Network Usage

HIS together is continuously trying to improve its network environment to be optimized for high transfer speeds and easy access. It is important that users acknowledge each person is responsible for how they use the network including storage servers.

• All users of HIS internet services will refrain from video chatting and texting during the school day. (e.g. Skype, Messages, WeChat, Facetime, MSN Messenger, etc.) unless allowed by a direct authority for academic purposes.
• Refrain from trading/downloading non-academic files over the school’s network.
• Non-academic files (personal photos, music, movies, games, etc.) on the school servers is not allowed.
• The use of personal hotspots or cellular portable routers are not permitted at any time as they interfere with our wireless environment.
• Refrain from any activity such as streaming videos, music, and/or online gaming that require high bandwidth. Instead the user will be conscientious of others and realize bandwidth and network traffic is a shared and valuable resource which requires all users to be respectful of one another at all times.
• During school hours, access only appropriate sites that are deemed acceptable by the teacher.

Use of Personal Devices or Electronics

• In order to model appropriate use, whenever possible, staff should refrain from using personal electronic devices for non-academic use during contact time with students. However students should always seek permission prior to use of personal devices.
• The school reserves the right to temporarily detain any school devices or students' personal devices that are being subjected to inappropriate use.
  Personal devices are only allowed on our school's Guest network. This includes personal laptops, tablets, smartphones, or any other devices that might require wifi (be reminded that personal laptops are not allowed for students - only school issued laptops).
• Staff are required to use a school provided laptop as their main laptop for instructional purposes. These will be the only laptops that are connected to the school “staff” network and services. In an instance where a teacher views their personal device as more suitable for instructional purposes, they may request for this device to be given access to the school “staff” network and services. The schools technology department reserves the right to refuse any personal device access to these services at any time. A waiver may need to be signed insuring that the teacher will abide by all expectations of the user agreement.

Printing

Each campus is well equipped with printer/copiers throughout the buildings. New students receive 50 RMB as an initial allowance and then need to add recharge their accounts as needed. Teachers receive 200 RMB a month and may carry over their balance year to year. All faculty accounts are reset at the top of a school year. Requests for more funds need to be approved by campus admin before Finance or the Tech Department are allowed to assist. Remember to conserve and protect natural resources by only printing when necessary.

Checking Out Tech Resources

HIS has a variety of tech resources that may be checkout through our Tech Department. These include, laptops, DSLR camera equipment, video recorders, and recording equipment. It is important that

• Take responsibility for and report any damages when using all school-owned electronic resources.
• Please keep food and drink away from school-owned electronic equipment.
• Observe the due date for when material should be returned. As many of these are a shared resource, returning them late can affect another person.
• Keep school tech equipment (laptops, cameras, etc.) in a safe place. For students this would be in their locker when not in use and for faculty stowing issued items locked up in their desk or cabinet.
• Double check all parts, such as lens caps, SD cards, and straps are returned with the camera
• Before coming to the Tech office, please delete all footage from cameras and logout of computers securely before turning them in.
• Report any problems noticed to the IT office with equipment returned immediately.
• Students are required to fill out a permission slip that is signed by their parents to check out more expensive cameras from the Tech Pagoda.  These cameras can be checked out for up to three days.

BYOM Laptop Program

General Understanding

Information literacy and technology literacy are essential for success in society. An internet-connected laptop, along with dedicated instruction and supervision, can open up a whole new world of learning and expression for a student. Thus, parents of students entering grade 6 through grade 12 are responsible to provide a recent model Apple Macbook laptop for dedicated use by their student at school on a daily basis (see below for acceptable models and recommended “hard disc” size). (Grade 5 students use a school-owned laptop during the school day. This laptop remains at the school.) Parents, of course, have veto power over laptop usage when the laptop is not at school.

Warranties,Damages, and Repairs

• The user is responsible for providing oversight and care for their laptop
• The school provides a basic level of care and maintenance for MacBooks.  If a student requests HIS's assistance with a repair to fix or replace parts, this voids the current Apple warranty and ability to purchase Apple Care for the laptop in the future.  Parents must sign a permission form before the repair can take place and HIS bears no responsibility for loss of warranty.
• Laptops should always be in good working order – security, cleanliness and usability. Any known damage is to be reported to the Technical Support Staff immediately for repairs.
• The school maintains Apple’s warranties on all HIS devices including faculty laptops and exclusively oversees all repairs, whether accidental or due to defective parts.
• The school will cover all costs for repair and labor on HIS-issued devices for issues that would normally be covered under Apple’s factory warranty or AppleCare.  Students are responsible for all repairs for their laptop.
• The faculty member bears all responsibility for any damage, loss or theft of the school issued laptop and is responsible for paying the full cost of repairs or replacement, regardless of who was at fault.
• A loaner may be issued to the user while the laptop is being repaired. Payment for any repairs, that the user is responsible for, must be paid prior to starting the repairs.

Daily Usage and Data Prevention

• The user will engage in ethical, legal, and responsible use of technology.
• The language of the laptop should be set to English during school hours.
• Sound of the laptops should be muted to avoid disruptions during class and at school.
• Gaming and/or downloading of torrents are not allowed at anytime on school laptops.
• Parents are encouraged to supervise proper usage of laptops at home.
• The user will recharge the laptop at home each night, ready for the next school day. Only one charger will be issued per user and extra chargers will not be loaned. Users may leave their laptops for charging at the IT Help Desk as needed.
• Students should safely store their issued laptop in their locked locker or carry it in their bag for safety and protection. It should never be laying around unattended to while on campus.
• The user is responsible for backing up of data at all times. OneDrive through Office365 is provided to all users for easy and unlimited storage. A personal external hard-drive is also recommended.
• In the event of hard drive failure, accidental deletion of files, theft or loss, HIS bears no responsibility for the lost data and offers no compensation or insurance for data recovery.

Administrative Rights and Access

• Faculty and students in Grades 9-12 have full administrative rights to their laptops. All other laptops will have restricted user rights.
• The laptop is in the care of the user for educational use regardless if at school or elsewhere.
• All laptops are subject to remote access while on our school network by IT Support Staff for purposes of helpdesk support. User will be notified prior to access. Teachers and admin will be allowed to monitor conduct of students through remote access.
• Passwords are to be used for personal and system-wide security. They are meant to be kept private and should be changed frequently. IT Support Department reserves the right to know user’s passwords for necessary access and/or assistance.
• Students in Grades 6-8 are restricted from downloading software or performing upgrades. This is intentional to maintain consistency throughout our system of schools and insure optimal quality. Alternatively, Grades 6-8 users may only install software via the HIS Self Service. Only school-approved and legally obtained software will be placed in the Service.  Requests for what is available in the Kiosk may be formally requested through the Tech Department for approval.
• Updates for the system as well as applications will be pushed to the users device remotely.
• Upgrades, modifications or installation of operating systems are prohibited (including dual boot unless authorized and installed by the Tech Department).
• Users are not permitted to open, change or tamper with any parts on the school’s laptop.
• The school reserves the right to remove inappropriate files, unauthorized user accounts or applications, without the consent of the user.
  Personal VPN’s are not allowed to be used during school hours. Instead the school provides a VPN network for all to use to for necessary access. Personal VPN’s degrade our network access and bandwidth while creating other technical complications for the user.*

 

Expectations of Norms and Behaviors for Our Community

 

• What does it mean to be a good and safe digital citizen? Respect Myself. I will show respect for myself through my actions. I will select online names that are appropriate; I will consider the information and images that I post online. I will consider what personal information about my life, experiences, experimentation or relationships I post. I will not be obscene. I recognize that personal information posted online is both public and permanent and could tarnish ones’ digital reputation.
• Protect Myself. I will ensure that the information, images and materials I post online will not put me at risk. I will not publish my personal details, contact details, or a schedule of my activities. I will report any attacks or inappropriate behavior directed at me. I will protect passwords, accounts, and resources.
• Respect Others. I will not use electronic mediums to spam, flame, bully, harass, or stalk other people. I will show respect for other people in my choice of websites. I will not visit sites that are degrading, pornographic, racist or inappropriate. I will not abuse my rights of access and I will not enter other people’s private spaces or areas. I understand that school resources are for learning purposes alone. I will not open, copy, change, delete or damage others information without their permission.
• Protect Others. I will protect others by reporting abuse, not forwarding inappropriate materials or communications; and by not visiting sites that are degrading, pornographic, racist or inappropriate.
• Respect Intellectual Property. I will request permission to use resources. I will suitably cite any and all use of websites, books, media, etc. I will validate information.
• Protect Intellectual Property. I will request to use the software and media others produce. I will use free and open source alternatives rather than pirating software. I will purchase, license and register all software. I will purchase my music and media, and refrain from distributing these in a manner that violates their licenses. I will act with integrity.

Consequences of Misuse

Inappropriate use of HIS resources (including but not limited to items discussed above) will have violated HIS’ Technology Responsible Use Agreement. Student consequences are outlined in the Upper School Student Handbook.  For faculty, this will be dealt with on a case by case basis with administration’s involvement.