Frequently Asked Questions
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How will we pay for this new program?
The answer is tied to the expected “life” of the computers we will purchase. We have set a four-year life span for the tablets and expect to pay for them over this time the same way we pay for everything at Wesleyan, through a combination of tuition and gifts. It has been our policy over the years to keep tuition increases at steady, predictable levels to avoid sharp spikes in tuition in any single year. By paying for the tablets over four years, we believe we can continue this strategy. Gifts will also be used to defray the cost of computers if we successfully exceed our other targets for these funds, or if new donors materialize with singular interests in this initiative. Information about tuition for 2011 – 2012 can be found under “Tuition” on the “Admissions” page of the school’s website. Simply click on the Admissions button on the site’s main page. Re-enrollment contracts will be mailed, as usual, in late January for return in mid-February.
Who will own the tablets?
Wesleyan will purchase and own the tablets. Beginning in 5th grade, we plan to issue computers to children for four years or during their remaining time at Wesleyan. When a child graduates or leaves, he/she will return the computer to the school. Every four years, a new generation of tablets will be purchased (hopefully at a lesser price) and distributed to students and faculty.
Who monitors internet safety and security?
The tablets will work through Wesleyan’s network while on campus, and we will have the same security and filters that we use for the desktop computers in our classrooms, offices, labs and libraries. We will receive notification if children go to inappropriate websites (as we do now), and we will follow disciplinary procedures from our “Acceptable Use Policy” as stated in the Wesleyan Family Handbook. Nevertheless, home usage and accountability policies should be established by each family. Wesleyan will help families in this regard by making recommendations on software and bringing in an outside expert to provide suggestions on how to approach this issue.
Why did Wesleyan choose tablets?
Our primary goal was to choose the best computer for classroom use by our teachers and students, regardless of the manufacturer or platform. We investigated multiple makes and models and ultimately decided that the tablet met all of our educational needs. A tablet has a swivel screen that allows it to be used as a receiver of writing like a legal pad. Students will take notes and work problems on the screen. Teachers can observe every child in a class as they work and examples can be immediately transferred from a student’s screen to the SMART Board or to the other tablets in the room. This writing function is what makes tablets more useful for academic applications than laptops, while also providing all the functions of a laptop. Over time, we hope to use less paper and fewer hard copy textbooks as additional side benefits of this program. We will continually research the market of laptops and tablets at each four-year cycle to determine what technology to use in the future. If a different company produces a better product that meets our needs, we are open to making a change. We are committed to providing Wesleyan students with the best computer for their education.
What process did Wesleyan take to make this decision?
As a school community, we have maintained a watchful eye on the implementation of laptop technology in the classroom by our peer schools, dating back to the late 1990’s. During this time, various Wesleyan administrators under the leadership of Assistant Headmaster for Academics, Kathy Benson, have visited numerous one-to-one schools across the country. We learned everything we could about these programs, the benefits, the challenges and whether they met the mission of a school like Wesleyan. After years of consideration and study, this fall the administration recommended this initiative to the Board of Trustees. Following a series of presentations to the Education Committee of the Board, led by Edress Darsey and made up of trustees and non-trustee parents, the Board is convinced this program is a crucial and necessary step for Wesleyan to continue to fulfill and further its mission.
What has Wesleyan done to prepare for this program?
Our high school teachers have had tablets for two years and our middle school teachers for one year, so we are already familiar with them. For the moment at least, we are ahead of the students, but not for long. We fully expect for them to teach us the technology as much as we teach them once the program is implemented beginning this summer.
What if my child’s tablet is lost or stolen?
Insurance will cover lost, stolen or broken computers. Additionally, we will have a pool of loaner tablets available to faculty and students for quick replacement when computers break. We are also expanding our information technology staff to repair computers and manage the program. In our research, we have been surprised with the answers we have received from schools who report the considerable care with which the computers are handled by the children who use them.
How will the Lower School children benefit from this initiative?
All lower school faculty will receive tablets at the start of the 2011 – 2012 school year. While there are currently no plans to introduce tablets in the lower school on a one-to-one basis, in the future, the lower school will be equipped with carts that have a classroom set of tablets. These portable carts will allow lower school teachers and students to enjoy some of the benefits of the one-to-one program within the classroom, but the tablets will remain at school and their use will take place only in classrooms. Additionally, the lower school computer labs and classrooms will receive newer desktop computers as part of an accelerated rotation from the middle and high school labs, and Chapman Library.