Student Netbook / Laptop Handbook

Transcription

1 The heart of education is the education of the heart. Troy Christian Schools Inc. Student Netbook / Laptop Handbook Troy Christian School s focus is on preparing our students to be highly effective members of our society. Technology is a necessary life skill that all our students need to use efficiently and effectively in order to attain our objective of graduating students who are ready to make an impact in a technology-rich environment. Mrs. Jeanne Ward Assistant Superintendent 1 Troy Christian Schools Inc.

2 Table of Contents Troy Christian Schools Student Netbook / Laptop Handbook Contents Page Number Learning with Technology 3 TCS Acceptable Use Policy 4 Student Responsibilities 5 How to Avoid Netbook/Laptop Problems 7 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 8 Tips to Connecting a Netbook/ Laptop to a Home Network 12 Student Windows Live and File Storage 15 TCS Netbook/Laptop Incident Policy 17 2

3 Learning with Technology Troy Christian Schools (TCS) is pleased to be able to provide netbooks / laptops to our students to enhance and enrich their learning experiences both in and out of the classroom. The Troy Christian Schools Acceptable Use Policy for Technology, which all students, parents and staff must sign, is an honor code for technology. We want to partner in our student s exploration of the digital world. We are providing you with a personal netbook / laptop with the expectation that it will be used as a productivity tool for school-related purposes, curriculum enhancement, and communications. All netbooks / laptops and related hardware, software, and accessories are TCS property. Netbooks / laptops use must be in accordance with all related TCS policies including the TCS Acceptable Use Policy for Technology and the Netbook / Laptop Contract and Consent From. Students and parents will sign a Netbook / Laptop Contract and Consent form and comply with and agree with the contents of this handbook. For a complete list of the TCS philosophy and goals of technology, please refer to the TCS Technology Plan found on our website at 3

4 TCS Acceptable Use Policy The use of technology at TCS is a privilege extended to our staff and students to enhance teaching and learning and to exchange information. Opportunities and Privileges Staff and students will have access to technology resources that facilitate teaching and learning and enhance communication. Staff and students will have monitored access (using electronic filtering system and direct supervision of students) to the Internet Responsibilities Staff and students are responsible for using school technology resources and facilitate teaching and learning experiences that are consistent with TCS curriculum and programs Staff and students are responsible for adhering to the established guidelines and standards for us of technology resources Staff and students are responsible for obtaining permission from the building technology team before installing software on school equipment Staff and students are responsible for keeping equipment, programs, and files from being relocated, removed from school premises, corrupted, or modified without the permission of the building technology team Staff and students are responsible for maintaining the privacy and integrity of passwords and of electronic communications Staff and students are responsible for adhering to all copyright and educational fair use guidelines Staff and students are responsible for avoiding use of technology resources in a way that is profane, obscene, or that advocates illegal acts, bullying, violence, or discrimination toward others Privacy Considerations Files stored on school resources, including messages, are considered property of TCS TCS reserves the right to inspect files stored on school resources for conformity with its policies, licensing standards and state and federal laws Disciplinary Action Violation of the above listed terms of use may result in restriction or suspension of access to technology resources, financial restitution or other disciplinary measures Student Responsibilities 4

5 General Use Students are responsible for the netbook/ laptop and are expected to treat it with care and respect Students must always bring their power cord and their fully charged netbook/laptop to school Ethical and Appropriate Use Students are expected to follow the TCS Acceptable Use Policy and abide by all local, state and federal laws while using the netbook/laptop Students will use the netbook/laptop for educational experiences that are consistent with TCS curriculum and programs Students may use TCS netbooks/laptops for limited personal purposes subject to the Netbook/Laptop Contract and Consent Form and TCS Acceptable Use Policy Maintenance The netbooks/laptops are school property and will be relinquished to the school at the conclusion of the academic school year or upon withdrawing from TCS Students will surrender their laptop at anytime to TCS technology staff for periodic review of the hardware, for maintenance and software upgrades as deemed necessary. Netbooks/laptops will be reimaged and returned to the students pre-loaded with standard district software only Software Students should not attempt to install software or change the system configuration including network settings without prior consultation with TCS technology staff. All TCS netbooks/laptops will be pre-loaded with the standard software in use at the time by the school, such as Windows 7 and Google Apps for Education Students will respect the copyrights and intellectual property rights of others, including the legal use of copyrighted software. For example: it is a violation: o To make more copies of licensed software than the license allows o To download, use or distribute pirated software Hardware Students may not install or repair hardware on the netbook/laptop without prior consultation with TCS technology staff File Security/Safety Students should regularly backup key data to an external location (external drive, flash drive, etc.) Students should keep the amount of data stored on the netbook/laptop to a minimum Theft 5

6 Students are expected to protect school netbooks/ laptops from theft; immediately notify your building principal or technology director if a theft does occur. Students must provide a police report if the netbook/laptop is lost or stolen Students should not leave the netbook/laptop in an unlocked vehicle, even if the vehicle is in a driveway or garage. In a vehicle, the best place to store your netbook/laptop is in a locked trunk; if there is no trunk, cover it and lock the doors. Never leave the netbook/ laptop in plain sight. 6

7 How to Avoid Netbook/Laptop Problems Food and liquids should not be anywhere near a netbook/laptop Avoid touching the screen o Do not use cleaner or water on the screen o When cleaning is necessary, wipe the surface lightly with a soft cloth such as a microfiber cloth Users should take care when shutting down and closing the lid of netbooks/laptops to ensure that nothing (pens/pencils and other items) is left lying on the top of the netbook/laptop surface; this may result in damage not covered by warranties Close the netbook/laptop lid, and return it to its case before carrying it anywhere Objects such as books, sports equipment, and musical instruments should d never be placed or stacked on top of the netbook/laptop Use the netbook/laptop on a flat, stable surface; using a netbook/laptop on soft items such as pillows and blankets can cause the unit to overheat Netbooks/laptops and their cases should not be defaced in any way (adhesive stickers, drawings, engravings, etc.) Keep the netbook/laptop and cords away from very young children and pets Magnetics will erase computer hard drives; keep all magnetic devices away from the netbook/laptop Users should not attempt to repair the netbook/laptop; TCS technology staff will be responsible for determining repairs necessary Do Not leave a netbook/laptop in an unattended vehicle; extreme temperatures or sudden changes in temperature can damage a laptop. o If exposed to extreme temperatures, allow the unit to acclimate to room temperature before starting o Netbooks/laptops work best when used in temperatures between 35 and 90 degrees Do not allow any other individuals to use your netbook/laptop and/or TCS related equipment and accessories Users should ALWAYS keep the laptop plugged into a surge protector when it is plugged in for use and/or charging 7

8 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Tech Support Something is wrong with the netbook/laptop; what do I do? Restart the computer. Force quit the machine if you have to (hold down the Control, Alt, and Delete keyes at the same time; when the pop up screen appears, click on the Task List button; click on the application that is frozen and then click on the End Task button. When prompted, you do not need to send the report to Microsoft.) Bring it to the technology department (high school computer lab). The netbook/ laptops may require reimaging or further hardware/software troubleshooting and if available, a spare netbook/laptop will be issued Netbook/Laptop Access: Logging In How do I login to the network at school? Turn on the netbook/laptop Press the Ctrl-Alt-Delete keys to begin (this key combination helps keep the computer secure) At the windows login screen, enter your username, password and make sure TCS is selected from the log on the box How do I login to the network at school? If you are off-site and outside of the school network, you should log in to the computer in the same way you do at school. Just remember that you are not connecting to the school network File Access and Storage Where do I save files when I work off-site and outside of the school network so that I can access them? Saving the files to your Google Drive on your Google Apps Account will allow you to access the files from anywhere T C S Your userna me Your school passwo rd 8

9 General FAQs What Microsoft Windows system is on the netbook/laptop? The TCS netbooks/laptop s operating system is Windows 7. May I remove the tags and labels on the netbooks/laptop and decorate it to fit my personality? All tags that come on the netbooks/laptop and that TCS adds to the netbook/laptop must remain on the netbook/laptop While adhesive stickers are not allowed, if you find appropriate cling stickers that leave no residue when removed, you are allowed to apply these What does it mean that I may only use the netbook/laptop for limited personal use? TCS purchased the netbooks/laptops for educational use. TCS recognizes that having such a valuable tool available means there will be times you will want to use it for non-educational purpose The TCS netbook/laptop is by no means a replacement for a home computer. You will still need your home computer for specialty software you use and of course for the times when TCS netbook/laptop is not available for your use. TCS netbooks/laptops are re-imaged each summer. The re-imaging process erases all data from the hard drive. Netbook/laptop hard drive data should be backed up to another location (external hard drive, flash drive, or CD) before surrendering the unit. May I install my own software on the netbook/laptop? Students should not attempt to install software or change the system configuration including network settings without prior consultation with TCS technology staff. While working on the netbook/laptop the computer appears frozen. What do I do? Force quit the application by holding down the Control, Alt and Delete keys at the same time. When the pop up screen appears, click on the Task List button. Click on the application that is frozen and then click on the End Task button. When prompted, you do not need to send the report to Microsoft. If the computer remains frozen after force quitting the application, press and hold your power button down and count to 10. Release the button. The netbook/laptop should be powered down. Start it up again to resume what you were doing. 9

10 Netbook/laptop Use and Care FAQs I accidentally spilled water on the netbook/laptop. What do I do? Unplug and shut down the netbook/laptop immediately Remove the battery Leaving the netbook/laptop lid open, turn it updside down so that the water drains out the keyboard You can run a hair dryer over it to try to dry it quicker Do not attempt to turn on the laptop for at least 24 hours I have a hardware problem with the netbook/laptop. May I open it up and try to fix it myself? No, the netbook/laptop needs to be turned in to TCS technology staff If available, you will be issued a temporary netbook/laptop to use while the other laptop is evaluated and fixed. Printing Outside of School How do I print using my home printer? The best option is to save your document to your Google Drive, flash drive or it to yourself. Then, go open it on your home computer that is connected to your printer so you can print Most USB printer software already exists on the netbook/laptop and it only requires you to set up the printer for it to work. You are welcome to try to set it up. You must have a USB printer that is Windows-based PC compatible Internet Access May I access the Internet on the TCS netbook/laptop outside the school network? Yes, it is possible to do although you may need to do some additional setup Note, Internet filters are in place at school, but once you access the Internet from another location, the filters are not in place. 10

11 Using a Network different than the TCS Network How do I connect to a wireless network different than the one at school? Right click on the Wireless Network connection icon on the tray in the bottom righthand corner of the screen Click on View Available Wireless Networks on the menu that appears In the next window, double-click on the wireless network you want to connect to If it is a security-enabled wireless network, you will get a pop-up box. Type in your network key twice and then click Connect. 11

12 Tips to Connecting a Netbook/ Laptop to a Home Network ***TCS does not support troubleshooting network access at home. However, you are welcome to connect to your home network if you know how to set it up.*** If you do not want to purchase a wireless router If you have a router without wireless capabilities, you can still connect your netbook/laptop to the Internet using a CAT-5 cable like the one shown above. This will provide you with Internet access although it does not give you the mobility that a wireless network does. If your network is already functioning, simply plug one end of the cable into the router and the other end into the netbook/laptop and a wired connection should be available for your use. If you already have a wireless network set up in your home Ensure that the wireless router is turned on and broadcasting and that the netbook/laptop is well within range (ideally with a clear line of sight to the router) Next you will need to look for the wireless network icon on the bottom right of your screen. This icon will have a red X through it if the netbook/laptop is not connected to a network o Right click this icon and click View Available Wireless Networks o Your network name should appear inside a window that asks you to choose your wireless network. Double click your network name to connect to it o If your network is secured with a password, you will be asked to enter the password, after which your netbook/laptop will be connected. If your network is not secured with a password, it is to your benefit to set one up to protect your data. Please see the Security section below to learn how to set up network security. The next time your netbook/laptop is in range of your home network it should automatically connect to the network. If your system needs to be reimaged, you will need to go through this process again. If you want to set up a wireless network in your home To connect a netbook/laptop to a home network, you must first ensure that you have a router o A wireless router can be bought from any electronics store such as Best Buy. Some common brands of routers include Belkin, Netgear and Linksys. o When buying a router, you will want to look at the range and the speed of the router and determine what is appropriate for your needs. The speed 12

13 of the connection is denoted by followed by a letter a is the slowest connection while n is the fastest. Typically g is sufficient for home use unless you want to regularly transfer files between computers on your network Once you have purchased your router follow the guidelines in the router s manual to set up your wireless network. Your router will need to be plugged into a power outlet and be connected to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as RoadRunner, AT&T or Comcast. Note that wireless networks are unsecured by default so that they are easier to setup Security Wireless networks are great for sharing printers, files and an Internet connection among different computers in the home, but they do come with some risks. Your router manual should provide instructions on how to set up a secure network, so please refer to these first. If you need additional help, some basic steps are outlined below. An unsecured wireless network is accessible by anyone within range of the network (300 ft or more). An intruder may do any of the following: o Slow your Internet performance o View your files on your computer o Monitor your websites, read your s and instant messaging and copy usernames and passwords o Use your connection to spread spam or malicious software or perform other illegal activities. For the reasons listed above, it is important to make your home network secure. A secured connection can still be compromised, but it is much more difficult to do so There are several types of wireless encryption. The most secure of these is WPA2 encryption, which should be used unless there are other wireless devices on the network that will not work with this encryption. WEP encryption is outdated and should not be used. 13

14 Secure Wireless To set up your secure network, you should first look at your router manual for directions. Below are some typical steps you would take: Physically connect your laptop (or any computer) to the router using a CAT-5 ethernet cable such as the one below Open your Internet browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, etc.) and type in the IP address of the router into the address bar. Typically this address is or Most routers come with a standard username and password (such as admin/admin or admin and no password). You should now be able to access the settings of the router. Look for security settings From there it should be fairly straightforward to choose your encryption method, choose a name for the network and to choose a password. As with all passwords choose something that uses a combination of different characters (such as numbers and symbols) making it difficult for a stranger to guess 14

15 Student Google Apps for Education and File Storage TCS has partnered with Google to offer a new suite of online services to help you organize your academic life, stay on top of assignments, and prepare for life after school by using the same programs and applications used in the work force. Each student grades 6-12 will be assigned a tcmail.org account. This account will be considered the student s official TCS address until such time as the student is no longer enrolled in TCS. With the account you will get 25 GB of storage for s, access to all your accounts in one place, a rich set of features, and an account you can use throughout your time at TCS. You will be able to use your web browser, desktop clients, or mobile phones to access your . You will also get: 25 GB of password protected online storage and file sharing in your Google Drive Tools to create websites and blogs. Instant messaging and syncing with your mobile phone and more! You can even create and edit documents (Google Docs, Spreadsheet, Presenter etc.) online. Click here to > 6 th - 12 th grade students will need to use school provided address to access their RenWeb account (this only applies to students; your parents will continue to use their own address and password to access RenWeb). If you have a RenWeb password already setup it will stay the same. How do you know what your address will be? That s the easy part; all student addresses will use the following rule: lastnamefirstinnitial#@tcmail.org For example: if your name is Joe Cool your Troy Christian address will be: coolj1@tcmail.org Students can login to their Google by going to and clicking on the Google Apps button at the bottom of the homepage. Use Guidelines As with all technology use at TCS, adherence to the TCS Acceptable Use Policy is required Prohibited Conduct Student may not be used in the following ways: To harass, threaten or intimidate others To send obscene or sexually explicit language or images Unlawful activities Commercial purposes False identity in communications Misrepresentation of Troy Christian Schools Interferences with TCS technology operations through 15

16 o o o Electronic chain letters Unsolicited electronic communications Disruption of electronic communications Access Restriction Access to and use of student is considered a privilege at TCS. The district maintains the right to immediately withdraw the access and use of student when there is a reason to believe that violations of law or school policies have occurred. In such cases, the alleged violation will be referred to the building principal for further investigation and adjudication. Security TCS cannot and does not guarantee the security of electronic files located on the Google Apps for Education system. Although Google does have a powerful content filter in place, TCS cannot assure that users will not be exposed to unsolicited information Privacy According to the TCS Acceptable Use Policy: Files stored on school resources, including messages, are considered property of TCS TCS reserves the right to inspect files stored on school resources for conformity with its policies, licensing standards and state or federal law 16

17 TCS Netbook/Laptop Incident Policy This policy guideline has been created for all staff and students who receive netbooks/laptops from TCS to inform them of the process that should occur in the event of damage or loss of a system. In the event of damage or loss to a netbook/laptop computer, the user shall immediately notify the technology staff If the issue is clearly a failure on the part of the computer manufacturer, the technology team will attempt to repair the failure or procure replacement parts through a warranty. No further action is necessary from the user or the technology department. If the technology staff believes that the loss or damage may have been due to negligence or abuse on the part of the netbook/laptop user: o The technology staff shall provide the netbook/laptop user with the TCS Netbook/Laptop Incident Report Form, which the user (or parent) should fill within 24 hours and return to the technology department o The technology staff will then pass a copy of this form to the building principal for appropriate action Principal Actions The principal shall determine if the damage or loss was due to the laptop user s negligence or abuse. If the principal determines that the damage or loss was not due to the laptop user s negligence or abuse, the technology department will absorb the cost or repairs or replacement If the principal determines that the damage or loss was due to the laptop user s negligence or abuse, he/she may assess damages to be paid by the laptop user (or parent) to cover the costs of repair or replacement. The principal may choose to waive some or all of the costs in the case of mitigating circumstances at his/her discretion The netbook/laptop user (or parent) will make payment to TCS in the amount determined by the principal The principal will be responsible for ensuring that any necessary paperwork is filed with law enforcement agencies (such as in the event of a theft) 17

18 Payment Guide In order to assist the principal in assessment of damages, the following table of costs has been setup Item Approx, Replacement Cost Entire Netbook & accessories $400 Screen $90 Hard Drive $75 Keyboard $50 Outer Cover (per part) $50 Power Supply $50 **All costs are estimates that include labor and shipping The principal should contact the technology department to determine repair costs for any cases in which he/she requires clarification. 18