Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Georgia Private Day and Boarding School in Georgia | Technology and STEM
Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Rome, GA
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Technology

Preparing students for careers
that don’t even exist yet.

Apple Distinguished Schools like Darlington School are centers of leadership and educational excellence, with a clear vision for how technology-rich environments support learning goals. In Apple Distinguished Schools, forward-thinking leaders and their communities work to inspire, imagine, and impact teaching and learning, and they have documented results of academic accomplishments.
Learn more about what it means to be an Apple Distinguished School.
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION

All students learn to connect.

Technology is integrated into all aspects of learning at Darlington School. Darlington has a responsibility to develop students who are digitally capable, literate, discerning, and responsible. We believe that the best way to accomplish this goal is to create a technologically-infused environment in the classroom and throughout all learning environments.

All Darlington students have an individual iPad or MacBook Air. This not only connects our students to online academic resources, but prepares them for a technologically connected world while allowing them to research and work independently.

SPECIALIZED CURRICULUM

Learning to innovate.

While all students are given a higher level of technology literacy, more specialized technology classes are also an essential part of our curriculum. Our middle grades students have the opportunity to take Introduction to Engineering and Design as well as Robotics Courses while our Upper School students can elect to take courses in the areas of robotics, computer science, engineering, and media arts.

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MAKERSPACE

Discovering and exploring with STEM.

Technology integration at Darlington has also expanded to classroom STEM activities (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and student makerspaces and dedicated faculty are available for students in both Pre-K to 8 and Upper School divisions.

Technology Resources

WHAT TYPE OF DEVICES ARE STUDENTS PROVIDED?
Darlington's one-to-one program begins in kindergarten, with students receiving iPads in kindergarten through fifth grade and MacBooks in grades 6-12. Beginning in fourth grade, students are able to take their devices home each school night, weekends and over breaks, including summer.
DOES THE SCHOOL SELL LAPTOPS TO PARENTS?
No. Students are provided devices to use while they are attending school at Darlington, but the devices are not for sale when students graduate or elect to no longer attend school at Darlington.
WHAT IF I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH A PERSONAL DEVICE SUCH AS LAPTOP OR MOBILE DEVICE?
The Darlington I.T. Office can help with connection issues to the school's network, internet, servers and printers. We can also offer advice for other issues but cannot make general repairs or provide involved software assistance (i.e. virus removal, system recovery, corrupt files, etc.). If a repair is needed, we can recommend a local computer repair vendor.
HOW DO I CONNECT TO THE INTERNET WITH MY PERSONAL LAPTOP OR MOBILE DEVICE?
The school network has wireless access points in all buildings which provide network connections. The network is secured and requires a network key for access. If you bring your own computer to school, visit the I.T. Office for connection instructions.
WHERE IS THE I. T. OFFICE LOCATED?
The I.T. Office is located on the first floor of Porter Hall for grades 9-12 and on the first floor of Thatcher Hall for Pre-K to 8.
WHERE DO I SAVE MY FILES, PROJECTS AND ASSIGNMENTS?
Students and faculty are provided with unlimited cloud storage through their School Google Apps account. This can be used to store documents, any projects, and pending research. We recommend USB flash drives or hard drives for storing or backing up personal files. Personal data should always be backed up in case the laptop needs some type of repair. The I.T. Office is not responsible for backing up student data.
WHAT OPERATING SYSTEMS DOES THE SCHOOL SUPPORT?
We can support most operating systems on our network, with the most popular being Mac OS. Mobile devices also work well on our network.
CAN I LOAD OTHER SOFTWARE ON THE IPAD OR MACBOOK?
Yes. Using technology for educational and personal uses is important and we want the school-provided device to be the only one your student will need. However, as a tool for your education, it is of the highest importance that you protect your laptop and maintain its stability. Adding anything to your laptop can affect its stability. We, therefore, suggest that you exercise careful judgment before installing software or hardware that may disrupt your computer use or violate the school's Technology Acceptable Use Policy.
IF MY STUDENT BRINGS HIS OWN IPAD OR LAPTOP, CAN THE TECHNOLOGY FEE BE REFUNDED?
No. The Technology Fee offsets the cost of not only the device, but also things like software, support, maintenance, insurance, loaners, networking, etc., which help ensure each student can be as productive as possible and teachers can rely on each student's device working alike.
IS THE TECHNOLOGY FEE A ONE-TIME FEE FOR FOUR YEARS OR SHOULD WE EXPECT THIS EACH YEAR?
The Technology Fee is an annual fee. The fee is used to offset many costs associated with the program, including the cost of the device over its lifetime, software, insurance, wireless access, internet service, support, and maintenance. Devices are currently replaced after four years of service.
I AM CONCERNED THAT THE IPAD/ MACBOOK IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF TEXTBOOK WE WILL HAVE. IS THERE A POLICY REGARDING ISSUES WITH POWER FAILURES OR NEGLIGENT SERVICE PROVIDERS?
There is no policy regarding the impact of power failures and loss of internet access at home as it relates to homework or school work, the assumption being that these services will be available. Many activities would continue to be performed without power or Internet if a student has a charged device. Otherwise, our teachers are very understanding when responsible students have technical issues at home. One of the 21st Century skills we aim to teach our students is how to cope with technical problems, make alternative plans, and plan ahead for contingencies!
IS THE PURPOSE OF LAPTOPS TO MOVE TO ALL ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOKS AND ASSIGNMENTS? IS THE COST OF ELECTRONIC TEXTS NOW IN OUR TUITION, OR WILL THERE BE AN ADDITIONAL CHARGE LATER ON?
The main purpose of integrating technology into the curriculum is to better prepare our students to be 21st Century citizens, support creation, and provide access to educational information. All students pay a Curriculum Fee, which covers digital textbooks and most other required learning resources. The fee is $200 for all grades and is paid for during online enrollment. The school is always looking for the best way to provide the best learning resources to its students and teachers.
CAN STUDENTS USE THIS COMPUTER OVER THE SUMMER?
Current students reenrolled in good standing for the following year will be able to take the device home for use over the summer. For students changing devices from one year to the next (i.e. rising fifth-graders moving from an iPad to a MacBook), they will receive the new device before summer. Kindergarten through third grade students will not take their devices home over the summer as they do not take their devices home throughout the school year. Additionally, rising fourth-graders will receive and take their devices home for the first time after the start of their fourth grade school year and not over the summer. New students will receive their device at the beginning of school.
ARE STUDENTS ABLE TO WATCH STREAMING PLATFORMS ON THEIR DEVICE AT SCHOOL IF HOOKED UP TO A PARENT’S ACCOUNT AND CAN THEY VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH OTHERS?
Yes, students may do this outside of the school day and established study hall hours. During the school day and study halls, though, computers should only be used for educational purposes only at the direction of their teachers.

Darlington sets policies to help guide the responsible use of technology by students, faculty, and visitors to campus. At all times, the main purpose of technology use at Darlington should be for educational purposes. Students using technology during academic times, such as during the school day or evening study hall, should only do so for educational purposes or at the direction of the teacher.Darlington sets policies to help guide the responsible use of technology by students, faculty, and visitors to campus. At all times, the main purpose of technology use at Darlington should be for educational purposes. Students using technology during academic times, such as during the school day or evening study hall, should only do so for educational purposes or at the direction of the teacher.

The Rules of the Road for MacBook and iPad as well as the Technology Acceptable Use Policy apply to all students in grades Pre-K to 12. Faculty policies and procedures are also provided.

DARLINGTON WEB FILTERING POLICY

Darlington uses internet filtering software to both block access to inappropriate sites and to log all Internet activity. This filtering happens for all devices using the Darlington School campus network. It also applies to all school-issued devices both on and off campus, including tablets and laptops issued to students. The faculty policy applies to all adults on campus.

Requests for recategorization of blocked websites should be made to the I.T. Office and each request will be reviewed individually. Student requests may require the approval of a teacher if the site is class-related. Residential student access to the internet is turned off entirely on school nights from midnight until 6 a.m. the following morning.

Note that some internet services (such as games or video) may be blocked due to excess bandwidth consumption or incompatibility with the school's firewall. The internet is too vast and quickly changing for any web filter to keep up, but we do log all Internet use and expect all users to abide by the spirit of this policy.

The I.T. Office, in partnership with the Student Life and Counseling Office, analyzes this log information weekly. This is done by looking for general patterns of potential misuse as well as individual spot checks. In the case of spot checks, the parent and students will be notified of the result. In the case of any discovered issues, action taken may range from parent notification or conference, students being temporarily placed in a more restrictive filter group, or collection of the device.

CategoriesStudents PK-5Students 6-8Students 9-12
Adult Materials, Nudity, and Pornography
This includes websites with explicit or sexual content.
Blocked Blocked Blocked
Social Media
Media hosting communities with forums or communities that allow generated content.
Blocked During School Day Blocked During School Day Blocked During School Day
Social Networking
Sites used to create personal and professional relationships.
Blocked During School Day Blocked During School Day Blocked During School Day
Chat and Messaging
Websites that have their own instant messaging services.
Blocked Blocked During School Day Allowed
Network Misuse
Websites that allow anonymity, hacking, or evasion.
Blocked Blocked Blocked
Streaming Media
Sites that host video or audio content that can be watched or heard live.
Blocked During School Day Blocked During School Day Allowed
Gaming
Websites that feature single or multiplayer online games.
Blocked During School Day Blocked During School Day Allowed
Ecommerce / Shopping
E-commerce or shopping websites which may expose students to adult products.
Blocked During School Day Blocked During School Day Allowed
YouTube
Restricts potential mature content.
Restricted Mode Restricted Mode Moderate Restrictions
MY MACBOOK HAS A SPINNING BEACH BALL!
First try holding down keys Command + Option + esc. A force quit box will appear. If you see an application that says "not responding" try to highlight it and click "force quit."If this doesn't work the next option, you can restart your computer by holding down your power button for 15 seconds. Pushing the power button for less time will just put your Mac to sleep, so you must hold the button down until you hear it click and shut off. Wait 30-60 seconds and turn your computer back on.
I CAN'T CONNECT TO MY DARLINGTON EMAIL.
Darlington's email is hosted by Google and can be accessed by going directly to https://mail.google.com. When prompted, enter your regular Darlington email address and password.
I’M HAVING TROUBLE PRINTING TO A SCHOOL PRINTER.
First, you should restart your Mac and make sure you are connected to the Darlington Wi-Fi. Next, open the printer queue and ensure the printer status is not paused. Delete any existing or old prints that have previously been sent to the printer. Resend to the printer what you are currently trying to print. If you continue to have problems, contact the I.T. Office for assistance.
WHERE DO I LOCATE MY PRINTER CODE?
Darlington students and faculty have the ability to print on campus using the provided printer code. To locate your printer code, log into the Darlington School website. Select “My Darlington” to open a drop-down menu. Next, select “Manage.” Scrolling down, you should be able to locate your unique Copier Pin under the email address/password/copier pin tab.
MY IPAD WILL NOT TURN ON OR THE DISPLAY IS NOT RESPONDING.
Hook the iPad to a power source and leave it for about 15 minutes. Sometimes if an iPad is completely dead, the red battery will not appear. If the red battery appears after 15-30 minutes, continue to let it charge for an hour before trying to turn it back on again. Try to wait until the battery on the screen turns from red to green. If that doesn't work, turn the iPad off and turn it on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on the top of the iPad for a few seconds (this could take up to 20 seconds), until a red slider appears. Then slide the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears. If you continue to have problems, contact the I.T. Office for assistance.
MY IPAD WON' T CONNECT TO THE INTERNET AND SOME APPS WILL NOT WORK.
Check to see if your iPad is connected to the school’s Wi-Fi by clicking the settings app. Click "General" then "Network." Click on the Wi-Fi and join the school’s network. Once you are connected, click on the Safari app. Type in a random website like yahoo.com or cnn.com. The Darlington web filter will appear and you can put in your username and password. This should allow you to surf the net and access apps. If you continue to have problems, contact the I.T. Office for assistance.
WHAT IS AN APPLE ID?
Apple ID is a login system that Apple Inc. has for many of its computer products, such as iWork, the iTunes Store, the Apple app store, and the Apple Store. The iPad uses an Apple ID to download apps, both free and paid. Apple has more information here. You can create an Apple ID for you or a student without a credit card by clicking here.
Digital Citizenship is a holistic and positive approach to helping children learn how to be safe and secure, as well as smart and effective participants in a digital world. Darlington is committed to teaching all students how to become positive digital citizens. That means helping them understand their rights and responsibilities, recognize the benefits and risks, and realize the personal and ethical implications of their actions. Our technology integration coordinator teaches digital citizenship, in all curricular disciplines, and focus on three key areas:
  • Safety & Security: Understanding the risks that we face from others as well as from our own conduct, and the dangers posed by applications like viruses and phishing.
  • Digital Literacy: Learning how to find, sort, manage, evaluate and create information in digital forms. These literacy skills build on but are somewhat different from the traditional literacy of reading and writing.
  • Ethics & Community: Becoming aware of and practicing appropriate and ethical behaviors in a variety of digital environments. This area includes shaping your digital reputation and being a responsible citizen of the communities in which you participate, from social networks, to games, to neighborhood civic forums.
HAVE FUN BEING PART OF YOUR CHILD’ S EXPERIENCE.
  • Learn from your children: Ask them about social media and what platforms they use
  • Have them show you their favorite online destinations Check and use e-mail with some regularity
  • Know the services your child uses and have them show you how to log in
SET REASONABLE RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR COMPUTER USE BY YOUR CHILDREN.
  • Discuss these rules and post them near the computer as a reminder Monitor their compliance with these rules
RESPECT YOUR CHILD’ S PRIVACY BUT MAKE CERTAIN THEY KNOW PERSONALLY EVERYONE THEY ARE FRIENDS WITH ONLINE. NO STRANGERS ALLOWED!
  • Social media “friends” are not always who they say they are
  • Someone indicating that “she” is a “12-year-old girl” could in reality be a 40-year-old man
KEEP THE COMPUTER WHERE EVERYONE SEES THE SCREEN. NO HIDDEN SCREENS!
  • Never allow a computer with internet access in your child’s bedroom
KEEP PERSONAL INFORMATION PRIVATE. NO PERSONAL POSTING!
  • Your name
  • Age
  • Phone number
  • Address
  • Friend’s or family names
  • Your school name
  • Any information that tells who you are or where you can be found (including pictures)
  • Make usernames generic and anonymous
REPORT STRANGERS WHO SOLICIT MEETINGS WITH ANY CHILD.
  • National Center for Missing and Exploited Children 1-800-843-5678 Teach your child how to recognize and avoid predators
  • Responsible adults do not pursue relationships with minors
CHILDREN SHOULD:
  • Be good cyber citizens
  • Know how to exit an inappropriate website
  • Remember that not everything you read online may be true
INFORMATIONAL VIDEOS AND RESOURCES
Click here to see the Technology Integration Scope and Sequence
Click here to see the Ipad Rules of the Road
Click here to see the Macbook Rules of the Road

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