iPad Deployment Standards and User Agreement

We deployed 180 iPads in September of 2013 to grades 6-8. It was difficult to find  a lot of information regarding establishing an iPad user policy in addition to the Acceptable Use Policy used to generally cover internet usage. Students are allowed to take their iPad home at the end of the school day. The following is an excerpt from our letter to the parents depicting our philosophy on iPad usage:

There are a myriad of philosophies involving the deployment of iPads and the ownership of their content. It is our belief at OLG that students should have access to technology both at school and at home.  After careful consideration, a decision was made to allow students to bring the iPads home at the end of the school day in order to complete assignments and to use for personal reasons. Our students are responsible and continue to learn about being conscientious and reliable when provided with the chance. Allowing students to utilize the iPad at home, downloading their own parent-approved apps and music affords a sense of ownership. 

I wanted to post the agreement we sent home to be signed by both the student and their guardian. Please feel free to use it and make the changes that apply to your school. 

Our Lady of Grace User Agreement

IPads are being deployed to specified Our Lady of Grace students to assist in learning both in school and at home. It is our hope that our commitment to consistently provide new technology to our students will offer a more diversified and advanced type of learning experience.

The iPad is the property of Our Lady of Grace School. It is on loan to the OLG student. If a student leaves prior to the closing of school in June, the iPad must be returned.

The content is layered, therefore, shared by both the school and the student/parent. Applications that have been specified by the teachers will be automatically loaded. An Apple account will be set up by the student/parent. This allows any additional applications that the family has downloaded to be transferred to another device in the future. 

We believe at Our Lady of Grace that by allowing the student to utilize the iPad for personal purposes as well as school work, it fosters the technological learning process. We ask that parents be mindful of iPad activity and the applications that are downloaded. 

1. Issuing of iPads: 

Parents and students must sign and return the Parent-Student iPad Use Agreement and pay the insurance premium for the issued iPad. IPads will be collected at the end of the school year for maintenance, cleaning and software installation. Students will be reassigned the same iPads each year until the iPads are replaced/updated or the student leaves OLG.

Students do have the option of utilizing their family iPad in lieu of a school deployed device. The applications loaded by the school will be loaded onto the personal iPad. We ask that you remove the password feature that locks the iPad. While on school property, the personal iPad is subject to the same random inspection for inappropriate content as the deployed school owned iPad. Damage to the student’s personal iPad is not the responsibility of the school.

• Creating an Apple ID:

If you currently have an Apple Account, please feel free to use the established Apple ID. This allows you to download apps and music onto your iPad.

If you do not have an Apple ID, touch the App Store icon on your screen. Choose the app you would like to download. You will be prompted to enter your personal information. You do not have to enter credit card information. Opt for “None” in lieu of putting credit info into your iPad. Your child can use iTunes gift cards to purchase music or applications.

• Taking Care of Your iPad:

 Students are responsible for the iPad they have been issued by the school.

• No food or drink is allowed near your iPad.
• Cords and cables must be inserted and removed carefully.
• Students are responsible for keeping their iPads charged for school.
• IPads are not allowed at lunch or recess.

• The protective case currently on the iPad provides sufficient protection to the iPad for transporting it to and from school. The iPad’s protective carrying case should always be closed when being transported.
• Screen Care: The iPad screens can be damaged if subjected to rough treatment. The screens are particularly sensitive to damage from excessive pressure on the screen. To avoid damage and costly repairs, please adhere to the following rules:

• Do not lean on the top of the iPad.
• Do not place anything near the iPad that could put pressure on the screen.
• Do not put anything in the carrying case that could press against the screen.

• Do not use sharp objects (pens, pencils, etc.) on the screen.
• Clean the screen only with a soft, dry cloth.
• Do not use Windex or other harsh chemicals to clean the screen.

• Using Your iPad at School:

• Students are responsible for bringing their iPad to school every day more than 50% charged. Please leave your chargers at home.

• Students are responsible for bringing their iPads to every class unless otherwise directed by a teacher. Students bring their iPads home at the end of the day.
• In school, you are to use your iPad for the assigned task and only that task unless otherwise permitted by the teacher. Use only the applications and/or websites permitted for the task at hand.
• Sound must be muted at all times at school unless permission is obtained by the teacher.
• Also, while logged into the school network, teachers and administration reserve the right to monitor student internet searches and browsing history. This will only be used to ensure that the students are using the iPad for educational reasons and are staying on task.
• Screen Savers and Backgrounds: Inappropriate content found any place on your iPad will result in disciplinary action. Presence of weapons, inappropriate language or pictures, or R-rated material may result in loss of iPad privileges. Students may be selected at random to provide their iPad for inspection.

• General Rules:

• The student who is issued the iPad will be responsible at all times for its use. This means if a student chooses to lend his/her iPad, they are responsible for the actions of the person using the iPad.
• Do not create a password to open iPad.
• If you would like to purchase your own iPad cover with a keypad, your choice must be accepted by the technology department prior to using. The school cover should be returned to the technology room.
• Cyberbullying will not be tolerated and the appropriate disciplinary action will be taken immediately.
• Do not reveal your full name, phone number, address, social security number, or passwords to other people.
• Storage on this device is not guaranteed to be private or confidential.
• If you have accidently accessed a site that contains obscene or offensive material, please notify a teacher or administrator immediately so that the site can be blocked and to avoid being charged with an offense that was inadvertent.
• Students will be expected to replace lost or broken chargers or covers. This will again be outlined in the insurance policy guidelines. 
• Your iPad is currently registered with the school by the serial number as well as the user account name.
• IPads should be taken home every night to ensure their safety. Do not leave iPads in a vehicle locked or unlocked as iPads are a prime target for thieves. Also, the extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, in a car may expose the device to damage.
• Do not leave your iPadpi9um-9u77u-u  in an unsupervised area.
• Should a theft occur, please file a police report.
• Do not disassemble an iPad or attempt to fix it on your own.

• Repairing of Your iPad:

• Our Lady of Grace has decided to self- insure the iPads against theft and damage. 

Please refer to the policy.

.

• Personal health and Safety:

• Avoid extended use of the iPad while resting directly on your lap. The bottom of the iPad can generate a lot of heat.
• Take frequent breaks when working on the iPad for long periods of time. Look away from the iPad approximately every 15 minutes.
• Do not provide any personal information to anyone over the internet.
• Do not share your passwords with anyone.

• Student Discipline:

The following disciplinary steps will be taken for failure to comply with the above detailed guidelines:

• 1^st Offense- Loss of iPad use at home for up to fifteen (15) school days
• 2^nd Offense- Loss of iPad use at home for up to thirty (30) school days
• 3^rd Offense- Loss of iPad use at home for remainder of school year

Should the offense prove to be a severe violation of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Acceptable Use Policy, disciplinary action will be left up to the school administration. 

Failure to comply with the above mentioned guidelines will be treated as a failure to comply with the Acceptable Use Policy for Technology and will be dealt with accordingly.

Our Lady of Grace

IPad User Agreement

I have read the above detailed iPad User Agreement. I understand my responsibilities regarding the use of the iPad. 

In signing below, I acknowledge that I understand and agree to this.

I understand that failure to comply with the User IPad Agreement could result in loss of the iPad and further discipline actions according to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Acceptable Use Policy.

All iPad User Agreement content applies to those students opting to utilize their own personal iPad in place of the school iPad.

Signature of Student:   _______________________________  Date:     /    /

Signature of Parent:   _________________________________ Date:    /    /   

Teach Your Monster (Kindergarten) to Read

This is my second year using Teach Your Monster to Read with Kindergarten classes. It is an amazing program that allows each student to create their own monster and take it on exciting adventures. Through a series of games reinforcing letter and sound recognition, students are able to win prizes for their monsters. The application works at the pace of the individual student. It even encompasses captions and sentences as the monster's adventure progresses.

Teachers, you are able to sign up your entire class for FREE and print login cards for each student.

Moving in 1 Direction

Personal Learning Networks, PLNs, are a way for students to expand their learning resources beyond the walls of a traditional classroom. Students are becoming experts in fields that interest them through global connections made through the world wide web. They have direct access to mentors and fellow enthusiasts.

Why do we as teachers need to develop our own PLN's? Quite simply because we are 20th century educators teaching 21st century learners. There is a disconnect in how information is being gathered and presented by teachers and how it is absorbed, or not, by students.

In Personal Learning Networks,  Richardson and Mancabelli, effectively and excitedly convey the need for transformation of our classrooms. Their words serve as the catalyst that all educators should embrace so as to be interesting and connected educators of the 21st century. In order to assist in making such a transformation, an argument needs to be made for the transformation schools don't quite recognize they need, YET.

My daughter, Erin, is more than infatuated with the boy band One Direction. Through the learning network she has created, Erin has access to all 1D information. The band is "transparent" and therefore my daughter has a direct link to their day to day activity (Twitter), all concerts (YouTube), clothing and cologne preferences(blogging sites). She knows within minutes when the band's plane has landed, all familial background information and has relationships with fans from around the world lucky enough to score meet and greet tickets. Her learning network far exceeds that of her mother's Tiger Beat resource of the 70's.

The band uses Twitter to answer questions from their Directioner fans during the concert and they video tape concert excerpts with the audiences' Smart phones. These clips are the same ones found on YouTube, uploaded before the stadium has emptied. My daughter is a 21st century learner whose PLN on all things One Direction is vast. There is no fan based question that goes unanswered or without research.

What if we as educators could incorporate that same passion for learning and building personal learning networks into our classrooms? Amazing, yes? I try to be a parent that comes from a place of "yes". Everything is a possibility at least until I have thought it through. I want to be that same kind of teacher.