1:1 Program - Groves Elementary (2024)

Q: Why is a 1:1 program important?

A: 1:1 programs provide for a much richer learning environment. Computers provide teachers much more flexibility in how they teach, providing opportunities for more personalized and differentiated instruction, flipped lessons, collaborative projects, and blended courses to name a few. With a personal device, students will have continual access to documents, research, and content. With the integration of Google Workspace for Education, our teachers/students can experience immediate feedback, collaboration, and document access.

1:1 increases instruction time by reducing the time associated using computer labs or computer carts. It also ends the logistical issues and removes the problem of trying to schedule learning around the availability of technology.

Q: Why Chromebooks?

A: Wylie ISD is a Google Workspace for Education district. This allows teachers and students to use Google’s cloud based services such as Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides from any device in school or at home. We have already been using Chromebooks simultaneously with great success. They integrate completely with Google Workspace tools, are user friendly, and are at a price point that would allow WISD to move to a 1:1 environment. The Chromebook needs very little maintenance as most resources are accessed directly from the internet and updates are quick and automatic. Student work on the Chromebook automatically saves to the Google cloud and can be accessed from any device with an internet connection.

Q: What device and accessories will students receive?

A: Each student will receive a Dell 3100 Series Chromebook along with a power adapter and a protective always-on carrying case.

Q: Who will receive the Chromebooks?

A: Students at all Wylie ISD intermediate and junior high schools, as well as students at the Wylie High and Wylie East campuses will receive a Chromebook.

Q: Can I Opt-Out of this Program?

Technology is an integral part of the education all students receive at the Wylie Independent School District. Chromebooks should be considered as essential to the educational process as a textbook and we want them to take advantage of the powerful learning resources available with it. Therefore we are discouraging opting-out of the program at this time.

Q: What if I don’t want the responsibility of taking the device home?

A: If you feel uncomfortable with your student taking the device home, please contact your school’s office to arrange for the student to store the Chromebook in the building rather than taking it home; it will need to be checked out at the start of each day and checked in at the end of each school day.

Q: Can I use my own device instead of the Chromebook?

A: Wylie ISD has a BYOD program in place which allows you to use a personal device in a limited fashion within our network. While it is possible for you to use your own device instead of the district issued Chromebook, there are no guarantees that everything will work as consistently as when using the district issued device.

District issued Chromebooks are managed for our students and have certain apps and policies pushed out by the district. They also have all of the applications and security that is needed for class work and online testing.

It is also much easier for teachers to teach knowing that everyone is using the same device, and this helps minimize downtime due to quirks from untested devices.

Q: Will students be able to take the Chromebooks off campus?

A: Yes. Students at all Wylie ISD intermediate and junior high school campuses, as well as students at the Wylie High and Wylie East campuses will be allowed to take their Chromebooks home.

Q: How will Chromebooks be distributed?

A: Distribution of the Chromebooks will take place at the student’s campus. The distribution will take place at various dates, at or prior to, the beginning of the school year. Exact dates will be posted by campus personnel.

Q: How are individual Chromebooks identified?

A: The Chromebooks are each labeled with a Wylie ISD asset tag as well as manufacturer serial number label. At deployment time, the Chromebook is checked out to the student and the information on these labels is associated with the student using a web-based program. If there is ever a question of identification of a device, campus personnel can look up the association using this same web-based program.

Q: What do I need to do before my student receives their Chromebook?

A: Before a Chromebook will be issued to the student, parents and students must sign a Device Agreement form as well as pay the mandatory non-refundable insurance fee.

Q: Why are you charging a fee?

A: The addition of an annual student device fee from each student helps offset a portion of the cost as well as provides insurance protection for families from additional costs of repairs. If there were no fee, each repair instance would be the responsibility of the student or parent/guardian. Depending upon damage, the repair cost for one “accident” could easily be more than the annual fee.

This insurance protection covers any type of device malfunction, including:

• Hardware
• Accidental Damage (drops / spills)
• Cracked Screen
• Liquid Submersion
• Power Surge (lightning)
• Theft
• Vandalism

A Chromebook or any of its accessories that are lost or intentionally damaged is the financial responsibility of the student and parent/guardian involved. The annual fee does not cover these situations.

Q: What happens if the Chromebook is damaged?

A: If a Chromebook is damaged (non-intentional) or has been determined to have a factory defect, the device will be repaired or replaced by WISD. While this takes place, a loaner Chromebook will be checked out to the student. The student will be allowed to take this device home. The loaner device is subject to all the same rules as the normal Chromebook issued to the student.

Q: What happens if the Chromebook is lost or intentionally damaged?

A: A Chromebook or any of its accessories that are lost or intentionally damaged is the financial responsibility of the student and parent/guardian involved. The provided insurance policy does not cover these situations. It will be at the discretion of WISD administration to determine who is at fault. The user will not be given another device or accessory to use until the replacement cost has been paid to the school.

Q: What are the replacement costs of the Chromebook and accessories?

Estimated Replacement Costs

Q: What happens if the Chromebook is stolen or vandalized?

A: In the event of theft, vandalism, or other criminal acts, the student/parent/guardian MUST file a report with the local police department and submit a copy of the report to the school. The device will be replaced under the insurance policy guidelines. Provided the school has received a copy of the police report, a loaner Chromebook will be checked out to the student. The student will be allowed to take this device home. The loaner device is subject to all the same rules as the normal Chromebook issued to the student.

Q: What if another student damages my student’s device?

A: In such cases, circ*mstances will be investigated on a case-by-case basis. School administration and the School Resource Officer may be involved if it is suspected to an intentional act or act of vandalism.

Q: What happens if there is a technical issue with the Chromebook?

A: All secondary schools employ an IT Technician and part of their role will be to address technical issues. There will be a designated Helpdesk location at each campus where your student can stop by and work with the IT personnel to resolve the issue. Some of the issues may be resolved in school but some may require devices to be returned to the manufacturer.

Q: What if my students loses their power cord or case?

A: Any of the issued accessories that are lost are the financial responsibility of the student and parent/guardian involved. The provided insurance policy does not cover these situations.

Q: What if my student forgets to charge the Chromebook?

A: Students are expected to charge their Chromebooks nightly at home and bring them to school fully charged. If one is available, students who do not bring a charged Chromebook back to school may be issued a loaner device for the day, which cannot be taken home. Loaners may not be available and your student may be without the Chromebook for the day. They may be able to charge the Chromebook in the library during lunch or and off/period.

Q: What if my student forgets to bring their Chromebook to school?

A: Students who do not bring a Chromebook to school may be issued a loaner device for the day, which cannot be taken home. Loaners may not be available and your student may be without the Chromebook for the day.

Q: What software is installed on the Chromebook?

A: All Chromebooks are supplied with the latest build of Google Chrome Operating System (OS), and many other applications useful in an educational environment. The Chrome OS will automatically install updates when the computer is shut down and restarted. Chromebooks seamlessly integrate with the Google Workspace for Education suite of productivity and collaboration tools. This suite includes Google Docs, Spreadsheets, Presentations, Drawings, Forms, and Sites. All work is stored in the cloud.

From time to time the school may add software applications for use in a particular course. This process will be automatic with virtually no impact on students. Applications that are no longer needed will automatically be removed by the school as well.

Q: Can students install their own apps?

A: Yes. Students are allowed to install district approved Chrome web apps and extensions from the Chrome Web Store. The list of apps available is limited to those approved by the district.

Q: Can my student decorate/personalize their Chromebook?

A: No. Each Chromebook is owned by the Wylie Independent School District and any decorating/personalizing of the device (tape, stickers, markers, etc.) will be considered vandalism.

Q: Can students submit work or assignments via their devices?

A: Yes. All of the Google applications have features built into it that allow work to be “shared” between teachers and even classmates. Students can create documents, spreadsheets, drawings, photos, presentations and even videos. Each item can be “shared” with a teacher prior to its due date. The teacher can then see the work on his or her own computer to review it or grade it for the student.

Q: What if a student is out of school for an extended period of time (illness, travel, family emergency, etc.)?

A: With the devices, it will become even easier for students to receive work from their teachers. Assignments, readings, and other resources can be placed online and shared with the student in their absence. The student can do the work online from home and share it back with the teacher.

Q: Can I connect to my home or public network with the Chromebook?

A: Yes, if your location has a Wi-Fi network, the devices will have the same filtered web access as they would at school.

Q: What if we don’t have Wi-Fi at home?

A: The city library offers free wireless Internet, in addition to numerous businesses throughout the area. Also, students can use their school media center before and after school.

If you don’t have a Wi-Fi network at home, students can still use the Chromebook, but in a limited capacity. Some applications will work “offline” (such as Google Drive) but content saved to the device will not be backed up online until an Internet connection is available for the device. Offline access needs to be set up prior to going home for the day.

To enable Google Drive offline, each individual user must log in to their Drive account, visit Drive settings (look for the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen), and check the box that says “Enable offline access.” A copy of your entire Google Drive account will be downloaded locally on your Chromebook for use when you go offline. These files will be automatically synced when you reconnect to a network.

Q: How is the Chromebook monitored for internet safety?

A: The District utilizes an Internet content filter that is in compliance with the federally mandated Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). All Chromebooks, regardless of physical location (in or out of school) and Internet connection, will have Internet activity filtered. Despite the filter, the District cannot guarantee that all controversial or inappropriate materials will be blocked. Parental monitoring of student Chromebook use at home is encouraged.

Q: Will students keep the Chromebook for the summer?

A: No. All devices and accessories will be returned to WISD during the final weeks of school, on a date to be determined, so they can be checked for serviceability and to be stored for the summer.

Q: Will students keep the devices during school breaks?

A: Yes.

Q: Will students receive the same device each year?

A: Students at Wylie High and Wylie East High School will receive the same device each year.

Q: Can I purchase the Chromebook when I graduate?

A: Students at Wylie High and Wylie East High School, upon graduation, will have the option to purchase their Chromebook. For each year the insurance fee is paid and no claims (broken screen, keyboard, etc.) were assessed, the $40 annual fee will be applied to this purchase price. Replacement of a Chromebook would forfeit the previous credits. If the student completed four years paying the insurance with no claims then the purchase price would $0. If a Chromebook was replaced during sophom*ore year, then the insurance payments from year one and year two would not count towards the purchase of the new Chromebook. The chart below breaks down the cost to own the Chromebook depending on the amount of insurance paid without incident.