Students and Personal Devices: Kindles and Nooks and iPads, OH MY!

Students and Personal Devices: Kindles and Nooks and iPads, OH MY!

I know many of your campuses are trying to fine tune and find the balance of the NISD AUP and bringing personal devices to school...along with creating an individualized campus policy that works for your teachers and instruction.

Since the 2010-2011 AUP, the green light on "Personal Wireless Laptops"...here is the wording on this topic from the Student and Parent Agreement for the Acceptable Use of the District's Electronic Communications System:

PERSONAL WIRELESS LAPTOPS

Personal laptops will be provided filtered access to the Internet as well as access to any web-based student applications (e.g., DiscoveryStreaming, Student Storage) that would normally be accessible to students from home. Laptops are valuable devices that can be damaged. The District is not responsible for the loss or theft of a personal laptop, nor for damage, nor unauthorized access to the device nor the data that resides therein. In addition:

• The student must take full responsibility for setting up and maintaining their personal laptop, charging it, etc. The District will not provide technical support for these devices.

• When laptops are not in the student’s possession, they must be secured by the student. Laptops must never be left unattended. Laptops may not be left at school over vacations. Laptops must go home with students daily.

• The playing of games, music, or other entertainment on the laptop is prohibited at school unless approved by the teacher. Electronic communication such as e-mail, instant messaging, chat, blogs, etc are also prohibited at school unless an approved and monitored electronic communication application is being used for educational purposes by the teacher.

• Laptop sound must be turned off except when it is being used as part of a class.

• Student selection of appropriate, tasteful screensavers and wallpaper is expected.

• Classroom teachers will establish standards for laptop use in their respective classrooms; however, it is school policy that students are not allowed to access the Internet unless supervised by a teacher or staff member.

• The District may examine the laptop and search its contents, if there is a reason to believe that school policies, regulations, or guidelines have been violated.

• All students with personal wireless devices being used for instruction or other District business must use the District provided wireless network which is filtered according to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requirements.

• Personal wireless laptops are never to be plugged into the wired network. They are only authorized for wireless connectivity on NISD WiFi.

• If a student uses a personal laptop in an inappropriate manner, they will lose their privilege of bringing a personal laptop to school. Additional consequences may be imposed based on the Acceptable Use Regulation TEC-01 and the Student Conduct Code.

• District mobile devices are never to be connected to non-District wireless service providers while on District property (e.g., MiFi, wireless cards, data cards, etc.)

Here are my questions for some discussion:

1. Does your school interpret the AUP's component that covers "Personal Wireless Laptops" to include other devices like Kindles, Nooks, and iPads?

2. Does your campus allow any kind of personal devices to be brought to school?

3. If your school allows students to bring devices to school, are their any guidelines (certain days, certain grade levels, etc.)?

Any thoughts would be appreciated. This is a hot topic, sparked by campuses who WANT to allow kids to be connected, but also want to establish a balance that is BEST for INSTRUCTION :)