Frequently Asked Questions 1:1 Technology for Juniors and Seniors

Bring Your Own Device. Students with prior approval may use personal iPads or tablets for school related tasks, and under certain conditions may connect to the District’s Internet. Requests to use personal devices will be considered for approval by building administrators, such as principals and Dean of Students. Signatures from parents and students are required. 
 
Link to form for Personal iPad/Tablet use by students.

 
 
Willmar Public Schools
Frequently Asked Questions 1:1 iPads at Senior High
 
Link to this article as a PDF

 
When will students have iPads?
With iCardinals fundraising, Willmar Public School intends to provide an iPad to each junior and senior the fall of 2012-2013.
 

What will iPads cost?
$400,000 is estimated for a 1:1 ratio for juniors and seniors. The District plans to match the community’s investment up to $350,000 with capital outlay funds. About $700,000 will be needed for a complete implementation for ninth and tenth grades.
 

Will students take iPads home?
Yes, iPads will be used for in-class work and students will be expected to work with them outside of school to complete homework assignments.
 

How will student instruction change?
Teachers of juniors and seniors will use technology and digital resources for daily instruction and student assessments.
 

Does the District have an Internet safety policy?
Yes, the District has Policy 524 that describes acceptable and safe use. The Senior High Student Handbook will also list procedures, policies and security tips. Students and parents will be required to attend an iPad training session at the beginning of the school year.
 

Does the District offer an insurance program for the iPad?
No. Parents who desire insurance may wish to individually investigate options through providers, such as their own Homeowner’s insurance policy or companies such as Safeware http://www.safeware.com/Products/iPadCoverage.aspx
 

May I bring my own iPad to school?
If you are in the pilot group, you will be asked to use a school-issued iPad due to App licensing and the instructional materials that will be loaded on the devices for classroom learning. The District does support a Bring Your Own Device policy. It is available at  http://www.willmar.k12.mn.us/sites/default/files/file/pdfs/FormsUpdated2009/AR-090-PERSONAL-iPADS-TABLETS-In-District-Use-STUDENTS.pdf
 

Will students be spending time typing on the iPad, hence should they invest in a wireless keyboard?
We suggest holding off on buying an external keyboard. From our experience, after a few days of using an iPad, students become faster typists. Some staff actually returned an external keyboard they had purchased due to lack of use. But everyone is different. Once you get a feel for how much typing you will do on your iPad, then you can probably better decide what works best for your needs.
 

Does it make sense to get a stylus for writing on the iPad for the various activities and projects?
We have tested a few different brands of stylus and found a finger can be just as precise.
 

Will students be able to add DROPBOX to the list of applications?
This is still being investigated. Students will have the opportunity to store and retrieve documents.

 
Will the wireless network handle all of these devices?
The WSHS wireless network was upgraded this summer to increase speed and capacity. All students may access the WSHS wireless network to use portable computing devices. The wireless network has the same filters the WSHS student computer network has and all District Acceptable Use policies apply to use of the wireless network.
 

What apps will be available on the iPads?
All required apps will be purchased by the District for academic use and are the property of Willmar Public Schools. This list will be reviewed and updated.
  • Featured, purchased apps may include: Pages, Keynote, iMovie, GarageBand, and PDF Expert.
  • Free apps may include: Free GraCalc, Units, Screen Chomp, Dragon Dictation, Paperport Notes, 
    3D Brain, Storykit, iBooks, Kindle, iTunesU, Draw, Dictionary, USA Today, Arounder, Dropbox,
    Flashcard, Google Earth, Follett Digital Reader, Destiny Quest, and Catalist.
  • Direct Home links: Edmodo link, Gmail link, Campus link, Cardinal Carousel Web, and
    Follett Digital Library.
 

Will students be trained in the proper use and care of the iPads?
Yes, the Senior High will be providing a training session for students and parents prior to issuing students an iPad. The session will include standard functions, Internet safety and iPad security.

 
NOTE: This list of questions and answers will continue to evolve with implementation. Responses are subject to change.