Ipad Policy Thoughts

The main policy areas that I think we need to be concerned with will include:

Ownership of the device

• Does the device belong to the school or the pupil?
• Who pays for it initially?

Damage and Loss

• Will the school carry insurance for the device?
• Will parents be liable to replace it or cover damage?
• Who decides when damage is chargeable?

AppleCare

• Should we purchase AppleCare for the device?

Out-of-school use

• Will students be allowed to take the device out of school?
• Will students be allowed to take the device home?
• Will students be allowed to install software of their own choosing? (Games...)
• Will the school be liable for illicit usage of the device?

Some schools use a probation period, after which the pupil will be allowed to take the device home if they are deemed responsible enough.

Acceptable Use Policy

• Will the school monitor content on the device?
• Will the school monitor email/web surfing?
• Will our existing AUP documents cover a more personal, portable and off-campus device like the iPad?

Some schools take a spot-check approach in which certain pupils' devices will be checked every week. Unacceptable content is dealt with in the usual disciplinary way. If browser history has been wiped, that may be treated as an offence.

Supply of a case or bag

• Should students supply a case?

Storage in School

Schoolbags are often badly abused. Electronic devices will not survive long in such an environment.

• Can we provide secure storage?