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Technology Home

The logo for Northwest Allen County Schools.

Northwest Allen County Schools strives to provide and support meaningful technology integration and resources that foster pedagogical innovation and best practices built upon an open and collaborative digital learning culture. The district's digital learning & technology initiatives are focused around these four goals:

  1. Elevate Student Learning: Technology integration and resources shall elevate student learning in all academic areas, building life-long learning skills and enlighten digital citizens-competitively preparing our students for the future.
  2. Support Faculty Professional Development: Resources shall be provided to support a professional development culture that nurtures staff learning and understanding of various instructional and administrative technologies and applications that improve production and instruction.
  3. Maintain a Resilient Infrastructure: A resilient infrastructure shall be maintained to support current and future digital and technology needs throughout the district.
  4. Curate an Integrated Technology Support Staff: Technology support staff shall be integrated into the district's digital learning culture-keeping the corporation abreast of changes in technology, maintaining the equipment and infrastructure, and providing the necessary assistance for faculty, staff, and students to meet their educational needs.

DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN

2024-2025 DEVICE PROTECTION PLAN FORM

Northwest Allen County Schools’ optional Device Protection Plan provides full coverage for the first accidental damage claim and offers assistance to families in managing expenses due to accidental damage.

In summary, with the Device Protection Plan:

  • The first break/claim in a school year is fully covered – no additional cost to the family.
  • The second and any additional breaks/claims in the same school year – not fully covered, a bill may be issued to the family.

Without the Device Protection Plan:

  • Any break/claim in a school year is not covered, a bill may be issued to the family.

Note: While NACS purchases parts and repairs all Lenovo-branded devices in-house, the district does utilize a contracted repair service, through SecuredTechSolutions, for the Dell-branded devices, which helps reduce or eliminate any bills that might be issued as a result of damage to school-provided computers and Chromebooks. 

Note: Dell-branded student Chromebooks have an attached hard protective shell. This shell MUST REMAIN ON THE DEVICE and should not be removed by students. Families may be billed for damage if the protective shell is removed from the student Chromebook. 

  • DPP Program Enrollment:

    • The cost of the program is an annual, non-refundable fee of $25, per school-issued device. 
      • Coverage for all returning NACS students begins upon receipt of payment and this signed agreement. Coverage ends on August 5, 2025 or upon withdrawal from NACS. If the device remains with the student over summer break, coverage ends at the start of the first day of the new school year.
    • Returning NACS students MUST ENROLL in the program prior to September 1, 2024.
      • After September 1, enrollment will be closed and families will be invoiced for the full cost for any device repairs. 
    • New to NACS students MUST ENROLL within two weeks of the student’s start date.
    • As this is an optional program, fees for students on a free or reduced lunch program are not discounted

    To Enroll:

    1. Submit payment by credit/debit card using RevTrak, the district’s online payment portal, with the DPP option available under “Technology,” or
    2. Return this completed form along with payment by cash or check (payable to the school).

DEVICE CARE & RESPONSIBILITIES

    • Bring my laptop/Chromebook to school fully charged each day.
    • Use my device for school-related purposes during school hours.
    • Strive to be a responsible digital citizen.
    • Encourage others to be good digital citizens.
    • Keep private information private, not sharing my password or identity with anyone other than my parent/guardian.
    • Watch the Software Center for update notifications, keeping the laptop current with Microsoft and other updates sent by the NACS Software Center. With Chromebooks, watch for the Update Arrow in the bottom right corner and restart when prompted.
    • Keep food, drinks, pets, or small children away from the device and charger.
    • Report any damage or theft to school authorities immediately. Do not attempt repairs.
    • Be careful when inserting the AC adapter or USB devices into the correct ports to avoid damage.
    • Watch that air vents stay unblocked so the device does not overheat. Avoid setting it on soft bedding or furniture for long periods when it is on.
    • Protect the device from extreme heat or cold.
    • Ensure that any USB drives are free from viruses before using.

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    • Leave the laptop/Chromebook unattended or unsecured to protect against theft or loss, including while at extra-curricular activities.
    • Place pens, pencils, or anything else on the keyboard and risk damage when the lid is closed.
    • Place the device on a car, on furniture, or on the floor where it might be dropped, crushed, or damaged.
    • Touch the screen with pens, pencils, fingers, etc.
    • Stack items on top of the device, cram it in a locker, or allow it to be crushed in a bag with other items.
    • Damage, change, or tamper with the hardware, software, or settings in any way.
    • Remove or deface labels or stickers placed by the tech department and will report any that are loose.
    • Decorate the device with stickers, writings, or other markings.
    • Clean the device or screen with anything other than a soft, dry anti-static or microfiber cloth and will not use liquids or damp cloths of any kind.
    • Take pictures or record audio/video without the consent of the person(s) in the recording.
    • Install or run any programs not assigned by NACS.
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    • I must follow the NACS Responsible Use Policy at all times.
    • Files saved to the desktop or C: drive are not protected and may be lost. My settings may need to be reset to NACS defaults for troubleshooting or maintenance reasons, so I will save important files to my NACS network locations.
    • There is no expectation of privacy with the NACS laptop and therefore it is always subject to inspection to ensure that it is being used for school purposes only.
    • My Internet access will continue to be filtered and monitored at all times, even when connecting to the Internet away from school.
    • My device will be better protected against damage when kept in the provided carrying case.
    • I can conserve battery life by shutting down the device when not in use, and once it is charged, I should disconnect the adapter from the device and outlet.
    • Closing the lid will put the device into hibernation mode, allowing me to more quickly get logged back in between classes. I should still shut down or restart the laptop at least once a day. (Chromebooks can be restarted less often.)
    • I may be able to borrow a device or charger from the media center to use for the day if I have not brought mine to school fully charged, but disciplinary action will begin after the third time per semester.
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Approval Form:

Teachers, have you found a website, Chrome Extension, and / or Android app you would like your students to be able to use? Fill out the Web 2.0 Approval Form.

Things you must consider when choosing an app or website:

  1. Age Requirements: Typically websites, apps, and extensions cannot be used by children under 13 without parental permission. Seek parent permission when needed.
  2. Do the students need to create an account? Preferably, we like websites and tools that do not require the students to create an account. If the tool requires an account, pay attention to data collection as outlined in #3.
  3. Data Collection: What personally identifiable information (PII) is collected? What do they do with this PII? As a general rule, don't use websites, apps, and extension that collect and share PII.
  4. Will there be exposure to ads? You can't control which ads are delivered, so avoid websites, apps, and extensions that use ads as they may be inappropriate.
  5. Cost: Due to budget constraints, paid apps usually are not approved.

Approved Websites, Apps, and Chrome Extensions:

See below for the list of Approved Websites, Apps, and Chrome Extensions. This list changes periodically, so check back often.As you review the sites that are currently available for classroom use, please also examine any notes associated with the website or tool. It is your responsibility, as the teacher, to read these notes and to follow the account creation procedures outlined on the NACS Web Tool approval sheet.

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    All sites are approved for use ONLY if you follow the notes.