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Common Abingdon Questions
My child received an iPad from APS for Summer Learning. What do I need to do to set it up, and what do I need to know about how my child should use it?
Please review this letter from APS about your child’s iPad and how they should use it for the summer:
What is the school doing to prepare my child for the iPad?
Every class at Abingdon Elementary is participating in age appropriate digital citizenship lessons from Common Sense Media. If you would like further information to reinforce these lessons at home, please visit the Common Sense for Educators Website. Students are also participating in lessons and activities to introduce them to the iPads and learn basic iPad functioning skills. Teachers are providing students with direct instruction on how to use apps before students are expected to do work on their own.
How can I be sure my child is safe while using the iPad?
All apps are controlled using a management system monitored by the teacher and/or ITC. Every app available on the student iPad is for an education purpose. Students will learn about internet safety, cyber-bullying, and messaging etiquette in class. It is our goal to educate students on how to use the Internet and mobile devices in appropriate ways. The Internet is strongly filtered at school and students have signed a contract pledging not download apps from the Apps Store or to use the iPad in inappropriate ways.
Can they download games?
Any games already downloaded on the iPad were carefully selected by the school. They are downloaded by the ITC or teacher. These games teach students problem solving skills and/or reinforce academic skills. Students will not be allowed to download any apps or games on their own from the App Store.
Screen Time
All Abingdon students participate in a variety of activities throughout the day including tableaus, art expressions, writing on paper, group activities, using manipulatives, Readers Workshop with paper books, class discussions, and technology rich lessons. Just as your teacher works to balance these activities at school, please consider making a schedule for balanced screen time at your home. To support a healthy balance and proper sleep schedule for students, we strongly recommend to families that iPad usage be limited to the hours of 8am – 8pm.
Can other people use the iPad?
The iPad is specifically purchased and assigned to your child for the sole purpose of supporting his or her education. It is highly recommended that this iPad is only used by the student and is used only for academic purposes.
Are they allowed to email, text message and Facetime?
Email, iMessage and Facetime are not available for the students. Our school will be using secure Learning Management Systems such as Canvas, Google Classroom, and Seesaw to manage classroom communication. Students can send completed work, screenshots, and questions to the teacher through these platforms.This will also allow teachers to provide support to each student. Students can not private message other classmates in these programs. Rather, they will use a class newsfeed that is monitored by the teacher to work with peers. These programs is only used for schoolwork. All other communication is not allowed and will be monitored.
What happens if my child loses the iPad?
If the iPad is missing, we will be able to use our management system to locate the iPad in the school and outside of school. Please let us know as soon as possible if the iPad cannot be found. Here is the APS policy on Missing, Lost or Stolen iPads.
Will they need the iPad for homework?
Homework will frequently be completed on the iPads depending on your child’s teacher and grade level. Your child might be asked to do things such as watch a video lesson, record a video, complete an assignment on the iPad, or even jot on the iPad while reading an assigned text. Please take a moment each day to look over your child’s shoulders to see how they are using the iPad at home to help them learn.