Family Technology Resources
This page provides links and resources for families about technology use in the district and at home.
- AI In Education: What Parents and Caregivers Should Know
- Scam Savvy is a set of tips and strategies to protect all users from online scammers.
- A Parental Guide to Protecting Your Child's Online Activity is a comprehensive Center for Internet Security resource.
- ConnectSafely is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating people about safety, privacy, security, and digital wellness. Resources include research-based safety tips, parents’ guidebooks, advice, news and commentary on all aspects of tech use and policy.
- Common Sense Media is an organization that "provides education and advocacy to families to promote safe technology and media for children."
- Guardian's Guide to AI from Google for Education
Family Internet Options
Several options are listed below for families to explore for reduced or free Internet.
Guidelines & Resources
- Clever Resources
- Google Resources
- Home Parental Controls
- Keyboarding Information
- Seesaw Resources
- Video Expectations
Clever Resources
Google Resources
Guide to Google Tools Overview
- Guide to Google Workspace
- Guide to Chromebooks
- Guide to Security and Privacy
- Guide to Google Classroom
- Guide to Accessibility
- Guide to Google Meet
- Guide to Tools for Students with Disabilities
- Videos
- Glossary of Terms
- Best Practices for Family Engagement
- Google Translate
- How to Use Interpreter Mode
- Tech FAQ
Troubleshooting
Home Parental Controls
Note: You may need to disable the “Private Wi-Fi Address” setting on your child’s device for this to work consistently.
- Utilize the ScreenTime settings for iPad (this is not available for Chromebooks). This is a feature that parents can use to set limitations on the school-issued iPad including app and time limits.
- Use any Content & Privacy Restrictions to block or limit specific apps and features on a child’s device — restricting the settings for explicit content, purchases, downloads, and privacy.
- Use your router's built-in parental controls - This is generally the lowest-cost method and is built in to most routers but in some cases the setup may be involved. Please do a search for the link to the manufacturer of your home router for more information (for example, “Netgear parental controls” or “Linksys parental controls")
- Use a web-based service such as OpenDNS - This may be an effective option if your router does not have built-in parental controls. Depending on the plan you choose, there may be a cost involved.
- Purchase a standalone product that plugs into your network such as Circle by Aura - This may be the easiest option to implement, however, depending upon the product chosen, there may be a cost involved. When choosing a product, please ensure that the product does not require installation onto your child's device directly.
- For non-district-issued devices or accounts, you can use Google Family Link to restrict time, manage settings, and monitor usage. This will not work with district accounts or devices.
- Keep the computer in the family room or another location where you can see what your child is doing.
- Use Parental Controls to limit the sites your child can access.
- Limit the amount of time your child uses the computer.
- Talk to your child about cyber safety and cyber bullying.
- Remind your children:
- Never give personal information such as name, birthday, address or phone number.
- Never download pictures or documents from strangers.
- Never use any personal information when creating a screen name or email accounts
- Have all devices (including phones and iPads) charged in a common area overnight to ensure better sleep and less "hidden" usage.
- Regularly check that social media profiles (for non-district accounts) are set to "Private" and that location sharing is only enabled for family members.
- Talk to your child about AI chatbots. Remind them that AI can sometimes give incorrect information and should not be used as a substitute for talking to a trusted adult or friend.
For additional information please check out
Keyboarding Information
AHSD 25 supports an online keyboarding instructional program called Typing.com for students in Grade 3-5. This Internet-based program is available anytime, from any Internet-connected computer. As it is Internet-based, there is no software to download. In addition, students can access this program from your local library computers or another Internet-accessible computer.
Typing.com is a self-paced, individualized program, however some staff may incorporate this program into their classroom. The program demonstrates correct technique using clear, bold, easy-to-read graphics. Initially, students are encouraged to spend 20 minutes per day, three days a week practicing keyboarding skills. Typing.com will track the student’s progress, test their typing skills through gamification, and use videos to demonstrate proper posture and best practices. Below are recommended goals for Grades 3 through 5.
By the end of grade three, the student can:
- Key all alphabetic keys using the correct hand.
- Key the following using the correct finger of the correct hand: space bar, return or enter key, and shift keys (both left and right).
By the end of grade four, the student can:
- Key all alphabetic keys using the correct finger of the correct hand.
- Key the following using the correct finger of the correct hand: space bar, return or enter key, and shift keys (both left and right).
- Develop and enhance the ability to compose at the keyboard.
By the end of grade five, the student can:
- Key all alphabetic keys using the correct finger of the correct hand.
- Key the following using the correct finger of the correct hand: space bar, return or enter key, and shift keys (both left and right).
- Develop and enhance the ability to compose at the keyboard.
- Increase speed and accuracy.
Resources
Seesaw Resources
Video Expectations
Expectation for Student & Parent/Guardian Use of Video Conferencing
The following is an overview of online instruction options as needed. The District uses Google Meet (video conferencing) and Zoom for Education (video streaming and recording lessons). We have carefully reviewed our agreement with both providers to ensure that its practices comply with FERPA privacy rules, in that it has data encryption and other privacy controls that protect stored data and prevent disclosure to unauthorized parties. The District uses best practices to promote security and privacy, limiting access to video-streamed lessons to students in the class using protections like private meeting links, passwords, and waiting rooms.
Video Conferencing Expectations
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The Board of Education’s policies and student behavior standards will still apply when a student receives instruction by video or other remote means. In the event of inappropriate conduct during a video conferencing session, the teacher may end the session prior to its scheduled completion.
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Parents/ guardians should be mindful of family activities that may potentially be heard/seen during the students’ use of video conferencing. Students will need a level of privacy to concentrate on their work, yet enough supervision and monitoring online.
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Persons other than the student should not watch video-streamed classes unless a parent’s assistance during the lesson is essential due to a student’s needs.
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Failure to abide by these expectations and other student behavior standards will subject the student to disciplinary measures in the same manner as if the conduct took place at school.
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Students must use their proper name to be admitted to classes; do not use an alternative name.
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After the teacher has ended the class, students must completely log out of any video-streamed lesson.
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Students are expected to be visible in video conferences unless they make other arrangements with their teacher. They should communicate with their teacher if their connection is unstable.
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Students should keep their microphones muted at appropriate times. They may use the hand-raising and chat features to ask to speak.
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Students are expected to present an appearance that does not disrupt the educational process or interfere with maintaining a positive teaching/learning climate.
Recording Instruction
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We may record non-confidential live instruction sessions and post them for a short window of time. These recordings may support students who could not attend class on a given day and give all students the ability to go back and review the lesson. Teachers will not be recording small groups or individual student support times.
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Recordings of live instruction sessions will not be publicly available. They will only be shared within Seesaw or Schoology, a similar section of the same class, or the AHSD25 Google Domain. Access will require a network account. Under no circumstances should these recordings be downloaded or redistributed in any format.
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Students and parents/guardians must refrain from making audio and/or video recordings of video streamed or recorded lessons and from taking photographs of students participating in such instruction without the express permission of the teacher or a school administrator. If you receive such recordings or photographs from a source other than the District, delete them and do not post or forward them.
Confidentiality
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Please be aware that you may be able to view other students and the homes of students. Students may enter and exit classroom sessions as special services are provided. Specialized staff members may enter and exit classroom sessions or conduct break-out sessions to deliver related services to students who receive special education. Student confidentiality cannot be guaranteed.
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Similarly, visitors to virtual classrooms will be treated like visitors to regular classrooms. Accordingly, members of a student's household that may incidentally see parts of video streamed or recorded lessons do not implicate the privacy rights of other students. However, because visitors can be a significant distraction, especially during video-streamed lessons, any such observation or interaction must be kept to a minimum and must comply with all directives from the teacher and school administrators. If a parent/guardian seeks to do a formal observation or have a private provider, do an observation of a video streamed or recorded lesson, the parent/guardian must contact the school principal to make arrangements.
No education technology is 100% safe and secure. The District works diligently to provide the best resources for teachers and families and to secure robust data privacy protections that comply with relevant laws and safeguard student information.
