Why a 1to1 Program?

	Why have a 1to1 program? There are many reasons that schools implement a 1to1 program. At ISS we have 4 major aims of the program. These are to • Improve student academic achievement through the use of technology • Assure equity in access to digital resources • Prepare students for their future • Enhance teaching and transform the quality of teaching What are the educational benefits of laptops? This research suggests that most students already own and use digital tools on a daily basis for their educational, social and personal needs. At ISS we believe that it our responsibility as a school to keep up with technological change and be at the cutting edge. Why not create more computer labs? The creation of extra computer labs causes various problems. The main issue with this approached compared to the 1:1 approach is that a laptop program allows all students access to the appropriate content at the time in which they need it. This is not always possible via the use of computer labs and pods. What will happen to the existing Labs and Pods? The existing labs at ISS will continue to be computer labs up until the whole high school implementation in August 2010. Up until this point the rooms will become less and less relied upon as the program is gradually taken up. At the time of whole school implementation the labs will be reallocated into general purpose classrooms. Are other International Schools Laptop 1to1 schools? Yes, there are many schools around the world that have taken up a Laptop 1to1 program. Schools in Singapore also have implemented a Laptop Program of varying degrees.

Learning with Laptops

	Will the laptop be used in every class? The laptops will not be necessarily used in every class that your child attends for the day, but it will be used within all subject areas. Obviously some subject areas are more technology dependent than others and it is expected that the laptops will be used heavily each day. Will the use of laptops affect handwriting? Whilst this can be a genuine concern, the Laptop 1to1 program will not eliminate the need for student to be able to write legibly. It is still expected that students will use handwriting within the school and the various programs that it offers. It is believed that the advantages for students of using the laptop in the classroom far outweigh the negatives. Exams are handwritten, will this program affect the exam results of my child? No, students will still have to write in some of their classes and it will continue to be a key skill. How will students access work on their Mac? As the online learning platform is web based, any computer with a web browser will be able to access all of the information that is posted on the online learning portal. Students will also have space on the network to make back up copies of their work. How will students submit work completed on the computer? Students will be able to access their work, readings and notes via the Internet at home and at school via the schools online learning portal. Currently the school is using Blackboard for this purpose but this is also being phased out as part of our state of the art agenda in relation to the technology students have access to at ISS. There will be a new online learning platform to replace the somewhat cumbersome blackboard.

Choice of Platform

	Why Apple? There are many reasons why the Macintosh platform was selected and these include durability, performance, security, reliability, battery life, compatibility with school infrastructure, dual core potential, ease of use and range of software. A major factor has been stability – having undertaken significant research we discovered that schools of our size using the PC platform have faced considerable operational difficulties (such as compatibility issues, network security, computer “uptime” and virus control), which do not occur with the Macintosh platform. It also helps that Apple is the world leader in 1to1 education, and in working with schools in developing 21st Century Digital schools. Ironically, none of us were Apple users before we commenced the search process for the right platform, however, after a careful study, the choice was very clear. Apple is the world leader in 1to1 education, and is the only computer platform with a division dedicated to supporting schools in 1to1 integration. The Mac is the computer of choice for many international schools due to the durability, reliability, ease of use, security and the wide array of software that comes with the Macintosh machines that provide the students with rich tasks. Apple have also been able to offer a range of technical support and infrastructure upgrades that are far super to what other suppliers were able to offer. The price that we have been able to negotiate is also very competitive. What software will be included? There will be a range of commercial and open source software that will be supplied, pre-configured on the MacBook. The software model for August 2008 has been finalized and can be found by clicking on the link. We expect that this will change as as we progress. Initially Microsoft Office 2008 will not come pre-installed, rather NeoOffice will be installed. This is simply due to costs. As of August 2009 Office 2008 will be required by all users and will be installed by the school as part of our license conditions at a subsidized cost. Why choose Mac when most computers in the world are windows? Whilst most of the world does use windows machines, the Apple environment has numerous advantages over a windows based Machine, predominately security. The Apple combines the best of both world too. The MacBook has the ability to be setup as a dual boot, so Windows can be run side by side on the same machine.

Laptop Questions

	Does my child have to have a Laptop? Yes, all students at ISS high school are expected to have a Apple Mac Laptop on the set date. Can my child bring a laptop other than a Mac? No, the only laptop that will be allowed to use the school network and infrastructure will be the authorized Apple Laptop that has been imaged with the ISS software image. Why do ISS need an Administration Account? To ensure that all laptops on the school network are running in accordance with the acceptable use policy, ISS need to be able to have full access to all laptops. This will be used primarily for security reasons and will ensure that students can not change usernames of machines on the network. Can I purchase a Mac for my child to use before the staggered start date? Yes, the deal that ISS has in place with Apple education Asia will be available soon and you may purchase your choice of MacBook or MacBook pro from the selected outlet. Pricing and Models are be available on the laptop page. What happens if my laptop is broken or under repair? Commencing August 2009, if a student machine is broken, then the school will have some spare machines that can be used for the period of time that the machine is out of action. This is solely the discretion of the apple technicians that are employed within the school as to how long these are issued for. What software will come on the Mac? Initially all Laptops will be pre installed with Mac OS X and iLife. The rest of the software for August 2008 can be found on the laptop page. This is likely to change form time to time, dependent on subjects taken. For 2009 Microsoft office 2008 will be required. Will I need to purchase additional software for my Mac? Yes, you will have to purchase a copy of Microsoft Office 2008 in August 2009. This will be supplied as a part of the school licensing agreement and will be offered at a subsidized rate. Can I install my own Software, Music, Games and Files? No, the school laptop is intended for just that. For this reason additional software, music, games and other files should not be loaded onto the laptop. This software will not be supported by the technical department. What is the battery life? How can I charge my Mac? Apple laptops have one of the longer battery life spans of laptops on the market. It is common for the MacBook to run for approximately three hours without the need for charging. There will be charging stations located most classrooms but this infrastructure has not been implemented yet. It is expected that the electrical work required to do this will be completed in September 2008. Where will I be able to access the school network from? The school has committed to investing heavily in infrastructure to get the school Mac 1to1 program ready for use. This includes the installation of wireless network points in all classrooms. Students will be able to access the this network from anywhere on campus with their username and password. How will my child learn to use the laptop? Students will be given some introductory lessons on how to use the Mac at the start of the year. There is always a transition time that is associated with the changeover to the Mac operating system. Students will then be shown how to use subject specific programs and skills within their various subject areas. Can other members of my family use my laptop? We would advise against any other members of your family using the school laptop. We believe that ownership of the machine is an important aspect of any 1to1 program. It is also important that students are aware of the fact that they are responsible for the machine and for the contents of that machine.

Health and Safety

	How should the Mac be transported to and from school? It is recommended that students carry their laptop to school in a travel bag. There are a few options with one of the popular ones for students to be the laptop backpack.

Security

	What happens if my laptop is lost or Stolen? Obviously students are responsible for their own Laptop, however there is software that is shipped with the Apple machines called Verey I Anti Theft Software that allows any stolen machine to be traced via it’s IP address. This software, when activated immediately takes images of whoever opens the machine and sends them to authorities. All Laptops are required to have to have this software installed.

Technical

	Will parents be required to provide technical support? No, all technical support will be carried out on site with ISS technical support personnel trained as Apple technicians. The technicians will be able to assist with ALL technical issues. Can the ISS network handle the load of every student and teacher having a laptop? The schools is investing heavily in infrastructure to ensure that the network will be able to cope with the demands of all the students and staff having laptops that require network access. As there will be a gradual implementation, this will allow us time to fully test the network to ensure that it will run smoothly when all users are online. Will I be able to use the Internet from home on my Mac? Yes, there is no good reason that your child’s Mac will be limited to the school network. If you are using a wireless network at home then this should be a straight forward configuration which will be different Depending upon the users setup. For a wired network it should be as easy as simply plugging the Ethernet cable into the Ethernet port. If you have any issues with this the technicians will be able to help.