Managing Student Technology @ Home

Chromebooks, phones and other internet connected devices allow our students to extend their learning past the traditional school day and give them access to incredible learning resources and tools. Learning to navigate safely and find relevant information on the web is an adult skill that all of our students need to have to be successful in life outside of school.

However, K-12 students are not adults and don't always have the experience and judgement to make good decisions about how much time they spend on devices, what they access, and how they treat others online. It is up to all of the adults in their lives to teach them how to be safe, ethical, responsible and respectful in an online environment.

Choose a tab below to learn more about how we protect students at school, how you can help your students balance their media use, and what tools you can use at home to monitor and protect your students.

Family Resources

Security @School

SCHOOL

FILTERS

The district provides two layers of filtering on student devices. The Internet is filtered as it comes into the district through PaloAlto which protects all users on the district network. This tool does not apply when students are on home or public networks. Students have a secondary filter, called SecURLy , which filters and monitors Chromebook use at home and school. This tool notifies principals about inappropriate email, images and search terms used by students if certain words or images are used (especially related to potential harm to self or others). Parents have the option to further restrict their student's filters at home by using the Parent Portal in SecURLy to limit the use. See the Safety@Home tab above for account set up information.

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP

Here are the ways we educate and protect students during the school day:

Teachers and Librarians are teaching bi-monthly Digital Citizenship lessons at the elementary grade levels. Secondary students are completing monthly Digital Citizenship lessons during their advisory period, unless otherwise indicated by the school. You can view the lessons being used on the Common Sense Media website Digital Citizenship page.
Teachers also have access to GoGuardian, a tool that allows them to view students' screens during class-time and to block or allow specific websites in order to help students manage their attention and focus on learning.
Students are required to sign an annual Acceptable Use Policy agreement (see Student Responsibilities page). In order to increase student understanding of what they are being asked to sign, we have added required video instruction to explain to students what their responsibilities are when they use student devices.

Family Media

Common Sense Media

Access app, game, and movie reviews, parenting articles, and other resources to help you manage media and technology with your children. Of particular interest is Common Sense's Parent Tips & FAQs, where parents will find suggestions for talking to kids about technology.

Family Media Resources

Here are the recommendations for families from the American Academy of Pediatrics about how to balance media use for students:

Develop, consistently follow, and routinely revisit a Family Media Use plan (see the plan from the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan).
- Address what type of and how much media are used and what media behaviors are appropriate for each child or teenager, and for parents. Place consistent limits on hours per day of media use as well as types of media used.
- Promote that children and adolescents get the recommended amount of daily physical activity (1 hour) and adequate sleep (8–12 hours, depending on age).
- Recommend that children not sleep with devices in their bedrooms, including TVs, computers, and smartphones. Avoid exposure to devices or screens for 1 hour before bedtime.
- Discourage entertainment media while doing homework.
- Designate media-free times together (e.g., family dinner) and media-free locations (e.g., bedrooms) in homes. Promote activities that are likely to facilitate development and health, including positive parenting activities, such as reading, teaching, talking, and playing together.
- Communicate guidelines to other caregivers, such as babysitters or grandparents, so that media rules are followed consistently.
Engage in selecting and co-viewing media with your child, through which your child can use media to learn and be creative, and share these experiences with your family and your community.
Have ongoing communication with children about online citizenship and safety, including treating others with respect online and offline, avoiding cyberbullying and sexting, being wary of online solicitation, and avoiding communications that can compromise personal privacy and safety.
Actively develop a network of trusted adults (e.g., aunts, uncles, coaches, etc.) who can engage with children through social media and to whom children can turn when they encounter challenges.

Safety @Home

FAMILY TOOLS TO MANAGE STUDENT USE AT HOME

SecURLy Parent Portal will allow you to monitor and, to some extent, control what your student can access after school hours. See below to learn how to set up your access and use the parent tools.