2015 LAPTOP HAndbOOk

Transcription

1 2015 LAPTOP Handbook

2 Contents 3 Teaching And Learning At Somerville House 4 Logistical Information 7 Library Information 9 Safe Use Of Technology Going Online 12 Laptop Support For Contact Details 13 Appendices 5 Safe Use And Handling Of Your Laptop 10 Safe Use Of Technology Physical Aspects 6 Expected Prior Knowledge 11 Laptop Loan Policy Laptop Use Terms and Conditions 2 Somerville House Laptop Handbook 2015 Version Subject to Change

3 TEACHING AND LEARNING AT SOMERVILLE HOUSE Philosophy Since it was established in 1899, Somerville House has had a proud history of academic excellence, with students graduating from the School to pursue careers in all fields of endeavour. Many of our students have become world leaders in their areas of expertise. We celebrate the achievement of academic excellence and are continually developing our teaching and learning programs, as well as our teachers skills, to ensure that our programs and our teaching are the best they can be. We are mindful that we live in a world being transformed by technology. To ensure that our students learn in ways that will best equip them for the future, the School introduced laptops as a teaching tool for all Year 6 students in Each successive group of Year 6 students have used laptops until 2009, where all students from Years 6-12 now have the use of laptops as part of their academic program. Our focus in introducing laptops is firmly on our teaching program. We do not refer to our use of laptops as simply a laptop program as this implies that our focus is on hardware and software. Instead, our focus is on teaching and learning and we use laptops as one means of delivering high quality programs with innovative teaching methods. Technology on its own: desktops, laptops, digital cameras, tablet devices and all of their attendant software cannot alone improve teaching and learning. The quality of learning can, however, be enhanced by the considered use of any teaching strategy. It is the way that teaching tools are used, as well as students access to resources that can have a profound effect on the quality of learning. Such strategies include the use of books, periodicals, experiments, field trips, excursions, and the myriad of strategies that good teachers have been using for decades. We are continuing to use traditional teaching strategies, but we have supplemented traditional methods with the use of mobile computing devices. By utilising technology, we are meeting the needs and interests of students in contemporary society. If we look at the world from the perspective of a student, we note that they have always lived in a digital world. Theirs is an interactive world where they live and learn using flexible communication systems and technologies. By using mobile computing devices as a teaching tool, we are helping our students to understand, explore, and critically evaluate the modern world. We aim to equip our students with the skills and attitudes that will give them confidence in their own abilities as well as a comprehensive understanding of the world. We have chosen to use technology as a teaching tool rather than confine our students use of technology to computer laboratories which limits students access to digital resources. The laptop is their learning tool that they can use in any class at any time. The class can be a room in a building, the oval, the playground, or an excursion. Our wireless network provides coverage and hence the ability to learn and explore anywhere, anytime. The use of devices enables us to surround students with valuable technology they can use as the need arises. In much the same way that effective language learning occurs when students are surrounded by the sounds of the language so that thinking and speaking that language become easy and natural, so too do our students learn to use technology so that it becomes second nature. Somerville House Laptop Handbook

4 Pedagogy Our understanding of the learning process continues to develop. A traditional classroom had its focus on the teacher. There was an emphasis on the accumulation of facts and the reproduction of facts in formal examinations. The knowledge explosion of the twentieth century, combined with the technology revolution we are continuing to experience, has resulted in a very different approach to teaching and learning. No-one, not even the best educated teachers can be the sole repository of knowledge in their discipline. Knowledge and understanding are constantly changing. Furthermore, the tools we use for communication are constantly changing. These changes in society have had an impact on classrooms so that learning is student-centred and interactive, with an emphasis on inquiry and problem solving. Multiple approaches are used in assessment so that students can demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in innovative ways, as well as in traditional examinations. Learning is stimulating and exciting. It also requires hard work, critical thought, reflection, and the development of values. The challenge for teachers is to construct learning experiences for students that enable them to be stimulated, excited and challenged. Using laptops assists teachers to create flexible learning environments. In any class, groups of students or students working individually could be working from books, or other printed materials; they could be gathering information from the Internet on their laptops; or they could be using sophisticated software to demonstrate their understanding of concepts. They could be reading, or writing or discussing, using a multiplicity of tools to support their learning. Using technology in our teaching programs helps us to develop confident young women with a sound understanding of the world, capable of navigating the complexities they will face in their studies and professional lives once they leave school. LOGISTICAL INFORMATION Using Your Device School Environment When you first switch on your laptop, you will be prompted to select from a number of options. The most frequently used of these options will be selecting the School environment. Purpose Of The School Environment If you are using your laptop at School, the School environment should always be chosen when your laptop starts. This will ensure that your laptop will function correctly within the School s wireless network. When the laptop is booted into the School environment, students will be prompted to enter a username and password. The username is your unique student number and the initial password is welcome. For continuing students, the password is the password previously used. If you are unable to login or have misplaced your password, technology services can reset it for you. Care Of The School Environment The greatest threat to the normal operation of your laptop is internet activity. Adware, spyware and other such malicious software (malware) are major risk factors associated with accessing the internet. Many programs from the internet have the ability to download themselves to your laptop and cause it to exhibit a variety of problems. Somerville House technology services suggests the following safety precautions: Do not install games from the internet. Ensure the antivirus program is enabled and up to date. Always say no to any requests from a webpage (eg. click here to collect your free prize ) unless you are absolutely sure that it is safe to do so. Do not visit gaming sites. Many of them contain spyware and malware installers. Avoid use of instant messengers (im) and webmail. Many viruses and malware are distributed via these networks. Do not install peer to peer (p2p) applications such as limewire or bearshare. The majority of content available via these programs is in breach of australian copyright laws. These applications are also a major source of viruses. Data Backup It is the responsibility of the student to whom the device is provided to maintain regular backups of both school related and personal data. It is recommended that students use their method of choice to backup critical data, utilising methods such as cloud services, external hard drives, DVD s etc on at least a weekly basis. The school will not be responsible for any loss of data. 4 Somerville House Laptop Handbook 2015

5 SAFE USE AND HANDLING OF YOUR LAPTOP By using common sense and following this basic handling guide, you will get the most use and enjoyment from your laptop. The laptop comes bundled with a reinforced protective carry case. Students are required to store the laptop in this carry case at ALL times when moving the laptop from one location to another. Before storing the laptop in the protective carry case, care should be taken to ensure that the laptop has fully powered off. If the laptop is still running after the lid is closed it may over heat in the carry case. Do not intentionally drop your laptop onto any hard surface, (such as a desk in the classroom or a table at home). Damage can occur from even the slightest drop. The LCD screen must only be cleaned using a lint free cloth and approved LCD cleaner (kits are available from most computer suppliers). WARNING: Household cleaners may cause irreparable damage to the LCD screen. The case and lid may be cleaned using a clean dampened cloth that has had excess water squeezed out. Do not place heavy objects on top of your laptop or case. Dropping your bag with the laptop inside may cause severe damage. Do not allow drinks or liquids near your laptop. While the reinforced carry bag may protect your laptop from minor splashes, the bag is not water-proof. Therefore extra precaution should be taken even if your laptop is in its protective carry case. Do not force your laptop into tightly packed suitcases, bags or backpacks. The compression may cause damage to the laptop or crack the LCD screen. Students MUST use the reinforced carry bag issued for transport of the laptop to, from and around the school. Do not attempt to disassemble or alter any part of the laptop. All repairs must only be performed by technicians authorised by the Somerville House Technology Services department. All damage must be reported immediately to Somerville House Technicians. Do not scratch, dent or bend any part of the laptop. The marking of your laptop with stickers, pens, pencils or highlighters will be considered as intentional damage. If your laptop has graffiti of any type anywhere on the laptop, you will be expected to pay for the required repair. Do not place any objects between the keyboard and LCD screen. Do not pick up or hold your laptop by its LCD screen. Do not store your laptop where the temperature is below 5 C or above 35 C (41 F and 95 F). Do not leave the laptop unattended at ANY time. All laptops must be kept secured in either locked classrooms or supplied lockers -See Appendix. Do not touch the lens of the DVD / CD- ROM tray. Do not attempt to connect your laptop to any telephone ports within the school. All school lines are digital only. Doing so may severely damage the onboard modem. Only use the supplied AC adaptor with the laptop. Do not attempt to use any different brand or type for charging your laptop. Doing so may result in damage. Only limited charging facilities are available in each classroom. Therefore, it is very important that you fully charge your laptop each night at home so it is ready for use throughout the next school day. IMPORTANT: Always remember to re-condition your battery every holiday period. The battery re-conditioning process is as follows: Charge the laptop s battery Disconnect the power and use your laptop on battery power until it is fully discharged. With the laptop turned off, plug the power cable back into the laptop and fully charge the battery once again. Repeat this process a further 2 times for a total of 3 full battery charges and 3 full discharges. Somerville House Laptop Handbook

6 EXPECTED PRIOR KNOWLEDGE To ensure that students have similar opportunities and experience with technologies provided by Somerville House, it is preferred that new students are familiar with the following uses of modern technology. Familiarity would mean that they have been exposed to these applications and used them previously. Students do not need to be experts but rather, comfortable working in these environments and willing to extend their knowledge without feeling threatened by technology. All Year Levels Applied Technology and Operating Systems (eg. Windows, MacOS) Students should have a basic understanding of how to operate a computer and navigate within the Operating System. This includes the ability to open and use common applications, managing and organising files and folders and some basic troubleshooting. These skills will underpin all areas of use of the laptops during class time. Research and the Internet (eg. Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Safari) It is expected that students will have had some previous experience in using the Internet and locating valid and trustworthy information. This includes the ability to send and receive s, use search engines and evaluating electronic information. Electronic communication skills are essential to working within a technologically enhanced environment. Students are also frequently required to view and interact with a range of online sources. Word Processing (eg. Microsoft Word, Appleworks, Open Office) The use of word processing is important for everyday completion of work and note-taking skills. It is expected that students will have the fundamental skills of using word processing software, modifying document presentation and formatting as well as basic typing skills. Graphics (eg. Microsoft Paint, KidPix, PhotoEdit, Adobe PhotoShop, Macromedia Fireworks) Students should possess the ability to create and manipulate images using a computer. Within the classroom, students will be required to create images that show their understanding about particular topics or use images to enhance presentations and documents. Desktop Publishing (eg. Microsoft Publisher, Appleworks, Open Office) Students should have used desktop publishing applications to create unique publications for a specific purpose, such as brochures, cards, posters and banners. Spreadsheets (eg. Microsoft Excel, Appleworks, Open Office) It is anticipated that students would have used a spreadsheet for basic calculations and display of data, including creation of charts and simple formulas. Spreadsheets are used by a variety of subjects to assist with the collection and analysis of data. Multimedia (eg. Microsoft PowerPoint, Keynote, Appleworks, Open Office) Students should have experience with creating, playing, and formatting a slideshow (or presentation) and be familiar with design and animation options. Multimedia software is used to support oral presentation as well as summarising and linking information and creating basic animations. Middle and Senior Schools Databases (eg. Microsoft Access, Appleworks, Open Office) Databases are used to categorise and analyse information. It is preferred that students have had experience with inputting and retrieving information from a database application, including the ability to locate information in a library catalogue. Flash Animations (eg. Macromedia Flash) It is preferred that students have had some basic experience in the creation of simple animations using an application such as Macromedia Flash. These skills are used in subjects in the Middle School, and animations are created to explain some concepts in other subjects. Web Page Creation (eg. MS FrontPage, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Open Office) It is preferred that students have had some experience in the creation of simple web pages. Digital Videos (eg. Microsoft Movie Maker, imovie) In some subject areas, students create and edit digital videos as part of their learning experiences. It would be useful if students have had experience with recording, capturing, and basic editing of digital video. 6 Somerville House Laptop Handbook 2015

7 LIBRARY INFORMATION Beginning Your Research 1. Plan your search strategy before beginning a search. Write down your keywords, dates, synonyms (words that mean the same thing), etc. 2. Begin searching for information about your topic by using print materials in the Library first. 3. Use the Library catalogue to help you. Ask your friendly Librarian if you need help. 4. Use the index and table of contents in books to help you find information more quickly. To search the v-library catalogue access the Senior and Junior School Library sections of the Intranet via the MySomerville portal. Login at url and navigate to MySomerville > Seymour Library > Library Catalogue. To search the v-library catalogue simply enter a search term in one or more of the search fields and then click on the Search button. Each of the fields can be searched separately or you can use a combination of fields. For example, if you just want to search for a title with the word Cat in it you would simply enter the word in the Title field and then click on the Search button. However, if you would like to search for items that have the word Cat in the title and Marsden as the author you would type cat in the Title field and Marsden in the Author field before clicking on the Search button. The following table describes each of the fields in the search screen and the area of the catalogue it searches: Field Description The Keyword field searches all the following fields at once. Therefore, if you enter your search term in the Keyword field Keyword the v-library Web OPAC will search through titles, notes, authors, subjects, series, editors, publishers, call numbers, illustrators and media types to find matching results. Searching in the Title field finds any catalogue items that contain your search term in their title. For instance, searching Title for the word History in this field will produce a list of all the items with the word in their title. This field searches through the notes that have been added Notes to each catalogue item to describe its contents. The Author field searches the v-library catalogue for items with an author whose name matches your search term. Author For example, typing the word Marsden in this field will produce a list of all the items written by John Marsden. Catalogue records often contain a list of subjects that the item deals with. For instance, an item titled Australians at war may Subjects contain subjects such as Australia - History, Military or Australia - History 20th century. You can search the Subjects field for any item that covers a certain subject. Series Some books, such as the Goosebumps books, form part of a series. You can search the Series field to locate items in a particular series. For instance, if you type the word Goosebumps in this field the v-library Web OPAC will produce a list of all the Goosebumps books in the library. Somerville House Laptop Handbook

8 Searching the Internet Unlike most print resources, information on the Internet is mostly unedited, so locating and using information on the Internet is a little like swimming without a lifeguard. Remember no one edits the Internet. When exploring online resources you need to consider the following: 1. ACCURACY. How reliable is the information? 2. AUTHORITY. Is the author a qualified expert in this field of study? 3. COVERAGE. What is the depth of coverage of this topic? 4. CURRENCY. When was the site created/updated? 5. OBJECTIVITY. Is there any bias indicated by the author? If you retrieve too many results: 1. When searching a phrase or more than one word, use phrase searching, e.g. Ancient Egypt. Use Boolean Operators to connect terms AND, NOT, OR, e.g. Ancient Egypt AND women. 2. Check your spelling if your results do not make sense. 3. If you get too many results, be more specific by adding extra search terms, e.g. Ancient Egypt AND women AND marriage. Plagiarism The use of another person s words or ideas without stating where they came from is a form of theft called plagiarism. It is dishonest and illegal under the Copyright Act Examples of plagiarism: Buying or stealing an essay, hiring someone to write your assignment, copying from any source without referencing it. To avoid plagiarism: 1. Write information you are gathering in point form. 2. Record the source of your information as you take notes which will become your bibliography. 3. Use your own phrases by paraphrasing. 4. Place quotation marks around a direct quote and acknowledge the source in your text. 5. Reflect and create your own ideas and opinions about a topic to include in your assignment which is supported by your research. Compiling a Bibliography On the last page of your assignment you should list all the sources you have quoted from. The list or bibliography should be in alphabetical order by the author s last name, or title when there is no author. Each type of information, e.g. book, website, periodical has a specific form to follow when writing your bibliography. For more assistance on bibliographies refer to Referencing/Bibliographies as listed in the contents page of the Somerville House Student Diary. Examples of how to include a book and website in a bibliography: Books 1. Author s last name (comma) initials (full stop) 2. Year of publication (in brackets) (full stop) 3. Title of book (underlined or italics) (full stop) 4. Place of publication city (colon) 5. Publisher (full stop) Example: Jones, K. (2005) I love reading. Brisbane: Penguin. Internet Sources: 1. Author s last name (comma) initials (full stop) If there is no author, the title should be placed first followed by the year as shown in the second example. 2. Year updated (in brackets) 3. Title (in quotation marks) 4. Online (square brackets) (comma) 5. Website address available from Internet (colon) website address (full stop) 6. Full date accessed Accessed month day year Example: Kelly, R. (2004) Scary teachers at the Book Week parade [Online], available from the Internet: edu.au/bookweek.htm. Accessed February If you need any assistance with searching and locating information or compiling a bibliography you are most welcome to ask your friendly Librarian. 8 Somerville House Laptop Handbook 2015

9 SAFE USE OF TECHNOLOGY - GOING ONLINE How Parents Can Reduce the Risks While children require a certain amount of privacy, they also need parental involvement and supervision in their daily lives, including their use of online services. If you have cause for concern about your daughter s online activities, talk to her. Open communication with her and getting online yourself may help alert you to the potential dangers that exist. If she tells you about an upsetting person or thing encountered while online, do not blame her, but help her avoid problems in the future. How you respond may determine what she confides in you the next time she encounters a problem, or how she learns to deal with such problems on her own. There are specific things that parents can do to reduce the risks associated with online activities. By taking responsibility for your daughter s online computer use, parents can greatly minimise any potential risks of being online. The following are suggested guidelines for parents: 1. Be aware that excessive, unmonitored use of computers can be harmful. Excessive use has been linked to increased risk of obesity, repetitivestrain injuries, impaired vision, declines in social interaction, and feelings of loneliness and depression. Parents should limit the time children spend using computers and monitor the content of the sites their children visit or computer games they play. 2. Set reasonable rules and guidelines for computer use by your daughter. Discuss these rules with her and then post them near the computer as a reminder. Decide upon the time of day that she can be online, and the appropriate areas she can access. Monitor her compliance with these rules, especially when it comes to the amount of time she spends on the Internet, especially late at night, as this may be an indicator of potential problems. 3. Keep Internet-connected computers in a communal area of your home with the screen facing outwards. One of the most important ways to protect your child is to ensure that any such computer or games machine is not located in her room. Ideally, it should be placed somewhere in the house which is commonly used by everyone; where it is quite normal to pass through and notice what is happening. 4. Be clear about what you consider to be unacceptable information or communication to look for on the Internet. 5. Become an Internet user yourself and get to know any services your daughter uses. You will then have a better understanding of the way the technology works and it will not seem unusual that you are interested in her online activities. 6. Instruct your child not to respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening, or make her feel uncomfortable. If she receives sucha message, forward a copy of the message to your Internet Service Provider (ISP), and ask for their assistance. 7. Encourage your daughter not to access any links that are contained in s from persons she does not know. Such links could lead to inappropriate web sites. 8. Explain to your daughter that passwords, addresses, pin numbers, credit card details, phone and details are all private and should never be given to anyone via the Internet, particularly if that person is only known online. 9. If your daughter has her own address, it is advisable that she does not give any indication of her age or gender. 10. Get to know your daughter s online friends just as you get to know all her other friends. 11. Contact your ISP if your daughter encounters any inappropriate content or is subjected to any unsolicited contact by strangers online. Ask your ISP to find out what child-safety measures they offer. In addition, there are filtering features built into the popular Internet browsers that empower parents to limit their child s access only to those sites that have been rated appropriate for children. While such tools are useful, they are not a panacea. Regardless of what filtering software is used, the best way to assure that your child has positive online experiences is to stay in touch with what she is doing. Chat Rooms and Social Networking Social networking sites such as Facebook have become one of the fastest-growing segments of the Internet. In part, this is because many young people enjoy the interactive playground in which they can chat simultaneously to a group of other users, or to just one individual. Increasing concerns are being expressed over children s excessive and unsupervised use of social networking sites. There are obvious issues associated with young people sitting for hours in front of computer screens, such as avoiding physical activity and contact with their families, as well as failing to spend time on necessary homework and study. The second issue relates to safety. Students tend to use sites or programs such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, which do provide some protection from intruders, however it should be recognised, that these are not entirely secure since anyone can begin chatting if they know the address of a person they wish to speak with. DO NOT install Peer to Peer (P2P) applications such as Limewire and Bearshare. The majority of content available via these P2P applications is in breach of Australian Copyright laws. These applications are also a major source of viruses. Australian Copyright Council Somerville House Laptop Handbook

10 Safety Tips for Students The following safety tips for students should be adhered to at all times: Be careful: People online may not be who they say they are. Hang on to your personal information. Never give out your , home address, phone numbers or the name of your school. Never send a person your photograph or anything else without first checking with your parents. Never meet anyone you have met online unless you are sure who they are and have your parent s permission. Tell your friends or an adult if you find something online that makes you feel uncomfortable. Never download files from strangers or people you may not know well or trust. The use of Proxy Sites or Anonymisers to access otherwise blocked websites is prohibited under school policy. If these sites are accessed outside the school environment, care should be taken not to transmit sensitive information (eg: usernames and passwords, bank details, etc ). Proxy sites may record and use such information by using key-logging technologies. The following websites offer practical advice on Internet safety, parental control and filters for the protection of children, students and families. Australian links Stay Smart On Line: CyberSmart: from the Australian Communications and Media Authority The Child Safety Australia website aims to provide families, kids, teachers and other professionals with information about the safety of children. SAFE USE OF TECHNOLOGY - PHYSICAL ASPECTS Guidelines for the Use of Laptop Computers 1. Organise your time to allow for frequent breaks. Students should have a five minute break from the use of a laptop at least every thirty minutes. 2. Use the breaks to change what activity you re doing, or to move around flexing and stretching your muscles. 3. Use your laptop on a firm surface, where it is at the correct height for keying. 4. Make sure you can adjust your chair so that you can sit comfortably with your arms and wrists horizontal. Your back should be upright and supported. Both feet should be flat on the floor. 5. Sit facing the keyboard squarely, and then adjust the angle of the screen to minimise reflections and glare. The correct angle should also mean that you avoid the need to bend your neck excessively. 6. Try to avoid glare from windows that reflect on the screen. 7. Learn to be more aware of your body so that you can recognise any unnecessary muscle tension, and then be able to release it. 8. Check your posture at regular intervals. 9. Always lift any heavy loads with a straight back. Use your thigh muscles when lifting. 10. You should not carry laptops while they are receiving transmissions from wireless networks. Use of Protective Carry Case All Students are supplied with a protective carry case for use with the laptop. Protective carry cases are designed to prevent damage to the laptop during transportation and students are required to use the carry case at all times including, but not limited to: Moving laptop between classes Visiting other areas of school including sports and aquatic area Travelling Between Home and School Plan to carry the minimum load necessary between school and home. To lighten your total load, store books that you will not need overnight in your lockers/classrooms. Use a carrying aid like a backpack or trolley to move your laptop. Remember to shift the weight from one side to the other, rather than favouring one side for long times when carrying loads. When you are waiting for transport, put your bag down gently and stretch your back. If you are using a backpack, you must place both straps over the shoulders. You could even try carrying the load on the front of your body, to see if this is more comfortable. Students MUST use the reinforced carry bag issued for transport of the laptop to, from and around the school. 10 Somerville House Laptop Handbook 2015

11 LOAN LAPTOP POLICY Purpose of a Loan Laptop As the laptop supplied is to be used as a tool for accessing educational resources, Somerville House technical staff will endeavour to have any non-working laptop repaired and returned to the student within 4 hours. In the event that your daughter s laptop cannot be repaired within the stated turn around timeframe, she will receive a loan laptop for the duration of the repair. A pool of laptops is available for this purpose, with the maintenance and distribution of these loan laptops being handled by the Somerville House Technology Services department. Student Data Availability During Repair Period Whenever possible, students who are issued with a loan laptop will have all their data transferred from their own laptop to the loan laptop. This will allow for minimal disruption to the student s studies, however it is the students responsibility to maintain regular backups of their data. The Technology Services department will not be responsible for any data loss. Use of Laptops by Students on Loan Basis As noted above, Technology Services maintain a pool of laptops which are available for students to use on a loan basis. There will be no cost to the student for this service. The following is a list outlining the correct use and care of the loan laptop: 1. Students must not apply any stickers or markings on the loan laptop. 2. Students must not leave loan laptops unattended at any time. 3. Loan laptops are not to be given to anyone other than the student issued. 4. No alterations or attempted repairs are to be performed on the loan laptop. All laptop repairs are performed by technicians authorised by Somerville House. 5. Damage to loan laptops is handled in the same manner as students school issued laptop and parents may be liable for monies to contribute towards repairs, or in the case where damage exceeds $250, a standard excess will apply. Loan Periods While there is no fixed time period for the loaning of laptops (based on the nature of repair required to the original laptop), students must return the loan unit within 24 hours of being notified that their laptop has been repaired. This is to ensure that loan laptops are available for other students who may require them. Laptop Accessories All laptop accessories provided with the loan laptop, such as AC chargers or bags, must be returned at the completion of the loan period. LAPTOP USE - TERMS AND CONDITIONS Policy The School wishes to ensure that its students learn in ways that will best equip them for the future. For this purpose, the School introduced laptops as a teaching tool for all Year 6 students in Each successive group of Year 6 students will use laptops until, in 2009, all students from Years 6 to 12 have the use laptops as part of their academic program. Laptop Use The School insures and maintains the laptop and the School also provides software for it. The student must return the laptop to the School before the student leaves the School. Subject to reasonable fair wear and tear, you must not let the laptop be damaged in any way and are required to take care of and maintain the laptop. Use of the Software You must not copy or reproduce any software supplied by the school. In addition, the laptop and included software must only be used in the way set out in the operational manuals or other information which is given to you. Conditions of Return If the student leaves Somerville House or is required to return their laptop to the School, it must be returned prior to departure in acceptable condition with all supplied accessories. Parent/Guardian Obligations As the person enrolling the student, in consideration of the School accepting the student s enrolment and in consideration of the School offering to lend a laptop to the student, you will be responsible to the School as follows: Somerville House Laptop Handbook

12 You must indemnify the School against damage to the hardware or associated software of the laptop except for reasonable wear and tear. You must ensure that the student complies with any conditions which are imposed by the Protection Policy and which are notified in this Laptop Handbook as published by the School. The School will enact the Protection Policy (where applicable) for any repairs deemed by a school authorised repairer to be necessary to the laptop. You will be required to pay for the repairs to the extent they have not arisen from reasonable wear and tear and to the extent they are not covered by the Protection Policy. You will also be required to pay for any excess on the policy that may arise. You must ensure that the student and any other persons who have possession of the laptop comply with the conditions of use set out from time to time in the laptop handbook as published by the School. LAPTOP SUPPORT FOR CONTACT DETAILS Outline of visit times: Location Time Day Technology Services between D & E blocks 7.30am pm Mon - Fri Technology Services Support Office Hours - Term Time Monday Friday 7.30am 4.00pm School Holiday Office Hours Monday Friday 8.00am 4.00 pm The Technology Services Department is not open public holidays and is closed during the mandatory school closure period in December of each year. Contact Details - Technology Services Department Phone: Fax: servicedesk@somerville.qld.edu.au 12 Somerville House Laptop Handbook 2015

13 Student Notebook Protection Policy Frequently Asked Questions Q. What is Accidental Damage? A: Physical damage which occurs as a result of a sudden, unforeseen or unexpected event. The event may arise from a single identifiable incident. For example, a Liquid Spill. Q. What incidents of theft does the policy cover? A: Forcible entry to - Buildings, residences, & vehicles (must be locked and computer out of sight), by force or intimidation for example, mugging, snatching or physical confrontation or whilst in an unlocked classroom or school building, only during normal school hours. (In some instances, personal home and contents insurance may cover loss). Q. Is software covered under this Protection Policy? A: Software is not covered under the policy other than the factory installed operating system. Q. What is the geographical scope of the policy? A: The policy only covers travel within Australia and New Zealand. Q. What settlement will I receive in the event of a total loss? A: The Protection Policy shall never exceed the original purchase price. If your machine is lost there will be several settlement options available. a) Replacement of the machine with a machine of equal specification and capacity. c) A replacement machine that is of the same model / specification, but has been fully refurbished may be provided. The basis of settlement on the above criteria is judged on a case by case basis. Q. Is there any penalty for delay in reporting loss or damage? A: No, however late reporting will delay repair and/or replacement process of your child s device. You should always endeavour to report loss/damage immediately. Q. What is not covered by the Protection Policy? A: Exclusions include: The excess of each and every individual claim. The cost of replacing expendable parts such as fuses and batteries. Theft when the machine is left unattended is not covered unless reasonable precautions have been taken to safe guard the notebook. The precautions would include: o Securely locked away o Left in supervision of a responsible person o Locked out of sight in a vehicle Damage as a result, or during air, sea, bus or train travel unless the items are carried as personal cabin luggage in the supplied protective bag. Wasting, wearing away or wearing out of any part which arises from ordinary use or gradual deterioration including rust, corrosion or oxidation. Scratching is excluded. Please Note: the replacement of covers due to stickers being placed on machines is not covered. Consequential loss for example the loss of computer records/information held on the system. If there is collusion by any of the named insured or their families or if there is disappearance of any kind where hired or loaned to another party. Q. What else should we know? A: As well as the exclusions above, the Protection Policy has conditions, which place some onus of responsibility on the parent. This is referred to as Duty of Care. For example, the policy specifically excludes any loss or damage if the insured item is stolen from an unlocked vehicle when in reality should have been in a locked vehicle and placed out of sight. Where any loss occurs the matter must be immediately reported to Police or local authorities. It should also be noted that if you are travelling by plane, boat or train to ensure coverage, you must carry the laptop as carry on personal cabin luggage within the supplied protective case. Somerville House Laptop Handbook

14 17 Graham Street, South Brisbane Qld 4101, Australia Head of Boarding, PO Box 3357, South Brisbane Qld 4101, Australia P F admin@somerville.qld.edu.au A school of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association The PMSA is a mission of the Presbyterian and Uniting Churches CRICOS Provider Code: 00522G