1:1 iPad Program FAQs

Why technology for Learning?

We are very much in the midst of an information age - a time where anything you want or need to know is accessible 24/7. This change is not just in our schools, but in our society. Look at how the way we communicate with each other has changed in only the last few years. How we access our news? Television shows? Going to the doctor is a very new experience compared to our past. How many of us consult a map when taking a trip vs. putting our destination into a GPS enabled device to help us find our way?

The opportunities our students have for learning has also changed. Students now have access to both knowledge and the means to communicate, collaborate, create and critically think like never before. Learning is no longer restricted to the four walls of the classroom and gone are the days when the only source of learning is a teacher at the front of the room. The National Eduction Technology Plan "recognizes that technology is at the core of virtually every aspect of our daily lives and work, and we must leverage it to provide engaging and powerful learning experiences and content, as well as resources and assessments that measure student achievement in more complete, authentic, and meaningful ways." Becker Public Schools is proud to be a regional leader in bringing this vision to reality.

What do teachers and parents feel about technology and learning?

According to survey conducted, a vast majority of both our teachers and parents expressed support for the potential technology can serve in education. The following are the results of 2 fundamental questions:

Parents

Teachers

Why iPads?

There are many great devices available for use today - and they all offer their own strengths and concerns. iPads have been chosen because this device offers our students the best access to not only information available on the web, but also a wonderful array of applications that can help with their learning. Examples include Seesaw, EdPuzzle, Canva. It also has amazing tools for students to show their understanding in creative ways using tools such as iMovie. Students can also write papers and interactive presentations with Pages and Keynote.

While research is relatively new for the use of iPads and learning, one comprehensive study is known as Project Red. Here they outlined the potential benefits that a 1:1 system can have for teaching and learning. A second study, entitled The iPad in Education: uses, benefits and challenges looked at the impact that the iPad had as a learning tool with 6000+ students and 300+ teachers in Quebec, Canada.

The purpose of the iPad 1:1 Learning Program is to be a learning initiative, not a technology initiative. Our goal is to provide students the ability to access resources that will help them learn more effectively, personalize their learning and let them see material and in a different way than ever before. Our focus is not to train students on how to use technology. We want our teachers and students to see how they can communicate, collaborate, create, and critically think differently with technology when it will best serve learning.

What are some ways students are using iPads in the classroom?

The uses across the district vary greatly, depending on the content area, grade level, and overall comfort of the instructor. Examples include:

- Student research at the point of instruction - no more needing to reserve computer labs for students to research a topic.
- Become better organized with teachers posting assignment information to online calendars.
- Assessing what content areas students know and may not understand yet right in class. Teachers are using tools such as Socrative, Kahoot, Quizzizz, and Skyward.
- Student in grades 3-12 have access to an online learning platform called Google Classroom.
- Students create their own learning resources in various classes in grades K-12 using tools like iMovie, Keynote, Flip, Osmo, and BookCreator.
- Students can interact with their text material including amazingly rich textbooks created by Becker teachers.

For more examples, go to the Instructional Technology page of the Becker website and scroll down to District Spotlight.

Becker Public Schools also undertook a district goal to document alignment of technology with existing Essential Learner Outcomes. The results of this alignment can be found as part of the ELO and Technology Alignment Report.

Can students use their own iPad from home?

We fully recognize that many students have their own device at home. We are often asked if students can use their own iPad vs. a school issued iPad. Because we manage student devices and have removed the App Store from school issued iPads, students will be using school issued devices. At no time do we want to be telling families what they can or can not have on their device.

In addition, Becker Schools has purchased, downloaded, and installed the apps that your child will be using throughout the school year - apps licenses which are also managed by our current system.

Why not laptops?

While laptop computers are great devices, there are two fundamental reasons we have chosen to go a different direction.

Instructionally - when students and teachers use a laptop computer, they most often focus on what HAS been done with technology in the past - research and write papers. While these are valuable uses of technology, both of these tasks can be done on an iPad as well, especially with our older grades having access to a keyboard as a part of their case. There are a number of tools that students and staff use on a daily basis that are not available on a laptop computer (eg. handwriting). An iPad can do most of what a laptop can do, but not the other way around.
Financially - the cost of a laptop is price prohibitive over time - especially when adding various tools that come with the iPad including software that will allow students to write papers and create presentations.

Do students use technology other than iPads?

Absolutely! We fully recognize that much of the financial and business world is currently using a PC platform. For that reason, Becker Public Schools is committed to ensuring your child has the ability to use not only mobile technology with their iPad, but utilize high quality desktops in one of our many computer labs. At the High School, we are updating our Business Lab to be equipped with a Mac and a Windows environment using BootCamp - giving the students both learning environments as they prepare for their post high school lives. Students have the option to take courses which will provide them the opportunity to learn how to use multiple platforms.

Some ask if Becker student are given the opportunity to build foundational skills such as creating spreadsheets, etc... According to our most recent survey of students, 84% of Becker High School students (76% of MN students) stated that they were able to create a spreadsheet with 52% (48% of MN students) saying it was either very easy or easy.

Can students use a keyboard with their iPad?

Students in grades 4-12 have a case that has a connected keyboard on it. This allows them to more easily do activities such as typing and coding.

What is the iPad Protection Plan used for?

Accidents can and do happen. For that reason, we have families take part in an iPad insurance program. The cost of a simple screen repair is normally between $90-$270 with more extensive damages obviously costing more. The iPad Protection Plan is used to repair the device and return it to your child as quickly as we can with as little impact to families. While the device is being repaired your child will have access to a temporary iPad to continue their work in it's place.

While nearly all families choose to pay the insurance premium all at once, we fully understand it may not be possible for everyone for a variety of reasons. In addition to the above plan, we do offer the following as well:

Payment Plan - Families can also pay a portion of the protection costs each month (eg. $5 a month for 6 months for an individual plan) if needed. We will work with families in any way possible - please just let us know.

Please contact your building Assistant Principal (Mr. Baloun, Mr. Aleckson, or Mr. Papenfuss) if the iPad Protection Plan creates a financial hardship. We have options available for families. No child will be denied access to a device because of finances.

How are the iPads purchased?

iPads for the 1:1 Learning Program have been purchased through a voter supported levy passed by the community in 2009 (Question 2). The results of this election can be found at MPR News.

How are damaged iPads repaired?

While care is taken to prevent breakages with the purchase of high quality cases, accidents will and do happen. At the start of each school year, students are offered a choice of how to cover any costs of accidental breakages. The nonrefundable iPad Protection Fee of $30 works like your car insurance to help ensure that all of our iPads can stay in working over and make sure your child's learning can be at it's best. This fund is then used to pay for repairs that can range anywhere from $60 to the full cost of replacement. Most repairs involve broken screens which cost between $90-$270 for each device, depending which parts of the screen were damaged and how badly. Becker Schools also incorporates some in-house repairs.

How are iPads restricted?

We use JAMF as our management system for all of the iPads and laptops in the district. Leveraging a device management tool has become commonplace with schools today. This tool gives us the opportunity to better control of the apps that students have on their devices.

With JAMF, students are able to ONLY add approved apps via the Student app available on all K-12 iPads. The App Store is not available for students. It is important to note JAMF will manage the apps that are available to download, but it WILL NOT filter content on the web for the device. That is where Linewize comes in. You can find more information about this below.

Is the internet filtered at home and at school?

Federal law (CIPA) requires that schools have a filtering plan in place. At Becker Public Schools, we employ a powerful content filtering system (CIPA) that prevents students from accessing unwanted material. However, it is important to note the following:

- No filter is 100% reliable at all times. Because of how files or sites are named, an occasional website may slip through. When notified, we do our best to prevent that from happening in the future.
- Yes, we filter iPads at home and at school. We ask that parents be diligent and visit with your child about appropriate web searching. Families may find it helpful to have their child use their device in an open area and request that they charge their iPad away from their bedroom.

Experts strongly suggest installing software to filter and block inappropriate content on your wireless home network. Filters can be set to block Internet access completely or block certain sites like pornography, social media, and gaming. Further, filters allow a parent to completely control when access is open/closed to such sites. These same tools allow parents to control any wireless device, whether it is a laptop, a smartphone with a web browser or other personal device. Without any filtering software at home, a user can get to any site on any device, including a desktop computer. By being a part of our district you have access to some family access features you may want to check out.

You can also turn on the free tools within Google and YouTube to activate stricter filters on web, image, and video searches. TV cable companies offer filtering services as well-- to find out, search Google for your provider along with the words "parental controls" to learn how to access these features.

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