Wayland High School

FAQs - The Importance of Implementing One to One Learning

After months of research, conferences, site visits and discussions with teachers, students and administrators, we've put together this list of answers to frequently asked questions in order to help give you a better understanding of the importance of implementing a 1:1 learning initiative at Wayland High School.

 1)  One-to-one sounds nice, but does it really help students?

As more and more schools in Massachusetts and around the country implement one-to-one learning initiatives, the results are showing these programs to be the future of education and that they are effective in many different ways:

• They allow students to develop the 21st century skills imperative for success both in college and their careers. These include hard skills such as word processing, research, presentations, and spreadsheets as well as ever more important soft skills like communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, media literacy, online safety and etiquette, and connectivity to the global society.
• 24/7 access extends the student learning environment outside of the traditional school day allowing for  “anytime, anywhere” continued collaboration and interactions.
• Increases parity by giving every student access to global information and educational software through technology, thus eliminating the “digital divide” and helping reduce the achievement gap.
• Greatly increases student motivation, engagement and personal responsibility.
• Enhances home to school communications.
• Empowers students with learning.

2)  We already have computer labs and laptop carts? Why do we need one-to-one?

The new high school has fewer computer labs than the existing high school, and our current labs are already booked days to weeks in advance. The same is true with our computer carts. This limited access forces teachers to plan far ahead in order to use computers in their classrooms. Carts add another problem because 10-15 minutes of instructional time can be wasted getting the cart from its previous teacher, distributing and setting up the computers at the start of class and putting them away when class is over. Access is when it is needed, not when we have scheduled it. (“Allows for Teachable Moments”)

3)  If every student gets a computer, won’t they just be staring at the screen the entire class and not paying attention to the teacher?

Just because every student has a computer doesn’t mean they will be used in every class every single day or even for an entire class. They can be used for a quick 15-minute activity, then put away; or for longer projects, research, collaboration, content creation, etc.

4) How will one to one help teachers and administrators?

One-to-One programs provide for a much richer learning environment.

• Computers provide teachers much more flexibility in how they teach, providing opportunities for more personalized and differentiated instruction, reversed (flipped) lessons, collaborative projects, online study groups, flexible office hours, and hybrid (blended) courses to name a few.
• Student computers allow teachers to take advantage of the its Learning Learning Management System (LMS) which will empower teachers with a host of useful applications and tools:

- Online tests and quizzes which are graded automatically and provide students with instant feedback

- Homework and class notes distributed online - no paper

- Homework turned in, graded and returned to students online - no paper

- Synchronous online study groups and/or one-on-one student help sessions

- Increased home to school communication

- Student ePortfolios

• One-to one increases instruction time by reducing the time associated using computer labs or laptop carts. It also ends logistical issues and removes the problem of trying to schedule learning around the availability of technology.

Wayland High School

FAQs - The Importance of Implementing One to One Learning

(Continued)

 5)  What is the cost to the taxpayers?

• $200K increase in operating budget; $200K decrease in capital requests

 6)  Why Mac?

• They are more reliable & easier to maintain (Saves on support needs)
• Comes with useful iLife software, calendar, calculator, translator, browser
• Better connectivity to networks & the Internet (seamless connectivity between school and home.)
• Comes with stolen computer tracking software
• Built in assistive technology as standard features (text to speech, screen magnification)
• Price with education discount about same as a PC with comparable specifications

 7)  What happens if it gets dropped, spilled on, stolen or broken

• Wayland School District’s Support and Maintenance Agreement address how these issues are covered
• Computer parts are covered by Apple’s (3) Year Warranty against manufacturer’s defects
• On-site certified Apple hardware technician

 8)  What happens to machines over the summer?

• We will take the computers back when school gets out and perform maintenance and any upgrades that are necessary.  They will be re-distributed in August.  For planning purposes, laptop distribution will occur sometime after the fall sports pre-season begins.

9)  Can students load software & games?

• Games, no. Software, yes, but ….if a student wants a program that we do not provide there is a procedure to follow: On the Genius Website, there is a form to fill out and once approved the technology staff will make the software available in or self-service, and the student can download it from there.
• The computers are to support research and educational use and any software that is loaded should support this objective.  Parents will need to monitor this

10)  Will there be content filters on the machines?

• No, but there is an Internet filter at school
• LanSchool tracks sites that students have accessed.
• Parents are responsible for monitoring student use at home
• Parents can load additional restrictions on their children’s machines

11)  Will there be anti-virus software on machines?

• Yes

12)  Does the school offer technical support?

• Yes, during school hours at a student-run “Genius Bar”

13)  Will you offer parent training?

• Yes, parents and students must attend an instructional session before students receive their computer.

14)  Can students print?

• Students will submit most assignments electronically
• There are printers for student use in the High School Student Learning Centers
• Students can also print at home

15)  Are there any restrictions on networks that students will connect to?

• Students can connect to the Internet in school and/or anywhere there is free access
• Firewall rules will be set at school

• Learning to use and manage a computer properly is an essential part of the 1:1 learning initiative
• Students can do whatever they want (within filter rules) during their free time
• Using LAN School, teachers can see and share what is on a student computer during class

16)  What if my family is away when you distribute the laptops to students?

• We will post a time and place for laptop pickup during the first week of school for students who cannot make the designated dates.  Check the 1:1 Learning Website once school has started for directions.

17)  What if I cannot pick up my computer at the times designated times?

• We will post a time and place for laptop pickup during the first week of school for students who cannot make the designated dates.  Check the 1:1 Learning Website once school has started in for directions.

18)  I paid the maintenance fee for the laptop for the 2016-17 school year.  Does that payment cover 2017-18 as well or will I need to pay that fee again?

• All students will need to pay the laptop maintenance and support fee each year.  This fee is an annual fee.  

19)  On pickup day (excluding rising freshman) do parents need to be there?

• Parents do not need to escort their children to laptop pickup if they are returning high school students.  All Freshmen and new students must come with a parent and attend the 1 hr. training.

20) Do returning HS students and parents need to sign a new  maintenance support agreement?

•  Yes a new AUP must be signed by parent and child and brought to pick up. New AUP Agreement is located here.