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Internet Safety Resources
Internet Safety ResourcesBelow are four websites with extensive resources that can be used at home to reinforce safe technology use and educate families about current technology trends. Topics range from social media etiquette and privacy settings to establishing healthy lifestyles with screen-time balance.
Have a question or digital dilemma? Here you will find age-appropriate guidelines for your family plus videos and articles to help with the tough conversations. 
NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline. 
FOSI's Good Digital Parenting initiative empowers parents to confidently navigate the online world with their kids.
http://www.connectsafely.org/ConnectSafely.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating users of connected technology about safety, privacy and security in social media. Here you’ll find research-based safety tips, parents’ guidebooks, advice, news and commentary on all aspects of tech use and policy. -
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Instructions
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Instructions
- BYOD network is only available while in one of the district buildings
- Make sure the WiFi adapter is active on the device you are trying to connect
- Connect to "MSD BYOD" WiFi network, when prompted please enter your Methacton username & Password
- Any issues, please contact the Technology Department @ 610-489-5048
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Guidelines
Methacton School District (MSD) is committed to aiding students and staff in creating a 21st century learning environment. Therefore, starting the 2014-2015 school year, the MSD will allow staff and students to use privately owned electronic devices to access the District's wireless network. Connecting to the MSD BYOD network with privately owned electronic devices is a privilege, not a right, and it is not a requirement for any students or staff. Permission to bring and use privately owned devices is contingent upon adherence to BYOD guidelines and the MSD Board Policy 815 - Acceptable Use of Communications and Information Systems. If a privately owned device is used to disrupt the educational environment, in the sole opinion of the MSD, the privileges may be limited or revoked.
Implemented Schools: Students - High School Only; Staff - All buildings.
- Staff, Guest and student use of a privately owned electronic device must support the current instructional and operational activities occurring in the school environment.
- Privately owned electronic devices may include: Wi-Fi enabled Laptops, Tablets, and Mobile Phones.
- Student use of a privately owned electronic device in the classroom will be at the discretion of the classroom teacher and/or administrator. The use of mobile devices could cause a distraction for others; classroom teachers may prohibit, restrict, or regulate use of personally-owned devices when necessary.
- Sound should be muted unless the teacher or administrator grants permission for use of sound for the instructional activities. Staff may permit the use of ear buds or other types of headphones.
- Privately owned electronic devices with camera, video, or audio recording capabilities can be used only for educational use under the authority of the teacher and must not be used to impinge upon the privacy of students and staff. Students and staff may not be electronically captured without the expressed consent of individuals to be captured.
- Students who bring devices to school are responsible to make sure they are charged. The District will consider adding charging stations when necessary.
- Students' privately owned electronic device are expected to access the Internet using the MSD wireless network (SSID: MSD BYOD). Use of cellular carrier services to access the Internet during school hours, such as Verizon and AT&T 3G, 4G, & LTE networks, are not permitted.
- Under no circumstances may a privately owned electronic device be connected to the MSD wired network, via a network cable or any other means.
- The use of any device to illegally collect any data or disrupt networking services is strictly prohibited.
- No MSD owned hardware or software can be installed on a privately owned electronic device.
- Establishing a wireless ad-hoc or peer-to-peer network through the use of a privately owned electronic device or any other wireless device while on school grounds is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to, using a privately owned electronic device as a cabled or wireless hotspot.
- Privately owned electronic device are brought to school at the risk of the device owner and/or guardian. In the event that the device is lost, stolen or damaged, the MSD will not be held responsible for any financial or data loss. Administration's opportunities to investigate lost, stolen or damaged devices are limited.
- Staff and students are responsible for maintaining the security of the privately owned electronic device.
- The privately owned electronic device owner is the only person allowed to use the device.
- The device owner and/or guardian of any student bringing a privately owned electronic device to school will be responsible and held liable for any damages that their device may cause through the use of the MSD wireless network.
- Violation of MSD policies, local, state and/or federal laws while using a personal electronic device on the MSD wireless network will result in appropriate disciplinary and/or legal action as specified in the Student/Parent Handbook, School Board policy, as well as local, state and/or federal law.
- The MSD cannot and will not provide technical assistance to any privately owned electronic device beyond giving advice.
- The MSD reserves the right to confiscate, or retain the privately owned electronic device if there is reason to suspect that the MSD policies or local, state and/or federal laws have been violated.
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Google Apps for Education (GAFE)
Definitions: Methacton School District (MSD); Google Apps for Education (GAFE)
(Click here for a quick overview of GAFE at Methacton and additional Google safety resources)What is Google Apps for Education?
GAFE is a collection of free online applications -- all of which synchronize together and integrate into course materials. These applications do not reside on the computer itself, but are rather exist in the “cloud” and are accessed through a web browser. The benefit of this structure allows flexibility in accessing these resources from any computer or mobile device with Internet access.
GAFE is a special setup of the popular Google Apps, tailored specifically for educational institutions. Student accounts are managed by MSD (and not by Google). Our desire is to have all students in grades 2-12 with access to GAFE.
Why use Google Apps for Education at Methacton?
GAFE provide us with a framework for embedding the overall Mission, Vision and Core Values of the Methacton School District. In alignment with the instructional technology goals of the District Strategic Plan, MSD encourages the use of 21st Century Learning skills and promotes a change in the culture of education, communication and collaboration.Are there advertisements on Google Apps for Education?
No, all advertisements are turned off for schools. Also, Google does not distribute information from education users for use in advertising through its agreement with MSD.
What student information does Google have?
MSD will provide each student with his/her own username and password, which will allow students to access GAFE. Google, through their agreement with MSD, have contracted to provide online data storage and use of GAFE and to keep all data confidential.
What governmental laws are the Methacton School District and Google required to follow?
Student use of GAFE is governed by the District's Acceptable Use Policy (815). The same expectations for acceptable use of technology (as outlined in the student handbook Board Policy 248 and Board Policy 249) apply to GAFE accounts.* The school district is required by CIPA to have technology measures and policies in place that protect students from harmful materials including those that are obscene and pornographic. This means that student Internet access is filtered. Websites containing harmful content from inappropriate sites will be blocked.
* COPPA applies to commercial companies and limits their ability to collect personal information from children under 13. By default, Google advertising is turned off for Apps for Education users. No personal student information is collected for commercial purposes.
* FERPA protects the privacy of student education records and gives parents rights to review student records. Under FERPA, schools may disclose directory information (name, phone, address, grade level, etc.) but parents may request that the school not disclose this information.
* The school will not publish confidential educational records (grades, student ID #, etc.) for public viewing on the Internet.
* The school may publish student work and photos for public viewing but will not publish student last names or other personally identifiable information.
* Parents may request that photos, names and general directory information about their children not be published.
* Parents have the right at any time to investigate the contents of their child’s email and Apps for Education files.
What if we don’t have a computer, how is my child going to get to use it?
The use of MSD GAFE is part of the instructional program and students have opportunities to work in their Google Apps account during the school day. Because MSD GAFE is safe and web based, it can be accessed from any device with a web browser (e.g. computer, laptop, tablet or smart phone). Teachers will make every effort to offer students alternatives if computer availability is limited. Internet access at home may be obtained through programs such as Comcast Internet Essentials.
What if I do not want my student to participate in GAFE?
The MSD will fully honor parental choices with regards to permission for use of GAFE. This means that students will not be able to collaborate and work online with students or teachers. They will still have full access to traditional textbooks and paper materials provided by the teacher.
Parents and/or Guardians can elect not to have their student participate in this program by completing the following form:
Methacton School District Opt Out Parent Request Form. -
YouTube for Schools
What is YouTube for Schools?YouTube for Schools gives us a way to access educational videos from inside our Methacton network. YouTube for Schools gives Methacton the ability to access a broad set of educational videos on YouTube EDU and to select the specific videos that are accessible from within Methacton network.
It is important to note that staff and faculty have access to the full version of YouTube via their Methacton network credentials. Only students will be redirected to YouTube for School.
How do faculty and staff access YouTube for Schools?
Open a browser and go to http://www.youtube.com/education
We also placed a link on our Methacton Online Resources webpage: http://www2.methacton.org
How do students access YouTube for Schools?
Students simply have to open a browser and go to www.youtube.com.
They will automatically be redirected to YouTube for Schools.
Want to learn more?
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ClassLink
In Summer of 2020, Methacton School District moved to a single sign-on platform for accessing all district applications (Discovery education, Noodle Tools, Safe Schools, etc.) and files currently saved on your Y and Z drives. This platform is called Classlink.
The purpose of Classlink is to allow staff and students the ability to sign in only once to their personal launchpad and gain access to applications and files without needing to sign in multiple times. Below are video tutorials describing how to use Classlink.
ClassLink: How to Connect Apps for Single-Sign on
ClassLlink: How to access My Files - Y and Z Drive
