Technology Tips for Chapin Parents

Below are some quick links to commonly requested items. The entire list is in alphabetical order from A to Z. Thanks and hope this helps all of you!

  • I is for Internet Safety Overview ... click here
  • K is for Kids In Their Bedrooms ... click here
  • P is for the PowerPoint Presentation by Lynne Schalman 02/10/05 ... click here
  • Info related to the Assembly Room February 10, 2005, parents presentation
  • S is for Suggestions to Parents on Purchasing ... click here ... our #1 suggestion is that the computer should be in a central location in the house, e.g. living room, den; avoid putting the computer in your daughter's bedroom. Please think of the computer in its central location as an opportunity for parent/child communication. A computer in the home is a wonderful place for your daughter to show you stuff or to ask you questions.

Alphabet Soup: Essential Computer Vocabulary for Parents

A is for AppleWorks (no longer available)

A parent can purchase AppleWorks (Mac or PC) by calling Apple at 800-800-2775; the link for the Consumer Store and Appleworks is at www.store.apple.com and choose Apple Software. There are two ways to purchase AppleWorks. You can purchase a boxed copy or you can purchase it in download form. Both options are at the links above.

B is for The Boston Home

On occasion, through e-mail, videoconferencing and volunteer work, we will connect with our friends at the Boston Home, a residency in Dorchester, Massachusetts, for people with long-term physical disabilities, particularly multiple sclerosis. As technology grows at The Chapin School, I hope that we can integrate our computer efforts with community service endeavors in the New York City area. The Boston Home is an organization that I have been connected with since the mid-1990s. In spring 2003, The Chapin School sponsored a fund-raiser for the Boston Home. On June 1, 2003, six Chapin girls and two parents went to Boston to meet our resident friends at the Boston Home and to present them with almost $3,000 of money that we raised. I have already started integrating e-mail pen-pal relationships into the computer program at Chapin. I welcome suggestions from parents of organizations in the New York City area that might be candidates for other technology/community service projects.

B is also for Batteries

Just a point for everyone talking about summer laptop storage and batteries in general: Make sure you calibrate your new batteries (including ones that come with new laptops)! This is a very important point: The chip in the battery needs to know the charged and discharged levels; if it doesn't, you will see drastically reduced battery life. To do this, charge the battery ALL the way up, then run the computer until the battery is completely discharged and goes to sleep. Then charge it up again, and it's ready to go. Ideally this should be done every two months. With a new, properly calibrated battery you can get great runtime on IBooks: real-life around three hours and change. (Justin D'Onofrio, June 4, 2003)

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. Tony Kowalewski ... e-mail is tony AT cheng-tsui.com using the @ symbol instead of AT; Cheng & Tsui Company, 25 West Street, Boston, MA 02111; 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. I am attaching an order form. Your students, teachers and parents might also be interested in the new book on Chinese language and culture by Dr. Sheri Zhang that we are publishing. 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; 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.

F is for Filters

Many Chapin parents have asked for a comparison of filters. Click here for a useful comparison! Here is one for the PC that was recommended by Tudogs.org ... www.ecommsec.com/pf.php

G is for 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.

By the way, our school president from 2002-2003 (initials CD) created the gator graphic that you see on some of the GatorNet Web pages!

I is for Inspiration

This is a unique piece of software for the Mac or PC that allows students to make visual diagrams! You can download a free 30-day fully featured version at www.inspiration.com

I is also for 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.
  • Click here for a summary of information by Lynne Schalman, computer faculty trainer, including the PowerPoint presentation to parents on Tuesday 10/07/03 for Class 7 Parents and on Wednesday 10/22/03 for Class 6 Parents. (This presentation was also repeated several times in 2004-2005.)
  • 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
  • Internet Safety Sites from www.saftsurfincentral.com ... From Robin Sundquist, Executive Director, Safe Surfin' Foundation: "Hello there. Thank you for asking. No problem with reproducing the information below. We are happy that you will be spreading the information in New York!"
  • Keystroke Recorders allow you, as a parent, to see and keep track of everything done on your computer. Here are several links to browse, and I will be glad to talk with you before implementing at home, because this does take parenting and computers to "the next level."
  • One way of proceeding on this without causing the next version of "family feud" is to tell your daughter that you are installing this to protect her and to "be safe" and that you will look through the logs to see her activity if and when there might be any issues of concern.
  • Here are my notes from an Internet Safety Talk at Mohonk ... click here ... this was conducted by 3 District Attorneys from the NYC area, one a Mom from PolyPrep in Brooklyn.
  • I have posted a good deal of other info on my own Summercore Web site including a recent idea from an Independent School shared on a listserv about adding this type of language to the AUP: "While not on the school network, students should remember to represent our school in a manner that is consistent with our school-wide Honor Code, centering on honesty, academic integrity, sportsmanship and stewardship. Students are expected to understand that their actions, while not in school, reflect directly on the entire school community and on each student."

L is for Loaners

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 including the extended loan of a desktop for your daughter.

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.

M is for Microsoft Office

Any student or family wishing to purchase an academic copy of Microsoft Office at a discount price ("Yes, you may, for Windows or Mac; they cost $140-$150 each for schools, teachers or students.") may do so through one of several sources listed below where it says V is for Vendors.

M is also for Memory Stick

These USB devices are about "the size of a thick pen" and can hold 64MB or more of space. One model we have found useful ("comes with a chain for wearing around your neck") is made by EasyDisk, and you can get them at local stores.

click here for a look at the Chapin memory stick
that we will be selling in a few months

P is for PC

Click here for a document on moving files from PC to Mac or Mac to PC, something many Chapin girls need to do several times a week!

S is for Suggestions to Parents about Purchasing

Click here

T is for Typing

We need your help and your support! Please encourage your children to practice typing.

U is for URL

The URL of www.chapin.edu is the public Web site of The Chapin School. The URL of gatornet.chapin.edu contains instructions on how to install GatorNet on your Mac or PC. URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator and is just a fancy way of saying "Web address."

V is for Vendors

  • source 1: Dave Luxem, Sales Executive of the Year 2000 ... Senior Sales Advisor, Zones, Inc. ... Phone: 800-248-0800 X3414 ... Direct: 425-430-3414 ... Fax: 425-251-2414 ... Email: dave.luxem@maczone.com ... Hours: M-F, 7:00-4:00 Pacific ... Web site is www.maczone.com ... or www.zones.com
  • source 2: Paul Varga, Account Manager, Schoolworld Computer Products ... e-mail: pvarga@schoolworld.com ... 375 Woodcliff Dr., Fairport, NY 14450 ... Toll Free - 1-800-554-2991ext. 8629 ... Tel. - 1-585-249-8629 ... Fax - 1-585-249-8630
  • source 3: Jason (computer repair) ... Jason Chin ... Digital Society ... 60 East 10 Street ... New York, NY 10003 ... Tel 212-777-3093 ext 112 ... Fax 212-777-2859
  • Source 4: Apple Computer Store ...103 Prince Street New York, NY 10012 ...(212) 226-3126 Sun: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mon - Wed, Sat: 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thurs, Fri: 9:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m Web link: http://www.apple.com/retail/soho/week/20050918.html
  • ALSO ...CompUSA .... Fifth Avenue and 37th Street, 764-6224 ... 1775 Broadway at 57th Street, 262-9711
  • T is also for Tekserve ...

    We at Chapin have found quality service from TekServe (the old reliable Mac shop) located at 119 West 23 Street in Manhattan. Please call 212.929.3645. Ask for Matthew Cohen (mcohen@tekserve.com). Please mention that you are a Chapin parent, beccause one of the owners is the relative of a Chapin faculty member! The general sales e-mail address is sales@tekserve.com and general service e-mail address is service@tekserve.com

W is for the 2002 Wittenberg Door

Honesty, integrity and personal responsibility are important values at The Chapin School. Please support us in all ways regarding computer honesty, mp3s and appropriate computer usage. Feel free to sign or post a note on our 2002 Wittenberg Door the next time you walk into room 39!

 

Last updated 09.06.07

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