iPads & Technology

Return the iPad and other school resources to your child’s school or nearest District 196 school. If you have children in multiple schools, all school resources can be returned to a single school.

If you are out of the region and need to mail the iPad and other school resources back to the district, please send to the following address via any shipping carrier:

• Independent School District 196
  Attn: Jennifer Lyddy
  3455 153rd Street West
  Rosemount, MN 55068

If you have questions, please refer to the Requesting Technical Assistance section below.

While additional access can be helpful, it is also important to develop guidelines and expectations about safe and responsible use. We have provided tools to help with the development of a family media plan. One useful resource is available at www.healthychildren.org/mediauseplan. In the article, Media Use in School-Age Children and Adolescents, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends:

• Children/adolescents get the recommended 1-hour of daily physical activity and adequate sleep (8-12 hours daily);

• Children/adolescents not sleep with devices in their bedroom, including televisions, computers, tablets and smartphones;

• Designating media-free times (e.g. during meals and at bedtime) and locations (e.g. bedroom and kitchen);

• Ongoing communication with children about digital citizenship, and 

• Developing a network of trusted adults who can engage with children/adolescents through social media and to whom they can turn to if/when they encounter challenges.

District 196 limits which iPad apps students can download and uses web filtering to restrict certain internet content. Parents/guardians also have the ability to add restrictions and check their student’s iPad use.

• Open Screen Time

• Log into your student’s iPad using their personal login code

• Go to Settings and tap Screen Time, then Turn on Screen Time

• Tap This is My Child's iPad

• Continue through Downtime and App Limits based on your family's preferences

  • Downtime gives parents the option of disabling the iPad at a certain time (such as right before bedtime). Unless you add apps to the “Always Allowed” list, nothing on the iPad will function during the set downtime period.

  • App Limits allows you to set use limits for different types of apps. Most apps available on student iPads are used for educational purposes, so this will likely not be necessary.

• Set a Screen Time passcode when prompted (recommended). Make a 4-digit passcode you will not share with your child. Type it in twice to activate the passcode. (Note: If you forget your passcode, please contact the school and it can be cleared.)

• Screen Time Passcode Recovery will prompt for an Apple ID. No need to enter an Apple ID, select Cancel in the upper left corner and then tap Skip.

• Important: When you are finished, press the round home button to exit Screen Time. This ensures your changes are password protected. 

Visit our 1:1 Parent Resources website for additional Screen Time options.

If you need to clean the screen, only use a clean, soft, dry cloth. Do not use any liquid cleaners of any type. No moistened antibacterial wipes, cleaner or damp cloths.

• Be sure to leave the iPad in the district-issued protective case and closed when carrying it from one location to another. When in a backpack, make sure the device is not resting against anything that may put pressure on the screen.
• Avoid dropping, throwing, sliding or leaning on the device, or putting any pressure on the screen other than fingertip touch.
• Keep the device away from liquids, food, magnets, sharp objects and extreme heat, all of which can damage the device. 
• To minimize the potential for damage to devices, it is recommended to store them in a safe location when not being used for educational purposes.

If the device is damaged and needs to be repaired, please refer to the Requesting Technical Assistance section.

Summer 2022 through start of 2022-23 school year

Prior to the 2020-21 school year, the district offered an Optional Protection Plan for $20/device to assist families with accidental damage costs.  However, due to the economic effect the pandemic has had on families, the decision was made to automatically enroll ALL iPads with this coverage at no cost to families. This benefit includes the summer of 2022 after which time the Optional Protection Plan will be reinstated for the 2022-23 school year. As we approach the start of the 2022-23 school year, all families will receive information to either accept or decline the Optional Protection Plan for the school year.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE IPAD FOR SUMMER 2022?

• The first incident (non-intentional damage) on each iPad that results in the district being charged will be covered by the district.
  NOTE: This includes any incidents that may have occurred during the 2021-22 school year as this summer is considered an extension of the school year.   
• The second incident, there is a $40 deductible.
• The third incident, the school and family will work out a plan that makes sense for each situation.
• Intentional damage to an iPad is not covered (including first incident)
• Lost iPads are not covered and must be fully replaced by the family (estimated at $344), unless a police report is provided indicating the iPad was stolen, in which case it will be replaced at no cost to the family

Power cords/bricks are not covered under this plan as any replacements for those will be the responsibility of the family (unless covered under warranty)

Some subscription-based apps such as Dreambox and IXL will continue to function using the same login information from the school year. However, there may be some exceptions for students who are unenrolling or moving to a different school. Epic will be accessible between the hours of 7 am - 3 pm Monday-Friday using the same login information from the school year. 

Learning can happen inside and outside the classroom and extend into the summer months as well. As always, the iPads are a great resource for our students to create their own projects. There are a variety of apps that can help foster students' creativity over the summer that were introduced to them within the classroom by their teacher. Students can thoughtfully use these apps to learn, create, and explore topics of their choice and areas of interest to empower their learning.  Some examples could include: 

• Book Creator: Create their own books describing their summer experiences
• Clips: Compile a video about a book they’ve read or a topic they’ve studied
• PicCollage: Remember their favorite moments of school or camp with a digital collage

For more information on apps that support this learning and tutorial support see our Student 1:1 website.
 

While this is primarily useful to graduating seniors and students unenrolling from the district, it can be used by any student at any time to make a copy of their district files. To do so, follow these directions.

If you need technical assistance with your child’s digital device this summer, including repairs, complete the Technology Support Request Form and someone will be in touch with you.