NextGen Digital Classroom

Welcome to Mrs. Searles’ Class!

I am so excited to have you my class. It’s going to be a fantastic year of learning and dancing. You are about to begin a journey that you will never forget. I went to some great training this summer and I am FIRED UP and ready for a great year!!

Round Rock ISD was a pilot initiative that turns select classrooms in each RRISD school into a digital 1:1 classroom. My classroom was chosen in year 2 to be a Next Generation Digital Classroom for Cedar Ridge High School. As a pilot program, our goal is to explore the unlimited possibilities of technology integration to enhance student achievement, increase engagement, transform teaching and learning, and help make decisions regarding the next steps of technology integration. Our class has a class set of iPads and a Mimio board for use IN CLASS. These devices WILL NOT go home. Please visit http://ngdcrrisd.blogspot.com/ for more information.

The last few years were an amazing year and I was so proud of everything we accomplished. Parents, I hope you will be amazed by all of the ways technology can support and enhance the dance classroom as well as build 21st century skills, and enhance the school experience in ways you may never have thought possible. I plan on continuing my blog that can be followed to see all of the ways we will integrate dance and technology this year. To help with the flow of information, please see below for a few helpful tips.

A few items of note:

• My blog can be followed at ngdcdance.blogspot.com

• There will be many pictures/videos taken to document activities in class and they may be shared with the RRISD community. Also, we will kick off activities on the internet right away, so it is important to sign materials in the student handbook in regards to both of those activities if not allowing student to participate.

https://roundrockisd.org/parents/student-parent-handbooks/

• In regards to this fabulous technology, it is privilege that will be taken very seriously. Those in violation of class procedures, Acceptable Use Policy, or practices in Digital Citizenship will have those privileges revoked. Students will be limited to sites & apps that are approved by the district, monitored by district safeguards and teacher monitoring, and will be given lessons in AUP and DC throughout the year. This will also apply when participating in BYOD activities.

• Follow us on Twitter @CedarRidgeDance @karensearles and Cedar Ridge Dance Department on Facebook

• Please read, discuss, and sign the attached Digital Citizenship Agreement and return to your teacher on your next class period or complete online by scanning the QR code to the right.

Questions?

Please feel free to contact me at Karen_Searles@roundrockisd.org or 512-704-0295

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP CONTRACT

PART A-Student’s responsibility and ethical use of technology

When I use technology, both at school and at home I have responsibilities and rules to follow. I agree to:

• be a safe user whenever and wherever I use that technology

• be responsible whenever and wherever I use technology and support others by being respectful in how I talk to and work with them and never write or participate in online bullying-this includes forwarding messages and supporting others in harmful, inappropriate or hurtful online behaviour

• report to an adult if I feel unsafe or uncomfortable online or see a friend being unsafe or being made to feel uncomfortable by others

When at school I agree to:

• behave in a way outlined in the class Student Handbook when online or using mobile technology

• behave in a way outlined in the class Digital Citizenship Contract when online or using mobile technology

• take good physical care of the equipment

• keep myself and my friends safe by not giving out personal details including full names, telephone numbers, addresses and images and protecting my password

• log-in in and out of my device as directed

• use the technology at school for learning purposes as directed ONLY (no personal activities)

• use the equipment properly and not interfere with the work or data of another student

• access approved websites/apps

• not bring or download unauthorized programs or files

• not change device settings

• not go looking for rude, offensive, or unapproved sites

• use an ‘online name’ or first name only when sharing my work online

• to have my personal device taken-up per school policy if not complying with teacher directives/expectations

• remember that the content on the web is someone’s property and ask my teacher to help me get permission and/or give credit if I want to use information or pictures

• think carefully about what I read on the internet, question if it is from a reliable source and use the information to help me answer any questions (I should not copy and paste the information as my answer)

• talk to my teacher or another adult if:

I need help online

I am not sure what I should be doing on the internet

I come across sites that are not suitable

someone writes something I don’t like, or makes me and my friends feel uncomfortable or asks me to provide information that I know is private

I feel that the welfare of other students at the school is being threatened

When I use any computer, mobile phone, iPad or other mobile device I agree to:

• keep my passwords or log-ins in a safe place

• be responsible in my use and not use the device to find, create or send information that might be harmful, inappropriate or hurtful to me or anyone else

• be entirely responsible for the security of the device at all times

To this end, when using any mobile device as a phone I will:

• keep my phone on silent during class times and only make or answer calls and messages outside of lesson times – except for specified learning purposes

• not use for personal activities during class times

• protect the privacy of others and never post private information about another person using SMS messages

When using any mobile device as a camera I will:

• only take photos and record sound or video when it is part of a class or lesson

• seek permission from individuals involved PRIOR to taking photos, recording sound or videoing them (including teachers)

• seek permission from individuals involved PRIOR to publishing or sending photos, recorded sound or video to anyone else or to any online space

• be respectful in how I talk to and work with others online and never write or participate in online bullying

• seek teacher permission before uploading any content to public websites

This Policy also applies to students during school excursions, camps and extra-curricular activities.

PART B – The schools’ support for responsible and ethical use of technology

We use the internet as a learning and teaching tool. We see the internet and mobile technology as valuable resources but acknowledge they must be used responsibly.

Your student has been asked to agree to use the internet and mobile technology responsibly at school. Parents should be aware that the nature of the internet means that full protection from inappropriate content can never be guaranteed.

In our class, when connected to school wi-fi, we: (not everything below applies when using your own data plan)

• have a cybersafe and responsible use program across the district

• provide a filtered internet service

• provide supervision and direction in internet activities and when using mobile technologies for learning

• have an Information Literacy program

• utilize mobile technologies for educational purpose, e.g. podcasts, photos from excursions

• work towards setting tasks that ask your students open questions, so they can’t copy and paste answers from the internet

Please read, discuss, and sign the attached Digital Citizenship Agreement and return to your teacher on your next class period or complete online below.