The Bishop O’Dowd One to One Laptop Program Program
The One-to-One Laptop Program supports Bishop O'Dowd High School's mission of preparing students to thrive in the 21st century. We seek to make learning more accessible and relevant, to ignite our students' natural desire to learn and to prepare them for college and a rapidly changing world where the information landscape is networked, digital, and overwhelmingly abundant.
This research-based program teaches the proper use of a laptop or tablet device and our software keeps students organized, facilitates access to the world’s information base, and teaches higher-order thinking and research skills. Laptops help engage students of differing interests and learning styles.
Student benefits from the 1:1 laptop program:
-
Provides a critical tool to keep students organized
-
Encourages self-directed, collaborative, and online learning
-
Motivates students to connect to research and unlimited educational resources
-
Provides an essential tool to help students thrive in a new age of digital literacy where writing and reading requires them to express ideas compellingly, navigate and process complex information and find the truth, and arithmetic demands students employ and manipulate vast amounts of data in a meaningful way.
-
Enhances creativity with a rich set of audio, visual and multimedia tools
Parent benefits from the 1:1 laptop program
-
Flexibility to purchase a Toshiba laptop from Bishop O'Dowd with extended warranties that provide on-campus hardware and software technical support and repair along with a yearly technology/ebook fee.
-
Purchase or bring a school approved PC or MacBook laptop and pay a yearly technology/ebook fee. This option requires parents to purchase an extended warranty, which provides off-campus technical support at the responsibility of the student/families.
Bishop O'Dowd's 1:1 laptop program allows students and their families to choose the best computing device that creates and sustains an authentic educational experience to effectively and ethically cope with this new information landscape. It prepares students to take their place in the economies of the 21st century.
Examples of Classroom Use
The 1:1 laptop program revolutionizes the way teachers and students interact. Blackboard is a learning management system (LMS) that all teachers and students use to converse in and out of class. Teachers will post homework, labs, videos, PowerPoint presentations, and other class resources. Students and teachers can interact through blogs, wikis, private journals, and live sessions. Parents have access to their student's assignments and grades, allowing parents to collaborate with teachers.
PowerSchool is the online grading report system all teachers use. Parents and students have complete access to view up-to-the-minute grades. Parents and students see the current grade as well as a breakdown of the grade by assignment. We believe this transparency allows us to help students take responsibility for their academic performance.
Naviance - Family Connection is a service that allows parent and students to partner with the counseling department in career and college planning. Starting in the freshman year, students begin to formulate their interests for life-long planning and learning.
The O'Dowd library is rich with both print and virtual resources. Students have access to the library catalogue and databases from home and on campus. Students also utilize many course specific programs including Audacity, LoggerPro, MathType, and the Microsoft Office Suite. All students receive training on the use of these programs and services during freshman orientation or during the course of the year when classes are in session.
Philosophy
At Bishop O’Dowd High School, we believe that students and adults cannot achieve excellence in learning without the skilled use of a variety of technologies. Thus, the school
-
Provides the training and infrastructure that support state-of –the-art technology for learning and communications.
-
Supports all adults in the use school supplied hardware and software to enhance student and adult learning and communication.
-
Supports each student in the use of their own and the school’s hardware and software to enhance learning and communication.
-
Promotes and measures graduation outcomes that thoroughly prepare students for our current world.
As a result, technology is infused into the curriculum and the life of the Bishop O’Dowd community. Teachers use technology to help students learn, teach, manage grades, and communicate with students and parents. Students use technology for research, composition, creation, presentation, management, and communication. The technology department strives to provide technology that resides in the background of the classroom appearing invisible and working seamlessly for faculty, students.
1:1 Laptop Program FAQ
For new students, what are the options for obtaining a laptop?
New students have two options for participating in the 1:1 Laptop Program.
Option 1: The O'Dowd Laptop Option
Purchase a brand-new HP Spectre XT Pro laptop from Bishop O'Dowd for $1,1,88.00. This includes a 3-year extended warranty, including Accidental Damage Protection.
HP Spectre XT Pro includes:
- Core i5 33117U/1.7GHz Processor
- Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
- 4GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- 13.3" HD BrightView wide HD Display
- HDMI video
- Lithium ion, 4-cell battery for up to 8 hours of life
- Intel® Centrino® Advanced-N 6235 Wireless NIC
- Microsoft Office 2007
- 1280x720 integrated webcam and microphone
Option 2: The Bring Your Own Laptop Option
Bring a new or used PC or Mac of your choice (must meet minimum specifications).
Bring Your Own Laptops must meet the following minimum specifications:
- Mac OS 10.6 (or higher) or
- PC Microsoft Windows 7 or Vista (SP2 or higher)
- 60GB of hard drive free space
- Wireless connectivity (802.11g or higher)
- 2GB Memory
- 32x or 64x Intel-based processor
- Microsoft Office 2003 (or higher)
- Extended service and support warranty
Back to Top
If I am a returning student, can I exchange my current O'Dowd Laptop for a new one, or for a new HP laptop?
Toshiba laptops and Tablet PCs purchased by students (class of 2013 to 2016) are covered under a four year warranty. They can use them until they graduate or they can opt to purchase a new HP Spectre XT Pro.
Back to Top
I am a returning student and I want to purchase the new HP Spectre XT Pro. How much will it cost?
The price of the HP Spectre XT Pro for returning students is $1,188 with a 3-year HP CarePack with ADP warranty or $980.00 with a 1-year standard warranty.
Back to Top
If I am a returning student, can I bring my own laptop?
Returning students can bring in another computer that meets the minimum system requirements of our BYOL program.
Back to Top
What happened to the Pen-Enabled Tablet PCs?
In response to market trends and client feedback, our Tablet PC vendor, Toshiba, has decided to "phase out" their M-780 Tablet PC. While moving forward in our plan to offer families a choice between the O'Dowd laptop option and a BYOL option, Bishop O'Dowd's Technology Department will continue to offer on-site hardware and software support for students who have a Toshiba Pen-Enabled Tablet PC.
Back to Top
What are your plans for tablet/slate support and use in the classroom?
Bishop O'Dowd will continue to be at the forefront of educational technology use. We are developing a faculty-driven cohort to study, test, and explore the educational potential and use of tablet/slate computing devices, such as the Apple iPad and Windows 8 tablets. Any future classroom use of these devices must come from a sound pedagogical, research-backed, informed decision, and not merely as a passing fad. In the meantime, Bishop O'Dowd is making improvements to its network architecture and support framework to accommodate future use of mobile devices for learning.
Back to Top
How do I connect my student's laptop to my home network?
Due to the numerous possible configurations, it is advisable to contact your service provider for assistance.
Back to Top
How do I connect my student's laptop to a home printer?
Most printers come with a software CD with the required drivers and instructions for installation. If the CD is not available, most manufacturers web sites will have the latest software available for download. Follow the manufacturers instructions for installation and configuration.
Back to Top
Can I install home software or hardware applications on my student's laptop?
Yes. You may install other programs on the laptop as long as they do not interfere with the computer for school work. If a problem occurs because of a third party installation of software or hardware not included in the original image (when you first received your laptop), O'Dowd is not liable for loss or corruption of data. In cases when harmful or illegal software is downloaded or installed, O'Dowd will charge a re-image fee of $25.
Back to Top
What warranty comes with the laptops?
HP Spectre XT Pro laptops come with either a three year warranty through HP CarePack Services that includes Accidental Damage Protection or a standard one year standard warranty. HP CarePack Services with ADP covers non-intentional liquid spills in or on the unit, drops, falls, collisions and electrical surges as well as damaged or broken LCD displays. It does not cover theft, loss, normal wear, consumables and intentional acts of damage.
Toshiba laptops (students in the class of 2013-16) have a four year warranty through SystemGuard. The SystemGuard warranty provides warranty services up to the cost of the laptop (not including the cost of the software). SystemGuard protects against accidental damage, and covers things like broken or cracked screens, damage to the hard drive, motherboard, and other essential repairs.
Back to Top
What is not covered under the warranty?
HP CarePack with ADP does not cover theft, loss, normal wear, consumables and intentional acts of damage.
Toshiba SystemGuard Service Plan covers Accidental Damage from Handling (ADH). It does not include protection against normal wear and tear, theft, mysterious disappearance, misplacement, viruses, reckless, abusive, willful or intentional conduct associated with handling and use, cosmetic damage and/or other damage that does not affect the functionality of the device.
Defective power adapters and batteries are covered under HP CarePack and Toshiba SystemGuard. If the power adapter and/or battery has been lost, stolen, or has physical damage, it will not be covered.
If damage to the laptop is recurring, and is discovered to be due to intentional, reckless handling, the parent will be notified and the warranty may become voided. If this happens, parents will be responsible for the cost of repairs.
Back to Top
What can the Tech Support Center fix?
If you choose the O'Dowd Laptop Option, most hardware malfunctions are fixable on-site. The Tech Support Center stocks many of the parts needed to repair the laptops. Occasionally, a part must be ordered. In this case the student may receive an available loaner laptop to use while the repair is being made.
Back to Top
Do you provide loss/theft insurance?
Bishop O'Dowd does not provide loss or theft insurance for student laptops. It is required, however, that electronic device insurance for student laptops be purchased or covered under a homeowner policy.
Worth Ave Group/Student Insurance Partners has provided Bishop O'Dowd families an exclusive discount on electronic device insurance, which protects the laptop against accidental damage, theft, vandalism, and will provide replacement cost coverage. Visit my.worthavegroup.com/bishop for form information.
Back to Top
What do we do if the laptop is lost or stolen?
If your laptop is lost or stolen on campus, you should check with the Technology Support Center immediately to see if anyone has turned it in. You may also be asked to check with the deans and security. If you believe your computer has been permanently lost or stolen, you should file a police report and contact your insurance provider.
If you purchased a Toshiba M780 laptop from Bishop O'Dowd (classes of 2013-2014 only), laptops that are lost or stolen must be immediately reported to the Technology Department. Parents must file a police report and bring a copy to the Technology Support Center (room 209) so that a claim can be filed with the insurance company and the recovery process can begin.
Back to Top
What if I have a problem with my laptop, operating system, or Bishop O'Dowd course-specific software during the school year?
Bishop O'Dowd is one of the few schools in the bay area that offers a fully-staffed technology support center.
If you chose the O'Dowd Laptop Option, repairs are made on-campus by Apple, HP, and Toshiba certified employees and trained student helpers. The Technology Support Center is located in room 209.
If you chose the Bring Your Own Laptop Option, you are responsible for the repair of your laptop. This typically requires you to locate an authorized repair location (such as an Apple Store's Genius Bar or Best Buy's Geek Squad) and take the laptop to that location for repair.
Loaner laptops are available for students free of charge when repairs are required. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that their academic work is not disrupted during the repair of their laptops. Please note that teachers are not expected to adjust their lessons or assignments to accommodate for the repair of the student's laptop computer.
Troubleshooting and technology assistance is also provided in the Technology Training Center in room 124.
Back to Top
What if school is not in session?
The Technology Support Center (room 209) and the Technology Training Center (room 124) is staffed during normal school days, from 8:00am-3:30pm. During the summer, support hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am-12:00pm.
Support is also available by sending an email to techsupport@bishopodowd.org.
Back to Top
Is training for the laptops provided?
Technology training and support is accomplished through an extensive new student orientation, online self-help videos, and skill steps available 24/7 in Blackboard. Support and training is also available at the Technology Training Center in room 124.
New Students will go through a Tech Check before they start at Bishop O'Dowd, to make sure that their computer meets our minimum system requirements and they have access to O'Dowd system software and accounts.
Technology support and training outside the scope of O'Dowd course specific software, eBooks and Internet-based services will not be provided.
Back to Top
What are the student's responsibilities with the laptop?
Students are expected to read and abide by the Bishop O'Dowd High School Technology Policies. This covers acceptable use with respect to all technology resources, including laptop computers, cell phones, and video and audio equipment. The Technology Policies also specifies expectations and acceptable use related to copyright, security, privacy, vandalism/hacking, and use of multi-media devices.
Back to Top
What are my responsibilities as a parent with the laptop?
Parents are also expected to read and abide by the Bishop O'Dowd High School Technology Policies. In addition, parents are expected to partner with the Technology Department to ensure that proper safety and use of the laptops is carried out by the student. Parents are encouraged to contact the Technology Department with any questions and issues related to their student's laptop for use at home or school.
Back to Top
How are the students going to carry the laptops around campus?
Laptops must be carried in a carrying case at all times. We recommend putting the laptops in a soft or sturdy sleeve or a hard case before putting it in their backpacks. Some backpacks contain separate padded sleeves for laptops. A sturdy case can offer protection from being placed in lockers or being jostled while traveling from class to class.
Back to Top
Will there be space available for students to store the laptops during/after school?
When not being carried by the student, laptops must be locked in his or her locker inside the classroom building only. The gym lockers (outside the classroom buildings) are not secure and laptops should never be brought in there or left unattended at any time.
Back to Top
What if my student participates in after school sports?
Students should lock their laptops in their lockers in the classroom building only. If they are attending an after school event, including an away game, the laptop needs to be secured in the classroom building locker before boarding the bus or going to practice. Campus security will let students back into the classroom building when they return from the game if needed. Never bring the laptop on the bus, leave it in the gym, in the locker rooms, on the fields, or in a car in view or in a backpack. It will get stolen.
Back to Top
Will this laptop last all four years?
The average life of a well-maintained laptop is three to four years. Regular care will help your laptop last longer. An important part of owning a laptop is regular updating and maintenance, and with care and upkeep, laptops should last students all four years at Bishop O'Dowd.
Back to Top
Baldeviso,
Ext. 137
Email me
Maeda,
Payawal,
Jackson,
Yang,
Counts,
Rittenbach,
Roche,
