Student use of Chromebooks at home does require parent monitoring and responsibility. This will help to ensure proper care of the Chromebook and the following of internet safety rules on behalf of the student. Below are some recommendations for parents to assist in making sure that Chromebooks with internet access are used responsibly and safely in the home.
Recommendations:
Investigate and apply parental controls available through your Internet Service Provider and/or your wireless router.
Develop a set of rules/expectations for electronic device use at home. Some websites provide parent/child agreements for you to sign.
Only allow electronic device use in common rooms of the home (e.g. living room or kitchen) and not in bedrooms.
Demonstrate a genuine interest in what your child is doing on the device. Ask questions and request that they show you his/her work often.
Ask to view your child’s Google Drive to check on work progress.
Turn off your home WiFi at appropriate times. Many of the Chromebook and other device features require an Internet connection to function. When offline, the Chromebook can access the Google Docs office suite and not much more. Turning off your home WiFi at night can prevent late-night YouTube sessions, or chatting with friends at inappropriate times.
Establish with your child the responsibilities that come with having an assigned device. You can read through the 1:1 Chromebook handbook and Chromebook Care Guide.