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For a middle school student, having a laptop of their own to use in school and at home is a wonderful opportunity to learn, create, and communicate. For their parents, it can often be a struggle to not lose their children to all the resources that are available to them in these machines.

The school hosted a parent meeting Tuesday, November 10, 2009. There were some productive discussions which led to points that all middle school parents should be aware of.

1. MSLN has provided schools with Internet filters for the Brooklin School network. Mrs. Bebell manages and monitors the school filter. Once the MacBooks leave the school's network, it is the students' and parents' responsibility to access the Internet safely. If families want to install filters on their own home networks, that is up to them. There is a huge variety of web-filtering software choices available. Here is one set of reviews of some common filters and here are more reviews.

2. The MacBook's Parental Controls utility can be set to prevent logging into the computer after a specified time. Contact Mrs. Bebell if you feel this option would help your family.
 
3. Free dial-up home internet access is available again this year for 7th and 8th grade students who are eligible for free or reduced price lunch. The application can be found online or by contacting Mrs. Bebell.

4. Generally, each class should have no more than 20 minutes of homework a night for each subject. If you are unsure if your child needs a laptop to complete an assignment, you can check the homework calendar online. Alternatively, at your request the teachers can help each student identify in their assignment books which assignments need a laptop. Also, if it is beneficial to your family the teachers can help students remember to leave their laptop at school if it isn't needed specifiacally for homework. Sometimes is may be an option for students to save their work on Google Docs rather than on their own computers so that they can access their files from their home computers instead of bringing their laptop home. Please contact Mrs. Bebell if you would like us to help your child in any of these areas.

5. Although home use of the MLTI MacBook can greatly streamline the learning process for many assignments, taking home the laptops is optional.

6. It is the parents' responsibility to monitor and manage their children's use of the computer while at home. You may decide to create a family media agreement. At the very least, consider requiring that your children use computers in public areas in the house and that homework must be completed before a computer is used for entertainment or social networking. Set time limits and be consistent. MLTI has partnered with Common Sense Media, which has a wealth of resources for families negotiating the integration of technology into the children's lives. You may feel like you need to check your child's browsing history from time to time to see how they are using the Internet, if you have access at home. If you choose to do so, you should discuss it with your child first. Also know that your child probably knows more about how their browser works than you do, and probably knows how to alter the history to remove pages from it. A better approach would be to keep communication open. Talk to your children about how they are using the Internet.

You may find these articles and webpages to be helpful:

Guidelines for MacBook Use

This is the contract that all parents and students signed before laptops were permitted to go home.

All middle school students will use their assigned computers as a learning tool in class. Families have the option to allow these computers to go home for educational purposes. If you choose to allow your child to take a MacBook home, then you need to monitor your child’s use of the MacBook outside of school to ensure that it is cared for properly, and that is is used only in ways consistent with the Brooklin School Computer and Internet Student Use Policy.  A parent/guardian will attend, with their child, a Family Orientation Meeting before MacBooks are allowed to go home.

Students
  • Use only the MacBook that is assigned to you.  Never share or swap it.
  • It is important that passwords are kept confidential, although teachers and/or parents may need to know some of them.
  • Don’t use the MacBook when you’re moving around, riding in a vehicle, or in an area where it may be physically damaged (such as a gym).
  • When outside a building, including vehicles, always carry your MacBook in its case.
  • When you’re not using the MacBook in school, it needs to be stored in designated areas.  At home, it needs to be kept in a dry and safe place.  Between school and home, never leave the MacBook out of sight and/or unattended (in a locker room, for instance).
  • When you take the MacBook home, be sure that it is fully charged for the next school day.
  • Do not allow MacBooks to be exposed to extended periods of extreme heat or cold.
  • Use the MacBook only in ways consistent with the Brooklin School Computer and Internet Student Use Policy, which includes e-mail and Internet use.
  • There is a “focus” mode in which laptops must be closed and students must be paying attention to the teacher or student who has the floor.
  • Laptops are for educational purposes only.  The Maine Learning Technology Initiative was instituted to provide students with a tool to enhance their education.  If students are unsure of whether or not a particular website or activity is appropriate, they are to consult with a teacher.                              
  • In school, students are only allowed to use their laptops in places where the teacher can monitor their use.  For example, they are not to use their laptops while sitting underneath a table or with their back adjacent to a wall, as this would make it difficult for the teacher to monitor what they are doing.
  • Games are not allowed, unless the teacher, in conjunction with a particular lesson, recommends them.  This is because laptops are for educational purposes only.
  • If a student needs to charge their laptop while in use during class, they must do so in a location where their cords are not creating a hazard to other students. If students are sitting far away from the outlet, people can easily trip and either hurt themselves or the laptop.
  • Laptops should be in the charging cart when not in use.
  • Laptops are to be placed in the charging cart at night and plugged in if the battery is low.
  • Students should not be eating or drinking near a laptop.  They should also make sure their hands are clean when using the laptop.
  • Items are not to be placed on top of a laptop, nor should there be books or papers underneath a laptop.  This is to ensure that laptops do not fall on the floor or have too much pressure on them.
  • Students must have their laptop AND accompanying charger at school each day.
  • When a student’s charger is not in use, it must be placed in the designated storage area in the classroom.
  • Students cannot use any other charger other than the one assigned to him/her without permission from a teacher.
Consequences
Any inappropriate use or neglectful care of a MacBook or the Internet will result in the MacBook being taken away for a period of time that will be determined by the school’s teacher leader, technology coordinator, and/or administration.  The duration of this consequence may vary based upon the nature of the violation and will be determined by the teacher, technology coordinator, and/or principal.   The length of time the MacBook will be taken away will increase with each reported incident.  Severe incidents will result in the MacBook being taken away for an extended period of time. Additional disciplinary measures may be taken, if deemed appropriate.  If there is a lesson that requires the student to use the Internet, the student must work with another student, rather than have independent access.

Financial Obligation
Before MacBooks are allowed to go home, students who do not qualify for free/reduced lunch are required to pay an annual $25 fee to cover the cost of insurance.  This is in addition to fees that may be assessed for negligence or intentional damage or for loss of or damage to AC adapters.

In the event that a repair is required that is caused by negligent damage and is not covered by warranty, there will be a $100 deductible. Repairs for intentional damage are the sole responsibility of the student and parent/guardian.  The care and safe keeping of AC adapters is the responsibility of the student and parent/guardian.  Replacement adapters are approximately $60.00 each.

School Handbook Technology Rules

This is the portion of the School Handbook that details more general technology rules throughout the school.

Students are responsible for appropriate behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or a school hallway. The network is provided for students to conduct research. Access to services is given to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner. Parent permission is required. Access is a privilege, not a right, and access entails responsibility.

Network storage areas may be treated like school lockers. Network administrators may keep review files and communications to maintain system integrity and to ensure that users are using the system responsibly. Users should not expect that files stored on school servers will always be private. Within reason, freedom of speech and access to information will be honored. The school system, however, reserves the right to monitor all network activity, but the school cannot and will not undertake the monitoring of all incoming and outgoing communications. During school, teachers will guide students toward appropriate materials.

Students will refrain from:

  • Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures
  • Using obscene language
  • Harassing, insulting, or attacking others
  • Damaging computers, computer systems, or computer networks
  • Violating copyright laws
  • Using another person’s password and/or disk
  • Trespassing in person’s folders, work, or files
  • Intentionally wasting limited resources
  • Employing the network for commercial purposes
  • Plagiarism

Sanctions

  • Violations will result in a loss of access
  • Additional disciplinary action may be determined regarding inappropriate language or behavior.
  • When applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

http://sites.google.com/site/laptopmanagement

Amy Bebell - Technology Coordinator

amy.bebell@msln.net
Brooklin School