Technology
Innovative technology facilitates curiosity, discovery, and collaboration among our students and staff which empower them to succeed. The office of technology maintains the hardware and software necessary to ensure all students have access to technology that meets their individual needs.
Technology Help
For quick advice and information, view answers to our Frequently Asked Questions below. If you need additional assistance, please fill out our Help Desk form.
Acceptable Use Policy
- Purpose of Technology Use
- Opportunities and Risks of Technology
- Privileges and Responsibilities of Technology
- Network Etiquette
- Unacceptable Use
- Disciplinary Action
- Confidentiality
Purpose of Technology Use
The Sycamore Community Unit School District (the “District”) is pleased to offer students access to our computer network as well as the Internet. We are happy to be able to provide this service and believe it offers vast, diverse, and unique resources. Our goal in providing this service is to continue to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, engaged learning, and communication. Students’ use of the District’s computer network will be teacher directed and for academic-related assignments only.
Opportunities and Risks of Technology
Internet access will enable the exploration of thousands of libraries, databases, museums, and other sources of information around the world. Families should be aware that some material accessible via the Internet may contain items that are illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or potentially offensive. While the purpose of school use of Internet resources is constructive educational goals, students may still find ways to access inappropriate materials. We believe that the benefits of Internet access in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration far exceed the disadvantages. Ultimately, parents and guardians are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their students should follow when using media and information sources. Therefore, we respect each family’s right to decide whether or not to allow their student(s) access to the Internet.
Even though the District uses robust filtering software to keep students from accessing unauthorized and inappropriate sites, no filter is guaranteed to be error free or totally dependable. Among other matters, the District is not liable or responsible for:
- Any information that may be lost, damaged, or unavailable due to technical or other difficulties;
- The accuracy or appropriateness of any information that is retrieved through technology;
- Breaches of confidentiality;
- Defamatory material; or
- The consequences that may come from a student’s failure to follow District policies and procedures governing the use of technology.
Privileges and Responsibilities of Technology
The District promotes the use of computers in a manner which is responsible, legal and appropriate. Use of the District’s network is a privilege. Failure to adhere to this Technology Acceptable Use Policy will result in the revocation of access privileges, disciplinary action, and/or appropriate legal action. Should a user’s privileges be revoked, there shall be no obligation to provide a subsequent opportunity for access to the District’s network.
Students are responsible for appropriate behavior on the District’s network just as they are in a classroom or on a school playground. The user is personally responsible for his/her actions in accessing and utilizing the District’s computer resources. Users are advised never to access, save, print, or send anything that they would not want parents/guardians and teachers to see or read. Network storage areas may be treated like school lockers. Network administrators may review communications and files to maintain system integrity and to ensure that the network is being used responsibly.
Network Etiquette
Network users are expected to abide by the generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Be polite and non abusive in your messages to others;
- Use appropriate language. Do not swear or use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language;
- Do not reveal personal information of others, including addresses or telephone numbers;
- Do not use the network in any way that would disrupt its use by other users;
- Adhere to the rules of copyright law and assume that all software is copyrighted (unless it is labeled“freeware” or “public domain”);
- Adhere to the licensing agreements governing the use of shareware;
- Be responsible at all times for the proper use of access privileges and for complying with all required system security identification codes including not sharing such codes;
- Close any site (URL) that has inappropriate material. Contact or report the site to a lab supervisor or teacher, and do not share such sites with other users;
- Respect the right of others to use equipment and therefore do not use it for non-school activities; and
- Protect the privacy of other users and the integrity of the network by avoiding misuse of passwords and others’ files, equipment and programs.
Unacceptable Use
Users are responsible for their actions and activities involving the network. Network users will not:
- Use offensive, obscene, inflammatory or defamatory speech;
- Harass other users;
- Use the account or password of another user;
- Misrepresent themselves or others;
- Violate the rights of others including their privacy;
- Access, submit, post, publish, download or display any defamatory, intentionally inaccurate, abusive, obscene, profane, sexual, threatening, racially offensive, harassing, or illegal material;
- Post material authored or created by another without his/her consent;
- Post anonymous messages;
- Use the network for commercial or private advertising or for the sale or purchase of materials for personal use;
- Download unauthorized software programs or files: including but not limited to the following types: exe, zip, mp3, mpeg, avi, streaming audio, etc.;
- Wastefully use network resources such as file space;
- Gain unauthorized access to resources or entities;
- Use the network for private financial or commercial gain;
- Vandalize data, programs, and/or networks;
- Damage technology hardware and/or software;
- Spread computer viruses;
- Use the network for any illegal activity, including violation of copyright or other contracts, or transmitting any material in violation of any federal or state regulation;
- Reveal their personal address or telephone number or those of others; and
- Use the network while access privileges are suspended or revoked.
- Use software, hardware or any other means to bypass our web filter, firewall or any other security protocols.
Disciplinary Action
Confidentiality
Network users must recognize that there is no assurance of confidentiality with respect to access to transmissions and files by persons outside or from persons inside the District. Also, the District reserves the right to log technology use, to monitor file server space utilization by users, and to examine users’ files and materials as needed. Therefore, users cannot expect absolute privacy from District personnel as to their use of technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
Infinite Campus
- What is the Infinite Campus Portal?
- How do I create an Infinite Campus account?
- How do I login to the Portal?
- I forgot my Portal username or password. How do I reset it?
- I'm getting an error message saying I don't have an active enrollment with the District. What's wrong?
What is the Infinite Campus Portal?
Infinite Campus is a tool that allows students and families to check student assignments and grades, and review information such as attendance and class schedules. Infinite Campus Parent Portal allows families to see all of their students' information in one location. Infinite Campus Student Portal allows each student to see their own information.
How do I create an Infinite Campus account?
After completing registration for their student, families are sent a welcome letter with an activation key to create their account. To request an additional activation key for another parent, please contact our Help Desk.
Student accounts are created automatically using their student ID.
How do I login to the Portal?
I forgot my Portal username or password. How do I reset it?
On the login screen, click either "Forgot Password?" or "Forgot Username?" You will receive an email with further instructions to the security email address you have on file with Infinite Campus. If you do not receive the email, check your spam folder, then contact our Help Desk.
To check or change the security email address you have on file with Infinite Campus, log into the Infinite Campus Portal, click on the person icon at the top right, click "Settings," then click "Account Settings." You will see your "Account Security Email" and update it on this page if necessary.
I'm getting an error message saying I don't have an active enrollment with the District. What's wrong?
Most often, this error message occurs when a student tries logging into the Infinite Campus Parent Portal or a parent tries logging into the Infinite Campus Student Portal. The error message reads:
"Welcome to Campus [Parent/Student]! There is no data to display for this tool because you do not have a student with an active enrollment in this district. Please contact the district for more information. Click below if you wish to log in to Campus [Student/Parent] instead."
Navigate to the correct login page, then try logging in with your information.
- What is the G Suite for Education?
- What applications are included in the G Suite for Education?
- What can students do with G Suite for Education?
- What if my student doesn't have a computer? How will my student be able to use the G Suite for Education?
- Can I view what my student is doing in the G Suite for Education? Is there a parent view?
- How does the District handle privacy?
- My student already has their own Google account. Why can't they use their own?
- I tried to email my student. Why didn't they receive it?
- How do students change their Google passwords? Every time my student tries, they get sent to the school website.
What is the G Suite for Education?
G Suite for Education allows our students and staff to store files, communicate, and collaborate on spreadsheets, documents, and presentations. G Suite for Education takes tools many of us are familiar with, such as those in Microsoft Office, and enhances them by allowing for real time editing, collaboration, and anywhere access within its secure online environment.
G Suite for Education provides students with easy access to their documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, and provides anytime (including over breaks), anywhere access both at home and at school. G Suite for Education works on all types of computers, and supports popular file formats. Files are always accessible and backed up online.
What applications are included in the G Suite for Education?
The most popular G Suite for Education applications include the following:
- Calendar | Online calendar to help keep track of schedules.
- Classroom | Application for creating, sharing, collaborating, and grading assignments.
- Docs | Word processing application similar to Microsoft Word for creating, editing, and collaborating on documents. Multiple people can work on the same document.
- Drive | This is where files are saved. This allows for the files to be accessed from any location on any device.
- Forms | Application to create and analyze surveys.
- Mail | Web-based email program. Often called Gmail.
- Sheets | Application for creating spreadsheets similar to Microsoft Excel.
- Slides | Application for creating presentations similar to Microsoft Powerpoint.
What can students do with G Suite for Education?
G Suite for Education provides all students with on-demand access to their documents, spreadsheets, and presentations within their Google Drive. They can access their work any time and on any device. Students can collaborate with their peers and their teacher in real time, and can even turn in assignments online simply by sharing the file in Google Docs, by emailing it to the instructor or by submitting via Google Classroom if the student’s teacher utilizes that tool.
What if my student doesn't have a computer? How will my student be able to use the G Suite for Education?
Students have many opportunities throughout the school day to work with their G Suite account. Also, because G Suite for Education is safe and web-based, it can be accessed from any device, including cell phones and public computers. The use of G Suite for Education does not require students or families to have their own computer or any other personal device.
Can I view what my student is doing in the G Suite for Education? Is there a parent view?
How does the District handle privacy?
Sycamore Community School DIstrict 427 is responsible for safeguarding the confidentiality of student information. We have contracted with Google to provide access to G Suite for Education to our users (students and staff) in a closed environment. G Suite for Education is governed by a detailed privacy policy and security measures that have been reviewed and approved by the District. Under our Terms of Service Agreement with Google, they are obligated to comply with FERPA regulations. In addition, all information contained or shared within the District’s G Suite for Education is subject to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request.
Students should keep the following things in mind when using the Sycamore Community School District 427 G Suite for Education:
- Never share your G Suite for Education password.
- Using G Suite for Education outside of school is just like being in school. Students are responsible for following all District guidelines as described in each school’s Student Handbook as well as in the District’s Acceptable Use Policy.
My student already has their own Google account. Why can't they use their own?
I tried to email my student. Why didn't they receive it?
How do students change their Google passwords? Every time my student tries, they get sent to the school website.
Because many of our systems work together, student passwords must be changed while in the District on a Windows computer or by the technology support team. Complete our Help Desk form for assistance.
Web Store and MySchoolBucks
- How do I add money to my student's meal account?
- How do I view my student's current balance and recent purchases?
How do I add money to my student's meal account?
Money must be added through the District's Web Store.
How do I view my student's current balance and recent purchases?
To view your student's balance and food purchases, visit MySchoolBucks. Student food information is available for the past 90 days.
Chromebooks
- My Chromebook is slow, keeps restarting, or freezes. What should I do?
- What should I do if my Chromebook will not turn on?
- My Chromebook needs to be repaired. What should I do?
My Chromebook is slow, keeps restarting, or freezes. What should I do?
We suggest trying the following:
- Restart the machine by completely shutting it down. Press and hold the power button until you see the option to power off. Once it is powered off, wait one minute, and turn it back on. Closing and opening the lid or signing out doesn't clear out the system memory, so they don't do the same thing. Sometimes this needs to be done in between meetings depending on the amount of memory that the meeting uses up.
- Clear the cache of the Chrome browser. You can do that by opening Chrome and copy and pasting this address into the address bar of the browser: chrome://settings/clearBrowserData
- This will take you to a location where you can clear your browsing history.
- Set the Time Range drop-down box at the top to say All Time and make sure all the options are checked. Then press the Clear Data button.
- Turn off extra extensions. Having too many extensions or unauthorized extensions can slow down your Chromebook and will sometimes cause it to continually restart. Go to this site on the Chromebook: chrome://extensions/
- There will be a number of additional programs. Some of them are installed by the school, others were installed by students.
- You can click the blue sliders to turn some of them off. The ones that the district installs are:
- Read&Write for Google Chrome; Screencastify, Securly for Chromebooks, Desmos Test Mode, Savvas Realize Reader and TI-84 Plus CE. Those are installed by the district and cannot be turned off. The rest can be turned off.
- Turn off as many extensions as you can. If that improves performance, you can gradually turn on any extension you use.
- Keep the operating system up-to-date. To do so, click on the settings tray in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Enter the settings using the gear icon. Click on About Chrome OS on the bottom of the left column. Select the Check for updates option. Once the update finishes downloading, click Restart.
- Connect to the internet. A Chromebook relies on having internet access. Some issues are caused by not having a strong enough internet signal. Move your study location closer to the wireless router.
What should I do if my Chromebook will not turn on?
- The Chromebook may be in a state where it hasn’t fully shut down.
- Press and hold the power button for 15-20 seconds and then try powering on.
- The Chromebook may not be charged.
- Plug the Chromebook in, charge for 30 minutes and try powering on.
- The Chromebook may not be charging when it is plugged in.
- Inspect the cord for damage.
- Check the outlet to assure it is properly functioning.
- The Chromebook may have over-charged.
- Unplug from the wall and let it sit overnight prior to trying to power it on.
My Chromebook needs to be repaired. What should I do?
Accidents happen and devices get old. If your Chromebook needs to be repaired, complete our Help Desk form. You will be contacted by someone from the technology office to explain next steps.