PARENT TIPS FOR BYOD: HELPING YOUR CHILD MANAGE DIGITAL DISTRACTIONS
PARENT TIPS FOR BYOD: HELPING YOUR CHILD MANAGE DIGITAL DISTRACTIONS
Our ultimate goal is to teach kids how to use technology appropriately and manage distractions during their K-12 years before they leave home as independent adults.
Parents and teachers help enable proper technology use by serving as guides and mentors as we prepare students for using technology on their own.
As with anything else, kids need practice making good choices before they become a habit.
How We Keep Kids Safe at School
How We Keep Kids Safe at School
Network Filtering: We have strict internet filters in place on our ISD 423 network. These filters are in place for any device that connects to our network and cannot be bypassed. Students connect their BYOD to our “ISD423STAFFSTUDENT” network. The filters are automatically applied.
Google Account Filtering: We have more specific filters in place on student Google accounts. For example, if we hear about a site or game that is causing distractions, we can block that specific site for that grade level or student group. We also have filters in place as a consequence for digital distractions. The important thing to note about these filters is that students must be logged in with their school Google account for them to take effect. If a student logs in with a personal account, they are protected ultimately by our network filters, but they may bypass the “on the spot” filters that help us keep kids from becoming distracted from schoolwork. We ask that parents partner with us to keep students focused on school during the day.
How Parents Can Help
How Parents Can Help
- Monitor the accounts that are logged in to your child’s Chromebook.
School Account: If your child is using a Chromebook for BYOD, they will need to log in to it using a Google account. The school provides your child with an account to use for school work.
Google Account: The account ends in “@student.isd423.org” and will contain their first name, last name, and last digit of their graduation year. For example, if your child’s name is Joe Student, and they graduate in 2025, their email would be joestudent5@student.isd423.org
Password: The password for your child’s account will be “Tigers” followed by their 4 or 5 digit lunch number. Now that students use barcodes at lunch, they may not be as familiar with this number. If you would like this number, please call Kristin Nelson at the District Office and she will be able to help you at 320-234-2603.
Personal Account: Many students have personal accounts that they choose to utilize to log in to their Chromebook. Ideally, this happens outside of school hours. This account would likely end in “@gmail.com”. Students should have their parent’s permission to use or create a personal account.
Link: Creating a Google Account for a person OVER the age of 13.
Link: Creating a Google Account for a person UNDER the age of 13.
I recommend using Google Family Link, especially with students under the age of 13. This will help you to set time limits and content restrictions for your child’s use of their device at home.
I don’t recommend logging in to the Chromebook for the very first time using a student’s personal Google account created with FamilyLink--this will create roadblocks for your child’s device use during the school day. Switching accounts requires a parent or guardian to pull up an access code from the Family Link app in real time, which is difficult to gain access to during the school day.
Best Case Scenario: A parent logs in to a new Chromebook with THEIR personal Google account. This verifies them as the owner of the Chromebook. As owner, you can manage the settings for the other users on the device.
If the above scenario does not describe your family’s Chromebook use, there is an easy remedy. The links below will help you to identify the Chromebook’s “owner” account, and change it. You can also control who can login to your Chromebook, and disable guest access.
Helpful Links for Parents:
Not sure which account is the “owner” of your Chromebook? Click here.
Want to control which accounts can login to a Chromebook? Click here.
- Review your child’s browsing history with them.
It is a good idea to periodically check your child’s browsing history. This shows your child that you are aware of what they are doing with their account both during and outside of the school day.
Have your child login to their Chromebook, and then open Google Chrome. At the top right corner, click the three dots, and choose “History.” You will be able to review websites visited by your child both on the current device, and on any other device they have logged in to.
This check does not have to be disciplinary--view it as the beginning of a discussion on appropriate use of their technology and set expectations for what you’d like to see vs. what you’d like to stop.
If you are finding that your child is distracted by technology, I recommend helping your child set goals for their usage, and to understand what is expected of them. You may also want to discuss expectations around any cell phones or home internet or account usage. I have some information on setting up home internet filters here.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please feel free to reach out to me at jocelynn.buckentin@isd423.org or at 320-234-2716.
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