What’s eLearn?

eLearn is the Broken Bow Public School’s “Technology-Infused Learning” initiative. Students in schools that offer this kind of program receive a laptop computer for their use throughout the school year. The laptop remains in their possession 24/7, whether they are at school or not, a concept often described as “anywhere anytime learning.” Class participation at school requires all students in the class to have a school-issued laptop, and instructors are trained to use teaching methods that make extensive use of them. Students have a sense of personal ownership of the laptop, unlike the computers in classrooms and computer labs at school. In the Broken Bow Public Schools, Juniors and Seniors (and a few Sophomores who participate in Junior/Senior-level classes) participate in the eLearn program.

Technology-Infused Learning goes far beyond the mere issuance of a laptop computer to students, however. The laptop is only a tool to access an enlarged and revitalized world of learning. Students are expected to take more personal responsibility for their learning process, much as they will need to do when they attend college. Along with the laptop computers, students are provided with a rich environment for interaction with other students, instructors, information sources and learning scenarios such as discussion groups, blogs, journals, wikis, and collaborative photo and document libraries that are only available on the Internet’s World Wide Web.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: As a Junior or Senior at BBPS, do I have to participate in eLearn?

A: Yes, participation is mandatory. Teachers prepare daily lesson plans that assume all students will have a laptop with them in class each day.

Q: I already have a laptop computer of my own. Can I use it instead of one of the school-issued laptops?

A: Sorry, but no. In order to use the software provided by the District, the computer must be able to connect to our secured network, receive software updates, and be monitored. The District cannot support these needs across a wide variety of brands of laptops, nor can we guarantee reasonable assurances that their use is safe for students and sufficiently protected against theft. Students can bring personal laptops to school and connect to the Internet only, just as they would in any “WiFi Café”, but that’s insufficient for participation in class activities.

Q: Is there a fee for participating in eLearn?

A: Yes, there is a nominal fee of $25 per laptop per year. If this is a financial hardship for you, please contact Mr. Kujath, High School Principal.

Q: What if it stops working?

A: Bring it to Mrs. Hansen (High School Helpdesk Office at the east end of the High School’s north hallway) or Mr. Ingram (Technology Coordinator’s Office at the west end of the High School’s north hallway). DO NOT attempt to fix it yourself, and DO NOT take it to any other repair provider. The laptops are under contract with Lenovo Service for all repair issues.

Q: What if it gets damaged?

A: Take it to the High School Office immediately. Our service contract with Lenovo pays for all accidental damage. It does not cover malicious damage. It may cease to cover a repeated pattern of accidental damage that suggests the laptop is not being cared for properly. Whether the damage was accidental or malicious is determined by the High School office. The laptop will be sent to Lenovo for repairs (about a week) and the student will be issued a loaner laptop in the meantime.

Q: What if it gets stolen?

A: Report it to the High School Office immediately. The laptops have special software installed that allows CompuTrace (an Internet company) to determine its geographic location as soon as it is turned on again, and send the police to that location to recover it.

Q: Should I insure it myself?

A: It’s a good idea, in case the damage or loss is deemed malicious. Most homeowner insurance policies offer a rider for laptops at very low cost. We recommend it.

Q: Do I have to have an Internet connection at home?

Not necessarily. You can do more with your laptop at home if you have an Internet connection, but you should be able to do anything required for your classes without it if you’re careful to capture or copy what you need on your laptop before you leave the school building each day. If part of your assignment is to view certain websites, we can install a small application on your laptop that will capture the website’s pages on your laptop for viewing later. Visit the website while you’re at school, and tell the laptop to keep what you visit.

Q: If I have an internet connection at home, can I see all websites including offensive ones?

No. No matter where in the world you connect to the Internet, your web surfing is filtered by the same process that the computers at school use. We are required by several Federal and State laws to protect minors from offensive content such as pornography. While we want to encourage students to have a sense of ownership of “their” laptop, the program is funded with taxpayer dollars for the purpose of education, and accessing such sites is inappropriate.

Q: Do I get an email account with my laptop?

A: No, and free email account sites such as HotMail, gmail and others remain blocked. However, students have direct email and chat connections to their instructors and classmates on the BBPS Angel website. We don’t provide open email accounts to students because of the high levels of spam (unsolicited junk email messages) on the Internet and the significant percentage of them that are offensive, as well as the potential for cyber-bullying.

Q: Does the laptop have a webcam (a video camera)?

A: Yes, but it is permanently disabled because of the recent rise of “sexting”, a form of sending text messages with revealing photographs.

Q: Who should I contact if I have questions about eLearn?

A: Direct technical questions and/or requests to add items to this page to Jim Ingram, Technology Coordinator, at jingram@bbps.org or 872-6377. Direct questions about the eLearn program to Mr. Ken Kujath, Secondary Principal, at kekujat@bbps.org or 872-6441.