Accessing and Using the Chromebook

All students will receive a district-issued Chromebook that they will log in to both at school and at home using their paramusschools.org account.  It is important that students know their paramusschools.org username and password since they will need this information to log in to their Chromebooks. If a student needs assistance with the username or password, he or she should contact the building media specialist.

In addition to using the information in this handbook, students should consult the online Chromebook Training Orientation that Google provides.  This orientation is particularly helpful in getting to know the nuances of the Chromebook keyboard, including shortcuts. 

Students are allowed to set up access to home wireless networks on their Chromebooks. This will assist students with the ability to successfully complete, retrieve, access, etc., educational content used in classes with the Chromebook. The following is the process for connecting to a wireless network at home for the first time:

• When the “Network Not Available” screen appears after startup, select your home network from the list.
  
  

• Enter the network password (if applicable) 

  • Click the eye icon on the right to show the text in the password box.
    
    

• You will then be prompted to sign in to your Google Account at which point you should enter your school email address (@paramusschools.org); please note that no other Gmail account will work. 

• Enter your password
  
  

• Once logged in to your Paramusschools.org Google account at home, you will need to connect to the Wireless network.
  
  

• Click the WiFi icon on the bottom right taskbar.  Where it says “no network,” click to reveal the available WiFi networks.  Select your network, which should connect without the need to enter your network password again.

Returning the Chromebook

Students withdrawing from school, by either promotion, graduation, or relocation must return their Chromebooks and battery chargers. If upon inspection of the device, there is evidence of abuse, neglect or intentional damage, the student/parent/guardian will be charged a fee for needed repairs, not to exceed the replacement cost of the Chromebook.

Students who transfer out of or withdraw from Paramus Public Schools must turn in their Chromebooks and accessories to their grade level administrator on their last day of attendance.  Failure to turn in the Chromebook and accessories will result in the student/parent/guardian being charged the full replacement cost. When students leave the district, they will have temporary access to their Gmail and Google Drive to download files that they wish to keep or transfer to another account. 

Google for Education - G Suite Products 

All Chromebooks are supplied with the latest Google Chrome Operating System (OS), and many other applications useful in an educational environment. The Chrome OS will automatically install updates when the computer is shutdown and restarted. There is no need for virus protection with the Chrome OS. 

Chromebooks seamlessly integrate with the Google for Education G Suite of productivity and collaboration tools. This suite includes Google Docs (word processing), Spreadsheets, Presentations, Drawings, Sites and Forms. Certain grade-level specific apps may be installed remotely onto Chromebooks and managed by the District.  Students will create and save their school-related files to Google Drive, which is stored in the cloud. Students can access their Google Drive not only from their Chromebook, but also from any computer that has Internet access. Students will understand that the Google Drive can be monitored by the district administration and should not contain personal files.  

Paramus Public Schools incorporates the use of a safety management product called “Gaggle,” which scans all content on the Paramusschools.org domain to provide early warning detection by flagging and revealing potentially harmful content in email, documents, shared files, images, photos and more. 

Apps and Extensions

Chrome Web Apps are advanced websites that are similar to other types of programs that are installed on a computer. The main difference from other types of programs is that apps can be used within the web browser rather than being installed on the Chromebook. Some Web Apps (for example, Google Docs) will be available to use when the Chromebook is not connected to the Internet. 

Extensions and Add-Ons are custom features that you can add to Google Chrome to enhance the functionality of apps. The district will install additional apps, extensions and add-ons as they are recommended and approved by teachers and site administrators for a particular course.  In addition, students will be able to install additional apps and extensions on their Chromebooks for educational purposes through the Chrome Web Store. Any software app that does not conform to the Technology Agreement or that is deemed inappropriate for use in school is not to be downloaded or installed on the Chromebooks and will be blocked.

Gmail 

As part of the Google for Education program, each student will be provided an email address within the paramusschools.org domain. This email will allow the students PK-3 to sign in to their Chromebook and to communicate with teachers. Grade 4-8 students can also communicate with, advisors, coaches, and classmates within the Paramus Public School system., High school students are able to email as well as individuals outside of the system. Please be advised that the students should use their G Suite and email for school work only.   Email is monitored by the district and is subject to filtering of inappropriate content. Students are expected to adhere to the rules and regulations for email use as outlined in the Technology Agreement.

Responsibilities/Digital Citizenship 

The Chromebook is a critical component of 21st century teaching and learning, and as such, students must come to school prepared to use their Chromebook to maximize their learning while demonstrating an adherence to effective digital citizenship practices. Students should:

1. Bring fully charged Chromebooks to school every day.

2. If students leave their Chromebook at home, they are responsible for completing their coursework as if they had their Chromebook present.

3. Bring your Chromebook to all of your classes, unless specifically instructed not to do so by your teacher.

4. Follow each teacher’s rules and expectations regarding Chromebook use in the classroom.

5. Do not loan your Chromebook to anyone or leave it unattended.

6. Follow Internet safety guidelines in accordance with the Technology Agreement. Do not use chat rooms other than those set up by teachers.

7. Keep personal information and identity secure and private. Never reveal your full name, phone number, home address, Social Security number, credit card numbers, passwords, or those of other people.

8. Obey general school rules concerning behavior and communication that apply to technology use. Do not send harmful, anonymous, or misleading communications for any purpose.

9. Comply with trademark and copyright laws and all license agreements. Ignorance of the law is not immunity. If you are unsure, ask a teacher or parent.

10. Plagiarism is a violation of the student policy. Give credit to all sources used, whether quoted or summarized. This includes all forms of media on the Internet, such as graphics, movies, and text.

11. Use building network, services, devices, or equipment in a manner that is not disruptive to others, such as disseminating inappropriate content, spam/viruses, transferring large amounts of data across the network, or attempting to hack into network/online systems.

12. Do not attempt to bypass the web filter, attempt to gain access, or use/change other students’ accounts, files, or data.

13. Use or possession of hacking software is strictly prohibited, and violators will be subject to discipline. Violation of applicable state or federal law will result in criminal prosecution or disciplinary action by the district.

14. Students must not use the school’s Internet/email accounts for financial or commercial gain, or for any illegal activity including, bullying, harassing, credit card fraud, electronic forgery or other forms of illegal behavior.

Electronic Recording Capabilities  

Any electronic recordings obtained with the device must be for instructional/educational purposes only. Students must obtain prior approval from a staff member in order to use the audio, image or video recording capabilities of the device. Students should ask all individuals being recorded for their permission before they start the recording. No recording should start without the permission of all the individuals being recorded. In addition, electronic recordings obtained with the device may not be shared, published or re-broadcasted for any reason by the student without obtaining the permission of the district and all individuals present in the recording. 

Appropriate Care and Precautions

Students are expected to care for the Chromebook as they would any other school-issued item, adhering to the following practices:

1. Chromebook battery must be fully charged before the start of each school day
   
   

2. Do not remove the Paramus Public Schools logo or barcode from the Chromebook. In addition, all Chromebooks will be labeled with school asset tags, which are recorded and associated with student accounts. Chromebooks must have an asset tag on them at all times.
   
   

3. Chromebooks must remain free of any writing, drawing, stickers, or labels that are not the property of the Paramus Public School District. 

4. Keep the Chromebook in a locked and secured environment when not being used.

5. It is highly recommended that students transport the device using a protective case to ensure proper care. Chromebooks should never be transported while open and should be safely closed and placed in a case or backpack when traveling, even within the school building.
   
   

6. Cords, cables, and removable storage devices must be inserted carefully into the Chromebook.
   
   

7. Vents should not be covered.
   
   

8. Chromebooks should not be used with the power cord plugged in when the cord may be a tripping hazard.
   
   

9. Chromebooks and chargers should be kept away from food and drinks, small children, and pets.
   
   

10. Do not bump the Chromebook against lockers, walls, car doors, floors, etc.
    
    

11. Chromebooks must never be left in an unlocked car or any unsupervised area in or outside of school. Unsupervised areas include but are not limited to the school grounds, the lunchroom, vehicles, bathrooms, computer labs, library, unlocked classrooms, and hallways. If a Chromebook is found in an unsupervised area, it should be immediately reported to the media center.

Chromebook Screen Care

The Chromebook screen is particularly sensitive and can be easily damaged if subjected to rough treatment and excessive pressure. Protect the Chromebook screen by following the rules below:

1. Do not lift Chromebooks by the screen. When moving a Chromebook, support it from the bottom with the lid closed.

2. Clean the screen with a soft, dry anti-static, or micro-fiber cloth. Do not use window cleaner or any type of liquid or water on the Chromebook.

3. Do not lean or place anything on top of the Chromebook.

4. Do not place anything on the keyboard before closing the lid (e.g., pens, pencils, notebooks).

5. Do not place anything near the Chromebook that could put pressure on the screen.

6. Do not wedge the Chromebook into a backpack or place anything against the cover as this will damage the screen.

7. For screen adjustment do not grasp screen by wrapping hand around screen; your thumbs can shatter the screen. Do not poke the screen.
   
   

Damage/Repairs

Chromebooks that are broken or fail to work properly must be reported immediately to the media center or to the office of Information Technology.  For information on how to enter a support ticket, please visit the Technology Resources page of the Paramus Community Connections website.

If deemed necessary, a replacement Chromebook will be issued to replace the device needing repair.. This Chromebook will be assigned to the student. The Technology Office will document the issue and collect the original device for repair. 

If repair is needed due to abuse or neglect, there will be a fee for needed repairs not to exceed the replacement cost of the Chromebook. If technical difficulties occur and cannot be repaired, the Chromebook may need to be restored to factory defaults. All student created files stored on an external miniSD card, USB flash drive, or Google Drive will remain intact after the operating system is restored. However, all other data (documents, photos, music) stored on local internal memory of the Chromebook will not be restored.