Student Handbook Guide to Your Device
Contents Overview........................................................................................................................................................ 3 Goals for DiG iN ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Access to Electronic Hardware and Communications ................................................................................... 3 About DiG iN.................................................................................................................................................. 4 Participating in the Laptop Program .......................................................................................................... 4 About Your Laptop ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Laptop Specifications ................................................................................................................................ 4 Security and Content Filtering ................................................................................................................... 5 Laptop Distribution Process ...................................................................................................................... 5 What You Will Receive .............................................................................................................................. 5 What’s Installed on Your DiG iN Laptop .................................................................................................... 6 Using Your Laptop ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Caring for Your Laptop and Protecting Your Privacy ................................................................................. 6 Expectations.............................................................................................................................................. 7 Charging Your Laptop ............................................................................................................................... 8 Saving Documents .................................................................................................................................... 8 Printing Documents ................................................................................................................................... 8 Music, Videos, and Games ....................................................................................................................... 8 Support .......................................................................................................................................................... 9 Technical Assistance................................................................................................................................. 9 Service ...................................................................................................................................................... 9 Reporting Loss, Theft, and Damage.......................................................................................................... 9 My Big Campus ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Appendix...................................................................................................................................................... 11
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Overview Fort Worth ISD is embarking on a classroom transformation with a 1:1 student laptop initiative. It’s called DiG iN. The program will begin with all high school students at six pilot campuses in January 2015. More campuses will be added each semester. By March 2016, all high school students will have a District-issued laptop.
Goals for DiG iN ● Increase student engagement ● Empower students to build digital literacy skills and competencies ● Increase opportunities for students to engage in problem-solving activities ● Increase opportunities for students to work in collaborative teams
Access to Electronic Hardware and Communications As a user of the District’s technology resources, you will be able to access: •
An unlimited number of databases, libraries, and resources.
•
The Internet and other electronic information systems/networks, which can be used to communicate with schools, colleges, organizations, and individuals around the world.
•
Shared electronic equipment, which may hold stored temporary Internet and electronic files of other users.
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About DiG iN Participating in the Laptop Program All Fort Worth ISD high school students are strongly encouraged to participate in the laptop program. (A parent who opts his/her student out of the program will need to sign a form.) In order to participate, you must complete a DiG iN orientation session, complete and return the DiG iN Laptop Agreement Form, and pay the non-refundable $30 annual technology use fee. The fee is pro-rated at $5 per six weeks for students who enter late in the year. For instance, a child who enrolls in May only pays $5 for the last six weeks of school. For the six pilot campuses in Spring of 2015, the technology use fee is $15 for the semester.
About Your Laptop Laptop Specifications Memory
8 GB
Screen Size
13.3
HD Storage
500 GB
Operating System
Windows 8
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Security and Content Filtering Please be aware that the Internet is an association of diverse communication and information networks. While the District is required by federal law to use technology protection measures to limit access to material considered harmful or inappropriate to students, it may not be possible for us to absolutely prevent such access. Despite our best efforts and beyond the limits of filtering technology, you may run across areas of adult content and some material you might find objectionable. The content filtering technology on the student laptop is configured to work both inside and outside of the District network. The laptop is configured with anti-virus protection. In addition, laptops are protected with anti-theft software that allows Fort Worth ISD to work with law enforcement to track and recover stolen equipment.
Laptop Distribution Process Laptop distribution will take place at the campus. You must present a valid school ID, state ID, or driver’s license in order to check out the laptop. Once the laptop is issued, you will keep that laptop for the remainder of the school year. At the end of the school year, you will return the laptop to the campus. If you transfer to a different Fort Worth ISD campus or withdraw from Fort Worth ISD, you are expected to return the laptop to the issuing campus. The next school year when laptops are distributed, you will receive your same machine.
What You Will Receive • • • •
Laptop Laptop Battery Padded laptop bag Power Adapter (charger)
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What’s Installed on Your DiG iN Laptop Your District laptop comes loaded with Fort Worth ISD approved software and is configured for instructional use. The District has determined specific software applications required to complete a course. Should you have a personally unique situation that requires special software, please talk to your campus DiG iN specialist. Software downloaded from the internet that is not authorized by Fort Worth ISD should not be installed on your laptop. Tampering with the District laptop to load unauthorized software is a violation of the Fort Worth ISD Acceptable Use Policy and may result in loss of privileges or disciplinary action.
Using Your Laptop Caring for Your Laptop and Protecting Your Privacy The laptop issued to you will be the same laptop you will use throughout the school year and each year that you are in the Fort Worth ISD. You should take care to protect the laptop from accidental or intentional abuse, damage, or theft. Here is how: 1.
Keep food and drink away from your laptop.
2.
Keep your laptop away from extreme temperatures. Do not leave or store your laptop in a vehicle, especially during extreme hot or cold weather.
3.
Always store your laptop in the padded laptop bag when not in use.
4.
Always keep your laptop secure. Do not leave it unattended or let others use your laptop or charger.
5.
The laptop should be kept free of any writing, drawing, stickers, or labels that are not the property of Fort Worth ISD. Removable skins or keyboard covers are acceptable. 6
6.
Keep cords and power cables neatly wrapped to prevent accidental damage.
7.
Store your laptop in a secure place at campus and at home.
8.
At least once a week, shut down your laptop while at school. When the laptop is restarted, updates available on the District network will install. This helps ensure that every laptop has the latest anti-virus software updates and District software.
Expectations Students are expected to: 1.
Bring the laptop to school fully charged at the beginning of each day.
2.
Take the laptop to every class.
3.
Report battery, laptop, or charger damage to the campus administrator immediately.
4.
Report theft or loss of a laptop to the campus administrator immediately. If theft occurs after school hours or away from the campus, report the theft to the police department immediately.
5.
Use the laptop responsibly for instructional purposes and completing school work.
Failure to bring your laptop or any other class material(s) does not release you from your responsibility for class work. If you repeatedly fail to bring materials to class, including the laptop, you will be subject to disciplinary action or the usual consequences associated with not being prepared for class. Tampering with the District laptop to load unauthorized software is a violation of the Fort Worth ISD Acceptable Use Policy and may result in loss of privileges or disciplinary action.
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Charging Your Laptop Charge your laptop at home and bring it fully charged to start the day. However, if you need to charge your laptop at school, check with your campus or teacher for designated charging areas and use the power cord supplied with your laptop.
Saving Documents The laptop is equipped with limited storage space. Back up work on these District-approved cloud storage services: •
My Big Campus (MBC)
•
Flash drive
•
OneDrive
Printing Documents Printer drivers cannot be loaded for home printing. Assignments should be submitted digitally through My Big Campus.
Music, Videos, and Games Listening to music or watching videos on your laptop is not allowed during school hours without permission from the teacher. Permission will be given only for media used to complete a school assignment. Gaming is not allowed during school unless it is an education-related game assigned by the teacher.
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Listening to music or watching a movie on your laptop is allowed at home with permission from parents/guardians. Gaming is allowed at home with parent permission if it is education-related and no download of any kind is needed.
Support Technical Assistance On occasion, laptop difficulties arise. Try these steps before reporting a technical issue: •
Close programs that you are not currently using.
•
Save your work and try restarting your computer.
•
Shut down your computer while you are at school and allow any updates to be completed.
•
Go to the Fort Worth ISD DiG iN website for more troubleshooting tips: fwisd.org/digin/
Service If you have tried the self-help troubleshooting tips and you are still experiencing problems with your laptop, complete the Service Request Form through My Big Campus. Never try to repair the computer yourself or have someone outside the District work on it, as this will void the warranty and cause you to incur charges for damages.
Reporting Loss, Theft, and Damage Care should be taken to ensure that your District-issued laptop is kept secure and never left unattended. The student will be accountable for intentional damage or willful neglect of District property. At the 9
discretion of the campus, the student may lose take-home privileges or be subject to restrictions of District issued laptops. Note: Always back up school work to your My Big Campus account. Loss, theft, or damage of your District laptop will not be a valid excuse for failing to complete an assignment. In the event that it is misplaced or stolen, follow these steps: 1.
Report the theft, loss, or damage immediately to your campus administrator.
2.
Complete the Theft/Loss/Damage Report (TLD).
3.
The student will be issued a temporary loaner laptop to complete classwork and assignments.
My Big Campus My Big Campus is a learning management system that helps teachers manage their classes and helps students stay organized. It also prepares students for college work, as colleges use learning management systems as well.
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Appendix
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LAPTOP USER AGREEMENT A laptop will be loaned to the student named in this document under the following conditions:
o This student laptop loan agreement, which is signed by the parent/guardian, student and staff member of the school, will be kept on file at the school.
o Use of this equipment is for educational purposes. Any purpose other than educational may result in loss of privileges.
o The District does not permit unethical use of the Internet, email, or any other media. Violation of this policy may result in the loss of laptop loan privileges and disciplinary action by the school.
o The configuration of the hardware equipment and all accompanying software may not be altered, nor
can software be copied to or from the computer, or installed on the computer under any circumstances.
o Parents/guardians are required to pay a $30 non-refundable technology use fee. For the 2014-15 school year, the technology use fee for the six pilot campuses will be $15. The technology use fee is not insurance. The fee is intended to sustain the program. The payment must be made prior to the student receiving the laptop.
o Parents/guardians accept financial responsibility for costs related to damage due to purposeful action or
gross negligence. Purposeful action means to act intentionally or with intent to perform a particular act, to act in a particular manner for a specific reason, aim or design, or a resolution to use a certain means to reach an end. Gross negligence is defined as lack of any care or an extreme departure from what a reasonably careful person would do in the same situation to prevent harm to the property. The replacement cost of the laptop is $616.75, the replacement cost of the battery is $89.99, and the AC adapter replacement cost is $44.99.
o Financial obligations must not be ignored. For more information, refer to care of instructional materials in student manual.
o The District will provide a padded laptop bag. The laptop must be carried in the case at all times when not in use.
o The laptop, which is the property of Fort Worth ISD, and all laptop accessories, must be returned prior to the end of the school year, or in the event of school change or early withdrawal.
o The District has provided students with a “Digital Citizenship Orientation� and information for parents, including how to care for the device and how to responsibly use technology.
o I have read the Acceptable Use of Electronic Communications System and the Electronic Services Overview for Students.
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We, the undersigned student and parent/guardian, agree to assume full responsibility for the proper care and educational use of the computer equipment described in this document. Student has attended laptop orientation.
Yes! I wish to participate in the Fort Worth ISD DiG iN Laptop Program. I have read and understand the terms and conditions of this 1:1 learning program and agree to abide by them and to pay all, or part of any costs, which may occur should the laptop be lost or damaged.
No, I do not wish to participate in the Fort Worth ISD DiG iN Laptop Program. I have read and understand the terms and conditions of this 1:1 learning program and understand that my child is still responsible for completing all work and assignments.
Location #
Campus Name
Student’s Full Name (Please Print)
Fort Worth ISD Student ID
Technology Use Fee Amount Paid
$
`
Staff Signature
Signature of Student
Date
Signature of Parent
Date
Laptop Checkout Information
(To Be Completed by Fort Worth ISD)
Model Serial No FWISD Tag Date Processed by Status
(Circle One)
Yearly Checkout
First Replacement
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Second Replacement