WSD Ascend Chromebook FAQs
How is one student’s Chromebook identified from another student?
Chromebooks will be individually labeled with a unique number ID. Additionally, each device will be labeled with a bar code containing information about the device. Any labels placed on the Chromebook when issued must remain on the Chromebook. No additional permanent markings of any kind (stickers, skins, engraving, permanent ink pen, tape, etc.) shall be placed on the Chromebook at any time. While the devices are issued to students, they are still district-owned property. Additional permanent markings on the device will be considered vandalism.
Can Chromebooks leave the school?
In our one-to-one initiative, high school and junior high school students will be allowed to take the Chromebooks home for school-related use. Chromebooks issued to Elementary students will be stored at the school. The district’s Acceptable Use Policy must be signed by each student before they are issued a Chromebook.
Will charging stations be available at school?
High school and junior high students are expected to charge their Chromebooks nightly at home and bring them to school fully charged. They may be able to charge the Chromebook in the library throughout the day.
Chromebooks in elementary schools will be kept in the classroom carts and charged each night.
What if a Wi-Fi connection is not available?
Each school within the district has several Wi-Fi access points strategically placed throughout the building in order to ensure maximum wireless coverage and availability. In the event wireless network, access is not available, Chromebooks can still be used, although with limited functionality.
Outside of the schools, at places such as home, the library, and other locations that offer Wi-Fi access, the Chromebook is configured to allow the creation of additional network profiles. If the student anticipates not being able to connect to Wi-Fi when they are away from school, the student simply needs to open any files located in their Google Drive while connected to Wi-Fi to create an “offline” copy which will then be accessible on the Chromebook without the need for a Wi-Fi connection.
How will students log in to the Chromebooks?
Students will use their district-issued email account to log into the Chromebook. Students will not be able to use a private Gmail account.
Will the Chromebook still be filtered when it leaves the school?
Yes. The district works diligently to ensure that each student has a safe learning environment while using the Internet. Regardless of its location, each Chromebook is configured to connect to the district’s web filtering system prior to accessing the Internet. Our web filtering is updated on a regular basis in order to ensure your student has maximum protection while online.
What happens if students have been visiting inappropriate websites?
While our web filtering software is robust, there is a possibility that students could access inappropriate content. Web browser cache cannot be deleted by the students. If you discover any inappropriate web activity, please contact your child’s teacher or building administrator. Inappropriate web browsing violates the district’s Acceptable Use Policy and may result in disciplinary action.
What happens if the device is damaged or lost?
Students and parents will be responsible for district-owned technology property that is issued to them, just as they are for other district-owned items such as textbooks, calculators, cameras, athletics equipment, or library books. The district will repair or replace the device, but students and parents will be responsible for the cost of those repairs or replaced devices.
What if another student damages my student’s device?
In such cases, circumstances will be investigated on a case-by-case basis. School administration and the School Resource Officer may be involved if it is suspected to be an intentional act or act of vandalism.
What is the repair process for a broken Chromebook?
Damaged or non-functioning devices should be turned in to the school’s Chromebook Specialist (high school and jr. high school)) or teacher (elementary school) to begin the repair process. School technicians can repair many problems in-house, which may take a day or two. Other problems may require the devices to be sent out for repair, which can take up to 3 weeks. Students who are without their device due to repairs will be issued a loaner by the Chromebook Specialist.
Do repair fees need to be paid before the Chromebook can be repaired?
No. Repairs will be performed immediately and repair payments will be processed and collected by the school.
Can you print from a Chromebook?
Digital online file sharing between staff and students is one of the great advantages of Chromebooks and is an easy and efficient way to distribute digital learning content. Printing of documents from the Chromebooks is available but students and teachers are encouraged to utilize the ease and efficiency provided by Google Classroom and Canvas to distribute and gather student assignments. Reducing the amount of paper used for printing improves the global environment, reduces operating costs at the school, and helps support the culture of digital learning.
How much storage do students have?
Students using Chromebooks will have 16 gigabytes (about 16,000 megabytes) of storage on the machine. Additionally, students have online “cloud” storage that is attached to their email and accessible via the Google Drive application.
Can students download apps?
No. Student access to the web store is limited.
What applications will be available on my child’s device?
Each Chromebook will come pre-configured with Google Docs, Sheets, Forms, Slides, Gmail, Drive, and Chrome Browser. Other Curriculum based apps may also be installed but will vary from school-to-school.
What devices can be connected to a Chromebook?
- USB storage devices, mice, and keyboards
- SIM cards
- SD cards
- External monitors and projectors (via HDMI)
- Headphones, earbuds, microphones
Will devices be kept by students over the summer?
Elementary students’ devices will be stored at the school. High school and junior high students will take their devices home over the summer with limited exceptions.
How long should Chromebooks last?
As with any mobile device, longevity is based on how well the device is cared for. Students are encouraged to treat the Chromebook as if they own it. The models of Chromebooks purchased by the district are specifically designed for use in education and have been ruggedized. District Chromebooks are on a four-year replacement cycle.
Are other districts doing this?
Yes. We’ve been in contact with other districts around the country that have instituted one-to-one technology rollouts for students, including using Chromebook devices. Before our Chromebook launch, we sought advice on how to move forward from other one-to-one districts, learning from them what’s worked well and how to avoid certain problems.
Can parents use student Chromebooks?
When a student is logged into the Chromebook, parents can use them to check on students’ work and view their browsing history. Chromebooks are not intended for personal use by the student or their parents.
Can my child opt out of having a Chromebook?
No. Chromebooks are expected to become an integral part of the education all students receive at the Weber School District and we want them to take advantage of the powerful learning resources available to them.
Can student work be transferred from their Chromebook to another device?
Student applications, emails, bookmarks, documents, presentations, and just anything done in the Chrome browser while a student is logged in is available on another Chrome browser on another device when the student logs in with his or her district email address. The content will be the same on the Chromebook as it is on a PC desktop computer, so long as the student is using a Chrome browser and their district email login.
What will it cost to charge the Chromebook at home?
The electricity costs should be minimal for families over the school year, and the total cost is based on usage. Below is a formula to help you develop an estimate.
The device draws about 40 watts, according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
To estimate electricity usage or kilowatt hours, use this formula:
(Wattage x Hours plugged in per day x number of days per year) / 1000 = kWh
If your child uses or charges his/her Chromebook at home (they charge while being used, too) every day after school for one hour, the annual cost to parents is about 80 cents.
(40 watts x 1 hour per day x 180 school days per year) / 1000 = 7.2 kWh
7.2 kWh x $0.11 = $0.79
