Mason Elementary School Bring Your Own Device Policy and Instructional Framework

Combined with the right instruction and used responsibly, technologies in learning can serve as: The means for students to pursue lines of inquiry and interest in the academic disciplines and beyond. The opportunity for learners to collaborate with teachers and peers and to express themselves and their ideas

most effectively. A vehicle for personalizing learning in ways that ensure each student is fully engaged in learning and is successful

in attaining established learning standards. Opportunities for student choice in the use of multimedia to explore, research, think, synthesize, analyze,

evaluate, communicate and express ideas in high quality products. Access to digital content and digital learning environments that provide multiple pathways to learning. Connections locally and globally that add authenticity to school work. This enables students to learn while

pursuing real-world issues and topics of deep interest to them, both individually and collectively, within their communities of interest and beyond.

Platforms from which to learn about and attain high standards in digital citizenship. Opportunities for students to construct ideas, opinions, arguments and evidence-based reasoning

collaboratively.

Our school BYOD Policy will be Park It or Pack It Students are to use the device only as directed by his or her teacher. The teacher will instruct the students to Park It at which time the student will remove the device from his or her

backpack and “Park It” on their desk awaiting further instructions. When the teacher instructs students to Pack It the student will immediately secure the device in his or her

backpack. A substitute teacher will not ask the student to Park It. BYOD devices will not be used with a substitute teacher. A student may not charge their device at school. Having a fully charged device is part of being a responsible

student and digital citizen. No device to be brought to school after May 1st. The student will not be asked to install apps during a class period. The teacher can recommend an app to be

installed at home. A student cannot opt out of recess to stay in the classroom and play on his/her device. A student may not use the device during indoor recess. Only teacher approved educational resources, websites, apps, etc... may be accessed on the device. Teachers and school technology team will not support the device. Students are expected to be a good Digital Citizen.

Each teacher will require a Digital Device Agreement be signed by the student and his or her parent(s) outlining the three step plan for failing to follow the BYOD program guidelines: Three Strikes Policy 1st offense – One week of no device at school. Parents notified. 2nd offense – Nine weeks of no device at school. Parents notified. 3rd offense – Student has lost BYOD privileges and is unable to bring a device the remainder of the school year. Parents notified. *Depending on severity, teacher, with support of administration, may skip to step three at any time student actions are inappropriate.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)

Student/Parent Handbook

Basic Skills for BYOD Elementary Students

To assure students make the best use of instructional time with their own device, please ensure that your child can do the following:

In addition, it would be helpful if your child can do the following with their device:

Power their device on and off

Adjust volume up/down/mute

Select appropriate WiFi network

Log in to school network

Plug in headphones

Open web-browser to access the internet

Take a picture

Take a video

Switch between front and rear facing camera

Bookmark a website and place a shortcut on the home screen

Take a screenshot

Access photos and videos on the device

Mason Elementary School BYOD

Device Tips to Optimize the BYOD InitiativeScreen Size: 9.5 inches or greater is considered optimal; 7 inches or greater is adequate for many instructional activities

Operating Android 3.x or higher, iOS 5 or higher, Windows 7 or higher System (OS): (The operating system should be the version provided by the manufacturer.)

Connectivity: When used at school, the device will connect using GCPS Wi-Fi, which allows filtered Internet access only.

Browser: The browsers listed below are typically supported. Due to the wide variance of digital materials available for access, occasional incompatibilities may be encountered. The most recent versions of the browsers are more likely to have broad compatibility.

Microsoft Internet Explorer Mozilla Firefox Google Chrome Apple Safari

Keyboard: Devices with a keyboard provide students with additional functionality.

Plug-ins: Applications have different plug-in requirements that affect device usability. *Much of the available educational digital content requires Flash which is not available on an iOS device and many Android devices. Currently, Flash only runs consistently on Windows and Mac devices (computers/laptops).

Power: Students are responsible for bringing their device fully charged each day. Power sources will not be available. Long-life batteries are optimal.

Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)… In Gwinnett County Public Schools, more and more instructional activities can be enhanced when students bring their own personal devices (cell phones, tablets, laptops, eReaders, etc.) to class. As you consider the value of this experience and the opportunity for your child to use a personal device at school, here are some things to know:

•GCPS encourages students to take advantage of the school system’s BYOD policy, but participation is not required.

•Students should bring devices that they are comfortable using.•With the variety of activities for which students might use a device in class, no single

device is likely to do it all.•Some devices are better suited to various instructional activities than others. You may

want to look at options and limitations based on what your child’s class is doing. Below are examples of classroom activities and optimal devices for some of those activities:

Looking for more on BYOD?

Ask your school or go to the

GCPS website.

Gwinnett County Public Schools • 437 Old Peachtree Rd, NW • Suwanee, GA 30024 • www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us Current July 2014

Reading eTexts

Researching Online

TakingNotes

Viewing Videos (not Flashed-

based)*

Creating Written

Documents

Taking Photos to Express Learning

Creating Videos to Express Learning

Creating and Editing Images

and Presentations

eReader ■Smartphone (and iPod Touch) with Camera

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

7” or Larger Touchscreen Tablet (iOS, Android, or Win8), No Camera

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

7” or Larger Touchscreen Tablet with Front and Back Camera

■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Laptop ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Stock #90805

Mason Elementary School BYOD

Personally Owned Devices (PODs) Release Form

Student Name: Student #:

Description of the item(s) to be released from liability: Any technology that students bring to school for the purpose of the Mason Elementary School Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program are considered as released from liability by GCPS.

THE MISSION OF GWINNETT COUNTY

PUBLIC SCHOOLS is to pursue excellence

in academic knowledge, skills, and behavior

for each student, resulting in measured improvement against local, national, and

world-class standards.

437 Old Peachtree Road, NW Suwanee, GA 30024-2978

678.301.6000 www.gwinnett.k12.ga.us

This equipment, along with any additional technology brought to school by the student is not the property of Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS), but is owned and used by the single student named above for teaching and learning purposes during school. By signing this form, the school and parents agree that this device may only be used at school to support specific teaching and learning processes, including times and locations where students may not be directly supervised by school personnel. This equipment may be used on school district grounds as long as it is being used for teaching and learning purposes or school-authorized activities. These devices include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Notebook, netbook, or laptop computers • EReaders and tablet devices (Kindle, Nook, iPad, etc.) • Audio and video players such as iPods and MP3 players, including Wi-Fi • Smartphones and other cellular devices • Other devices with computer interfaces

Students may not connect their devices to GCPS networks in an unapproved way or for activities other than those related to teaching and learning. Students and parents must be aware that accessing inappropriate materials while at school is subject to local school procedures for disciplinary action, including confiscation of the device. Appropriate and inappropriate uses of technology and related content are detailed in district and local school policies and acceptable use agreements. GCPS is not responsible for any maintenance, damage, theft, usage or usage charges, or loss of this non-school-district equipment. Students using these devices are responsible for the maintenance, care, and protection of their personal equipment that they choose to bring to school. Through this document, parents and students agree that their technology, regardless of ownership, will be used in a manner consistent with the district Acceptable Use Policy. The parents release all liability and indemnify Gwinnett County Public Schools, its employees, and designees, from responsibility for this equipment. This permission is valid for the current school year only, and may be revoked by school officials at any time for improper use of the device, or other reasons.

Parent/Guardian Signature Signature of Authorized GCPS Staff ________________________________ _______________________________ Please print name Please print name ________________________________ _______________________________ Student Signature ________________________________ Date: ___________________________

Mason Elementary School BYOD