The document discusses advice for parents on dealing with the downsides of a mandatory bring-your-own-laptop environment at school. It suggests that parents create family rules around technology use, ensure homework doesn't take too long, check that their children are using technology for more than just consumption, and have regular conversations about appropriate technology use. It also provides resources on homework policies and internet security settings.

1. Parent Tech
Coffee Morning
1:1 Parenting
Tips, Discussion, & Resources
iOS Tips
September 5, 2012

3. Digital Immersion
questions to consider
• How much “tech” is required/ expected/
encouraged/ necessary?
• How can we support and monitor our
children?
• How can their immersion help us?
• Where is this all leading to?

4. Advice for Parents
(from Jeff Utecht at thethinkingstick.com)
http://www.thethinkingstick.com/advice-for-parents-of-11-programs-2/
• My son attends a school where MacBooks are required from
grades 8-12, and students use many different assistive
technology tools. I believe that 1:1 is great as a learning
TOOL, but because students have their laptops with them all
the time, there is no “down” time when they have to use
their own initiative to think, dream, plan, create w/o a
screen. He gets up and will open the laptop before breakfast
to play, he will play or noodle around with his iTunes in the
car on the way to school, on the way home from school, and
every other time that kids used to be unplugged. He is not
creating, he is consuming. It is a huge fight in our
household.
What advice do you have for parents in dealing with this dark side-
effect of a mandatory BYOL environment?

5. Advice for Parents
(borrowed from Jeff Utecht at thethinkingstick.com)
http://www.thethinkingstick.com/advice-for-parents-of-11-programs-2/
• Remember that you are the parent
• Create family rules
• Homework should not take longer
• Are they just consuming?
• Conversation, Conversation, Conversation
• We still know what’s best for them*
• Disconnecting does not always mean no technology
• We can be the best (and worst) example

6. Points of Reference
• NIS Homework Policies
• www.thethinkingstick.com
• www.commonsensemedia.org

7. Home Internet Security
• www.opendns.com

8. Homework: PYP
Staff Handbook 3.006
K2 – Grade 5 Homework: Statement of Practice
NIS supports the development of the whole student. This means that participation is encouraged
in Home Language studies, the arts, sports and for the student to have time to develop their own
hobbies and interests after a full school day.
The amount of homework set reflects this philosophy.
The aim of homework at NIS is to reinforce skills or concepts that are being covered in class and
to encourage parental involvement.
All students will be informed of homework via the wiki
Parents should check that homework has been completed and inform the teacher if there is
a valid reason why homework has not been completed.
Unfinished class work may be sent home for completion at the teacher’s discretion.
No homework assignments should extend over the weekend unless it is work for a unit of
inquiry related project.
Students in Pre-K and K1 are encouraged to take home books to share.
Homework Guidelines:
NB: These guidelines are for the total amount of homework set for the student including
any homework set by specialist teachers.
Specialists teachers must liaise with class teachers to ensure that these guidelines are
adhered to.

9. Homework: MYP / DP
HOMEWORK GUIDELINES
Introduction
Homework is an integral part of the learning process and will therefore be set regularly. It is an
expectation that students will:
- subscribe to their relevant subjectsʼ iCal
- check iCal daily for posted assignments
- complete their homework by the prescribed date
- develop effective time management skills and study habits
- work more independently and take more responsibility for their assignments as they move through
MYP and DP.
Guidelines
For all Grade levels:
- students are expected to work regularly on long-term projects to avoid homework overload prior to a
due date
- due the nature of certain subjects, students may be expected to do some compacted work daily, rather
than only on the days this subject is taught (Music, PE)
- the guidelines below do not include time required for C&S activities

10. Questions and
Comments

11. iOS Tips
Getting the most out of your
iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch

12. Settings
• iCloud (syncs content between devices)
• Find My iPhone/iPad (turn it on!)
• Photo Stream (pushes photos to all your devices)
• Location Services (tracks where you are)
• Photos (keeps GPS data within photo file)

13. China Apps
• Nanjing Taxi Book (Local Taxi Cards)
• Jibbigo (Translation)
• Pleco (Translation)
• Yocoy (Phrasebook)
• KTdict C-E (Translation, Pinyin, English, Chinese)
• Youdao Cidian (Translation)

14. Other Apps
• Vyke Mobile (Skype alternative)
• iTunes U (online university courses)