AIS Laptop Program FAQ

1. What exactly is a 1:1 laptop program? This is an educational initiative where each student carries a laptop that is used both at school and at home. Our technology department has been investigating such programs for many years. The inquiry has involved studying extensive research and case studies, discussions with faculty and administration, visits to 1:1 schools and participation in several 1:1 conferences.

2. Does this 1:1 laptop program increase tuition? Because of the use of lower cost Netbooks, the program was initially funded within the normal technology budget. Since they are one-third the cost of a regular laptop, our hardware costs are actually less than if we did not have the 1:1 program. Because the total number of computers has increased, there are some additional infrastructure and staffing needs. However, the tuition increase to cover these needs has been less than 1%.

3. What is a Netbook and why were they chosen? This relatively new type of laptop has rapidly gained tremendous popularity for the same reasons that make them a good choice for us: they are about half the size and weight of a regular laptop, yet offer good performance and battery life at low cost. Because they are lightweight, robust and much less expensive, we feel they are ideally suited for younger students.

4. What software will be on the Netbooks? These computers will have the same software our current laptops have – Windows XP, the Office 2007 Suite, Photoshop, and some specialty programs requested by the teachers involved in the program. They will have all the software required for our educational goals.

5. Can I buy a Netbook for myself? The school will not be selling these to the AIS community, but the same model we are currently using (ASUS eee PC 1000) is available in local stores (with German software and keyboard.)

6. What grades are involved in the program? Currently all students in grades 5-8 have laptops. Expansion into the high school will take place over the next few years, with grades 9 and 10 being included in the 2010-2011 school year.

7. What happens if the laptop is lost, stolen or damaged? Parents will be responsible for a portion of the repair or replacement cost. The actual amount will depend on the individual circumstances of the loss or damage, and depend on the degree of negligence and compliance with care guidelines. Typically, if it is accidental parents will be asked to contribute 100-200 Euros of the repair or replacement costs. If a laptop is deliberately harmed or there are repeat offenses, parents will be asked to contribute 400 Euros. So far students have been very responsible with their laptops and not a single one has been lost or stolen.

8. How can laptops improve learning? Almost all of the research available shows that a well-run 1:1 laptop program does improve learning. The prerequisites for such success include supportive administrators and parents, professional development for teachers and an understanding by all that such a change will not produce miracles overnight. 1:1 laptops can create opportunities for instant research, composition, revision and communication that are fluid and exciting. With easier access to information and feedback, students can more easily “re-think” their original ideas and go further with their conceptual development. Collaboration is much easier and more productive.

9. Will the school own the machines, and if so, why? The computers will be owned by the school and on loan to the parents, who will return them at the end of the year. Of the two models of laptop ownership, school-owned had too many advantages to ignore. There will be uniformity of software and hardware, substantial educational discounts on software, and AIS can provide zero- downtime technical support by supplying identical loaners for machines that are out of commission. 10. Will this replace the home computer? This is a very personal decision. Basically, the Netbooks will be school-owned computers for school-related use. They can be connected to a regular keyboard and monitor at home and will function as a normal PC, with all the software and computing power required for schoolwork. They can be used at home for Internet and other personal use. There is no intention for these laptops to provide the recreational use of a home computer (such as gaming), so the decision to purchase a home computer is based on individual needs.

11. Can students install their own software? No, all the necessary software will be installed by the technology department. In this way we can ensure that all software is compatible and properly licensed. We do allow installation of software necessary for educational use.

12. How do new students enter the program? When new students arrive, they will be given a laptop handbook which explains the specifics of the program. The student and parents should carefully read this document and contact us with any questions they may have. Parents and students then need to sign the Laptop Agreement Form (which has clear expectations for use of the laptop both at home and at school), and is the last page of the laptop handbook. Then each student must pass a Laptop Quiz based on the handbook. As soon as a student successfully completes this quiz and the parent form is returned, the student will be given their laptop.

13. Can students charge their laptops at school? No. Students are told that they are required to bring their laptops to school 100% charged every day, and teachers will be occasionally checking this. We bought the longer life batteries that should easily last throughout the school day, so they are to leave their chargers at home. We do not have the facilities to charge hundreds of laptops every day. And even if we COULD charge them at school, teachers cannot wait for a student to charge his or her laptop before going on with a class lesson or activity that requires the laptops.

14. Can students take their laptops home during breaks? They should not plan on this. There are software updates to be installed and routine maintenance that must be done to the laptops. In order to not have a negative impact on student learning, we usually cannot take the laptops and do these during the school day. All laptops will be returned at the end of the school year.

15. What do I need to set up Home Wireless Internet on the eeePC? You need an Internet connection. You will need a Wireless Router, and the setup must include: DHCP No Mac address filtering or other security, or Mac address of eeePC should be enabled

You need to know the following about your wireless LAN: Network name or SSID Password or WPA or WPA2 key

Note this is an industry standard setup; most wireless routers will already be configured in this way. AIS is not able to give technical support for home Internet connections.

16. What about Internet safety and protection? It is generally agreed that the best approach is education and supervision, both at school and at home. Parents need to set their own rules about Internet usage and to monitor student’s computer use. While there is some filtering software on the fifth grade laptops, these programs are not foolproof and should only be assumed as a partial solution. At school, we have filtering on the AIS Internet connection.