As part of their academic technology program, every 11th and 12th grade BFS student is assigned a "netbook" for his/her personal use.

 

In 2007, with the adoption of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, we began a pilot program that provided laptop computers, at no cost to the families, to students registered for the IB Diploma.  The pilot program operated during our 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years. In the 2009-10 year and 2010-11 year, the program was extended to every 11th and 12th grader. Our goal is to provide all students with access to the tools they need, when they need them most.  In this case our tools are information (via the Internet), information retrieval, storage and management to facilitate comprehension and the building of knowledge.

The goal of providing laptops to the students currently enrolled in 11th and 12th grade is multifaceted:

Research and a close examination of well managed student laptop programs have shown that providing students with laptops has a positive impact on student engagement, understanding, organization and motivation, providing for greater student achievement and producing higher quality work. A rigorous curriculum based in student-centered learning supported by access to information at the point of learning increases collaboration between teachers and students. Teachers more effectively improve students’ critical thinking skills through exploring topics in a deeper, more meaningful way.

Our student laptop model is a Dell Latitude 10v running the Ubuntu Linux operating system.  This is a "netbook" computer, with a nearly standard -sized keyboard.

 

Brooklyn Friends seeks to provide students with access at the point of learning.  During class our students need access to the Internet, to an office suite of software, and software programs being used in class.  The netbook, running Linux, allows us to give our students the greatest access to the resources they need without the additional weight of a full sized laptop in their backpacks, without the maintenance required by running the Windows operating system or the creative distractions that accompany the use of an Apple computer.

When do the students receive their netbooks?
Students will receive their laptops and an orientation on their use, during the opening days of school. Students will also receive a laptop sleeve and one power adapter.

Can students bring their OWN laptops to school?
Not at this time. This is an issue of both security and equity. BFS does not support the use of personally owned laptops on our network.  We do not provide user, software or hardware support for student-owned laptops.

What about software?
The laptops are given to students with software currently in use by the school.  Students are encouraged to customize their laptops to maximize their productivity. Although each student will be taught how to configure, manage and maintain their own machine, the use of the laptops is governed by the school’s Acceptable Use Policy printed in the appendix of the Student and Family Handbook.  Students may download software for school use, but should NOT use this laptop for media storage or management (photos, music, movies) unless such materials are part of their curriculum, as these items require a great deal of storage space.
Please note - Creative software such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Garageband, iPhoto, iMovie, and ToonBoom are available on computers for student use in our Media Centers and libraries.
Important - Students may not install the following software on their BFS Netbooks:

• America Online
• Bit Torrent (or any software that uses the Bit Torrent format)
• Any IM or instant messaging service- MSN, Yahoo, AIM, AOL, and those yet to me invented...

What precautions should be taken for safety and security?
Students are provided with a netbook, a carrying case that fits inside a standard backpack or book bag, a power adapter and a netbook lock.  Students are strongly encouraged to lock their netbooks in their lockers when not in use at school and to NEVER leave their netbooks unattended at school or in public spaces.

What is the policy on breakage, loss and theft?
If the laptop should break and your student needs tech support they are to contact the Technology Department for repair.  At the beginning of the school year the students will be given drop-in hours for tech help during the week.  If you should have an issue with your student's laptop outside of school hours please contact DIMS and someone will contact you, usually within 24-hours.

We do have loaner laptops for students if and only if their netbook should require extensive (more than 24-hours) repair.  If the netbook can be repaired within 24-hours (when school is regularly is session) no loaner machine is issued.  Any loss or theft should be reported to the Technology Department immediately.

The family's financial responsibility is as follows:

• For damage or failure covered under the manufacturer’s warranty or if the equipment is fully depreciated (usually after 3 years), the School will cover 100% of the cost to repair or replace, provided that damage or failure are due to normal usage; e.g. replacement of laptop battery at the end of its normal life.
• For lost, stolen or damaged parts (normal wear and tear excepted) the family is responsible for 100% of replacement costs.
• For accidental damage despite reasonable care of the equipment, the School generally will cover 100% for the first incident. Subsequent incidents may be considered your responsibility, as described below; e.g. a laptop stolen from closed desk drawer or locked security cable.
• For damage or loss due to negligence, you will be responsible for up to 50% of the School’s cost to repair or replace the equipment. Negligence will be determined in consultation with the Director of Academic Technology, the Head of Upper School and the Director of Finance; e.g. you spill coffee on the laptop keyboard; you leave the laptop in the trunk of your car for an extended period of time on a hot or cold day;  your child plays with your laptop and breaks it; you drop it on the floor; you poke a pencil through the screen; you leave it unattended on the back seat of your car so someone smashes your window and steals it; you leave it unattended at School without using the security cable.
• Note: The school has a $500 deductible theft insurance policy on laptop computers.

What about home use and access to the Internet from home?
We strongly recommend that if you are able, your family provide high-speed wireless access to the Internet for your student at home.  A high-speed, cable or DSL connection is preferred as access to the Internet is necessary for students to check and turn-in their assignments on our online learning management system, to check their email, via our Gmail for BFS website, and to communicate in real-time with their peers as homework often involves collaboration that can be done easily in real-time with access to the Internet.

We strongly encourage parents to monitor the student's access to the Internet at home and that all computing be done in a common location in the home where one can easily see what websites the student may access. Our student-provided laptops, like our computer network at Brooklyn Friends, does not have any Internet filtering software installed.

We support each family's right to have their own rules about computer use at home - how long a student may be on a computer (time limits) and when the computer must be closed and where it must be stored for the night (computer curfew).

During the school year the Technology Department will email the students reminders about weekly or monthly maintenance for their machines, including software updates.  In the Spring student machines will be collected after exam week to clean them up and get them ready for the following school year.  Machines will be re-issued to students in time for their summer break.