Update on Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) at Ridgecrest!

Update on Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) at Ridgecrest!

Ridgecrest Intermediate School believes that it is increasingly important for students to have the ability to utilize technology as a tool to access information, research topics of interest, and to apply the technology skills in daily work at school and at home.Student-owned devices provide students with the opportunity to have ownership of the technology needed to compete in and complete work in the 21st century and provide more consistent and frequent access to this tool. Every college and career path requires students to utilize technology both in the classroom and in preparation for the work setting. RIS Staff has made a commitment to making the district’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy into an active part of our instructional program. While this policy and our respective Acceptable Use Agreement have been in place since 2011, we want to provide clear guidelines to our Ridgecrest parents to make the use of devices more efficient and effective for use in the classroom. We would love to 1) share our intent to use technology with more regularity and consistency by each teacher, 2) suggest devices for student use at school, and 3) reiterate the district’s BYOD policy implementation plan… STARTING TODAY!

It is our desire to have students interact more regularly with laptops and electronic devices during the academic day as a part of our instructional program. While this has been done with various labs and ChromeBooks at RIS, we would like to encourage students to all bring a device to make this a more consistent and dependable practice. Much of our new instructional materials and programs have internet-based features which would benefit our students with supported daily access from our staff. Additional access to technology helps students to:

1. Preparing Students for College and Career

Students are keenly aware of the technology around them. They rely on laptops, desktops, iPods, tablets, cell phones, calculators, and a variety of devices to investigate unknown information, solve problems, communicate, and complete assignments in and outside of school. Students will continue to improve their keyboarding, research, and communication skills throughout middle school and high school that will prepare them for future college and career opportunities. Students who possess their own technology know how to use it in a most efficient manner and can access information quickly and at any time.

2. Addressing Individual Differences

Technology allows the classroom teacher to design instruction to support the individual learning styles of students. A variety of content areas are available on-line that can assist learning for students who need additional review or acceleration.

3. Assessment

Having access to technology and devices allows for assessment that can be immediately scored, and disaggregated into meaningful data for the teacher. Teachers can then design and implement follow-up instruction and learning opportunities for students.

4. Communication

Students are increasingly asked to respond to class discussions, research, or solve to problems in a group setting. Laptops and/or ChromeBooks allow students to communicate and participate in class and group work after school and to continue the learning process beyond the classroom setting.

5. Responsibility and Self Confidence

We increasingly see that students who own their own devices (laptops, iPads, phones) gain confidence and pride of ownership. They also learn how to care for their own device, and master the required skills necessary to operate it. Just as students learn to care for toys, bikes, and electronics, they develop and build responsibility in self as they grow. Teachers will continue to provide assistance in technology, and the care and appropriate usage of technology. Classroom teachers will teach keyboarding, search strategies, and research skills, butstudents who practice and regularly work on their own devices gain confidence and belief in their own ability.

While RIS encourages families to purchase laptops or other devices for their student's use, we will continue to provide in-school devices for classroom use when possible. Students will continue to participate in discussion groups, project-based learning, and interactions with other students and teachers throughout the school day.Class time will be utilized to optimize learning opportunities and to provide direct instruction from teachers for all students.Chromebooks and laptops will assist in classwork where appropriate during school hours.

Too, to assist with making the devices more educationally supported, we would like to limit the variety of devices used and suggest devices recommended by the RIS Technology Team. While all devices are certainly welcome for student use according to our agreement, we wanted to provide guidance to families looking to support the school’s progression with technology integration. Please remember that the student should be able to navigate and troubleshoot the functionality of the device without adult support.

Device Suggestions

Below is a sample of Chromebooks and laptops and the related size and price. Prices below are subject to change.These prices don't reflect tax, optional insurance, and protective covers and/or sleeves. These products are listed as suggestions because they meet certain specifications and would be appropriate for student use at school and home.

Chromebook / Screen Size / Price
Acer CB3 / 11 / $230
Asus 12 / 12 / $195
Samsung 3 / 11 / $179

• Insurance is frequently offered by the vendor and may be bought at the time of laptop purchase. The most common damage occurs from beverage spills or accidental drops.
• Chromebook and laptopshell casesand sleevesmay offer some protection.
• Buying a Chromebook with the minimum configuration of 2GB of RAM and a 16GB SSD works fine for school requirements.Buying a model with 4GB of RAM and a 32GB disk allows for more speed when having multiple windows open.

Laptop/Device Specifications

The following suggestions are recommended guidelines for effective student use of a laptop or device to be used in school and at home as an instructional tool.Most laptops or devices purchased in the last 3 years will meet the minimum specifications listed below.

• 6+ hour battery life: Plugging in a laptop to recharge at school isn't practical given the few power outlets, hundreds of students, and the tripping hazard of power cords extended from outlets.Battery life is important and recent laptops/devices have far better battery life than their predecessors.
• The device needs to boot fast, in under 30 seconds.Chromebooks (a type of laptop) boot in 10 seconds.When using a laptop in class, it needs to be able to wake up or boot quickly.
• Any laptop or device needs to support the latest versions of browsers, like Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari or Firefox. Old systems running Windows XP won't work.
• A keyboard is essential for the classroom setting: typing on a real, non-glass, keyboard will work better for school assignments.

Are you also aware that you sign the BOYD Policy and Acceptable Use Agreement with Registration paperwork already? We have attached the forms for your review. We will also be allowing your child to carry a backpack or bag to keep the device secure during the school day. Please continue to reiterate to your student that this valuable device should be monitored or locked up if not in use. Too, students should be discouraged from sharing a locker or their personal combination with peers to avoid theft/breakage.

Please complete the survey to assist RIS Staff in determining roll-out success of a complete BYOD program this year.

Survey Link:

We appreciate your support and willingness to consider making BYOD a reality here at RIS. The survey will be open until March 17. We appreciate the time spent responding to this survey!

Ridgecrest intermediate School Staff and Technology Team

FAQ's - Frequently Asked Questions

• Are families required to buy a laptop or Chromebook for their student?
• No.We encourage families to buy a Chromebook or laptop for their students, however, this is a recommendation, not a requirement. Encouraging participation in our BYOD program is part of our commitment toproviding an education that leads to the best opportunities for our students.
• What if my student doesn't bring a laptop to school?
• The school will have laptops available for in-classroom use when available.
• Are laptops going to be used everyday in all of the classes?
• No.The laptop is one of many resources available to teachers and students.Classroom instruction and activities work best when there is a variety of learning opportunities.
• Does the school/district pay for a student's laptop stolen or damaged at school?
• No. Student laptops are like other personal property brought to school by a student. However, we highly recommend that parents consider insurance coverage offered when purchasing the Chromebook or laptop. Insurance coverage should be evaluated based on the cost and coverage provided for loss and damage.

• Will having a Chromebook/laptop add to the weight of my student's backpack?
• Not necessarily, Chromebooks or laptops will allow teachers to re-evaluate the other required supplies. Some online resources will be used and may eliminate the need for the daily transport other materials.
• How will a child's education differ if the family does not have an Internet connected device to bring to school?
• Many lessons are collaborative allowing students to work together, sharing information accessed through devices. When the work is individual, students may use other devices when available.No child's learning experience or academic performance should be affected because he or she does not have a laptop or device to bring to school.