i-Learn

At Central Middle School, we recognize that we are preparing today’s students for an ever-changing world. In order to inspire and engage each student, we must continuously evolve our instruction. Using today’s technological tools and resources is one way to do that.

In addition, we want students to understand digital realities and practice digital responsibilities so they will be prepared to participate and be successful in today’s (and tomorrow’s) world.

To those ends, each student at CMS is offered an iPad for use as an educational tool. The iPads and other instructional technology provide teachers and students with additional, powerful opportunities for learning. They help us create a learning environment that integrates today’s digital tools, accommodates a mobile lifestyle, adapts to individual learning styles and encourages collaboration and teamwork.

The devices also provide an authentic, hands-on opportunity for students to learn and practice digital responsibility. In lessons before receiving the devices and throughout the school year, students receive direct, explicit instruction in digital safety and responsibility. The more practice they have developing good digital citizenship in this environment, the better prepared they should be outside of school.

We look forward to ever-increasing learning opportunities this initiative offers our students!

Parent Resources

The technology within Eden Prairie Schools and the iPad are here for educational purposes. Effective teaching and learning with iPads integrates technology into the curriculum anytime, anyplace. Students must abide by the policies of the school to effectively use the iPad to enhance learning in the classroom and outside the classroom. It is a resource for our students to use in their education.

Access Eden Prairie Schools’ owned technology is a privilege and not a right. At any point access to devices, internet and the like can be revoked.

Cell Phone, texting and chatting policies

Current cell phone and texting policies stay in place.
Do not attempt to download any chatting or instant messaging programs on the iPad.

The role of textbooks in our classrooms
We will still utilize textbooks throughout the transition and beyond, and while some teachers may rely less on the current textbooks than others, textbooks still have a place in our classrooms.

Privacy
Email is no more private than a postcard. Students and families need to know that files stored on school computers are not private. Network and Internet access is provided as a tool for educational purposes only. Eden Prairie Schools (EPS) has the right to monitor, inspect, copy, review, and store at any time, without prior notice, any and all usage of the computer network and Internet access including transmitted and received information. All information files are the property of EPS and no user shall have any expectations of privacy regarding such files.

Technology Policies

Additional Resources

As educators, parents, guardians and leaders of our youth, we know it is imperative that our students understand what cyber safety is and why it is so important. Eden Prairie Schools compiled some information and suggestions for parents, guardians and students to review and discuss.

Filter Access
Filter software can help block and filter inappropriate content on your home wireless network. The wireless network at EPS filters content and helps block content. Some of these products offer additional protection features for additional devices.

Additional Resources

Never post or send personal information online. This includes (but is not limited to): passwords, home address, personal phone numbers, your or another person’s last name and information about your schedule (where you are/will be, timings, dates, etc). Discuss and demonstrate to your children how easy it is to locate them based on a single posting, or a series of postings.
“Friends” are not necessarily who they say they are; pedophiles and undercover police pretend to be children online. You do not know this person’s intentions, plans or motives. Encourage your children to be friends with people they have physically met in open and safe environments.
Regularly check your teen's privacy settings on all commonly used sites and networks. Ignoring privacy settings on sites like Facebook means your teen's photos, contact information, interests, and possibly even cell phone GPS location could be shared with more than a half-billion people.
Cyber bullying (threatening or harassing another individual through technology) is a growing concern for today’s youth. It takes many forms, such as forwarding a private email, photo, or text message for others to see, starting a rumor, or sending a threatening or aggressive message, often anonymously. Talk with your teen about not partaking in this behavior and encourage her/him to report incidents of cyber bullying to an adult.
- MN Dept of Ed Bullying & Safe Schools
- StopBullying.Gov
CMS Advisor teachers will be teaching lessons related to Digital Citizenship. They will use some activities from some of the following lessons on the Common Sense Media:
- Cyberbullying: Be Upstanding
- Cyberbullying: Crossing the Line
- A Creator's Rights
- A Creator's Responsibilities
- Trillion Dollar Footprint
- Rework, Reuse, Remix
Outside of school hours, parents and guardians bear the responsibility for the guidance and the restrictions their children have regarding the Internet and iPad; similar to their home computer, cell phones, movies and television. Have the conversation early, frequently and set up written guidelines for your household needs.
Be a Good Digital Citizen: Tips for Teens and Parents by Commonsense Media.
Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids About Being Online by FTC
Dangers of Sexting: What Teens Need to Know by HumanRelationsMedia

iPad General Information

Care and Maintenance

Students are responsible for the general care of the iPad they have been issued by the school. iPads that are broken or fail to work properly must be taken to the Media Center for an evaluation of the equipment. Infractions of the policies below will result in suspension of computer privileges and/or disciplinary action.
iPad General Precautions

The iPad is the property of Eden Prairie Schools.
The iPad must remain free of any writing, drawing, stickers, or labels that are not issued and placed onto the device by EPS staff.
Never throw or slide an iPad, or the case/backpack that the iPad is in
Cords and cables must be inserted carefully into the iPad to prevent damage.
Never expose an iPad to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, or prolonged periods of time in an area that is not a normal room temperature.
iPads must be kept in a secure location at all times; it is the student’s responsibility to know where his/her iPad is at all times. It should not be left unsupervised or loaned to friends or family members outside of the student’s home.
iPads found in unsupervised areas will be turned in to the Media Center.
During classes or lunch periods when the iPad is not needed, students should place the iPad in their lockers or a locked classroom. Locker combinations should not be shared with anyone. iPads should not be placed on the bottom of the locker, rather on top of all other materials.

iPad Cases

Acknowledging the importance of a protective case for the iPad, Eden Prairie Schools has purchased protective cases for all of the iPads. These cases are suitable for transporting the device to and from school.

The iPad should always be in its protective case.
The iPad should be charged and brought to school ready to use each day. (EPS provides a charger.)
Do not place the iPad in a book bag that contains food, liquids, heavy or sharp objects.

iPad Screen and Cleaning

The screens are sensitive to pressure and therefore can be damaged; they are scratch resistant, not scratch proof.
The screens are made of glass and can break or shatter.
Do not use liquids to clean the iPad. This includes, but is not limited to: window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, alcohol, ammonia, or abrasives.
Please use a soft, dry cloth or anti-static cloth. A recommended cloth will be available at the school store.
Only labels or stickers approved and placed onto the iPad by EPS staff are acceptable.

Apps and Downloads

Students are allowed to personalize their iPad through photos, music and apps. There will be limited storage on the device and academic files take priority over personal. Several backup options exist to cloud storage or personal computers.

Parents will be given instructions on how to create an Apple ID if their child does not already have one. Apple IDs are issued to individuals over the age of 13. While the Apple ID will be unique to each student, and belong to the student, Eden Prairie Schools is emphasizing the fact that parents need to check their child’s iPad for apps they do not want their child to have access to. Click here to learn how to make an Apple ID.

The iPad’s internet filter will always bounce back to the EPS server. While at home the restrictions will be the same as at school. Even with the filter, parents should monitor their student's use of the iPad and the Internet.

All programs and apps originally installed on the iPad by Eden Prairie Schools must remain on the iPad in usable condition and be easily accessible at all times.

Document Storage

At Central Middle School, we consider the iPad2 in our classrooms to be a textbook, research tool, library, creation station, homework center, planner, collaboration tool and much, much more. We know that incorporating the iPad into our schools will benefit our teachers, students and families.

There will be limited storage on the device and academic files take priority over personal. Several backup options exist to cloud storage or personal computers. There are several reasons for this:

In the event the device needs to be “wiped,” all files stored on the device will be lost.
If the device is lost, stolen or damaged the student will still be able to access his/her work.
Academic resources take priority on the device; anything personal is secondary. If you need to delete personal files to make room for academic, you must do so.
The memory space of the iPad is 16GB. After installing programs, apps, textbooks, and like, there is not a lot of storage space.
If too much of the memory is occupied, it will slow the device.
Apple’s online User Guide

Camera, Microphone, Speakers and Earphones

The iPad is equipped with front and rear facing photo camera and video camera, a microphone to record sound and speakers. While some teachers may request students to use these components for different assignments, students should not sound record, take photos or videos or play back sound or music from the speakers without the permission of the teacher and/or persons they are recording.
Speakers shall not be used within or on school property unless a teacher specifically requests or allows students to do so.
District policy prohibits harassment and bullying. Accessing, submitting, posting, publishing, forwarding, downloading, scanning or displaying materials that are defamatory, abusive, obscene, vulgar, threatening, discriminatory, harassing and/or illegal is a violation of the agreement.
District policy and Federal Law prohibits students to access, download, post or submit, publish, scan, display or distribute or forward sexually explicit or sexually suggestive materials. Watch the video “Dangers of Sexting: What Teens Need to Know” by HumanRelationsMedia.
Users of the iPad are expected to comply with district policies regarding these matters. Failure to appropriately use the device and violation of district policies will result in suspension of computer privileges and disciplinary action.

Eden Prairie Schools did not purchase earphones, which are available at the school store for a low cost. Regarding the use of earphones:

Earphones shall not be used within or on school property unless a teacher specifically requests or allows students to do so.
It is never acceptable to wear earphones during passing periods.
If allowed to use earphones, the appropriate volume level is when only the person wearing the earphones can hear the sound. Parents and students are able to create a volume limit for the headphones by tapping Settings - Music - Volume Limit.

Lost, Stolen, Damaged iPads

As with any piece of school property checked out to a student, families are responsible for its appropriate care. Students are entirely responsible for their assigned iPad. The student is “leasing” the iPad from Eden Prairie Schools, and ownership of the device, applications and content stored on the iPad belong to Eden Prairie Schools. Situations that result in an iPad being damaged, destroyed, lost or stolen, will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Incidents of negligence or repeated incidents may become the financial responsibility of the family, up to the full replacement cost of the device if warranted.

If an iPad is recovered, please turn the device to the Media Center.
If an iPad is lost, please first go to the Media Center to see if it has been recovered.
If a student transfers out, moves away, is expelled or graduates early, they must return his/her assigned iPad to EPS, with case and charger, before departing the district. Please return items to the library. Failure to return items will result in the iPad being reported stolen and police involvement to recover the device.
Do not attempt to try to repair the internal workings of an iPad yourself. Please wait for the next school day to take the iPad to the library as soon as possible and have EPS technology team examine it. If an iPad needs to be worked on for an extended period of time, the student will be issued a temporary iPad until theirs is working properly.

Security

Students should guard their personal information when using the iPad. As stated in the Digital Curriculum & iPad Handbook and Agreement, “do not send any message that includes your personal information such as: passwords, home address, personal phone numbers, yours or another person’s last name and information about your schedule (where you are/will be, timings, dates, etc.).”
The iPad is meant to be brought back and forth between school and home. The iPad will be returned to EPS before the end of the academic year.
Never leave an iPad unattended. It is the student’s responsibility to keep his/her iPad stored in a safe, secure, temperature appropriate space. Students are not allowed to have in their possession any other student’s iPad. Any iPads found unattended will be brought to the Media Center.
Students should password-protect their iPads. This will help secure personal information. (Technology administrators are able to remotely unlock and lock devices if necessary.)
iPads should not be loaned to another person. Do not let family members download applications, programs or view inappropriate content. Each iPad is assigned to one person, and that one person is responsible entirely for that particular iPad.
Any labels applied to the device by EPS staff need to remain intact on the device, undamaged at all times.
Eden Prairie Schools purchased two programs to help with security and syncing. These programs allow for automatic updates and wireless access. They also provide administrators with the ability to remotely and instantly lock, clear, manage passcodes and inventory data on the devices.
Do not remove or uninstall EPS installed apps and programs on an iPad. These are owned by the district.
Do not attempt to “jailbreak” or hack an EPS iPad. Do not attempt to remove or circumvent the management system installed on each iPad. Using or possessing hacking software is a violation of the agreement.
Students who violate these terms will have their iPads “wiped” and EPS is not responsible for lost documents, photos, music and the like. In addition to the device being “wiped,” the student could face disciplinary action.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my child be able to bring home the iPad at night? What about the summer?
The iPad is meant to be taken home nightly to complete homework and continue learning. We encourage students to bring the device back and forth from school and home, however please make sure the device is secure at all times. The iPad will be returned to Eden Prairie Schools before the end of the academic year, every year. It is during the summer that the iPads will be “refreshed” and have any necessary maintenance done on them.

My family does not have wireless internet access at home. Is this a problem?
No. We acknowledge that not all families have wireless Internet access at home. For daily work the required materials will be embedded on the device or in a textbook or a material handout. If Internet access is required for an assignment, arrangements will be made for work to be completed at school.

The iPad does not have a keyboard, should we invest in a keyboard?
It is best to wait and see how your child adapts to the iPad. Many students are already used to typing on an iPad-like device (i.e. smart phones) and can type quickly without a keyboard.

Should we invest in a stylus for writing directly on the iPad?
This is a similar response as the keyboard question. It is best to wait and see how your child adapts to the iPad and see how they do. Approved stylus will be available for purchase in the student store. It is NOT acceptable to use a pen, pencil, marker or other non-designated stylus device on the screen, other than a finger.

What accessories will be needed for the iPad?
None are mandatory. Students will be issued an iPad, a charger and a case that are all property of Eden Prairie Schools and are expected to be returned to EPS by the end of the academic year at a designated time.

Are students only using digital books from now on?
No. Students will still be issued textbooks, and while some teachers may rely less on current textbooks than others, textbooks still have a place in our schools.

What kind of access will students have? Will we be blocking inappropriate content?
We have federal and local guidelines that state our obligation to filter inappropriate material. Many students are online during the school day here in Eden Prairie Schools, in our various computer labs and our library/media center. We will meet the same guidelines when each student has a device to access our wireless network. By having district issued devices, we are able to have the devices go through the EPS filter even at home.

If your family has wireless internet access at home, it the family’s responsibility to establish guidelines and check in with their student frequently about the content and apps they are accessing from home.

What about social media such as Instagram, Twitter, etc...?
Many of these apps will be accessible on this device. At school, their use is restricted. Social network apps or sites, including (but not limited to) Instagram, iMessage, Snapchat, FaceTime, etc., should not be used at CMS unless a teacher has given direct instructions or permission to do so.

We look forward to guiding students toward responsible use of these applications through direct instruction of good digital citizenship.

Families are encouraged to talk about student use of social network apps or sites at home and outside of school, including clear expectations based on each family's beliefs and values.

Will my child need to have an iTunes account?
Yes. Each student needs to have an Apple ID. Our recommendation is that each student has his/her own ID that is created with the help of a parent and/or guardian. It is important that the parents know the password and also keep that information. Student birth dates often do not work for creation of iTunes accounts due to age restrictions.

If my child loses or breaks his/her iPad, am I responsible for replacing it?
As with any piece of school property checked out to a student, families are responsible for its appropriate care. The student is “leasing” the iPad from Eden Prairie Schools, and ownership of the device, applications and content stored on the iPad belong to Eden Prairie Schools. If an iPad is damaged, destroyed, lost or stolen, it will be dealt with on a case by case basis. Incidents of negligence or repeated incidents may result in financial responsibility from the family, up to the cost of the entire device if warranted.

I have a Windows computer. Will an Apple iPad be compatible with it?
Yes. Documents can be moved back and forth among the iPad and various work stations using tools like Google Docs, Dropbox and email. Compatibility is not an issue.

Will the iPads be locked down in a way that blocks content/apps from being downloaded?
No, we are allowing a measure of personalization, emphasizing good digital citizenship and appropriate content.

Will there be an expectation that students download paid apps?
No. Teachers may request that students download free apps for use in class but students will not be expected to pay for any apps.

Can parents lock down/delete the apps students download?
Yes, as the owner of the Apple iTunes account, you should have access to delete any of the apps your students download. You cannot delete any of the apps the district puts on.

How much room is there for apps, etc. on the iPads?
The iPads have 16GB. Our base image of apps is quite small. Students will be allowed to personalize the iPads by adding apps and content of their own choosing. However, if it fills up, the school related content takes precedent over students’ personal content.

Will homework be done on the iPad or is it just for reference?
At first, homework will look much like it does now. As we move along, there will be more homework that is iPad dependent. Generally, homework will not require wifi access.

How will my child type papers and perform spreadsheet functions?
Each iPad will come with some installed applications. Google Docs is also very helpful and will be used as the main word processor and spreadsheet application. Keynote (Apple version of PowerPoint) will be installed, as well as iMovie and a variety of other applications.

Can the iPads have a passcode that will lock other students out?
Yes, one of the first things students will do is create a passcode for their lock screen. This should not be shared with other students. There are times, because these are school devices, that administrators or deans may ask for this information. As at home, students are required to share at that time.

How will students and teachers tell the difference between iPads?
Students will be required to create a lock screen background with picture, name, and advisor so that teachers and students can quickly tell who’s iPad it is without unlocking it.

Will the buildings be able to support all the numbers for wifi?
Yes, infrastructure has been improved and increased considerably at CMS and around the district in anticipation for the number of devices.

Who at school should parents contact when we have questions after the launch?

For questions regarding websites, the portal or technology equipment contact the Technology Parent Hotline at 952.975.7094 or helpline@edenpr.org.
- The parent hotline is able to help troubleshoot problems with school owned devices and school adopted apps. However, it is unable to support home internet or wireless network issues.
For questions regarding policy, procedure and instruction contact CMS school administrators at 952-975-7300.
For classroom specific questions, contact your child’s teacher(s).