Updated September 2020
This Distance Learning Acceptable Use Policy is an addendum to Sheridan School’s Technology Acceptable Use Policy for technology devices and services.
During this period of Distance Learning, iPads (Grades K-2) and Chromebooks (Grades 3-8) have been provided to all students for home use during distance learning. The terms below govern the responsibilities of students, parents, and the school in the use and maintenance of the devices while the device is anywhere outside of school grounds.
Student Responsibilities:
- Use the assigned iPad/Chromebook for academic purposes only.
- Keep track of the iPad/Chromebook and assigned charger until asked to return it to school.
- Only use video conference accounts for learning-related or Sheridan community meetings.
- Mute microphones when participating in online class meetings when not speaking.
- Make Internet connections as strong as possible by:
- Locating as close to WiFi routers as possible
- Minimizing the number of open tabs on the computer
- Refraining from using audio and video streaming services on home networks during school hours
- Refraining from using online gaming services on home networks during school hours
- Recognize that any open tabs and web activity may be monitored actively by Sheridan staff during classroom time, and will be monitored passively whenever a student is logged in with their Sheridan School Google account on school days during the hours of 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Parent Responsibilities:
- Ensure that the provided iPad/Chromebook is used only for academic purposes.
- Monitor the use of the device.
- Regulate where and when the computing device may be used and stored (we recommend in common areas of the house).
- Only use video conference accounts for learning-related or Sheridan community meetings.
- Understand that a student’s open tabs and web activity may be monitored actively by Sheridan staff during classroom time, and will be filtered and recorded passively by web filter/monitoring services whenever a student is logged in with their Sheridan School account on school days during the hours of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Understand that certain apps and websites used for educational purposes may record the IP address assigned to your home network.
Sheridan’s Responsibility:
- To the extent possible, at the school’s discretion supply an iPad/Chromebook and charger for students to use in the event of prolonged school closure.
- Provide category-based Internet filtering services, web history and computer use monitoring for students logged into Sheridan accounts. The web filter operates in a best effort manner to prevent and block access to unauthorized and inappropriate websites using active and passive capabilities, however, Sheridan makes no warranty with regard to the effectiveness of the web filter.
- Provide video conferencing services to support real-time, synchronous learning opportunities. Sheridan will make best effort approaches to secure and manage video conferencing services, however, Sheridan makes no warranty with regard to the security, performance or effectiveness of these services.
- Provide remote tech support for students to the extent possible and with express permission by parent/student for each session, when issues arise with the Chromebook.
- Retain records of which iPad/Chromebooks were distributed to students for use at home.