Parental Concerns
Cyber wellbeing
Parental Concerns
Selecting a device is a complex subject. The How to select a device section includes a detailed exploration of the factors to consider when looking for a device.
But what about broader parental concerns about the program? There are three topics on which parents most commonly have questions or express reservations: costs, security and the effect of the device’s use at home.
The matter of costs
The purchase of a device is a major decision and a significant expense. A good quality device may last four years (or even more) and viewed over such a period the expense is considerably less. Wagga Wagga High School has taken strides to integrate device use into many aspects of teaching and learning. Your investment allows the school to maximise learning outcomes for all students.
We are committed to our obligations as a public education institution to deliver the same learning outcomes to all our students no matter their families’ financial means. We have developed an Equity Procedure to operate alongside our BYOD Procedure. The Equity Procedure outlines a number of strategies the school may take, in consultation with you, to augment access to information and communication technologies.
Safe Internet Browsing and Email Access
The NSW Department of Education is committed to providing a safe and secure e-Learning environment to enrich learning opportunities for all students in NSW public schools.
Your child will be provided with an individual username and password to access filtered Internet browsing and email at school. Your child’s email account is protected by software to block out inappropriate messages.
All students who use the Internet at school are taught that they must follow the Code of Conduct outlined in the school’s Internet Usage Policy. This policy includes the action that may be taken by a school if students do not follow this code of conduct.
Students will be able to access their personal email from school-provided computers, their own device, computers at home and other locations through private Internet service providers. All Internet browsing at home will be directed through your own Internet service provider. We recommend that you install filtering software at home and be aware of filtering software at other locations. Students will be unable to access other email providers at school.
Cyber Wellbeing
Problematic Internet use, excessive gaming, preoccupation with online social networking, reduced physical activity and cyber safety issues associated with device use are concerning for many parents. As students move towards Year 12, students may grow out of these habits and move on to have a more balanced approach to the digital world. However, parents need to be educated about the identification of problematic screen time and its effects so they can intervene when issues arise.
It is important to note that screen time is not in and of itself harmful. Screen time can encourage creativity, develop problem-solving skills, promote social development, inspire interest in new topics and encourage self-reflection and self-efficacy.
Families can assist in promoting healthy device use through good communication, setting clear rules and boundaries and then, if necessary, using management controls. More specifically, parents can aid healthy device use in promoting the moderation of screen time, planning time allocation as a family unit, including designing a study timetable and dedicated homework time, requiring use in common areas (not bedrooms) and placing limits on device use at critical time periods, such as before bedtime.
Ultimately, parents always have the final say on their child’s device use. However, be aware that using technological solutions to control problematic use can often have negative effects. Students can usually find ways around most restrictions and they encourage secrecy on the students’ part, the very opposite of what needs to be fostered. A better way is to encourage students to use self-monitoring applications to help them better manage and track their own application usage.
On-device security
The school does not own the device, support the device or warranty the device. Experience from the previous Commonwealth-funded Digital Education Revolution scheme indicates that students who took good care of their device and considered themselves the device’s owner rarely had device security issues.
If you are concerned the device is going to be broken, lost or stolen, you may wish to consider specific accidental damage insurance for the device. You can specifically list the item on your home contents insurance, or you can purchase an Accidental Damage Protection plan for your device. Accidental Damage Protection is available as an option for all our recommended devices.
You may also consider using a device locator service. These services include the “Find my iPad” service built into Apple iOS devices, “Find My Device” in Windows 10 or the third-party “LoJack for Laptops”.