HAST Community,
Below are some updates from this month:
NWEA Testing
Over the last two weeks we have begun our Fall NWEA testing. The schedule is different from previous years. In order to avoid burning out students from taking four tests in two days, we have decided to conduct one test a week. For week 1, we have just finished the Reading test. Next week we will begin Math. The following week will be Language Arts and Science. These tests are very important to our school as they give us an indication of where students are at academically and where they struggle. This allows our teachers to provide better one on one support as well as better whole group instruction based upon deficiencies and strengths. The data also gives us an idea of how a student should do on ISTEP. As in previous years, all NWEA testing is conducted on the iPad. Students access the testing site and use guided access to lock their iPads to their web browser.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
During NWEA Testing this week, I found several students to be using using a free VPN (Virtual Private Network) service known as Betternet. A VPN service allows you to connect to a private network to conduct your internet activities. By connecting to one your ip address will register as one hosted on these private networks; therefore, making it hard to trace your activities. All your browsing, downloading, etc. is accessed through this private network. There is no good reason a student needs to have a VPN on your school issued device!
By connecting to a VPN you are:
1. In violation of the Acceptable Use Policy as you are circumventing our web filter.
2. Putting yourself, your home network, as well as your school network at risk. Most free VPN services are located outside of the United States and track your browsing, ip addresses, etc. They then sell this information…possibly to hackers or even terrorists who can steal your identity or gain access to your home and school network.
3. Severely slowing down your Internet Connection. Since you are connecting through a middle man before getting access to the Internet, your speeds will severely decrease.
4. Prone to losing connection. Connections to Free VPN servers are not always solid connections.
5. Joining the ranks of cyber criminals. Free VPNS are often used for cybercrime. As a result, the IP Addresses of free vpn providers are often black listed by many websites.
School Consequences
If you are caught with a VPN service at school on your iPad, you will face the following consequences:
1. Restrictions on your iPad – this means no app store and your VPN app will no longer work as my restrictions disable it. This will be for the semester at the very least. If you remove these restrictions, you will lose your iPad indefinitely.
2. Disciplinary consequences from Mr. Young
Don’t download VPN on your iPads…it’s dangerous…and you will get caught!
iOS 10 Update
Last night iOS10 was released by Apple. This is supposed to be one of the biggest iOS updates ever. I am asking that you refrain from downloading this update at this time until we know more about it .
As with many big updates, there is the possibility of information loss or the loss of communication with our mobile device manager server. This would prevent me from being able to reset your iPad password in the event you get locked out of your iPad or tracing your iPad if it is lost.
Additionally, you will have compatibility issues with certain programs such as pages, keynote, numbers, etc. when you need to submit assignments to teachers or work with classmates.
I know there are often cool new features associated with major iOS updates, I am only asking you to hold up on updating until we have more information and all the bugs are worked out. I am sure Apple will have several updates in the next few weeks to iOS 10 to fix glitches.
