Digital Learning

About Digital Learning

Shawnee Mission is a 1:1 district that supports every elementary student with an iPad and each secondary student with a MacbookAir. The Digital Learning Initiatives provide expanded resources in the classroom and is opening up more options for students to learn. Students and teachers are actively learning together. The district focus is to use technology in the classroom to collect data that drives instruction, provide collaborative learning spaces online, empower students to create their own products and to support communication between the classroom and home. 

Students and families receive the district Responsible Use Agreement for review at the start of each school year via the Online Enrollment Verification in Skyward.  The focus of the Responsible Use Policy is on safe, respectful and responsible use of technology.  The Technology Responsible Use Policies for elementary, middle and high school students as well as related Board of Education Policies may be viewed with the following links:

• Technology Responsible Use Policy for Elementary Students
• Technology Responsible Use Policy for Elementary Students, Spanish
• Technology Responsible Use Policy for Middle and High School Students
• Technology Responsible Use Policy for Middle and High School Students, Spanish
• Board Policy IIBF Acceptable Use Guidelines
• Board Policy IIBGC Staff Online Activities
• Board Policy IIBGA Children's Internet Protection Act
• District CIPA Plan

As part of Shawnee Mission School District's effort to provide students with effective and personalized learning opportunities, a variety of web-based sites and apps that are operated by third party services will be integrated into curriculum and learning.

In order for our students to use these tools, basic student information must be provided to the third parties. Under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), website and application operators must notify parents and obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting this information from children under 13 years of age. In addition, under this law, schools are permitted to consent to the collection of this information on behalf of its students. This eliminates the need for individual parental consent given directly to each website or app operator.

For additional information regarding COPPA, please visit Protecting your Child's Privacy Online.  

A list of the possible applications to be used in our classrooms, with links to their privacy policies can be obtained by clicking on the following link. Approved iOS and OS applications.

• Set a clear space for studying and device use in a main room in the home. 
• Monitor student technology use at home. Click Here for more ideas to monitor technology. 
• Define academic screen time vs entertainment screen time. 
• Charge and store devices in a central location in the home. 
• Encourage a healthy balance of technology use at home. 
• Preview programs, games and apps before allowing your child to view or play with them. Organizations such as Common Sense Media can help you determine what's appropriate. Better yet, watch, play or use them with your child.
• Seek out interactive options that engage your child, rather than those that just require pushing and swiping or staring at the screen.
• Use ScreenGuide to manage your child’s school-issued iPad after school and at home. For more information, please contact your school principal.
• On personal devices and school iPads, use parental controls to block or filter internet content. For more information check out Apple’s resource page here.
• Make sure your child is close by during screen time so that you can supervise his or her activities.
• Ask your child regularly what programs, games and apps he or she has played with during the day.
• When watching programming with your child, discuss what you're watching and educate him or her about advertising and commercials.
• Prioritize unplugged, unstructured playtime.
• Create tech-free zones or times, such as during mealtime or one night a week.
• Discourage use of media entertainment during homework.
• Set and enforce daily or weekly screen time limits and curfews, such as no exposure to devices or screens one hour before bedtime.
• Consider using apps that control the length of time a child can use a device.
• Limit your own screen time.
• Digital Wellbeing Family Guide from Google

• International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) 
  • Guidelines for technology use by educators and students 
• Common Sense Media 
  • Digital citizenship curriculum, tips for parents, information on technology in schools
• Midwest Education Technology Community (METC)
  • Resources for educators and information on digital citizenship
• eSafety for Parents
  • Tips and advice on helping your child have safe and enjoyable experiences online
• Cyberwise
  • Online safety & digital citizenship and literacy info for parents & teachers. CyberWise is the go-to source for BUSY adults who want to help kids use technology
• Net Aware
  • Net Aware brings together the NSPCC's expertise in protecting children and O2's tech know-how, we've got everything you need to help you keep your kids safe.
• Mayo Clinic Screen Time Tips
• American Academy of Pediatrics Family Media Planning Site