Picking A Device
Picking the right device at the right time in the replacement schedule is crucial! Adoption of technology in the classroom can only happen so quickly as it takes a lot of time and resources to accomplish. Here are some things to think about to help you chose the right device:
- Do an app analysis, determine what is currently being used and what their requirements are.
- Do an inventory of tech skills for both staff and students.
- Do an analysis of your infrastructure, make sure it can handle high-tech devices.
Remember, you can start off with lower-end devices (which cost less) to free up more money in your budget to tackle challenges that would slow down the adoption of tech such as training needs, infrastructure needs, etc. Below are the (3) categories of devices we look to implement:
- Low end - Non-touchscreen Google Chromebook that can be used for accessing the internet. The typical cost is $170-$220 per device.
- Middle grade - Touch-screen Google Chromebook with a stylus pen that can be used for accessing the internet, drawing, and showing work (great for math). The typical cost is $350-$450 per device.
- High end - These will be premium devices that can run a variety of applications and can be used for creating high-quality content. These devices would typically be Microsoft Surface, Apple Macbook Pro, or equivalent devices. The typical cost is $1,200 to $2,400.
Replacement Schedule
Our team has designed a replacement schedule that has been proven to work since 2014! Our replacement schedule covers students in grades K-12 and is broken out in (3) main components.
- K-2 Devices - determine how big of a fleet you need, if you have 200 students, add 10% to determine the fleet size. So for 200 students, you need 220 devices. Once you determine the fleet size, plan to buy/replace 25% each year. This gives you a life expectancy of 4 years for each device.
- Grades 3-6 Devices - buy new devices each year for grade 3 and assign the device to the student. This Chromebook will be assigned to the student until the end of grade 6. This means no device will be older than (4) years old.
- Grade 7-12 Devices - buy new devices each year for grades 7 & 10, these devices will be assigned to the student until it is replaced in grade 10 or until they graduate in grade 12. This means no device will be older than (3) years old.
FAQ
What about content filtering?
Content filtering is very tricky! We suggest implementing a CIPA compliant filter for your school buildings and inform parents it is their responsibility to filter outside of the school (if the device goes home).
Installing 3rd party filtering solutions can slow down devices and cause more of a headache. Implementing a network-wide filtering solution is safer for students and allows them to use personal devices when needed.
Installing 3rd party filtering solutions can slow down devices and cause more of a headache. Implementing a network-wide filtering solution is safer for students and allows them to use personal devices when needed.
What about warranty & repairs?
As far as repairs, our team manages all of the repairs for the districts we support. The devices are repaired in-house. This helps keep costs down and ensures the best experience. A lot of the time, repairs need to be handled on a case by case basis and cannot have a blanket solution which is the benefit of handling repairs in-house.
Our team also does not use any warranties other than the included manufacture warranty. We find the accidental damage coverage is cost-prohibitive for any fleet of Chromebooks over 20 devices.
As far as repair costs, parents are billed for the cost of the hardware.
Our team also does not use any warranties other than the included manufacture warranty. We find the accidental damage coverage is cost-prohibitive for any fleet of Chromebooks over 20 devices.
As far as repair costs, parents are billed for the cost of the hardware.
How do we handle misuse of technology?
When a student is misusing technology, the teacher has the option to request that the student is put in something we call "virtual detention." Virtual detention is a restrictive mode on their Google account that only allows them to access a list of websites that teachers have approved. Virtual detention can last anywhere from a few days to an entire school year.
How do we handle policies/agreements?
We encourage schools to treat Chromebooks/laptops the same way they would treat textbooks and other school property. The easiest way to do this is to update the language in your current policies and handbooks to include wording for Chromebooks/laptops. We do, however, suggest sending out a memo to parents, which can be found by clicking here.
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