STUDENTS:

 

I have my laptop with me in class. How do I get on the Internet now?

Answer: Most laptops or other personal devices will detect a wireless connection when you are near one. Most of the time your technology tool will ask you if you would like to join the network. When prompted, choose MASD-Student from the list. Once you choose this network, you will be prompted to enter your MASD username and password.  

 

My laptop is not prompting me to choose a wireless network. Is there another way to connect?

Answer: In the settings menu of your device, there is usually an icon for a network connection, go to this icon and choose MASD-Student from the list or prompt your computer to look for wireless networks in range. Always consult your tool’s owner’s manual for exact directions for accessing a wireless network.

 

Can I bring a power cord to school to charge my device during the day?

Answer:  YES.

 

Can I bring a tablet like device such as an iPad to school?

Answer: Yes. The Apple iPad does not include a flash player. After testing a number of Android tablets we found Flash playback to be inconsistent on some models.

 

Can I bring a keyboard (USB or Bluetooth) for my touch screen tablet such as an iPad?

Answer: Yes

 

Will I be able to use my iPad/netbook/laptop in every class any time I want?

Answer: Students will be able to use their device in other classes except when a teacher specifically asks the student not to use it. The teacher in the classroom is the final say on procedures in the classroom. If the use of your device in other classes is causing a distraction, you will be told to put the device away. If a teacher asks you not to use your technology tool, then you must follow those directions. Access is only available, not guaranteed for each classroom situation.

 

I need to save my work in my MASD shared folder. Why can’t I access this resource?

Answer: You are on the Guest Network. It is not the same as the network you would normally access from a campus computer. You will not see your shared folder, so you will need to save your work using your Google Apps account, flash drive, your own hard drive, or emailing it to another computer or user.

 

I need to print the spreadsheet I just created, why is there no printer listed when I try this?

Answer: Like the shared folders, printers are networked differently on the campus and will not be available when you login to the guest network. Some printing solutions include, emailing the document to your teacher to print, save it to a flash drive and print it from home or another campus computer. Keep in mind that using campus printers in the classroom or other learning spaces is at the discretion of the teacher or building administrator.

 

My laptop was stolen when I brought it to school. Who should I contact about this?

Answer: Bringing your own technology tools to school can be useful, however some risks are involved as well. It is always a good idea to record the device’s serial number to have in case of theft. MASD is not responsible for the theft of a device nor are we responsible for any damage done to the device while at school. Any time a theft occurs, you should contact a school administrator to make him/her aware of the offense. The administrators will work with the Mechanicsburg Police Department to try to locate the device.

 

Why am I filtered on my own computer? Shouldn’t I be able to see what I want to on my own tool?

Answer: Student filtering is a requirement of all public schools. The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires all network access to be filtered, regardless of the tool you use to access it while in a public school. Your laptop or phone is the device, the network you are using while at school belongs to MASD and will be filtered.

 

Am I still held accountable for the Acceptable Use Policy I signed at the beginning of the school year even though this is my own personal computer?

 Answer: Yes. The Acceptable Use Policy for DTSD remains in effect even when you are using your own laptop, iPad etc. Violating the terms of the AUP would be a student code of conduct violation and would be dealt with on the campus with a building administrator.

 

 

STAFF

 

My classroom is not conducive to student owned technology, am I required to allow my students to access their technology tools in the classroom?

 Answer: No. Although we encourage teachers to leverage the student owned technology tools in their classroom for learning, there is no requirement of teachers to allow this. You are in charge of the way your class functions and the rules that apply.

 

Some of my students cannot access the network on their laptops or wireless devices.

 I don’t have time in a class period to help them with this. Should I put in a help request or call the help desk?

Answer: No. Students who cannot access the MASD-Student network or who may have technical issues with their technology tool need to take care of this issue by working with their user’s manual that came with the device out of the classroom. These are not MASD devices and the district is not allocating resources at this time to troubleshoot issues. You are welcome to help if you choose, but it is not a staff member’s responsibility to ensure that student owned technology is functioning properly.

 

One of my students was using his laptop to bully another student on campus. Should I call the technology office concerning this problem?

Answer: No. Any disciplinary infractions that occur from using technology tools should be referred to a building administrator. This would be student code of conduct issue.

 

Will students have access to any common software packages via the guest network access?

Answer: Not at this time. We will continue to evaluate the pilot and the needs for the future and make changes based on building recommendations.  Students may access their Google accounts from any wireless device.

 

Should I call the office if one of my student’s laptops is damaged or stolen?

Answer: No. Any theft issues should be handled as you normally would in your building. MASD is not responsible for any damage or theft of student owned technology tools. It would be good to remind students to keep a record of the device’s serial number just in case a theft occurs. 

 

PARENTS:

 

My child is bringing his iPad to school for instructional purposes. Will he have access to things he normally does with district equipment?

Answer: Your child will have access to any of the web based software high school students currently use (Databases, library search tools etc.). Software may run differently on different devices for varying reasons. You should consult your owner’s manual for software limitations. (Ex. iPads cannot run software requiring Flash Player)

 

 

I have read the terms of service and I do not wish to have my child accessing the Internet using their own laptop. I would like to allow my child to continue using their computer for productivity, but not the Internet. Is this allowable within this pilot plan?

Answer: No, most resources are online and require frequent internet access. Your child would not be able to access the materials needed for this class without internet access. When/if the program is expanded, the answer to this question might change.

 

If my child’s laptop is stolen or damaged, what recourse can I take?

Answer: The district is not responsible for any damage or theft of student owned equipment. Installing tracking software like Absolute Software can help locate the equipment if it is stolen, and keeping track of the device’s serial number, model and type will be helpful as well. Theft or vandalism of any kind should be reported immediately to a building administrator, so he/she can take the appropriate steps.

 

What are the building/classroom rules for using student owned devices including?

Answer: Teachers make the final decision for any tools used in the classroom; student owned equipment would be no different. It will be up to the individual teachers to communicate their expectations to parents and students. Contact your child’s teachers or building administration for his/her expectations.

 

Will my child have access to communication tools like email or message boards while on the MASD-Student network?

Answer: Yes, provided they have a web-based email account on the internet.