One of the great successes of the iPad Program is the collaboration that occurs in classrooms. Students readily learn skills and content from and with each other. The introduction of the iPad Program has also seen teachers model life-long learning attributes as they learn alongside students.
When should an iPad be brought to class?
Students should bring their fully charged device every day, unless advised otherwise by their teacher. Some lessons will require the use of devices, while others will provide informal opportunities to use technology to complete tasks efficiently or extend learning. It is imperative that the devices be available for use at the teacher's discretion. Students will not take devices on excursions unless otherwise directed to do so.
As some lessons are designed to use iPads. If students inadvertently leave their device at home, they are to let their teacher know in the morning so that alternate arrangements can be made
Before School, Lunchtime and After School Usage
Devices are not permitted to be used on school grounds before or after school without the express permission of a member of staff and under direct supervision. iPads are not to be removed from school bags until they are at the classroom and their teacher has directed them to do so.
At lunchtimes iPads can only be used with teacher supervision in the classroom or during an extra-curricular activity where they can also be supervised. iPads are not to be used outside of the classroom, unless directly supervised by a teacher.
Outside School Hours Care
Students using their devices at OSHC Programs should follow the directions of supervisors and maintain responsible digital citizenship behaviours.
Mobile phones and smart watches
Mobile phones (and cellular smart watches) need to be signed in to the school office at the beginning of each day. Smart watches need to be set to focus mode during school time. Inappropriate use of a smart watch or mobile phone (including messaging) will incur the same consequences as misuse of an iPad.
Teacher monitoring - Apple Classroom
Students will be required to accept teacher requests to join Apple Classroom so that teachers can guide students through lessons and see their progress without interrupting the flow of student engagement and work. When students are connected to Classroom, teachers can launch apps on student devices, mirror student work to the classroom TV and monitor student on-task behaviour. Teachers are able to share documents and send web links to students efficiently to assist in classroom activities.
Security of Devices
Devices will remain in classrooms between 8:45am and 2:55pm, with classrooms being locked whenever the class is not in the classroom and during breaks. Students may take their devices into classrooms once their teacher has opened the classroom for the day. Devices must be transported in a hardy case or case and sleeve and should remain in the school backpack at start and end times.
Most people set a passcode for their child's iPad for security. Be advised, if they change and forget the passcode, the device may need to be wiped and reset to factory settings. This will mean you can reload all your purchased apps but any data saved to the iPad i.e., your child's work and photos will be lost.
Access to school network and internet
All students involved in the iPad Program will be provided with access to the school network and the department's Managed Internet Environment. Any device connected to the internet through the school network will have high levels of filtering applied. As such we do not support the use of iPads with cellular capality as these can bypass this filtering.
By signing in to the Company Portal application, the iPad will automatically receive certificates to ensure a more secure connection to the school network. The school's Technical Support Officer will assist teachers to set up Class Teams and folders in OneDrive to store school related files (all students have free access to OneDrive and Microsoft Office through the Department of Education).
Games and 'home' apps
Students may have games and other apps on their devices at their parents'/carers' discretion, but they are not permitted to use these during school hours. When storage limits are reached, some of these 'home' apps will need to be deleted to make room for school-related apps or created work.
Messaging
Messaging apps are not to be used at school. Contact between parents and students during school hours needs to go through the school office. It is highly recommended by the school that this feature be deactivated or time-limited.
iCloud
iCloud is blocked by the Department of Education as it stores information on servers outside of Australia. We ask that students disable most iCloud features (particularly iCloud Drive) as school work can get automatically uploaded at home and then students are unable to access it at school. While not required, it may be beneficial to keep iCloud backup turned on as this can help restore data in the case of a broken iPad, a factory reset, or moving to a newer iPad.
Third Party Keyboard Apps
These keyboards often do not have the full range of characters required, have characters in different locations and can be distracting to students and those around them. Students may have these on their devices, but they are not to use these during school hours.
Support at School
eLearning Mentors
The eLearning mentor is a student in each Year 3-6 class who assists the teacher and students with iPad troubleshooting during the day. Students are elected to the position for the year in Term 1 after nominating themselves or being nominated for the position.
On-site support
Students are able to access support from the school's Technical Support Officer:
- between 8:45-9am Monday to Thursday
- between 2:00-2:30pm Monday to Friday.
For urgent matters, teachers may call the Technical Support officer to the classroom to assist.
If parents are seeking support from the school, they can use the email techsupport@nundahss.eq.edu.au or seek support through their child's class teacher.
Acceptable use of iPads at school
Classroom expectations
As part of the beginning of the year, class teachers and specialists will set expectations around device use in class time. This will include locations where iPads are stored, routines for
Internet Etiquette
All users are expected to abide by the accepted rules of internet etiquette. These include:
- Be polite.
- Use appropriate language.
- Always assume that any information or communications accessible from the network is private property.
- The subject line of an e-mail should indicate the content of the message.
- Always end with your name and e-mail address.
- Always acknowledge that you have received a document or file someone has sent you.
- Before sending an email it should be proofread and edited to eliminate mistakes.
- Students must not use their email to send inappropriate messages. The school email account is for school work only.
- FaceTime and messaging are not to be used at school. It is also highly recommended by the school that this feature be deactivated.
Device Audits - Monitoring student devices for software infringements, inappropriate and offensive material
Students may be selected on a random basis to provide their device for inspection for compliance with school and legal requirements. Where the school has reasonable suspicion that there is inappropriate or offensive material on an iPad, the school may request the student to hand in their device to the teacher or a member of school leadership. The device will only be searched with permission from the student or their parents/carers.
Social Media
Social media sites are not permitted by primary age school students. These sites require users to be over 13 years of age and soon the government will require students to be 16 years of age. It is fraudulent to create a social media account by lying about the user's name/age. Parents should not encourage or support students to create these accounts.
Unacceptable Uses of Information and the Internet
The following behaviours are considered unacceptable use of the iPad and internet:
- Using the network for any illegal activity, including violation of copyright or other contracts.
- Posting anonymous messages/files.
- Downloading, storing, creating, sending or printing files or messages that are deemed to be profane, obscene, or that use language that offends or degrades others.
- Giving personal information or agreeing to meet any person met through the Internet.
- Transmission of personal information about any member of the school community.
- Accessing offensive, dangerous or potentially destructive information.
- Downloading any files illegally
- Not reporting unsolicited emails/ messages, particularly from unknown persons.
If a student comes upon any controversial or bullying material, they are to report it directly to their teacher or a safe adult.
Consequences of unacceptable/ inappropriate use or behaviour
As with any inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour at Nundah State School, the Student Code of Conduct stipulates the guidelines for action following such behaviour.
Any breaches of these policies may result in the student being referred to school leadership and discipline administered in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct and and the iPad Responsible Use Agreement. This may include denial of access to devices and the network for a period of time.
Distractibility will be dealt with in the same manner as other classroom instances of off-task behaviour as per the class expectations and the Student Code of Conduct.