Student Device Program
Student devices allow New Ulm staff and students unique opportunities to personalize the learning experience.
Student Device Program
Student Device Program
New Ulm Public Schools is providing middle and high school students with a Chromebook device to use for learning and collaboration. This device is the property of New Ulm Public Schools. The Chromebook will allow students access to G-Suite for Education, educational web-based tools, as well as many other useful websites. The Chromebook device is an educational tool that is not intended for gaming, social networking or high end computing.
The focus of the 1:1 (1 Chromebook per student) program is to provide a device that meet the needs of today’s students.
The Chromebook 1:1 Program facilitates:
- Instant access to course assignments and resources in and out of school
- Opportunities to create original work and demonstrate learning using technology tools
- Increased feedback from teachers and peers to guide learning
- Increased opportunities to engage in differentiated, individualized and personalized learning
- Enhanced opportunities for group and project based learning
- Improved student workflow through the use of technology tools
- Access to collaborative technologies to work with others locally and globally
- Access to tech tools designed to promote equity in the classroom
- Opportunity to learn and practice digital citizenship
- Increased school to home communication
Student Device Policy Handbook & Insurance
All parents/guardians and students are expected to sign the New Ulm Public School Chromebook Agreement before a Chromebook can be issued to the student. Without the signed agreement, students will not be able to take their Chromebooks out of the school. Each school will have a location for students to check-out/check-in their devices if a signed form is not on file.
Additionally, as part of the 1:1 Chromebook initiative, New Ulm Public Schools is recommending the purchase of accidental damage insurance prior to the deployment of the Chromebook to your child. New Ulm Public Schools will be the sole provider of this insurance, and the coverage will extend from the date of purchase through the end of the current school year. Under this insurance agreement, the Chromebooks are protected against two accidental damage claims per school year per device. Parents/students will be responsible for the repair/replacement costs of any device not covered by our insurance program.
To purchase through Infinite Campus Parent Portal:
- Log in to Parent Portal.
- Click on the Fees tab.
- Click on Accounts.
- Click on the “Optional Payments” item at the bottom.
- For each child, add the “Tech – Chromebook Insurance” item to the cart.
- Checkout.
This insurance policy does not cover for loss of the Chromebook and/or its accessories, cosmetic damage, or damages caused by intentional misuse and abuse. Tampering with and/or taking the unit apart will void all insurance coverage and result in loss of insurance premium and deductible. New Ulm Public Schools will assess the Chromebook damage and repair or replace the device if the damage is determined to be accidental and within the protection guidelines. Parents/ students will be charged for full replacement cost of a device that has been damaged due to intentional misuse or abuse or unexplainable loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you lose your stylus or power adapter, you may purchase a replacement through the Lenovo website. You should only use genuine Lenovo parts with your Chromebook.
Please remember that your device must include a stylus and power adapter when it is turned in at the end of the school year.
Cleaning the computer cover
Wipe it with a lint-free cloth dampened in mild soap and water. Avoid applying liquids directly to the cover.
Cleaning the keyboard
Wipe the keys one by one with a lint-free cloth dampened in mild soap and water. If you wipe several keys at a time, the cloth might hook onto an adjacent key and possibly damage it. Avoid spraying cleaner directly onto the keyboard. To remove any crumbs or dust from beneath the keys, you can use a camera blower with a brush or use cool air from a hair dryer.
Cleaning the computer screen
Scratches, oil, dust, chemicals, and ultraviolet light can affect the performance of your computer screen. Use a dry, soft lint-free cloth to wipe the screen gently. If you see a scratch-like mark on your screen, it might be a stain. Wipe or dust the stain gently with a soft, dry cloth. If the stain remains, moisten a soft, lint-free cloth with water or eyeglass cleaner, but do not apply liquids directly to your computer screen. Ensure that the computer screen is dry before closing it.
Most WiFi connection issues can be resolved by the following procedure:
- Restart your home wifi router and wait for it to completely boot up.
- Restart your Chromebook.
If you are having trouble with web sites loading or extensions working, here are two basic steps that can often help.
- Make sure your Chrome OS is up-to-date.
- Clear the cache and temporary files.
Before turning in your Chromebook, please do the following:
- Fully charge the device. (This will help us check your touchscreen for damage when it is turned in.)
- Remove any protective covers. (You will be receiving the same Chromebook next year, but our storage units are not designed to hold devices with covers.)
- Clean the device. (See the “How do I clean my Chromebook?” FAQ for more information.)
When you turn in your Chromebook, make sure you bring:
- Chromebook
- Stylus (stored in the body of the Chromebook)
- Power adapter
- Power cord
Families are responsible for replacing any lost components, and you will be contacted after turn in to address any missing items.
New Ulm Public Schools is providing wireless internet access for families in need. The priority for district provided hotspots will be based on:
- Students in distance learning and family has no internet.
- Students qualifying for Free/Reduced lunch (approved application on file) and have no/limited internet access, regardless of the learning plan we are in.
- Families who have no internet access for students.
The internet hotspots are for student learning, not family social or entertainment purposes. If a family meets the priority list, they need to contact their school office to register for a hotspot. The hotspots, and the data plan that comes with them, remain the property of New Ulm Public Schools.
Hotspots provide mobile internet access for student learning. We are not able to verify if the location you are at will provide a strong wireless signal for video conferencing using the district assigned hotspot. There are locations in our rural areas where the signal strength may be questionable.
Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your hotspot:
- Be sure to charge your hotspot regularly if you use it unplugged.
- If you do not need to move the hotspot around, you may leave it plugged in.
- For best performance do not use more than two devices at time with the hotspot, and work in close proximity.
- Like a cell phone, the hotspot includes a signal strength indicator in the upper left corner of the screen. You may need to move it to another part of your home if you experience a weak signal.
- If you cannot connect to the hotspot, try turning it off and back on again. Also note that hotspots are limited to eight simultaneous connections. If you connect to the hot spot with a non-school device for testing, be sure to “forget” the “NUPS-HOTSPOT” network or you could max out the connections and accidentally block access to our equipment.