Q: What is the $625 technology fee?
A: The technology fee ensures that every child in 4th and 5th grade has access to the same machine, equipped with the same software. Should the need arise, the fee enables our technology coordinators to issue a loner machine and repair a student’s machine as quickly as possible. The fee also covers the cost of the 24/7 carrying case and access to Lovett’s network.
Q: For what do the students use the laptops?
A: The laptops are used for a wide variety of educational purposes, and student activities vary from classroom to classroom. Students utilize their laptops to type or revise current writing pieces, access teacher-selected websites to gather images or information to include in presentations, record themselves reading and given selection, share what they have learned about a given topic with a peer or teacher, participate in surveys, complete assignments, interact with maps or timelines, blog or journal about what they have read, etc. With teacher guidance and student creativity, the possibilities are endless.
Q: How much time per day do the students use the laptops?
A: The amount of time a student spends on the laptop in a given day varies. For example, near the end of a writing unit of study, students may be actively involved in typing, revising, editing, and listening to their writing pieces using their laptops, resulting in longer amounts of time using their machines. On some days, a math or social studies activity may involve laptop use; however, on other days, students are engaged in reading, writing or performance activities that do not involve laptop use. Laptops are utilized as a means of enhancing and broadening Lower School curriculum.
Q: Can my student chat face-to-face with other students using the laptop?
A: Lower School teachers are clear with their expectations
regarding student laptop use. Students are not permitted to email or chat with
each other during the school day except with special teacher permission. Even
though student laptops are equipped with Apple’s iChat messaging application,
and Facetime
videoconferencing app, these programs and tools are not currently part of
the Lower School technology curriculum.
Each year as Lower School students earn the privilege of utilizing their machines outside of school, we ask that parents be actively involved in home laptop use, providing supervision and support at all times.
Each year as Lower School students earn the privilege of utilizing their machines outside of school, we ask that parents be actively involved in home laptop use, providing supervision and support at all times.
Q: Does my child have access to email?
A: Beginning in 4th grade, lower school students are granted access to a Lovett Gmail account. At school, email accounts are used as a means of communication between students and teachers, for note-taking purposes, for storing and utilizing links and flies, for accessing teacher-created content, and for transferring information between locations. Our 4th and 5th grade student Gmail accounts will only be able to email within the Lovett community.
4th and 5th grade teachers provide ongoing, detailed instruction regarding Lovett’s email system. Students are taught email etiquette and appropriate use, how to password protect their accounts, how to send and receive mail, how to manage their inboxes, what type of messages to ignore and delete, and when to seek teacher and parents guidance.
4th and 5th grade teachers provide ongoing, detailed instruction regarding Lovett’s email system. Students are taught email etiquette and appropriate use, how to password protect their accounts, how to send and receive mail, how to manage their inboxes, what type of messages to ignore and delete, and when to seek teacher and parents guidance.
Q: Do I need to purchase a laptop for my child to use at home?
A: Absolutely not. 4th and 5th grade teachers spend a significant amount of time at the beginning of the school year carefully explaining appropriate handling and safe use of the laptops to the students. During that time, the machines are not permitted to travel home with the students. As students grow more comfortable with the laptops and are seen to demonstrate responsible, ethical use of the machines, they will be permitted to take the laptops home as needed to complete school-related assignments or activities.
Additionally, many of the projects that lower schoolers complete utilize software that is both Windows and Macintosh compatible. More often than not, students find that files created on home computers are easily transferred to school laptops using USB drives or school email.
Additionally, many of the projects that lower schoolers complete utilize software that is both Windows and Macintosh compatible. More often than not, students find that files created on home computers are easily transferred to school laptops using USB drives or school email.
Q: How can my child transfer his or her work from home to school and vice versa?
A: All 4th graders and new 5th graders receive a USB drive (flash drive, jump drive) at the beginning of the year on which to store and backup files. USB drives are both Windows and Macintosh compatible and they offer students peace of mind when it comes to creating a project on one machine and then revising or editing the project on a different machine. 4th graders take their USB drives up to 5th grade with them, but replacements and available in the Campus Shop.
Attaching files using their school assigned Gmail account is another way for students to transfer files between machines.
Attaching files using their school assigned Gmail account is another way for students to transfer files between machines.
Q: Do you teach the students about Internet safety?
A: Yes! Lower school teachers and technology coordinators spend numerous instructional periods throughout the school year working with the students to build a strong understanding of what it means to be wise consumers of Internet information. We are fully aware that the World Wide Web can be a scary place, but Lower School teachers are committed to helping students gain the skills necessary to safely navigate through online environments. This instruction includes lessons and activities regarding cyberbullying, “chain mail” and spam messages, smart Internet searches, copyright policies, online presence, password protection, etc. Please refer to the following Internet Safety link for additional information.