Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
The West Hartford Public School District is committed to creating a rigorous and engaging learning environment for all students and staff. It is part of our core values to provide students with environments that foster and encourage innovative learning. All members of our learning community hold the responsibility to value technology and achieve technological proficiency to prepare our students for future jobs, which currently may not exist. Schools must challenge students with rigorous, personalized academic experiences, foster innovation and creativity, and embrace emerging technologies. Students actively engage in a cohesively integrated curriculum, access information, and apply it in solving authentic problems.
Many students have personally owned devices that can be used to help maximize their opportunity for success in school and beyond. These technologies, when properly used, promote educational excellence in the District by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. We believe that the tremendous value of technology and the information technology network as an educational resource far outweighs the potential risks. These program guidelines focus on using technologies as educational tools to enhance the teaching and learning experience, consistent with the West Harford Public Schools Mission, Values and Goals. BYOD Parent/Student User Agreement
For the purposes of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), “Device” means a privately owned wireless and/or portable electronic piece of equipment that can be used for word processing, wireless Internet access, image capture and recording, sound recording, information transmitting and/or receiving and storing. These devices may include, but are not limited to, personal laptops, smartphones, iPads or other tablet computers, network access devices, e-Readers, and cellular phones. No gaming devices are allowed (to include: Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable PSP, etc.). If you are uncertain whether or not your device meets the criteria to be used for BYOD, please see your building administrator.
The District provides a filtered, wireless network available to students for instructional purposes. In accordance with federal guidelines, this network has filtering software that blocks access to material that are inappropriate for students or harmful to minors, as defined by the Children’s Internet Protection Act And Child Online Protection Act.
Privately owned technological devices may not be used during instructional time, except as specifically permitted by instructional staff. Students and visitors are required to register personal devices on the WHPS network and agree to the WHPS Administrative Guidelines for the Use of Technology.
If a student does not have parental permission to use the Internet and/or online services, teachers will make a reasonable effort to provide an alternative assignment covering the same content standards contained in the Internet based instruction. In the event that equivalent instruction cannot be reasonably provided, an alternative assignment will be given to the student.
Staff is responsible for providing guidelines for Internet use by students. Here is an example of the Responsible Use Guidelines for elementary schools. Staff are responsible for supervising student access to the Internet and ensuring that access is being used for educational purposes and in accordance with the Guidelines for Acceptable Use. This is really no different than staff having been responsible that students were taking notes and not passing notes, or reading texts and not magazines, during class. The vehicle to the knowledge has simply changed. Each building clarifies “electronic etiquette” and expectations for their school community consistent with goals and grade levels. These expectations include expectations for common areas and non-academic settings.
Student FAQ's for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
- I have my laptop with me in class. How do I get on the Internet now?
- My laptop is not prompting me to choose a wireless network. Is there another way to connect?
- I brought my iPad to school to use in the classroom, but my teacher said I couldn’t use it in his/her classroom. Can I still use it?
- I just can’t get my laptop to connect to the network. Can I get some help from someone?
- I need to save my work in my school's network drive. How can I access this resource?
- How do I print my work?
- My device was stolen when I brought it to school. Who should I contact about this?
- Why am I filtered on my own computer? Shouldn’t I be able to see what I want to on my own device?
- Am I still held accountable for the Acceptable Use Policy I signed at the beginning of the school year even though this is my own personal computer?
I have my laptop with me in class. How do I get on the Internet now?
My laptop is not prompting me to choose a wireless network. Is there another way to connect?
I brought my iPad to school to use in the classroom, but my teacher said I couldn’t use it in his/her classroom. Can I still use it?
I just can’t get my laptop to connect to the network. Can I get some help from someone?
I need to save my work in my school's network drive. How can I access this resource?
How do I print my work?
My device was stolen when I brought it to school. Who should I contact about this?
Why am I filtered on my own computer? Shouldn’t I be able to see what I want to on my own device?
Am I still held accountable for the Acceptable Use Policy I signed at the beginning of the school year even though this is my own personal computer?
Teacher FAQ's for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
- My classroom is not conducive to student owned technology, am I required to allow my students to access their technology tools in the classroom?
- Some of my students cannot access the network on their laptops or phones. I don’t have time in a class period to help them with this. Should I put in a help request or call the help desk?
- I have students in my school who are accessing the Internet using their provider’s data plan (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon etc.) on their smartphones or laptops, hence bypassing the filter. Is this a violation of the student AUP?
- I have my own laptop and a smartphone. I would like to utilize these tools at work. Does new plan include school staff?
- I keep getting prompted to register my device each day. Is there a way to have the system remember my device?
- One of my students was using his laptop to bully another student on school. Should I call the central technology office concerning this problem?
- What Classroom Management approaches to BYOD are recommended?
My classroom is not conducive to student owned technology, am I required to allow my students to access their technology tools in the classroom?
Some of my students cannot access the network on their laptops or phones. I don’t have time in a class period to help them with this. Should I put in a help request or call the help desk?
I have students in my school who are accessing the Internet using their provider’s data plan (AT&T, Sprint, Verizon etc.) on their smartphones or laptops, hence bypassing the filter. Is this a violation of the student AUP?
I have my own laptop and a smartphone. I would like to utilize these tools at work. Does new plan include school staff?
I keep getting prompted to register my device each day. Is there a way to have the system remember my device?
One of my students was using his laptop to bully another student on school. Should I call the central technology office concerning this problem?
What Classroom Management approaches to BYOD are recommended?
Parent FAQ's for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
- My son or daughter is bringing his iPad to school for instructional purposes. Will he have access to things he normally does with district equipment?
- As a parent, am I required to add additional software (virus protection, filter, tracking device etc.) to my child’s technology tool?
- I have read the terms of service and I do not wish to have my daughter accessing the Internet using her own laptop. I would like to allow her to continue using her computer for productivity, but not the Internet. Is this allowable?
- If my son or daughter’s laptop is stolen or damaged, what recourse can I take?
- What are the classroom rules for using student owned devices including phones?
- Will my child have access to communication tools like email or message boards while on the WHPS Guest network?
- Where can I see the Acceptable Use Policy for Technology?
- My child does not have his/her own electronic communication device to bring to school. Will he/she be penalized or miss out on instruction?
- Is it required that my child use the School wireless? Can they use their own wifi/data plan?
- What are some antivirus software options?
- What resources are there to deal with Internet Safety/Cyberbullying?