Tippecanoe School Corporation
Technology Parent Resources
At the Tippecanoe School Corporation, students in grades K-1 utilize iPads in the classroom and students in grades 2-5 utilize Google Chromebooks in the classroom. These devices are only taken home in instances of remote learning and only students who have opted-in to the take-home policy are allowed to do so. Students in grades 6-12 also utilize Google Chromebooks, however they are assigned a device to use throughout middle school, and another device to use throughout high school. Students in grades 6-12 take the devices home each night, bring them back to school each day, and retain them throughout the summer to provide learning opportunities beyond the school day. This program is known as the "1 to 1" initiative, wherein each student has access to their own device. The parent orientation the middle and high school 1 to 1 initiative can be found here.
Parenting students who are "digital natives," or who have been brought up in a world full of technology, can provide to be quite challenging. Below are resources that parents may find helpful to help their students use technology and digital resources.
- Student Login Information
- Getting Started with GSuite & Google Drive
- Google Classroom (Grades K-5)
- Canvas (Grades 6-12)
- Securly Content Filter
- Remote Learning
- Student Data Privacy
- Growing Up Digital - Digital Citizenship Resources
- High Speed Internet Access
Student Login Information
Getting Started with GSuite & Google Drive
Getting Started with Google Drive
TSC students in grades K-12 receive Google Drive accounts, which they utilize to create and store digital files. This two minute video shows you how to go to the Google Drive website and login. Parents can login to their child's Google Drive account at any time using their child's username and password (information below). Students in grades 2-8 receive school-issued "closed campus" email accounts, meaning they can only correspond with staff and students at the TSC. Students in grades 9-12 receive school-issued "open" email accounts, meaning they can correspond with recipients inside, and outside, the TSC.
Google Classroom (Grades K-5)
Canvas (Grades 6-12)
Canvas
Canvas is a learning management system (LMS) used by students in grades 6-12. A Learning Management System is a web-based software application that provides a platform for the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of digital education material and courses. In short, an LMS is where teachers will post announcements, assignments, resources, quizzes, tests, and other course-related materials for students to access. Within the LMS, students will access a calendar that shows information for all of their courses, they will access course materials, collaborate with their peers and teachers, submit assignments, and take assessments.
- Parent Account Setup on Computer
- More information about Navigating Canvas
- Parent Account Setup on mobile device (e.g. Canvas Parent App on smartphone)
- Information on how to use the Canvas Parent App
- Install the Canvas Parent iOS App (parents only)
- Install the Canvas Parent Android App (parents only)
Securly Content Filter
TSC partners with a third-party company (Securly) to administer content filtering on its network for all students in accordance with federal regulations (CIPA). The same content filtering is applied when student devices are taken home and used outside of the TSC network.
Parents/Guardians of students in grades 2-12 can install the Securly Home App to view real-time activity reports of their child's online activity when using their TSC Chromebook.
The App also allows parents/guardians to block individual websites when their child uses the device at home that may not be blocked by the TSC's general filtering policy (i.e. gaming sites, etc.). Please note: Custom site blocking is functional only when students are not on the TSC network (off campus, at home, etc.).
An automated welcome email message will be sent to parents/guardians when their child is enrolled in a TSC school in grades 2-12. Parents/guardians who already have a Securly parent account (i.e. middle/high school student) may not receive the email message. Only parents/guardians with a PowerSchool Parent Portal account with an active email address are eligible to use the Securly Home App.
After receiving the welcome email message, parents/guardians will begin receiving a weekly email containing a sample of their child's online activity from the previous week (an unsubscribe option is available at bottom of each message).
More information about the Securly Home App can be found below.
Short parent introduction video
Securly Home iOS App
Securly Home Android App
Securly Content Filtering Category Descriptions
Please contact the TSC Technology Help Desk at techhelp@tsc.k12.in.us or respond to this message with any questions or concerns.
Remote Learning
The Tippecanoe School Corporation places high priority on the quality of instruction we provide to all of our students and the manner in which it's delivered. We value face-to-face interaction and the relationships established between our students and teachers. In extenuating circumstances, remote learning may be utilized as a method for providing instruction when face-to-face interaction isn't possible.
Student Data Privacy
The Tippecanoe School Corporation adheres to the requirements set forth by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). To that end, the TSC recognizes the importance of protecting the privacy and security of student data. Through ongoing training with our staff, we strive to maintain an educational environment that balances the need to provide students with relevant, engaging learning experiences while still safeguarding their privacy and data. TSC students' use of the Google productivity suite (GSuite for Education) is covered by Google's educational privacy policies.
Growing Up Digital - Digital Citizenship Resources
Digital technologies have profoundly changed childhood and adolescence. The internet and the means to access it, such as tablets and smartphones, along with social media platforms and messaging apps, have become integral to the lives of youth around the world. They have transformed their education and learning, the way they make and maintain friendships, how they spend their leisure time, and their engagement with wider society. Each month, Growing up Digital will highlight a topic related to digital literacy and provide resources, talking points, and other helpful information.
April
News and Media Literacy
With so much media and information coming at us through the television, phones, social media, and more, it's more important than ever for kids to understand the basics of media literacy. When kids can identify different types of news and media and the methods and meanings behind them, they're on their way to being critical thinkers and smart consumers.
May
September
Learning with Technology and Family Media Agreement
Learning with technology, whether with a math app, a video how-to, or a webpage, opens up a new world of discovery for kids. And as they access information in novel ways, kids are preparing for life in a new interconnected, global world. Learn how to spot the good stuff, find the right products for your kids' needs, and foster a love of learning. More information can be found on Common Sense Media's website.
October
Media Balance and Well-Being
From phones and tablets to streaming movies and YouTube, tech and media are everywhere. Kids love easy access to shows, games, and information. Parents and caregivers love that kids can learn on the go (and stay busy when dinner's cooking). But it's easy to overdo it when the phone never stops pinging and the next episode plays automatically. Families can keep media and tech use in check by following a few simple practices.
Family Activities
November
Privacy and Security
When kids start to go online, whether they're playing multiplayer games, using educational apps, or just following their curiosity on Google, it's important that they understand the basics of online privacy and safety. With some general guidelines around what information is and isn't OK to share, and some help from parents when they're unsure, kids can have fun and learn a lot in the digital world.
Family Activities
December
It may seem obvious that eating dinner with your family is a good thing. Research provides plenty of support for the importance of family dinner for kids: Learning vocabulary, fewer behavior problems, less substance abuse, and healthier eating are some of the positive outcomes. This month, we’re asking all TSC families to enjoy a device-free dinner as part of a healthy digital lifestyle, and make the most of family time. So, when you have a family dinner, commit to putting devices away for those 30 minutes (or, if you have small children, the six minutes of dinner!). Turn your devices on silent. Better yet, put them somewhere where you can't see them and where a notification won’t tempt you to check it. Enjoy a device-free dinner as part of a healthy digital lifestyle, and make the most of family time. Share your family’s dinner on social media (after dinner is finished!) and use the hashtag #DeviceFreeDinner.
January
Digital Footprint and Identity
As soon as you share the first photo of your kid, you're establishing their digital footprint. As kids get older and start creating their own content or engaging with others online, it's important for them to understand the tracks they're leaving behind and what those tracks might reveal. Parents can help guide kids toward creating the kind of footprint they can be proud of.
Family Activities
February
February: Relationships and Communication
Soon after kids start reading and writing, they often begin interacting with others online. Whether they're chatting within games or texting family members, kids need the skills to interact respectfully. These skills will help kids -- and the people they're communicating with -- have positive experiences online.
March
Cyberbullying, Digital Drama, and Hate Speech
Most kids will encounter mean behavior at some point in their digital lives. For some kids, this experience is a blip that's easily forgotten, while for others it can have deep, long-lasting effects. For parents, the key is staying involved in kids' lives -- both online and off -- so they can step in and offer help if necessary. With guidance from parents and educators, kids can learn how to dodge the drama and stand up for others.
High Speed Internet Access
High Speed Internet Access
Access to high speed internet is a critical ingredient to a student's academic success. While TSC provides high speed internet access throughout each of its campuses, it recognizes that students may not have access to high speed internet when they are not at school. The TSC has recently extended its WiFi signal to the exterior of each school building (excluding high schools due to construction). More information about accessing the outdoor WiFi on each school's campus can be found here.
Families in Tippecanoe County have multiple options for obtaining high speed internet access, with providers offering a variety of plans and packages. Local providers include Comcast, Frontier, Metronet, and TDS. Comcast offers a program called Internet Essentials, which provides a discounted rate ($9.95 per month) for eligible families. To learn more about options for high speed internet, please visit each company's respective webpage listed below. Additionally, Purdue University and the City of Lafayette have been making great strides in providing free, high speed wireless internet available to the surrounding community.