitor laptop usage by doing
things such as regularly checking the Internet
history, browsing files, and discussing work done
on the computer with their children. We also need
parents to ensure that there is virus protection
and that "Live Updates" are set to automatically
install, along with any Windows patches.
Instructions are posted on the
Netbook Care
page. Finally, we expect parents to encourage
laptop use at school, and to make sure that their
child's laptop is fixed in a timely manner so that
it can be at school on a daily basis.
