1:1 Chromebooks

Learning in the 21st century is all about connecting, collaborating, and creating. Students in Fannin County need to have access to technology that not only connects them with the world, but allows them to create and collaborate as they learn. Allowing students to have their own device will allow them to access resources when they need it; access won't be dictated by the classroom walls or time of the school day. Personal devices provide a high level of differentiation as they provide a platform for personalized learning. Students will have ownership of learning as the device allows to them manage and engage in the content in ways that are not possible with standard books, paper, and pencils. Having access to a computer establishes a connection between students and curriculum materials that naturally makes accommodations for students in ways that traditional course materials cannot. Teachers will be able to help students develop higher order thinking skills through active engagement, collaboration, and emersion in real world scenarios that can only be achieved in 1:1 environments. Fannin’s mission statement is: Developing young futures, learning for tomorrow, today. We want our students to be ready for their next step in life, whether it is college, technical school, or the workforce. It is critical that they have access to the tools of the 21st century in order to accomplish the mission of the Fannin County School System.

A Chromebook is a laptop device that operates on Google’s Chrome operating system. All applications run through the Internet, not through the hard drive of the computer. The Chromebook is an efficient and cost effective way to get things done in and out of the classroom. Students have a Google account which allows them to use Google applications such as Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive (a cloud based app), Google Classroom, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and Google Forms. Most of the applications and documents are housed in the cloud within Google Drive. All applications and use of the Chromebooks are managed by the Fannin County School System.

The advantages afforded by the rich, digital resources available through the Internet outweigh any disadvantage. However, it is important to remember that access is a privilege, not a right, and carries with it responsibilities for students, parents, and the school staff. Internet safety is an important concern. Fannin County Students must exercise safe and responsible Internet use.

Chromebooks and other devices are used as tools for research and education and, like any other school property, must be used for the educational purposes for which they are intended. The distribution of a Chromebook to each student is a privilege, not a right, and may be revoked at any time for inappropriate conduct.

Every student that is given a Chromebook will be expected to take a Digital Citizenship Course. In addition, the Fannin County School System will provide Digital Citizenship Lessons throughout the school year.

The Fannin County School System will utilize filtering software or other technologies to prevent students from accessing visual depictions that are (i) obscene, (ii) child pornography, or (iii) harmful to minors that complies with CIPA- The Child Internet Protection ACT. The school will also monitor the online activities of students, through direct observation and/or technical means, to ensure that the students are not accessing such depictions or any other materials which are inappropriate for minors.

Despite the best efforts of supervision and Internet filtering, all users and their parents/guardians are advised that access to the electronic network may include the potential for access to materials inappropriate for school-aged students. Every user must take responsibility for his or her use of the network and Internet and avoid these sites.

In using the network and Internet, users should not reveal personal information such as names, home address, telephone number, school name, location, etc. Users should never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone “met” on the Internet without a parent’s permission. Students are to identify themselves only by their first name and/or student number.