Technology

Beiginning in 6th grade, students are required to have a laptop computer to use at school.

Students, teachers and parents will also be using the Schoology Learning Management System.  Schoology will be a web portal where class materials, homework, and discussions can take place.

In addition to Schoology parents and students will continue to have access to the PowerSchool Grade portal.  The PowerSchool portal contains grades, attendance, and student forms.  These include parent change of address or contact info, re-enrollment contracts, online clinic card forms and more.

 Maclay School provides a Microsoft Office 365 license for all students.  This includes their school email, cloud storage for school files, and access to the Microsoft apps online.  Each student is also licensed to download and install the full Microsoft Office Professional suite of programs on their personal devices.  This means there is no need to purchase Office separately. 

Students in grades 6-12 are required to bring a laptop computer meeting the following requirements.  

	Minimum Required	Recommended
Computer Platform	Windows PC / MacBook	Windows PC
Operating System	Windows 10 | Mac OS 10.13	Windows 10
Processor	i3	i5, i7
Wireless Standard	Wireless N	Wireless AC or AX
RAM Memory	8 GB	8GB or more
Hard Drive Storage	250GB (minimum, more is better)	500GB+
Built in Camera	Yes	Yes
Battery Life	4+ hours	6+ hours
Keyboard	Built-in	Built-in
Security Software	Valid subscription for antivirus / anti-malware (Mac or PC needs to have valid security software to protect the computer)	Full Internet security suite (antivirus, anti-malware, firewall, zero day protection) Examples: ·        Webroot Internet Security Plus ·        Trend Micro Maximum Security ·        Norton Security Deluxe ·        McAfee Livesafe
Power Supply	Second Power Cord (to stay at school)	Second Power Cord (to stay at school)
Warranty / Service Plan	It is Highly recommended to have a service plan for the device)	3 years - parts and labor Square trade or accidental protection is HIGHLY recommended.  Often the cost of the 3 year protection is recovered in a single repair. ... Accidents happen.

 

If you are using a device with a 128 Solid State Drive, this can work, provided the student clears as much free space as possible and is able to manage the storage so that they do not run out of storage space.  The use of external USB drives, or cloud storage can help.  This option is Not recommended.

Note:

• For those that will be purchasing a new device; Maclay School is standardized on the Windows PC platform.  The school purchases Dell laptops and desktops for faculty and campus computers.  Therefore, much of our support services are designed best for Dell products.  Even though we are allowing any computer that meets the minimum requirements above, from the school's experience, and for ease of use and general support with the Maclay community, we recommend a Dell Laptop or 2-in1 laptop running Windows 10.
• Chromebooks or iPads will not meet the requirements for the student’s primary school device. Those students with existing iPads can benefit by using these as an additional device and e-reader.
• Warranty, service, and repair is not the responsibility of the school.
• Batteries that are several years old do not last as long as new on a charge.  There will be limited access to power/charging during the school day
• Do NOT purchase Microsoft Office.  The full Office Professional suite is provided at no cost to each student through the school.
• It is not recommended to purchase the entry level or low end of any brand.  When looking at computer performance and cost you often get what you pay for.
• Age of computer: generally speaking, due to decrease in battery life, memory and processor performance it is recommended to not use a laptop more than 2 years old to start with.  Computers over 3 years old tend to lack performance and have higher incidence of hardware failure.
• Other Recommendations:
• Neoprene Laptop sleeve (or other light weight protective case)
• Touch Screen
• Digital pen for touch screens for digital ink. (available on touch screen models)
• Warranty, a 3-year warranty will cover a good portion of the laptops life. Additional options for extended warranties and accidental protection are often options from the manufacturer.

Explanation of key terms:

Wireless Terminology

Wireless Standards: Current generation of standards are 802.11n , 802.11ac

• Single Band (2.4 GHz)
• Single band supports only the 2.4GHz band
• Lots of wireless devices (phones, computers, appliances, etc) use this band – therefore, it’s very “congested” or “noisy” and can inhibit performance
• Dual Band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
• Dual band supports both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz band
• 5GHz band is much less congested, therefore providing a better wireless experience especially for things like wireless display (WiDi / Miracast)

Which processor:
When it comes to choosing a processor, keep in mind that a higher number generally indicates better performance. Depending on the number of cores within each processor, you can get more multitasking capability, extra speed or advanced media capability.

Hard Drive Storage: 

Most Common:

• Hard Disk Drives (or HDDs): For magnetic hard drives, the speed of the drive, measured in RPM, indicates the performance of the drive. Generally speaking, a higher RPM means higher performance.

Optional Upgrade:

·   Solid-State Drives (or SSDs): Solid-state drives have no moving parts. SSDs provide an outstanding overall level of storage performance. Solid-state drives — with no moving parts — have the highest durability with up to 15 times more shock and impact resistance than the standard desktop hard drives.

Can you just tell me what to buy?  I'm overwhelmed with choices.

A:  I cannot tell you to buy a specific brand or model.  The school has purchased Dell for a number of years and has had good service and reliability.  The following are example choices (updated 8/8/16)

• Items to keep in mind:
• Don’t buy Office, students get it free with our school account
•  Do get security (antivirus software)
•   Most come with only 1 year hardware warranty, look at options for 3+ years
•   Look at Accidental Damage protection, often less than the cost of a single repair service and covers almost everything the warranty does not…

Q: Can my middle school student use a Chromebook as their school laptop?

A: No, a Chromebook, ipad or Android tablet will not meet the needs for the primary school device.

Q:  Will the school install software on the student laptops?

A: The school will instruct the students to install Microsoft Office on the laptop.  The full version of Microsoft Office is provided at no cost to students as part of the school's Office 365 subscription.

The school will have the students install the application distribution program so the school can provide programs purchased by the school at no cost to students.  

The school will have students join the school's student wifi for internet access.  Campus internet access is filtered and monitored.

Q:  Should I get a Mac or Windows laptop?

A:  This is a question many people have very strong feeling on.  Either a Mac or Windows laptop will meet the needs of the student's laptop device.  The school has been standardized on the Windows platform for many years.  For ease of use and general support we recommend a windows laptop.

Q:  Does my child need a brand new laptop?

A: No, you are not required to purchase a new laptop, please see Device Requirements page to help ensure your existing laptop will meet the needs of the student device. 

One of the biggest issues with laptops older than 2 years is battery life.  The run time of the battery decreases with age.

Q: Do students need their laptop at school everyday?

A:  Yes, students in grades 6-9 will need the laptop at school each day.  9th Grade requirements will be announced soon.

Q:  Will the school provide power cords and charging stations in all the classrooms?

A:  No, we are recommending a laptop with enough battery life to last the school day.  Note, the laptop will not be on and in use the entire day.  Additionally, students should make sue of power settings to reduce screen brightness and battery use.

Q:  Will students use the laptop every class period?

A:  The use of the laptop is an enhancement to the class and curriculum.  It will be used when appropriate.

Q:  Are all text books now e-books?

A:  No, the laptop and on-line resources will be used to enhance the curriculum.  E-books may be added as appropriate.

Q:  Where do students put the laptop when they are at lunch?

A:  storing the laptop in a locked locker is best for when the student will not be using the laptop.

Q:  If my child's laptop crashes or gets a virus will the school fix it?

A:  No, Each laptop should have a current subscription to security software including anti-virus.  This is the case for PC and Macs.

Q:  Will the students need to delete or remove any person programs or files from the laptop?

A:  No, as long as there is enough free storage for school work, and the content on the device is appropriate for school.  As with anything if the use or content on the device becomes a disruption or distraction the teachers or school will act accordingly. 

 Q:  I have a macbook and it has a 128 drive.  Can this still be used for school?

A:  Yes, provided there is enough 'free space' on the drive for the current year's school work.  Moving pictures, videos and other personal files to an external hard drive or cloud storage might help manage free space.

Q:  Should I purchase Office for my child's laptop.

A:  No, each student is licensed to install the full version of Microsoft Office (latest version) on up to 5 personal devices; including Mac, Windows, iOs.

Q:  Is my child able to access the internet while at school?

A:  Yes, students will need access to the internet for school work and communication.  While on campus the school's internet is monitored and filtered.  Maclay uses best of class systems to filter inappropriate content, however nothing is 100%.  If a student accesses a website or other content that should be blocked the classroom teacher and technology department should be notified.

Q:  Can the school block inappropriate websites with the laptop is at home?

A:  No,  The school does not block anything on the personal device only on the internet while that device is at school.

Q:  What happens if the laptop breaks or has sever software issue preventing my child from using it at school?

A:  The maintenance of the hardware and software is the families responsibility.  We recommend having keeping the laptop in warranty or other service plan.  The school will maintain a limited number of laptops for student's to checkout on a daily basis if their device is off for repair. 

Q:  Can middle school students now bring their backpacks to class?

A: Large backpacks full of books are still not allowed, but a laptop case, sleeve, or laptop backpack is permitted to help protect the device as the students move from room to room.

It is not advised to keep the laptop in a large backpack with textbooks and notebooks, this might damage or crush the laptop.

iPAD Questions and Answers

Q:   Why is Maclay using iPads?

A:   The use of tablet devices enable students to have one to one access to computing and on-line resources.  Our faculty has found the iPad fits these needs in the grade levels they will be used.

Q:  Why aren't all grades using iPads or laptops?

A:  Maclay is carefully evaluating how technology and computing resources are best integrated into the curriculum are each level.

Q:  What is a Student Apple ID?

A:  Apple's terms of use only allows Apple IDs for people 13 years of age or older.  To allow the use of iPads in the classrooms, Apple has created the Students Apple ID program.  more details can be found here: https://www.maclay.org/Page/4211

Q:  Can I use the Apple ID I already have?

A:  Apple IDs for children under 13 are different than other Apple IDs.  Students need their own Apple ID so they can use it during school.

Q:  Will my child be able buy anything they want with their Apple ID?

A:  We require purchasing an iTunes gift card to use as a funding payment source on the Student Apple ID.  This means that with a $25 gift card only $25 of Apps can be purchased.

Q:  What do we do if my child's iPad is damaged?

A:  If you have Apple Care or Apple Care Plus. first contact Apple to see if the damage is covered.

A:  If you do not have coverage you can have an iPad still repaired through Apple.  Please read Apple options here: https://www.apple.com/support/ipad/repair/screen-damage/

 A:  There also are local (Non-Apple) repair businesses that do screen replacements, battery, etc.  Maclay does not have specific recommendations but local businesses can easily be found with a web search for: iPad repair Tallahassee.

 Q:  How can I setup Parental Restrictions on my child's ipad?

A:  Apple's Parent Guide can be found here:  http://www.apple.com/education/docs/Apple_ID_Parent_Guide.pdf

Q: Will Maclay school setup Parental restrictions on the student's devices?

A:  The only type of restrictions the school will require will be those used during the school day to conform to classroom policy.  Example; students should not be playing off task games or using their devices in a distracting way.

 Q:  How do I add an iTunes Gift Card to my child's iPad?

A:  Open the App Store App, scroll to bottom of page and tap Redeem.  You will be prompted for the Apple ID password, then you can enter the Gift Card Code.

 Q:  What iOS version should the iPad be using?

A: The iOS is the Apple iPad Operating System version.  Please update the iPad to the most current version for the start of school.

Q:  What type of headphones will my child need for iPad use in class?

A:  Basic ear buds with Mic.  Please do not send Large or Expensive headphones to leave at school.  Ear Buds can be purchased from many local retail stores or on-line.  As an example you can see this search result: iPad headphones

Q:  How can I tell what model ipad I currently have?

A:  On the back of your iPad it will  have some VERY small writing.  In that text will be the Model.  It will Start with an A followed by 4 numbers.  This model number can be referenced on the chart at the following link:  http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5452 

Q:  What type of case do i need to purchase for the iPad?

A:  Please get a case that covers the iPad from all sides including the screen.  There are a wide variety of cases available online and in local stores.

Q: Does Maclay School provide any cloud storage so the iPad doesn't get full?

A:  We recommend having at least 15 to 20 GB of free space for Apps and content on the iPad.  Maclay Students do get 1,000 GB of cloud storage through OneDrive that is part of the Office 365 suite.  Students can download for free full (not limited) versions of iPad Apps for OneDrive, Word, Excel, Power Point and OneNote.  Students are also licensed to install the full Office suite on a home computer Mac or PC through their school Office 365 account. Instructions for installing Microsoft office at home.

Q:  How can I delete Apps from the iPad?

A: You can Tap and Hold on an icon for an App until it wiggles and shows an x in the upper left corner.  Tap the x and the App will be removed from the iPad device.  The App is still available in your Apple ID account for re-downloading.

Q:  If I purchased Apps under my (parent) Apple ID, can I send them to my child's iPad.

A:  Apple does not provide a way to share or give Apps across Apple IDs.  A purchase made with one Apple ID can one be installed on a device using that Apple ID.

** Update: Apple now has Family Sharing.  This allows up to 6 Apple ID to join a family group and share purchases.  Read about Family Sharing 

Q: Can I have 2 users or 2 Apple IDs on an iPad?

A: No iPads are single user devices, there is no way to keep Apps or content separate on an iPad  (reference: Apple https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4549980 )

If you have questions about our iPad initiative please email the director of technology at peter@maclay.org

The questions listed here have come from various sources, the answers are meant to be brief.  If you need additional information please contact the technology department at: 850-894-0911