Grades 4-6 iPad guide

Vision

Unleashing the potential of every individual so they can own their future. The heart of this vision statement is to provide students with extraordinary learning opportunities, promoting creativity and innovation. 

Technology at CIS 

At CIS, technology is integrated into both our curriculum and classroom activities, providing students with rich and meaningful 21st-century learning experiences. 

In primary school, iPads, and a range of age-appropriate digital resources, are used in ways that help students personalise, enhance and transform their learning, build essential digital literacy skills, promote creativity and innovation, and demonstrate content mastery. 

Apple products have many built-in applications that promote creativity and allow students the chance to easily display their learning in a variety of ways. These applications include iMovie, Keynote, GarageBand, Pages, Numbers, Quicktime Player, iBooks,  Maps, Notes, Photos, Safari, AirDrop, Swift Playgrounds, AirPlay, and Voice Memos. These tools are versatile being used across all grade levels and all subjects. While we do use Google web-based products for collaboration at CIS, our learning activities require dynamic media tools as well.

Our primary school teachers, supported by our digital literacy coaches, are able to use technology to transform teaching and learning as they apply best practice models and standards, including: 

At the start of each academic year, all students will complete an iPad Bootcamp to help them better use their iPad responsibly and safely. Topics covered vary from essential agreements, digital citizenship, online safety to utilising our learning systems, and digital resources the students use throughout the year.

Digital literacy skills

Digital literacy skills and the ISTE standards are embedded into our curriculum, ensuring our teachers are able to teach students how to become digital citizens and develop the digital literacy skills they will need in order to function and participate fully in a digital world.

A digital citizen acts appropriately and ethically in an online environment. They are able to resolve conflicts, source material ethically, and interact with the wider world in a responsible manner.

You can learn more about digital citizenship, digital literacy skills and the ISTE standards at:

When used as a learning tool, technology can make learning more engaging. iPads allow students to easily capture their learning, reflect on it in a variety of ways, and share it with an audience - both at school and [potentially] beyond the classroom walls.

All students in grades 4 to 6 are required to bring a fully charged iPad to school every day. The iPad must also have the school required apps installed.

For further details regarding iPad requirements and accessories, please refer to the ‘CIS Primary iPad Programme Parent Guide.’

Apple ID Setup

Parents are responsible for creating an Apple ID in the Singapore iTunes store. This is necessary because Apple IDs from other countries may not support the school required apps.

Required Apps

To maximize the learning with an iPad, we have identified a range of age-appropriate digital resources and created required apps lists per grade level. These required apps have to be purchased once and installed onto the iPad prior to school startup. We recommend that a S$50(SGD) iTunes card is attached to the Apple ID used on the iPad, to pay for a few of the school-required apps that are not free.

Only these approved apps are permitted for use during school hours. Additional non-school apps installed on personal devices are to be done so under parental discretion, but will not be permitted for use during school hours. For example games, chat and social media platforms are not to be used on campus. If there is an educational purpose to use such apps, the teacher will inform the parents with a clear outline of the educational context and achievable learning outcomes.

Cards can be purchased from local retailers such as Courts, Challenger, EpiCentre, 7-Eleven, Cheers, Harvey Norman, iStudio, Nubox or online via the Singapore iTunes store.

HOW WILL MY CHILD LEARN HOW TO USE THE IPAD?

Our digital literacy team will guide your child on how to use the iPad at the August bootcamp. Sessions for new students, as well as reminders, occur throughout the year. 

HOW ARE IPADS USED IN THE CLASSROOM? 

Students don’t use iPads all day long. We balance iPad screen time with other classroom activities and tools.

WHERE ARE IPADS STORED AT SCHOOL? 

During class time, students keep their iPads at their desk. During recess, lunch and downtime, iPads are stored in lockable cabinets. Charging stations are located in each classroom. 

WILL MY CHILD USE THEIR IPAD FOR HOMEWORK? 

Students will be required to check their email and Google Classroom for assignments and instructions from teachers. Homework is assigned in line with the homework policy outlined in the Parent-Student Handbook. 

Visit this page to learn more:  www.cis.edu.sg/parent-student-handbook

SHOULD MY CHILD AND I USE THEIR IPAD AT HOME TO VIEW THEIR DIGITAL PORTFOLIO? 

Yes, please encourage your child to share their learning with you. Parents can access their children’s digital portfolio via their Seesaw account. 

INTERNET ACCESS AT SCHOOL 

To ensure a safe online learning environment, an extensive firewall that filters inappropriate sites is in place at CIS. Students are only allowed to connect to the internet via the school's Wi-Fi. Connection to a mobile network (3G/4G/5G) is not permitted at CIS. However, as firewalls do not block everything, our digital citizenship programme focuses on appropriate online behaviour and choices. 

Please set up the appropriate restrictions, ones that align to your family’s values, on your child’s iPad. By using the parental controls on the device, you can restrict access to online content, apps, and much more. 

Visit this page to learn more: www.support.apple.com/en-sg/HT201304 

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD FORGETS THEIR IPAD? 

Your child must bring their fully-charged iPad to school each day. There are loaner iPads available at school that your child can use if needed. However, we ask that you help your child establish a daily routine, as it is a requirement that your child brings their fully-charged iPad to school each day. 

Insurance

We strongly encourage that iPads are insured against loss or damage through a home insurance that covers faults, breakages, water damage, and theft, or an AppleCare+ Protection Plan. You may want to check your home insurance policy to see if it covers covers loss, theft or damage to the iPad and ask your underwriter if electronic devices and the repair cost are covered.

CIS insurance policies do not cover accidental damage to electronic equipment.

iPad Settings

• Turn on ‘Find my iPad’ so that the device can be tracked if lost. • Update the device to the newest version of the software.

• Turn on ‘Siri’ so your child can use voice commands.

• Turn off app notifications so your child is not distracted by sounds/pop-ups during the school day. Teachers may request calendar app notifications to be turned on.

• Turn on ‘Background App Refresh’ to always have the most up to date version of apps.

• Turn on international keyboards for your native language and the language that your child is studying at school (French, Chinese or Spanish).

• Set a passcode lock with your child and make sure you know the code. 

ESSENTIAL AGREEMENTS FOR STUDENTS

• Care for your iPad. Keep it:

  • • • • • • • • in its case at all times.

                •  in the designated area in class.

                • away from liquids at all times.

                • safely stored in your backpack when travelling between home and school.

                • locked and password protected (share password with your parents and homeroom teacher only).

• Bring your fully charged iPad to school each day (a fully charged iPad should have an 8-10 hour battery life so it lasts the entire school day).

• Install or update all required apps (we strongly encourage only having the required educational apps on your iPad).

• Only use the iPad for school related activities at school. iPads may only leave the classroom at the request of your teacher. 

• Follow the school’s Acceptable Use Policy(AUP) and demonstrate good digital citizenship.

• Follow your teacher’s instructions regarding iPad use during class time. iPads should be put to sleep with screens down to avoid any distractions when not in use.

WHAT KIND OF APPS WILL MY CHILD USE? 

Most of the apps used provide students with different ways to demonstrate their learning or consolidate their understanding of concepts.

HOW OFTEN WILL MY CHILD NEED TO INSTALL APPS?

Educational apps will need to be installed at the beginning of each school year. If new apps are needed, both students and parents will be advised.

PARENT SUPPORT 

We recommend that our families establish agreements and rules like the ones we have at school. Our digital literacy page on My.CIS has parenting tips and tricks to help you establish home routines to cater to your family’s needs. 

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS? 

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at digital.literacy@cis.edu.sg