The Gateway Regional School District |
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Program Resources |
Gateway Regional School District Student Laptop Program 2004-2005 Frequently Asked Questions (This section of the site will be updated as we receive new questions. Please check back frequently.)
What are the minimum software and hardware specifications for laptops not purchased through the school's laptop purchase program? * Windows XP Professional Operating System (Windows XP Home Edition will not work on our network) Students will need to bring their laptops to the GRSD Technology Department to be configured for access to the school's network and to network printers. Can personal software be loaded onto the laptop? The laptop belongs to the district and is leased to the student and his/her family, therefore students may install any personal software which they have purchased. Sometimes, however, the installation of personal software may prevent the Gateway technology staff from being able to successfully troubleshoot or repair problems on the laptop. In these instances, it may be necessary to restore the laptop to its original configuration (reimage it) to return the machine to working condition. In this case, the personal software may have to be reinstalled by the student. Additionally, as explained in our Acceptable Use Policy (AUP), students may be prohibited from using certain software applications during the school day. Which programs are inappropriate in school? Some popular applications are inappropriate in a school setting for several reasons: they may affect the performance of the laptop itself; they may degrade the bandwidth of the network or the Internet connection thereby interfering with school related activities of other users; or they promote in-class distraction and the possibility of cheating. Chat programs, such as AIM, Trillian, and MSN Messenger; peer-to-peer software, such as Kazaa and LimeWire; and online gaming cannot be used during the school day. What happens if the laptop does not work or is accidentally damaged? Laptops purchased through the GRSD laptop program come with a three or four year manufacturer's warranty which covers any hardware-related problems. The GRSD Technology Department will coordinate hardware repairs with the manufacturer, and loaner laptops will be made available if the machine needs to be sent offsite for repairs. Repair of a laptop that is accidentally damaged - dropped, spilled on, zapped by an electrical surge, etc. (what is referred to as "end user damage") - will not be covered by the warranty, but Safeware Insurance will cover incidents of this type. (Note - the replacement of a broken screen can cost as much as $1000.) Families are strongly urged to purchase laptop insurance offered with a $100.00 deductible from our group rate. Again, the GRSD Technology Department will coordinate the repair process and provide a loaner laptop to used in school. We expect most repairs will fall under the three-year or four-year warranty. However, additional accidents could be covered by your homeowner's insurance. We encourage you to check with your insurance agent. Any laptop leased through GRSD is automatically covered for theft and accidental damage. Students that damage the machines are responsible for the cost of the deductible. What happens if the laptop is stolen? The warranty does not cover theft. If you purchase the Safeware insurance package it will cover theft with a $100.00 deductible. Certain homeowners' policies may cover theft. Please check with your insurance agent for details. Any laptop leased through GRSD is automatically covered for theft and accidental damage. Students that damage the machines are responsible for the cost of the deductible. Can I purchase insurance to cover the laptop? Yes. Gateway has worked out an arrangement with Safeware Insurance(one of the first agencies to specialize in insurance programs designed to meet the demands of computer, electronics and high-tech equipment owners.). Through our arrangement families can purchase insurance with a $100.00 deductible that covers the laptop against theft and accidental damage. We strongly encourage the purchase of insurance. Any laptop leased through GRSD is automatically covered for theft and accidental damage. Students that damage the machines are responsible for the cost of the deductible. Will students be expected to bring their laptops to school every day? Yes! Will the laptops be used in each class every day? We do not promote the use of technology for technology's sake. The laptops are an essential and embedded tool in education today. Research has demonstrated that laptops in the classroom help to improve students' writing as well as allow for spontaneous, student directed learning through Internet research, data collection and analysis and multimedia presentations. Use of the laptop in class will depend on the content area and the appropriateness of technology for the lesson being taught. It is expected that the type and frequency of use will vary according to the curriculum. Many students will also take advantage of the "Anywhere Anytime Learning" possibilities of our program and will use their laptops outside of the classroom. Will students be able to print from their laptops? Yes. The laptops will be configured to print to installed laser printers in the building. Students, however, will be encouraged to practice "responsible printing" to avoid unnecessary waste and expense. At some point, it may be necessary to implement a printing quota. Students are encouraged to print their assignments at home before they come to school. How will students keep their laptops charged during the school day? We recommend that all students bring their laptops to school in the morning fully charged. The battery will last approximately four to six hours depending on use. In the event that the battery runs down, access to electrical outlets will be available in all classrooms as well as in student study areas. How will students backup data stored on their laptops? Students will be encouraged to make regular backups of all their data files to the network. Each student has his/her own personal network folder where those files can be stored. Other backup methods such as burning a cd could also be used, depending on the configuration of their laptop. Will students need to get online at home? At school, all students will connect to the network and Internet wirelessly. At home, parents will need to contract with an ISP (Internet Service Provider) to allow for Internet access. We hope that you will consider using our Gateway Online service, which can be configured to filter inappropriate content. The laptops have a built-in modem for a dial-up connection to the Internet and an Ethernet port for cable connectivity. Many students are also connecting wirelessly to their family's home network. Will there be any future costs associated with the laptop program? Maybe. We know that all laptop batteries regardless of manufacturer can only be warranted for 1 year. We also know that the average battery life is between 3 to 4 years depending on the number of charging cycles. For students that lease for 4 years they may conceivably need another battery. We did not include this in the cost, as there is no guarantee you will need an additional one. Are there any payment options other than check or credit card? Please contact the GRSD Business Manager, Stephanie Fisk for further information. She can be contacted at 413.685.1010. |
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