One of our primary goals is to keep parents informed about the technology world that our "Digital Native" students are living in. This world is foreign to many of the adults in our community and it is our shared responsibility to make sure our students are safe and appropriate in all of their digital, online experiences.

The Parent Information Center page was developed to provide resources for our families in order to help make smart, informed decisions regarding digital technologies. This page will be updated regularly to provide the community with ongoing, relevant information.

Index
Technology Program Overview (Extracted from Parent-Student Handbook)

Media Literacy Class

Responsible Use Policy

Internet Safety & Online Behavior

Laptop Replacement Parts

Media Literacy Class

The Media Literacy curriculum was designed with the following objectives in mind:

• Understand and apply the basic principles of internet safety.
• Understand and apply the basic principles of digital citizenship: responsible, safe, appropriate, and respectful use of digital communications tools (IM, email, Skype, Facebook, etc.).
• Use digital media (e-mail, wikis, blogs, networking sites, etc.) effectively for collaboration and communication, and as a tool for understanding and responding to social issues on a local and global level.
• Gather and interpret information from variety of types of sources, both print and digital. 
  
• Think critically about messages in different types of media.
• Develop core technology skills such as troubleshooting issues, saving and retrieving files, backing up data, and installing software.
• Apply technology skills and use digital media to support creative, innovative, and self-directed projects.
• Develop lifelong learning and problem solving skills that develops "systems thinking" – encouraging students to independently and collaboratively experiment and take risks to determine how to use new applications.

Internet Safety & Online Behavior

Below are recommended resources regarding internet safety and online behavior. Common Sense Media, a non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the media lives of kids and families, is a valuable resource that we highly recommend.

Internet Safety Guides for Teens and Parents

Common Sense Media Links

Internet Child Safety Presentations

Detective Steve DeWarns from the Oakland Police Department speaks with our 4th through 7th grade students each year about internet safety. For more information visit their website
by clicking here.

Recommended Guidelines and Safety Tips

1. Have rules about screen usage for: TV, video games and computers.

2. Place your desktop computer and/or laptop in a common room where there is easy access to monitor your child’s use.

3. Visit this page often for updated information.

4. Read the Common Sense Media links above.

5. Read these safety tips provided by InternetChildSafety.net and McAfee.

6. View the videos below.

Videos

Frontline Documentary - "Growing Up Online". Click here.

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Responsible Use Policy
Town School provides our students and staff access to a multitude of technology resources.  We believe that these resources provide incredible opportunities to enhance learning and improve communication within our community and with the global community beyond our campus.  The advantages of having access to these resources are far greater than any potential downside.  However, with the privilege of access comes great responsibility for students, teachers, staff and families.  Town expects all community members to exercise appropriate personal responsibility in their use of these resources. Our policies are intended to promote the most effective, safe, productive, and instructionally sound uses of networked information & communication tools.

Please click here for the PDF version of Town's Responsible Use Policy (RUP)

AC Adapters and Batteries
These replacements are not covered under the extended warranty which was included in the purchase price.

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