Helpful Information & Policies

I will:

  • Use digital devices, networks and software in school for educational purposes and activities.
  • Bring Chromebooks to school each day charged and ready for use.
  • Leave protective case/shell on Chromebook at all times.
  • Keep my personal information (including home/mobile phone number, mailing address, and user password) and that of others private.
  • Show respect for myself and others when using technology including social media.
  • Give acknowledgement to others for their ideas and work.
  • Report inappropriate use of technology immediately.

All Students:

  1. Media

  • Inappropriate media (pictures, music, movies, etc.) may not be used as Chromebook backgrounds or themes.  The presence of such media will result in disciplinary action.

  • Inappropriate media (images, videos, etc.) may not be stored on or accessed on the Chromebook. The presence of such media will result in disciplinary action.

 

  1. Audio

  • Sound must be muted at all times unless permission is obtained from a teacher.

  • Headphones may be used at the discretion of the teachers.

  • Students should have their own personal set of headphones for sanitary reasons.

 

  1. Printing

  • Students will be encouraged to digitally publish and share their work with their teachers and peers when appropriate.

  • Because all student work should be stored in an Internet/cloud application, students will not print directly from their Chromebooks at school.   Students may log into a print station to print their work in the library, computer lab or other networked computer with printing capabilities.

 

  1. Network Access and Security

  • Students will log into their Chromebooks using their school issued Google Apps for Education account and their password.

  • Students should never share their account passwords with others, unless requested by an administrator.

 

  1. Managing and Saving Digital Work With a Chromebook

  • The majority of student work will be stored in Internet/cloud based applications and can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection and from most mobile Internet devices.

  • Some files may be stored on the Chromebook’s hard drive.

  • Students should always remember to save frequently when working on digital media (although many cloud-based applications, including Google Docs, automatically save work).

  • The district will not be responsible for the loss of any student work.

  • Students are encouraged to maintain backups of their important work on a portable storage device or by having multiple copies stored in different Internet storage solutions.

 

  1. Following Classroom Guidelines

  • Students are responsible for following school and classroom specific guidelines and expectations for use.  This means following instructions, guidance, and protocols regarding when and how to use the technology in the instructional setting.

 

Student Expectations: Students are expected to bring a fully charged Chromebook to school every day and bring their Chromebooks to all classes unless specifically advised not to do so by their teacher.

  1. If a student does not bring his/her Chromebook to school

  • Students should indicate to their teacher that they do not have a Chromebook with them.

  • Teachers may direct the student who has forgotten the Chromebook to seek the assistance of another student to view information.

  • Loaners are not available for students who forget their Chromebooks at home.

 

  1. Chromebooks being repaired

  • Loaner Chromebooks may be issued to students when their school-issued Chromebook is being repaired in the Chromebook support area.

  • A student borrowing a Chromebook will be responsible for any damage to or loss of the loaned device.

  • Chromebooks on loan to students having their devices repaired may be taken home. (Students will receive an e-mail notice when their computer is ready.  The loaned computer must be turned in to receive their Chromebook.)

 

  1. Charging Chromebooks

  • Chromebooks must be brought to school each day with a full charge.

  • Students should charge their Chromebooks at home every evening.

 

  1. Using a Chromebook Outside of School

  • Secondary students are encouraged to use their Chromebooks at home and other locations outside of school.  A WiFi Internet connection will be required for the majority of Chromebook use, however, some applications can be used while not connected to the Internet.

  • Students are bound by the Greater Clark Responsible Use Policy, Administrative Procedures, the Chromebook agreement, and all other guidelines in this document wherever they use their Chromebooks.

Students are responsible for the general care of the Chromebook they have been issued by the school.  Students with Chromebooks that are broken or fail to work properly must take the device to  one of the Chromebook support areas within the school as soon as possible so that they can be taken care of properly.

District-owned Chromebooks should never be taken to an outside computer service for any type of repairs or maintenance.  Students should never leave their Chromebooks unattended except when locked in their hallway locker.

  1. General Precautions

  • No food or drink should be next to Chromebooks.

  • Cords, cables, and removable storage devices (e.g. thumb drives) must be inserted carefully into appropriate port on the Chromebooks.

  • Chromebooks should not be used or stored near pets.

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

  • Chromebooks must remain free of any writing, drawing, stickers, and labels. Only approved Chromebook skins are allowed.

  • Heavy objects should never be placed on top of Chromebooks.

  • Chromebooks should never be loaned to another student or individual during the school day or otherwise.

 

  1. Carrying Chromebooks

  • Always transport Chromebooks with care.  Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.

  • Students should hold the Chromebooks (cover closed) with two hands if they need to carry the Chromebook anywhere inside or outside of the classroom during instructional time.

  • Never lift a Chromebook by the screen.

  • Never carry a Chromebook with the screen open.

 

  1. Opening the Chromebook

  • Open the Chromebook only when it is resting on a flat surface such as a table or desk.

  • To open the Chromebook, use one hand to hold the keyboard against the table.  Use the other hand to open the screen by grasping the screen’s edge (in the middle) and gently moving the screen to the open position. (Figure 1. Opening a Chromebook.)

  • The hinge of the screen will only allow the screen to be open to a slight angle.  Do not attempt to open the screen beyond this stopping point as the screen will break if forced.

 

  1. Closing the Chromebook

  • Before closing the screen, make sure there is nothing on the keyboard to prevent the full closure of the device. Obstacles on the keyboard could cause broken screens or damaged hinges.

  • Close the screen only when the Chromebook is resting on a flat surface such as a table or desk.

  • Close the Chromebook using two hands–one at either corner of the screen (Figure 2. Closing a Chromebook.)

  • Close the screen gently.

    **

    Figure 1: Opening a Chromebook.

    Figure 2. Closing a Chromebook.

    5. Screen Care

The Chromebook screen can be damaged if subjected to heavy objects, rough treatment, some cleaning solvents, and other liquids.  The screens are particularly sensitive to damage from excessive pressure.

    • Do not store a Chromebook with the screen open.

    • Do not place anything in the protective case that will press against the cover.

    • Make sure there is nothing on the keyboard before closing the lid (e.g. pens, pencils, or disks).

    • Never lift the Chromebook by the screen.

    • Only clean the screen with a soft, dry microfiber cloth or anti-static cloth.Do not put pressure on the top of a Chromebook when it is closed.

 

Internet network resources are provided for a limited educational purpose, which is to allow students to conduct research and to facilitate intra-corporation communication. The use of a GCCS Internet account must be in support of curriculum-related activities and consistent with the educational objectives of Greater Clark County Schools. Transmission of any material in violation of any U.S., state, and/or local regulation is prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to: copyrighted, threatening, obscene, and/or trade-protected materials.

This education account may not be used for commercial activities. Any use for product advertisement or political lobbying is also prohibited.

The use of GCCS telecommunications services is a privilege, not a right, and inappropriate use will result in a cancellation of all Internet privileges for a specified period of time. Greater Clark administrators and the network administrators will deem what is inappropriate use and their decision is final. Faculty or staff may request that further account privileges be denied, revoked, or suspended for any violation of this agreement. Although Internet privileges may be suspended, students may be able to access their accounts to complete academic assignments and/or remediation activities which do not require Internet access. Parents may request that alternative assignments replace activities requiring Internet access.

All users of telecommunications on GCCS-sponsored accounts are expected to abide by these rules. These rules include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Be polite. Do not be abusive in your messages to others. Students have no expectation of privacy in the use of school-owned equipment.

2. Use appropriate language. Do not swear, use vulgarities, or any inappropriate language. Illegal activities are strictly forbidden.

3. No person using GCCS technology will utilize this equipment to engage in bullying of another. Bullying is defined as overt, repeated acts or gestures, including verbal or written communications transmitted; physical act committed; or any other behaviors committed by student or group of students against another student with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the other student. This rule applies when a student is on school grounds immediately before or during school hours, immediately after school hours or at any other time when the school is being used by a school group; off school grounds at a school activity, function or event; traveling to or from school or a school activity, function or event; or using property or equipment provided by the school.

4. Do not reveal your personal address or phone number, or those of other students or colleagues.

5. Do not use the network to solicit face-to-face meetings with other users, and do not respond to such solicitations.

6. Electronic mail is not guaranteed to be private.

7. Do not use the network in a way that would disrupt the use of the network by other users. Excessive log-on time and large-scale postings shall be considered as disruptions. The administration of the network reserves the right to determine what constitutes excessive mailings and excessive time on-line.

8. All communications and information accessible via the network should be assumed to be the private property of Greater Clark County Schools. All copyrights and intellectual property rights should be observed.

9. Accessing, uploading, downloading, and/or distributing pornographic, obscene or sexually explicit materials is prohibited.

10. Students may not use the school’s resources to access the Internet without the permission and supervision of a faculty member.

11. Schools may be permitted to establish a Web page that presents information about the school and its activities. Students may be permitted to assist in the development of those pages under the direct supervision of a GCCS staff member. Web pages with inappropriate content will be removed from the Web server immediately upon discovery, and those individuals responsible for the placement of the inappropriate content will be subject to disciplinary action. No extracurricular organization may establish a Web page on the GCCS network or with a GCCS account without permission from the school’s principal.

12. Any person using GCCS technology or equipment recognizes that any transaction conducted on or via GCCS hardware, software and/or network is subject to random monitoring by GCCS Technology Department.

1. General Warning – Individual Responsibility of Parents and Users. All users and their parents/guardians are advised that access to the electronic network may include the potential for access to materials inappropriate for school-aged pupils. Every user must take responsibility for his/her use of the computer network and Internet and stay away from these sites. Parents of minors are the best guides to materials to shun. If a student finds that other users are visiting offensive or harmful sites, s/he should report such use to the teacher or supervisor in charge.

2. Personal Safety – In using the computer network and Internet, students should not reveal personal information such as home address or telephone number. Students should not use their last name or any other information which might allow a person to locate the student without first obtaining the permission of a supervising teacher. Students should not arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone met on the computer network or Internet without parent’s permission. Regardless of the student’s age, no meetings should be arranged with someone with whom they have only communicated on the Internet.

3. “Hacking” and Other Illegal Activities – It is a violation of this Policy to use the school’s computer network or the Internet to gain unauthorized access to computers or computer systems, or to attempt to gain such unauthorized access. Any use which violates state or federal law relating to copyright, trade secrets, the distribution of obscene or pornographic materials, or which violates any other applicable law or municipal ordinance, is strictly prohibited.

4. Confidentiality of Student Information – Personally identifiable information concerning students may not be disclosed or used in any way on the Internet without the permission of a parent or guardian, or if the student is 18 or over, the permission of the student himself/herself. Users should never give out private or confidential information about themselves or others on the Internet, particularly credit card numbers and Social Security numbers. A supervising teacher or administrator may authorize the release of directory information, as defined by Indiana law, for internal administrative purposes or approved educational projects and activities.

5. Active Restriction Measures – The school corporation will utilize filtering software or other technologies to prevent students from accessing visual depictions that are obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors. The school corporation will also monitor the online activities of students, through direct observation and/or technological means, to ensure that students are not accessing such depictions or any other material that is inappropriate for minors.

Internet filtering software or other technology-based protection systems may be disabled by a supervising teacher or school administrator, as necessary, for purposes of bona fide research or other educational projects being conducted by students age 17 and older.

The term “harmful to minors” is defined by the Communications Act of 1934 (47 USC Section 254 (h)(7), as meaning any picture, image, graphic image file, or other visual depiction that:

a. taken as a whole and with respect to minors, appeals to a prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;

b. depicts, describes, or represents, in a patently offensive way with respect to what is suitable for minors, an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual contact, actual or simulated normal or perverted sexual acts, or a lewd exhibition of the genitals;

c. taken as a whole, lacks serious literacy, artistic, political, or scientific value as to minors.

GCCS makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the service it is providing. GCCS will attempt to provide error-free, dependable access to the computing resources associated with Internet use. However, this school corporation is not responsible for any damages suffered due to loss of data resulting from delays, non-delivery, misdeliveries, or service interruptions. Use of any information obtained via telecommunications is at the user’s own risk. GCCS specifically denies any responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information obtained through these or any network services.

GCCS is not responsible for unauthorized financial obligations resulting from use of school corporation resources and accounts to access the Internet or other telecommunications services. GCCS assumes no responsibility for the content of information stored on school corporation diskettes, hard drives, or servers.

Each GCCS building with Internet access will keep on file a copy of the school corporation’s Internet policies and procedures. These will be available for all parents, guardians, staff members, and members of the community to review.

Any user identified as a security risk or having a history of security breaches on this system or other computer systems will be denied access to this network. Security software will be installed on all computers that are both connected to the network and installed in areas where student access is possible. An act of intentionally circumventing the security software may be viewed as grounds for disciplinary action.

Users are expected to make all reasonable efforts to prevent others from using their accounts. Under no condition should a user provide his/her password to another person. Attempts to log onto the network as a system administrator will result in cancellation of user privileges. Any user who has located or believes he/she can identify a security problem on the network must notify a teacher or system administrator immediately.

Vandalism is defined as any malicious attempt to harm or destroy data of another user or on other networks connected to this network system. This includes, but is not limited to, the uploading, creation, or distribution of computer viruses. Using accounts, modifying passwords, or accessing or modifying data belonging to other users without their express written permission will be considered vandalism. “Hacking,” or attempting illegally to gain entry into computer systems, within or outside the GCCS network, will be considered vandalism. Vandalism will result in cancellation of privileges.

P.L. 106-554 (2000), Children’s Internet Protection Act of 2000
47 U.S.C. 254(h), (1), Communications Act of 1934, as amended (2003)
18 U.S.C. 1460
18 U.S.C. 2246
18 U.S.C. 2256
20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq., Part F, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (2003)
20 U.S.C. 6777, 9134 (2003)
47 C.F.R. 54.500 – 54.523

Students may not use or install any operating system on their Chromebook other that the current version of  ChromeOS that is supported and managed by the district.

Updates

  • The Chromebook operating system, ChromeOS, updates itself automatically.  Students do not need to manually update their Chromebooks.

Virus Protection

  • Chromebooks use the principle of “defense in depth” to provide multiple layers of protection against viruses and malware, including data encryption and verified boot.

  • There is no need for additional virus protection.

The district utilizes an Internet content filter that is in compliance with the federally mandated Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). All Chromebooks will have all Internet access provided by the district filtered, protected and monitored by the district. If an educationally valuable site is blocked, students should contact their teachers to request the site be unblocked.

Google Apps for Education

  • Chromebooks seamlessly integrate with the Google Apps for Education (GAFE) suite of productivity and collaboration tools.   This includes Google Docs (word processing), Spreadsheets, Presentations, Drawings, and Forms.

  • All work is stored in the cloud.

Chrome Web Apps and Extensions

  • Students will have the ability to download apps and extensions from the “mygccs” Chrome Web Store.

  • Students may be asked to download apps or extensions as part of class work.  Students are expected to follow instructions and be prepared for class by having apps or extensions that have been indicated by their teachers.

  • Some web apps or extensions will be available to use when the Chromebook is not connected to the Internet.

  • Apps are also subject to internet filtering.

  1. The district will maintain a log of all Chromebooks that includes the Chromebook serial number, asset tag code, and name and ID number of the student assigned to the device.

  2. Each student will be assigned the same Chromebook for the duration of his/her time at Greater Clark. Take good care of it!

Tech Support for Chromebooks

  • All Chromebooks in need of repair must be brought to the school Chromebook support area during the appropriate time established at each school.

  • Student technology assistants working in the Chromebook support area may analyze and fix the problems they can and escalate the issues they cannot fix to the Technology Department..

 

Vendor Warranty

  • Chromebooks include a one year hardware warranty from the vendor.

  • The vendor warrants the Chromebook from defects in materials and workmanship.

  • The limited warranty covers normal use, mechanical breakdown, and faulty construction.  The vendor will provide normal replacement parts necessary to repair the Chromebook or, if required, a Chromebook replacement.

  • The vendor warranty does not warrant against damage caused by misuse, abuse, or accidents.

  • All repair work must be reported to the Chromebook support area.

Students have no expectation of confidentiality or privacy with respect to any usage of a Chromebook, regardless of whether that use is for district-related or personal purposes, other than as specifically provided by law. The District may, without prior notice or consent, log, supervise, access, view, monitor, and record use of student Chromebooks at any time for any reason related to the operation of the District. By using a Chromebook, students agree to such access, monitoring, and recording of their use. Teachers, school administrators, and the technology department staff may use monitoring software that allows them to view the screens and activity on student Chromebooks.

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