Technology Support

Just about any laptop or netbook is acceptable and will work on our network. Laptops need to have Windows 7 or later, Mac OS X 10.6 or newer operating system with a working web browser. Windows based, Apple, or Chromebook operating systems should work without issue. iPads & Android tablets will work on the network but are not conducive to larger or more complex assignments. All devices will need to be wireless enabled and should have a screen size of 9.5” (10” class) or larger. Please remember that the use of these devices, as with any personally owned device, is strictly up to the teacher.

Our Recommendations:

• All devices must have wireless enabled.
• Windows XP, Mac OS X 10.6 or newer (if applicable).
• A keyboarded device with a 9.5” or larger screen.
  • While mobile devices are great for researching, planning, and collaborating, they have their limitations in creating new products.
  • Laptops and netbooks allow you to be more productive in creating documents, movies, or other digital media.
• Protective sleeves or cases will provide more protection. Headphones or earbuds are advised.
• Protect your device with up-to-date Anti-virus and Internet Security Suite softwares.

What if my child doesn’t have a device to bring to school? Please remember:

• Not every child will have their own device.
• The District will provide access to the internet via classroom computers and/or a limited number of mobile devices.
• Students may collaborate with another student as appropriate.
• Additionally, a rental program available for those that qualify.

• Understand your essential partnership in helping your child learn how to exhibit self-control and respect, make ethical choices, and be accountable for their actions.
• Carefully read and review the Responsible Use Agreement and the BHHS BYOD Policy.
• Be sure your child’s device is in proper working order and is fully charged daily. Students should be made aware that the school is not responsible to provide an opportunity or the necessary power to charge their device during the school day.
• Monitor your child’s usage of their mobile devices.
• Set and maintain rules and boundaries for the your child to stay safe on the internet. Your child’s best online protection is you. By talking to them about potential online dangers and monitoring their computer use, you’ll help them navigate the Internet safely.
• Use Antivirus and Internet Security software on all devices in your home.
• Make good password choices and teach them never to share those with others.
• Talk to your kids about avoiding cybercrime.
• Teach your children not to provide personal information including names, addresses, social security numbers, etc. out over the internet.
• Help them maintain and protect their online reputation. If they don’t want a parent or grandparent to see it or hear it, it shouldn’t be online.
• Learn about and take advantage of all the security, privacy and parental control options available on your devices and/or networks.

The school also takes steps to protect children online, including:

• The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), a federal law, was created to help protect kids online. It’s designed to keep anyone from obtaining a child’s personal information without a parent knowing about it and agreeing to it first.
• To facilitate instruction and practice internet safety, BHHS’s internet connection is protected by an internet content filter. Students should only use the BHHS WiFi internet connection with their BYOD device while on BHHS property.

Internet Safety Resources

• Make a Difference for Kids
• portaportal.com/internet.safety
• Common Sense Media: Digital Literacy & Citizenship Curriculum
• National Law COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)
• National Law CPPA (Children’s Pornography Prevention Act)

Bloomfield Hills Schools is a Google Apps For Education (GAFE) district. All Students have a student Google account and gmail address.

What Applications are included?

• Gmail - Unlimited email storage and search tools that help you find information fast and instant messaging from right inside your inbox. This storage space is shared with Google Drive and Picasa Web Albums.
• Calendar - Organize your schedules and share events and calendars with others.
• Drive - Share documents (“Docs”), spreadsheets (“Sheets”), and presentations (“Slides”). Collaborate in real-time with your group or with your whole school. You can publish final documents to the entire world, too.
• Sites - Work together to keep related documents, web content and other information in one place, on one site.

What are some advantages of GAFE?

• Encourage creativity
• Promote collaboration
• Increase productivity
• Offers a platform agnostic system for students and staff
• Automatic saving and backup
• Available via any web-enabled device
• Available from school, home...anywhere
• Nothing to download, update or install
• One account for everything - including 3rd party software (e.g. Easybib, Brainpop, sliderocket)
• Revision history

How does my child access their Google Apps?

They need to log into Google with their Bloomfield email and password. The naming convention for Bloomfield email addresses is: lastname.firstnameXX@bloomfield.org (where XX is replaced with the last two numbers of their student number). Once logged in, they can access all the Google Apps products – Mail, Calendar, Drive, and Sites – from any of the product pages.

Additional information on Google products

The terms 21st Century Skills and Digital Classrooms are being used more and more as we transition, with the help of technology, from a more conventional classroom to a more modern one. Classrooms today are evolving into productive environments where students develop the skills they need to be successful in the workplace and take charge of their own learning. The BHSD Guideline Principles and the Cornerstones of BHHS support this transition. Some of the characteristics associated with these new types of environments may include:

• Student-centric: Students are active participants in their own learning. This classroom takes student interests, needs and abilities into account.
• Computing-Devices: These essential tools allow for immediate research, production, and reflection. Not only are devices included here, but also apps, websites, and more!
• Active Learning: Students have increased engagement and participation through collaborative work and being active by talking, listening, reading, writing, production and reflection.
• Adaptive Learning: Incorporation of technology in the classroom helps to allow both the teacher and the student to customize the pace and style they learn best.
• Rules & Procedures: These are the routines, rules and procedures that create a well-organized classroom which allows for students to direct their own learning in a structured environment.
• Mutual Respect: All parties involved in the learning process are valuable and bring insight into a learning experience - both teachers and students. All need to be respected. This respect not only includes the physical environment but extends to the online environment as well.
• Students take responsibility for their learning: Students are actively learning and become more self-directed and self-reliant. Through the relationship with their teachers, students achieve the academic and behavioral goals that have been set.
• Performance-based Assessments: More and more different types of assessments are utilized to determine the student’s achievements and needs.
• Collaborative Learning: Teaching and learning in isolation is not effective. By working collaboratively - both within the classroom through group work and outside the classroom through authentic audiences - the learning process, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are enhanced.

At BHHS, student learning spaces will have the physical structure and technology devices that allow the characteristics outlined above to grow. The BHHS facility was built to support this active, collaborative learning style. Teachers are growing their skills by creating more technology rich activities and lessons that are student-centered, adaptive, present different types of assessments and allow students to become more self-reliant. Both teachers and students alike will have access to:

• Interactive projectors & screens
• Breakout spaces for collaborative work
• Multimedia presentation equipment
• New wireless infrastructure
• Audio systems for learning spaces
• Cloud-based storage
• District equipment for those who do not have a device
• Printing capabilities
• Lecture & presentation capture for staff and students

What about security, theft or damage?

• Devices are the sole responsibility of the student.
• BHHS accepts no responsibility for the security or safety of the device. Students are responsible for the security of their device.
• Teachers and other staff will not store or hold onto devices.
• District IT staff or teachers will not support, repair or troubleshoot student devices.
• We recommend purchasing private laptop/chromebook insurance for the device your child brings to school.
• Theft or vandalism of any kind should be reported immediately to a campus administrator, so he/she can take the appropriate steps.

How will my child connect to the Internet at school?

• Students will access the internet through the BHS-Student (or BHSGuest) wireless network.
• This network will provide filtered internet access as well as access to some other District systems and resources.
• Any and all access may be monitored for the purposes of network security and student safety.

How does my child print at school?

• Items in their Google Drive may be printed via Google Cloud Print provided they are logged into Chrome with their Bloomfield Google account.
• Other items can be printed via the Papercut printing software system. Visit http://papercutmf.bloomfield.org:9191/user to web print.
• The district is currently exploring additional printing options for next year.

Students contribute to a quality learning experience by coming to class every day with a positive attitude, personal integrity, and a commitment to making good choices.

The BHS network and computers in combination with student owned devices (such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones) allow students access to vast amounts of resources as well as provide a creative outlet to pursue writing, art, music, science, math, and many other subjects. However, with these opportunities comes responsibility:

• Students are expected to use the technology ethically, respect the privacy and work of others, and generally follow established rules for safety and security.
• The student is responsible for the condition of any personal device used for BYOD including updates, antivirus software and any repairs.
• Personal devices should be brought to school fully charged and should be capable of lasting a full school day without recharging.
• The student is fully responsible, at all times, for personal devices brought to school. BHHS is not liable for any loss, damage, or theft of personally owned devices.
• No device, personal or otherwise, may be used to record, store, or transmit any type of image, sound or video from BHHS, except for approved projects and with the express permission of the teacher.

I have my laptop with me in class. How do I get on the Internet now?

Answer: Most laptops or other personal devices (smart phones), will detect a wireless connection when you are near one. Most of the time your device will ask you if you would like to join the network. When prompted, choose BHS_Student (or BHSGuest) from the list. Once you choose this network, you will login with your school username and password.

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My laptop is not prompting me to choose a wireless network. Is there another way to connect?

Answer: In the settings menu of your device, there is usually an icon for a network, go to this icon and choose the BHS_Student (or BHSGuest) from the list or prompt your computer to look for wireless networks in range. Always consult your tool’s owner’s manual for exact directions for accessing a wireless network.

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I just can’t get my laptop to connect to the network. Can I get some help from someone?

Answer: Please check with your teacher first and then try the Media Center. Please know, however, it is not the responsibility of your teachers or other BHHS staff to troubleshoot individual devices during the school day. Check your owner’s manual for issues concerning connectivity.

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I brought my iPad/tablet/Chromebook/etc. to school to use, but my teacher said I couldn’t use it in her classroom. Can I still use it?

Answer: The teacher in the classroom has the final say on procedures in the classroom. If he or she asks you not to use your technology tool, then you must follow those directions. Access is only available, not guaranteed, in the classroom. BYOD does not mean technology is used every hour of every day. Technology is simply another tool in a teacher's repertoire of instructional strategies. They will choose the most appropriate tool needed for that particular day/lesson.

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I need to save my work in my BHHS Student drive. How can I access this resource?

Answer: Students should be saving all their work on their Bloomfield Google Drives. Visit http://drive.google.com and log in with your Bloomfield email and password.

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My laptop was stolen when I brought it to school. Who should I contact about this?

Answer: Bringing your own technology tools to school can be useful, however some risks are involved as well. It is always a good idea to record the device’s serial number to have in case of theft. BHHS is not responsible for the theft of a device nor are we responsible for any damage done to the device while at school. Any time a theft occurs, you should contact a school administrator to make him/her aware of the offense. Additionally, we recommend purchasing private laptop/chromebook insurance to protect you in situations like these.

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Why am I filtered on my own computer? Shouldn’t I be able to see what I want to on my own device?

Answer: Student filtering is a requirement of all public schools. The Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires all network access to be filtered, regardless of the tool you use to access it while in a public school. Your personal laptop or phone is the device and the network you are using while at school belongs to BHS and therefore must be filtered.

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Am I still held accountable for the Acceptable Use Policy I signed at the beginning of the school year even though this is my own personal computer?

Answer: Yes. The Acceptable Use Policy for BHS remains in effect even when you are using your own device. Each time you attempt to access the guest network at school you will be prompted to accept the terms of service which include the AUP. Logging on to the BHS Student network indicates your agreement to the terms of the AUP as well. Violating the terms of the AUP would be a student code of conduct violation and would be dealt with by an administrator. You can review this policy here: BHHS Acceptable Use Policy

Mobile Device Best Practices

• Ensure your device’s operating system is up to date
• Set up a passcode lock or pattern. The more complex the better
• Set an auto-lock time
• Set your device to auto-erase its contents after too many unsuccessful password attempts
• Only install applications from trusted sources
• Use GPS tracking software
• Optional Steps
• Enable mobile browser fraud warnings
• Forget wifi networks to prevent automatic rejoin
• Keep Bluetooth turned off when not in use