School issues free laptops

SteamWake · 04-16-10, 08:58 AM

With one small catch

Quote:

The system that Lower Merion school officials used to track lost and stolen laptops wound up secretly capturing thousands of images, including photographs of students in their homes, Web sites they visited, and excerpts of their online chats, says a new motion filed in a suit against the district.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20...of_photos.html

August · 04-16-10, 02:42 PM

We're sort of going through the same issue. How do we keep track of laptops issued to students without invading their privacy? So far the solution has been to not allow them to be removed from school property which sort of defeats their purpose.

CaptainHaplo · 04-16-10, 02:50 PM

August - simple answer.

Make them sign for it - stating in the case of loss they are responsible for the cost of the device. Also in the agreement of issuance - note that there are security capabilities built in (you don't have to define them) but note that they will never be activated UNLESS the laptop is reported stolen or lost through a specific process.

If a student doesn't report it and doesn't turn it in - they pay for it. If they report it stolen - you can then activate the security features legally. Such capabilities can be laptop lo-jack, remote video capability, etc.

That way - if the device is EVER activated without it being reported lost or stolen - then the person activating those features is responsible for any privacy violations.

GoldenRivet · 04-16-10, 02:56 PM

one of my student pilots, his school issued laptops to all the students.

He says that it has a camera on it, and a light to indicate when the camera is active... but the camera can only be activated when two conditions are met

1. the laptop is open and turned on with a user logged in

2. during regular class hours.

he says that sometimes... the little light will come on mid class. and its a little awkward sitting there taking notes knowing you are being watched for 10 or 15 seconds.

the students have greatly enjoyed the privilege of having the laptops... at the end of the school year on the last week of school they are returned to the school on various days of the week.

dont return your lap top?

thats fine, but you have to pay a fee which is something on the order of twice the cost of the laptop (thus there is no real benefit in stealing one)

August · 04-16-10, 03:00 PM

We had thought of that Hap but it's getting the students to pay for it that's going to be the big issue here. Most of our students are displaced workers and youngsters right out of HS who barely can afford gas money let alone pay to replace a laptop.

GoldenRivet · 04-16-10, 03:03 PM

build them into the desk and issue everyone zip drives.

easiest solution by far.

krashkart · 04-16-10, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenRivet

he says that sometimes... the little light will come on mid class. and its a little awkward sitting there taking notes knowing you are being watched for 10 or 15 seconds.

That would not go over well with me. I'd politely take the laptop back to the school and give the kid my old one. That's just too far out of line for me. No way.

bookworm_020 · 04-16-10, 11:11 PM

They have been issuing laptop computers here to students in Australia over the last year. Still a few issues to be worked out, but it seems to be going well (so far)

04-16-10, 02:42 PM	#2
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We're sort of going through the same issue. How do we keep track of laptops issued to students without invading their privacy? So far the solution has been to not allow them to be removed from school property which sort of defeats their purpose. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

04-16-10, 02:50 PM	#3
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	August - simple answer. Make them sign for it - stating in the case of loss they are responsible for the cost of the device. Also in the agreement of issuance - note that there are security capabilities built in (you don't have to define them) but note that they will never be activated UNLESS the laptop is reported stolen or lost through a specific process. If a student doesn't report it and doesn't turn it in - they pay for it. If they report it stolen - you can then activate the security features legally. Such capabilities can be laptop lo-jack, remote video capability, etc. That way - if the device is EVER activated without it being reported lost or stolen - then the person activating those features is responsible for any privacy violations. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

04-16-10, 02:56 PM	#4
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	one of my student pilots, his school issued laptops to all the students. He says that it has a camera on it, and a light to indicate when the camera is active... but the camera can only be activated when two conditions are met 1. the laptop is open and turned on with a user logged in 2. during regular class hours. he says that sometimes... the little light will come on mid class. and its a little awkward sitting there taking notes knowing you are being watched for 10 or 15 seconds. the students have greatly enjoyed the privilege of having the laptops... at the end of the school year on the last week of school they are returned to the school on various days of the week. dont return your lap top? thats fine, but you have to pay a fee which is something on the order of twice the cost of the laptop (thus there is no real benefit in stealing one) __________________

04-16-10, 03:00 PM	#5
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	We had thought of that Hap but it's getting the students to pay for it that's going to be the big issue here. Most of our students are displaced workers and youngsters right out of HS who barely can afford gas money let alone pay to replace a laptop. __________________ Flanked by life and the funeral pyre. Putting on a show for you to see.

04-16-10, 03:03 PM	#6
GoldenRivet Subsim Aviator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 8,726 Downloads: 146 Uploads: 0	build them into the desk and issue everyone zip drives. easiest solution by far. __________________

04-16-10, 11:11 PM	#8
bookworm_020 Navy Seal Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sinking ships off the Australian coast Posts: 5,966 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	They have been issuing laptop computers here to students in Australia over the last year. Still a few issues to be worked out, but it seems to be going well (so far) __________________ "There is always one person in any organization who knows whats going on, That person must be fired"