 | What is ePAL?
The electronic Portable Anytime Learning (ePAL) program is a new student learning initiative launching in the 2011-2012 school year that will provide each Upper School student with his or her own ePAL: an LFCDS-owned and supported convertible tablet PC.
|
Why is LFCDS launching the ePAL program?
Lake Forest Country Day School has been a leader in integrating information and communication technology (ICT) into teaching and learning and, with the ePAL program, is poised to take the next step on that path of enhancing and transforming student learning.
|
What has LFCDS done to prepare for ePAL?
LFCDS has been preparing for ePAL since 2009, when the initiative arose out of conversations in faculty committee meetings. The LFCDS Board, Head of School Michael Robinson, the ePAL Steering Team, and the EdTech Team have engaged in a careful planning process to ensure a smooth launch of the ePAL Program in 2011.
|
What research supports the ePAL program?
During the 2009-2010 school year, the LFCDS faculty EdTech Committee undertook a review of literature during the course of its investigation of the application of information technology to teaching and learning. In the academic literature, implementation of 1:1 student computing programs was found to lead to improved student learning outcomes.
|
Doesn't tuition already pay IT salaries?
The ePAL program fee is a subsidized charge for the new ePAL tablet and software provided to each Upper School student. It does not cover the full cost of the ePAL learning initiative.
|
May we opt-out of ePAL?
The ePAL program is structured as an integral component of an Upper School education at LFCDS. Teachers are modifying curricula and instruction to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the pen-enabled ePAL tablet PC. As such, daily use of the ePAL tablet PC will be integrated into the classroom. Many student textbooks and other printed learning resources will now be available as searchable references on the ePAL tablet PC. Because the ePAL tablet will be a natural part of daily teaching and learning at LFCDS, enhancing and extending traditional classroom interaction, participation in the ePAL program is required of all Upper School students.
|
May my child bring his/her own computer instead of using the ePAL tablet?
By standardizing on the ePAL tablet, LFCDS can offer a rich digital toolset customized to support student learning both in and out of the classroom. Students and teachers are able to concentrate on the learning enabled by the ePAL program rather than on troubleshooting problems with and navigating the idiosyncrasies of many different platforms. Therefore, students are required to use the school-provided ePAL for schoolwork.
|
Why is the ePAL program using tablet PCs?
We invite you to view the brief video clips on this ePAL information page to hear our faculty speak about the advantages of the tablet PC, which they have used as an instructional tool since 2004, and to review the following list of unique tablet PC features supporting your child’s education.
|
Won’t my student get too much "screen time"?
LFCDS recognizes the electronic screen as a fixture of modern life. While some kinds of "screen time" lead to passivity and isolation, effective use of information and communication technology actually increases engagement and collaboration and connection, including the new possibility to easily connect with peers and teachers at distance. Because of its enormous potential to enhance education, LFCDS maintains a commitment to the productive, engaging use of ICT in instruction, while still balancing plenty of "offline" time both in and out of the classroom.
|
Will my student take his/her ePAL tablet home?
To provide access to the same tools and resources available while at LFCDS for the completion of homework, students will be expected to take their ePALs home nightly. Students will be responsible for charging their ePAL overnight and must come to school with a fully charged battery to ensure the ePAL is ready for classroom use.
|
Will the ePAL connect to our home network?
The ePAL will support both a wired RJ-45 Ethernet network connection and a wireless (WiFi) connection. The ePAL will connect to any 802.11a/b/g/n wireless network, whether at LFCDS, in your home, or in a public location. The Web content filtering software will restrict Internet access regardless of which network the ePAL connects through.
|
What happens if the ePAL tablet crashes?
Since the ePAL is a school resource, LFCDS takes responsibility for the backup and repair of the ePAL tablet PC so that families do not have to worry about service and support.
|
May students install software on the ePAL?
Because the ePAL is a platform for student learning, not a personal computer, students will have restricted access to install additional software beyond the productivity, collaboration, and education applications installed by LFCDS. With teacher approval, students may request that additional software be installed by the IT Service Center for school projects.
|
What happens if it the ePAL tablet breaks?
Since the ePAL is a school resource, LFCDS takes responsibility for the maintenance and repair of the ePAL tablet PC so that families do not have to worry about service and support.
|
What happens if the ePAL tablet is lost or stolen?
The ePAL program calls students to be responsible stewards of school equipment. Families will be held financially responsible for the full cost of any missing equipment, including the ePAL tablet PC, AC adapters, stylus, case, and other accessories. Families should consult their homeowner’s insurance to determine coverage. Families wishing to protect against loss or theft may purchase additional loss/theft insurance for $50/year/student with a $250 deductible by accepting the optional insurance using the form provided in your contract packet.
|
Will students have access to e-mail?
To allow for effective student-teacher communication and homework exchange, LFCDS is in the process of evaluating student messaging and collaboration options. We anticipate testing a closed messaging system with Upper School students yet during the 2010-2011 school year.
|
Will students keep the ePAL during breaks?
Students will keep their ePALs during most school breaks but will be required to turn-in their ePALs over the summer so that they may be serviced and prepared for the following academic year. Students will receive the same ePAL back the following school year.
|
What if we do not have home Internet access?
Since the ePAL is stand-alone tablet PC computer with local document storage, much productive work is possible even without Internet connectivity. However, home Internet access adds enormous information access, communication, and collaboration possibilities outside of the classroom. Please contact ePAL Steering Team member and Director of Information Technology Keith Gillette if you do not have a home Internet connection.
|
Who do I contact if I have further questions?
Please contact ePAL Steering Team member and Director of Information Technology Keith Gillette if you have questions not answered by this FAQ.
|
Can you monitor my child at home through the ePAL tablet?
The School believes that a strong educational partnership between home and classroom entails sharing supervisory responsibilities. Families are responsible for supervision of students at home. The restrictions placed on the ePAL tablet PC largely limit student use to academic activities.
|
How do I change my password? When should I change my password?
You are only able to change your password while connected to the school network – the security servers necessary to effect this change are inaccessible from off campus (for security reasons). To change your password, press CTRL-ALT-DEL or the Windows security button (the middle button on the lower left of the ePAL display panel) and then choose Change Password from the list of options.
|
How do I clean my ePAL tablet?
Your ePAL tablet should stay clean if you remember to always follow the rules of keeping your ePAL tablet away from food and drink when in use and storing it in its protective carrying case when not in use. In addition, you should always wipe your hands after eating before using the ePAL tablet.
|
How do we get help using the ePAL?
Students experiencing technical problems at school should inform their teachers, who will provide support and refer students as appropriate to the IT Service Center. Students may drop-in to the IT Service Center in room GB-236 behind the main computer lab between 7:30 AM and 4:30 PM for assistance.
|
May I customize my background screen?
Yes. Students are welcome to customize their computer background and settings to make it a comfortable and familiar environment for learning. Custom desktops should be tasteful and chosen with an awareness that other students and faculty will see them.
|
May I customize my ePAL tablet with stickers?
No. The ePAL tablets are leased devices, and therefore must be maintained in a pristine condition. However, the School is aware that, sleek though the ePAL styling is, every student’s ePAL tablet is identical to every other student’s ePAL.
|
May I use a different carrying case?
During the school day, students must properly protect their ePAL tablet by keeping it in their school-issued rooCASE ePAL carrying case whenever it is not in use in class, when transporting the ePAL tablet between classes, and for storage in their locker charging stations. If student book bags have padded laptop compartments large enough to accommodate the ePAL tablet (10 inches x 12 inches x 1.5 inches), students are welcome to use that compartment to transport their ePAL between school and home and to protect the ePAL at home.
|
What software applications are included on the ePAL tablet?
LFCDS has included a range of software applications designed to support the use of the ePAL tablet as a school tool. Below is a partial listing of installed applications. Recommendations for additions should be directed to the relevant subject area teacher, who will coordinate with the IT department to evaluate educational applicability and technical compatibility of the software.
|
Will inappropriate Web content be blocked?
Regardless of what network the ePAL connects to (school, home, public) the installed Web filter will restrict the same content categories that are filtered at school, blocking inappropriate Web content.
|
Will students be able to listen to music on their ePAL?
To a limited extent. Music sharing, downloading and streaming sites are all blocked by the Web filter. Students are able to play local music files through Windows Media Player. We ask that students store their music on their ePAL desktop, to limit the load on our school servers, and they store and play only clean, appropriate music.
|
May I customize my carrying case?
No. The carrying cases are issued with the ePAL tablet and need to be returned in pristine condition with the ePAL at the end of the academic year. While additional luggage tags are certainly welcome (and easy identifiers), no customization of the bag itself is permitted.
|
May we print to a home printer from the ePAL tablet?
Since students will be turning in some homework electronically and LFCDS has configured ePAL tablets to connect to both black & white and color laser printers at school for student printing, access to home printers is not be required. However, you are welcome to try to connect the ePAL to a home printer.
|
May we purchase a spare AC power adapter?
Each student receives an AC power adapter to take home so that the ePAL tablet may be charged up overnight. In addition, each student locker has an AC adapter in it, allowing students to easily charge their ePAL tablets during break, lunch, recess, and PE. Parents who wish to purchase a supplementary AC adapter may do so from a variety of on-line merchants.
|
| | Click the thumbnails above to watch LFCDS faculty speak about the promise of ePAL. |
|
| ePAL Vision Statement
The ePAL initiative is driven by a shared vision of teaching and learning transformed by the effective integration of information technology.
We envision...
… students and teachers as partners in exploration, with ubiquitous student computer access enabling students to take on increasingly active roles as learners, from designing interactive multimedia tutorials to convey classroom content in their own terms, to collaborating with their fellow students in creating knowledge using the digital media tools of Web publishing and digital audio and video production.
… teachers increasingly empowered to maintain academic rigor while attending to individual student learning needs, with ubiquitous computing enabling easily updated and accessible digital student portfolios and frequent formative assessments, facilitating the delivery of individually differentiated instruction through a variety of on-line multimedia resources tailored to multiple learning styles.
… students as motivated learners, using computers as personal learning tools that unite their enthusiasm for playful discovery and expressive creation with their interest in interactive technology, sparking a passion for lifelong learning.
… teachers as inspirational guides, engaging students as active participants in learning and designing opportunities for interactive student learning that, with ubiquitous computer access, extend beyond the confines of the classroom and the school day.
… students as increasingly self-aware and self-directed learners, engaged in activities that enhance student metacognition, teaching students to learn how to learn, activities such as computer programming projects that require students to disaggregate objectives into discrete, logical units, and computer simulations that require students to grasp complex dynamics to actively solve authentic problems in virtual environments.
…students as productive and empowered workers, able to quickly create high quality demonstrations of their learning with unfettered access to powerful software tools that allow them to communicate their ideas more effectively and more efficiently to teachers and classmates.
… students as worldwide collaborators, able to connect through their personal computer and the global Internet with fellow learners from different countries, diverse cultures, and dissimilar backgrounds, to share knowledge and grow in international understanding.
… parents as partners, able to engage with their child's learning more easily through the enhanced opportunities for sharing student work offered by 1:1-enabled digital portfolios and through the communication potential created by increasingly on-line school operations.
… students as responsible agents, entrusted with powerful digital tools for learning, provided with guidance and support in using them, and then granted measured freedom to demonstrate ethical behavior and a commitment to the values of the LFCDS Honor Code as instantiated in the Responsible Use Policy. |
| |