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Technology at PES
Peterborough Elementary School understands the importance of integrating technology into the curriculum wherever possible and appropriate.
Our students develop positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, and productivity. They use technology tools to enhance learning, to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences, and to promote creativity.
Peterborough Elementary School is fully networked and maintains an integrated, dual-platform environment. Adaptive technologies are available for students with special needs.
serves as the school's technology coordinator and the school's web site coordinator.
Technology Implementation at PES
PES actively supports the ConVal School District Technology Plan and maintains compliance with the school district's Acceptable Use Policy for elementary schools.
To afford students access to the best that current instructional technology has to offer, each classroom at PES is equipped with at least two computers. Dual-platform classrooms, where instruction employs both PC-based and Macintosh-based hardware and software, exist at most grade levels.
In the lower grades, students become familiar with introductory computer skills and explore basic math, science, and language arts software; students also acquire rudimentary word processing skills by typing in and editing their stories.
In Third and Fourth grades, students use more advanced software and applications; students may also be introduced to Internet research, electronic communication, multimedia presentations, and digital video.
In support of the ISTE NETS initiative and to keep faculty and staff informed about ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to educational technology , e-mail circulars concerning technology applications are regularely distributed throughout the school year.
Network Security
Central to the efforts of the building technology coordinator and the district-wide network coordinators is the issue of network security. Every effort is made to keep computer assets secure through the use of firewalls, anti-virus software, and by regularly downloading and installing critical updates on all district computers.
Outside users who routinely communicate with accounts at PES are strongly encouraged to follow the advisories of their respective computer platform to help keep the computing environment at PES safe and secure.
Please note that proper protection from information security threats goes beyond merely installing antivirus software when you first set up your computer.
Setting up your computer to receive automatic security updates, updating your anti-virus definitions on a regular basis, using strongly encrypted passwords (e.g. "p1*gh%2L"), and exercising extreme caution with e-mail attachments are a few of the things that you can do to prevent:
1. infecting your home computer,
2. compromising the integrity and security of your files, and
3. potentially passing unsecured information, or an infection (virus, worm, Trojan horse), to users at PES.
As a public service to the users of our website, the sidebar to the right lists the latest security advisories, virus threats and virus removal tools.
For a listing of expanded threats, such as adware, dialers, and spyware, please click here.
Combating E-Mail Abuse, Spam and UCEs
Everyone at PES is encouraged to practice the most responsible use of all computer-related systems. To that purpose, the technology coordinator posts regular e-mail advisories regarding security issues and to recommend best practices against SPAM and UCEs.
Here are some quick tips to cut down on spam:
• Delete spam, don't open it
• Never buy anything advertised on spam
• Don't post your address on a web site without first securing it, e.g. through a Java script
• Do not use the "autofill forms" option in your web browser; deactivate it
• Pay attention to the cookie policy on all the websites you visit; do not allow cookies to be sent to third parties
• If possible, keep personal and work e-mail separate by estbalishing multiple accounts
• If you participate in a newsgroup or chat room, use a separate e-mail address
• Use e-mail filtering and spam-blocking software.
Remember: Following the simple slogan
- Don't Buy • Don't Try • Don't Reply
safeguards the privacy of everyone's personal information, minimizes the risk of virus attacks on the network and individual workstations, and ensures that web resources are not wasted on forwarding chain letters and hoaxes.
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