What are the Goals of the Ready-Access Digital Learning Plan?

To provide students with the tools and resources necessary for them to learn 21st century skills. By incorporating these devices into the curriculum, students will be able to use internet applications and collaborating platforms for research, group work, and new innovative assignments. Students will learn digital citizenship through instruction on online safety, ethical and responsible use, respectful participation and collaboration, and media awareness. Our Ready-Access Digital Learning Plan is student-first, hybrid program that provides age and curriculum-appropriate access for best use. Specifically, the goals are to:

• Create a digital environment that supports student-centered, personalized and innovative instructional practices.
• Provide ready-access to technology and consistent digital resources
• Build capacity to support staff and administrators ability to leverage the digital tools and resources.
• Design, develop and deploy a robust and reliable infrastructure to support, students, staff and administration.

How will this program improve my student’s learning?

With the advances in technology to recent date, this program helps students to take advantage of great learning opportunities. The student-first, curriculum-based, hybrid digital learning plan provides access to digital tools and resources that best enhance learning. The foundational skills that will prepare the K-12 students to be effective, responsible and creative users of all types of information and tools will also prepare them well for their college work as well as career. Providing access to devices when the instructional program best is served by them - and not used in other cases - will also provide students an opportunity to use the tools that most effectively helps them based on their learning style.

What is the Digital Citizenship Bootcamp?

Students at all grade levels will be required to complete a series of digital citizenship lessons at the start of the year prior to their use/or ability to take home a device. All lessons will be delivered through the Library Learning Commons during the first month of school prior to signing the Acceptable Use Policy and getting their device. In addition students in 6th grade will take the digital literacy course.

How will this program affect the teaching of research skills?

The new Library Learning Commons curriculum framework includes a Research and Information Literacy Strand. Critical to teaching research skills is following a process across all content areas that includes learning to search, locate, navigate, evaluate and synthesize credible information from multiple high-quality resources. With access to the Internet now always at their fingertips, part of the digital literacy curriculum will be to emphasize the importance of correctly navigating the web. Students will continue to learn to access the library databases and other online resources approved by the school. They will also learn to validate a source and affirm or reject its credibility.

Where can I access my student’s assignments?

Student assignments, materials, course information, grades and other class information can all be accessed through our learning management system – Schoology.   

What is the schools and the district plan for teaching to keyboarding?

The new Library Learning Commons curriculum includes specific benchmarks for keyboarding to make sure that all students are establishing good typing skills. Overall, we feel that increased access to devices in the classroom will help students practice typing skills and will help them improve greatly. However, proper keyboarding techniques need to be taught and practiced. Students will first be introduced to typing in 2nd grade with Ready Access chromebooks in the classroom. We are using age-appropriate keyboarding programs to teach keyboarding.  Our library media specialists will provide parents with more information at the beginning of the keyboarding unit.

What types of curriculum materials and digital resources will my student have access to?

Students will have access to a digital toolbox that Wilton Public Schools has curated to meet our learner’s needs.  These can be viewed on our Learn Platform Digital Resources page.   In addition a consistent digital toolset that provides resources available to all our students have been licensed to support learning and the Ready-Access plan. These resources range in purpose and use and depending on the need in the class - they will support research, writing, reading, assessment, problem-solving, creating, communicating, collaborating, coding and much more. In addition, as curriculum areas are being reviewed and renewed, consideration to online textbooks is part of the process.

How will the school ensure digital safety?

All devices connected to the Wilton Public Schools network will be monitored by our district staff and any sites not used for educational purposes will continue to be blocked. The Wilton Public Schools currently meet all filtering guidelines set by the state of Connecticut through CEN (Connecticut Education Network) Filtering of content to all public schools through iBoss filtering system. Wilton is also Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) compliant and uses provided filtering from the state. Additionally, the district controls all applications pushed to iPads and chromebooks which students cannot make changes to. Also, as part of teacher training for the Ready Access program, teachers will be expected to periodically oversee student work on devices to make sure they are on task.

Will my student be able to access their work on different devices?

Yes, students use their school Google accounts for all work, which means it can be accessed from any device they sign into. Students can therefore easily switch between their device and a home desktop should they need to.

What does my student do if their device is out of battery and needs to be charged?

Students are required to have their device charged before it is needed in class. The Library Learning Commons offers charging options for students before, after, or between classes.

How will the school limit screen time for students during the day?

While chromebooks will become an integral part of classroom learning, when their use is not necessary, teachers will ask students to put them away. Teachers will also be coordinating lessons to ensure that screen time is staggered throughout the day. In addition, some schools will be restricting device usage in certain spaces like cafeterias and gyms.

What is the policy regarding maintenance and repairs?

Regular maintenance and repairs will be covered by the district. Should a student have a hardware or technical issue with their device, they should bring it to the Library Learning Commons to receive further assistance. The Student Help Desk can help with minor issues like connecting to the internet which issues with the device’s functionality will be covered by Library staff. Should the device need to be sent out for repair, the student will receive a replacement device. If the device is damaged, broken, or lost by the student, parents will be billed for cost of replacing the device. To prevent damages to the device, it is recommended that students purchase a waterproof case. To prevent the device from being lost, the Library Learning Commons will provide stickers for students to write their name and contact information on the device.

Will students be required to take their devices home?

Yes, in grades 6-8, students will be required to take their devices home to complete school work. In Grades 4-5, devices may be taken home based on teacher discretion and homework requirements. The devices will have specific applications on them that students might need to complete assignments and keep up with coursework. If you are worried about your student damaging the device, it is recommended that you purchase a waterproof case to protect the device during travel.

What does my student do if their device is out of battery and needs to be charged?

Students are required to have their device charged before it is needed in class. The Library Learning Commons offers charging options for students before, after, or between classes. Additional charging stations will be available where/as needed.

Can my student use the device we already have at home if it has Google?

The chromebooks provided to students will have applications that go beyond the use of Google. The applications, licensed by the district, cannot be pushed to any other devices not owned by the district. Simply accessing Google classroom or other G-suite applications can be done on a home device but they should have their chromebook with them in case an assignment calls for use of other applications.

How does my student get their device?

The Wilton Public Schools will be providing all students kindergarten through 8th grade with devices for the program. While Miller-Driscoll students will be using class sets of devices, Cider Mill and Middlebrook students will be assigned their own individual chromebook for use in school and, for the upper grades, at home. After completing initial digital literacy classes during the first week of school, students will go to their Library Learning Commons with their class to sign the Acceptable Use Policy and receive their device. Library staff will be checking out devices and chargers to the students through our new library resource manager. After the student receives their device, the device becomes their responsibility to maintain as they use it throughout the year. If they need technical assistance with their device, the student should bring it to the Library Learning Commons Student Help Desk. At the end of the year, the device should be returned to the Library Learning Commons.

What is the policy regarding maintenance and repairs?

Regular maintenance and repairs will be covered by the district. Should a student have a hardware or technical issue with their device, they should bring it to the Library Learning Commons to receive further assistance. The Student Help Desk can help with minor issues like connecting to the internet which issues with the device’s functionality will be covered by Library staff. Should the device need to be sent out for repair, the student will receive a replacement device. If the device is damaged, broken, or lost by the student, parents will be billed for cost of replacing the device. To prevent damages to the device, it is recommended that students purchase a waterproof case. To prevent the device from being lost, the Library Learning Commons will provide stickers for students to write their name and contact information on the device.

Will students be taking their devices home?

Students in 3rd grade will not be taking devices home. Students in grades 4 and 5 will have the opportunity to take the devices home at the teacher's discretion. Most likely, devices will not go home until at least a couple months into the school year if at all.

What does my student do if their device is out of battery and needs to be charged?

Students are required to have their device charged before it is needed in class. The Library Learning Commons offers charging options for students before, after, or between classes. Additional charging stations will be available where/as needed. Charging in classroom is limited but available.

Can my student use the device we already have at home if it has Google?

The chromebooks provided to students will have applications that go beyond the use of Google. The applications, licensed by the district, cannot be pushed to any other devices not owned by the district. Simply accessing Google classroom or other G-suite applications can be done on a home device but they should use their chromebook as the primary device if an assignment calls for use of other applications. Chromebooks will always be the device used in school but should a student need to get online at home they will have the option to use either their chromebook or home device.

What device will my student be using?

Students in pre-K will have access to iPads. Kindergarten will be using iPads in the classroom. There will be full class sets of iPads to be utilized by the students in school. Kindergarten students will also have access to Chromebooks in school. All students in 1^st and 2nd grade will begin using chromebooks with each class having a full cart for student use in school.

Can my student bring their device home?

No. The classroom sets are to remain in the classrooms.

What is the policy regarding maintenance and repairs?

Device use will be monitored in the classroom. Should an issue arise, the student should reach out to their teacher for help. The students will be signing an acceptable use policy at the beginning of the year recognizing that they are responsible for the device when using it in the classroom. Misuse or mistreatment of the device may result in the temporary removal of device privileges and/or fees for damaged devices.