Oskaloosa High School to roll out 1:1 laptop program
Oskaloosa Indians
Oskaloosa, Iowa- On August 18, 2011 the Oskaloosa High School will roll out the 1:1 Apple Laptop Program. The laptop program will include students in grades 9 – 12. Each student may receive a laptop computer to be used in the classroom as well as at home for educational purposes. Teachers will be using computer technology for instruction, assignments, projects, research, and assessment. There are 71 schools in the state that have this program at this time or will by yearend. Oskaloosa High School will be one of the largest high schools in the state to utilize the 1:1 program with 715 students. Des Moines North High School will be the largest with 1200 students.
The roll out will take place at the high school from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm on August 18th. On arrival, students will go to their assigned homerooms. For students to receive their laptop, there must be a parent or guardian in attendance. During the evening, there will be presentations on Computer Care & Tech Basics, Policy and Procedures, and Internet Safety. An Acceptable Use Policy and Laptop Policy will need to be signed by a parent and the student.
There will be a yearly fee of $30 for an individual student in high school. If a family has more than one student in high school at the same time the fee is $50 for the entire family. This fee can be paid at the district registration on August 2nd from 12 pm to 7 pm or on August 3rd from 8 am to 1 pm or on August 18th during the roll out. Laptops will not be issued to any students who have not paid the fees, who have not signed the policies, or viewed the presentations.
The district will filter the laptops both at school and at home. There are sites that will not be accessible to the students. Even though the computer will have a filter it may not be foolproof. Parents have control of laptop usage at home and should monitor student usage of the Internet.
Students will be expected to back up their own computer. The district will not be responsible for backing up student work. Students will need to keep a copy of their documents, projects, or other information. This can be on a flash drive (which the Oskaloosa Education Foundation will have on hand on during the roll out on August 18th) , a USB external hard drive, or in the cloud, an Internet site which handles storage.
The district strongly recommends that parents and/or guardians consult with their insurance agents about coverage of the laptop under their homeowner insurance for theft, loss, and major damage. Damages that are not covered under warranty will be charged to the student in the following manner. Initial damage to the laptop will result in a charge up to $100, the second time the laptop is damaged will result in a charge up to $200, and the third time the laptop is damaged will result in the full cost of the repair.
If the laptop is lost or stolen, the student and parent/guardian are responsible for the full replacement cost. It is important that students understand that they need to take care of the computer because they will have the same computer through all four years of high school, although the computers will be turned in each summer for maintenance.
This is an exciting time for the community and for the district. Our students will be moving into a new era, giving them an advantage over students from other schools, states, and countries. We truly want our students to be able to compete in a global market by utilizing the 1:1 program. We hope to bring the 21st Century Skills to the forefront as well as engage students in critical thinking, collaboration, and communication.
The high school and the 1:1 Laptop Committee have worked hard to prepare for this milestone and are embracing the change. The hope is that through this change the students of this community will move to the global stage and boost Oskaloosa as a whole. They look forward to seeing everyone on August 18th.
