Technology Tips for Chapin Parents

Essential Computer Information for Parents

C is for Chinese Software

Some Chapin parents have asked us for how to buy Ni-Hao Games and Key TIP for their home computers, because we use both software programs in our curriculum. Below are responses from two companies that sell this software.

• From Cheng & Tsui Company: We carry both products. Keytip is $195.00. Ni Hao Games is $196.99 for each level. There is an additional charge for shipping & handling. Please note that we can usually supply the Keytip software in about two weeks. The Ni Hao Games CDs must be imported from Australia, and those can take up to eight weeks for us to get. Cheng & Tsui Company, 25 West Street, Boston, MA 02111;
  Copy and paste this Web address into a new browser window to see their products: http://www.cheng-tsui.com 617.988.2400.
• From Asia Communications: We have a special pricing in place, which is reserved for students and staff of site-licensed institutions like yours. Peter Leimbigler, Ph.D., president and director of R&D, Asia Communications, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada ... e-mail is risingsun AT msn.com using the @ symbol instead of AT; Copy and paste this Web address into a new browser window to view their prodcuts: http://www.cjkware.com; Toll-free phone lines in the U.S. and Canada: Inquiry and order: 1.866.605.7482; Technical support: 1.866.605.7484.

A brief history of GatorNet

We began GatorNet in the summer of 2002. Several years ago, the Gator was chosen at The Chapin School after a four month contest where the students entered names. The Gator was selected for the following reasons:

• The Gator has no known natural enemies (just humans).
• A Gator is born gold and turns green (green and gold school colors).
• A Gator is a very tough competitor, deceivingly strong and fast; it can outrun a horse for 30 yards and is very tenacious.
• The Gator is one of a very small group of animals that has existed since time began. Alligators adjust or adapt to their surroundings just enough to survive and master new challenges. They have not overly adapted, which scientists say leads to extinction.

Inspiration software

This is a unique piece of software for the Mac or PC that allows students to make visual diagrams! To download a free 30-day fully featured version, please copy and paste the following web address into a new browser window: http://www.inspiration.com

Internet Safety

• Click here for the PowerPoint presentation shared at several parent coffees by Lynne Schalman, computer faculty trainer. As the former head of Middle School, Irene McCreery, once said, we do not sanitize what we offer since we are trying to make girls realize that "life is about choices and decisions." This metaphorically is our approach to Internet Safety concerns. Our goal in the Middle School is to EMPOWER girls to be responsible, be aware and be techno-savvy about how to deal with a variety of situations they will encounter on the Web.
• We have an ever-evolving link on our main page for students about Internet safety ... click here
• One relevant quote from Seymour Papert (creator/inventor of Logo): "We have new technologies for learning ... it is much much more appropriate to how you see yourself fitting into the social and cultural fabric ... even television ... is it something being done to you or something you want to appropriate ... "
• Click here for the Web site ("http://www.children-online.org/") of Marje Monroe and Doug Fodeman ("they were wonderful") ... a quote from Doug, used here with his permission:
  "Kids are pushing boundaries on the Internet. Pushing boundaries is what kids routinely do. But on the Internet no one is pushing back."
  A few other thoughts from Mr. Fodeman:
  • "Students under grade 6 should not have their own e-mail or IM accounts. It is OK though for a parent to have an account for younger children to use that is directly under the parent's supervision, i.e., parent has password, monitors what comes in/out of the account etc. I've actually written a couple of "position papers" that explain the reasons behind our recommendations. They are on our Web site. One is titled "Why Most Parents Dislike IM, and if they don't, they should," and the other is IM Doesn't Mean I MUST." -- DF 11/11/06
  • "Club Penguin, as wonderfully cool and fun as it seems, is truly a social networking site designed for younger children. Just last night I had my daughter give me another tour of site since I hadn't been there for several months. There are many public locations where strangers (presumably children) are meeting in groups. During our little tour we were approached several times by the avatars of strangers and asked to be buddies. Being a buddy meant that the person at the other end had free reign to enter our private igloo and interact with us. The risks here should be obvious. While we abhor the scare tactics some Internet educators use, we do want parents to be clearly aware of the potential problems/risks that these sites create for children." -- DF 11/11/06
  • "Parents will protect their children most effectively by keeping the Internet out of their child's bedroom and putting it in a public area of their home, by setting very strict guidelines for using it, and by restricting IM, e-mail, chatting and access to social networking sites. It is that simple. Parents can reduce the negative impact that the Internet has by accelerating children's development, intimacy and loss of self." -- DF 11/11/06
  • "I'm very concerned about kids on the net today. However, I believe strongly in parents approaching this topic as a partnership with their teenagers rather than a mandate unless they have strong suspicions or clear evidence of very unhealthy behavior online. If it comes down to a war of control over access, the kids will win eventually because most parents are clueless about how to control or monitor their teen's activity. Both of us, however, do believe that the social networking sites are no place for kids under 16 years old and 16 may also be too young depending on the teen. We are increasingly learning about many scams, phishing attacks and deceitful behavior directed at MySpace users in addition to the pedophiles who crawl these sites like they're shopping for children. It makes my skin crawl! Facebook will be right behind now that it is officially open to the public." -- DF 12/11/06
• Internet Safety Sites from SafeKids.com ... with reprint permission from Larry Magid, founder of SafeKids.com, Technology Analyst, CBS News Technology Columnist
  • parent guidelines
  • safety guidelines
  • kids' rules
  • risks
  • parent/child contract

Loaning computers

If you and your family do not have a computer at home, please contact help@chapin.edu; this is very important and we would be glad to help out with various plan-B strategies.

L is for Licenses

This important aspect of GatorNet is intended to help promote "computer responsibility" and "appropriate computer conduct" as well as to encourage the girls to grow with computer skills and get involved in helping others with their computer skills. The basic computer license is called the Chapin License and includes 60 minutes of time on GatorNet per day. As students acquire skills and follow certain procedures, they can upgrade to a Fairfax or Stringfellow license. Each license provides the student with more privileges and time on GatorNet.

Typing

We encourage you to help your daughter with her typing.

Last updated 06.24.08

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