Anonymous wrote:The problem is that through the student’s mcps accounts, kids basically have unlimited Google access. Very little is actually blocked. I also think it’s disturbing that they can email or share documents, slides, whatever, with anyone who has an mcps account.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You either do it through your router or get your own computer.
Sure, but if you buy them their own computer, it can't be a chromebook. The problem with a personal chromebook for kids is that you can't apply any parental controls / Family Link settings to their school account (and they have to set up a separate school account to access Zoom/coursework). So once their time runs out or they run into a blocked site on their personal account, they switch to the school account and -- tada! -- unlimited screentime and only some blocking of inappropriate content.
I'm telling my 6th grader that the school can see everything he does on his school account, since that used to be the case. He's not caught on yet but it's only a matter of time.
Also watch for shared Google Slides where kids share messages, memes, videos, etc.
No chrome books, agree. We have parental controls on all the computers kids use. Its nice as they have to ask for time every time.
This. We got laptops. Set parental controls through Verizon Fios. Password needed to turn them on and off. Laptops are in the dining room.
Not foolproof, but it’s a start.
We did this also. Agree that it’s not foolproof because my DS also was looking at stuff he wasn’t supposed to.
The MCPS Chromebooks are terrible. Get your kid a laptop that you can put controls on.
We have our own and MCPS. You need to put blocks at the router.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You either do it through your router or get your own computer.
Sure, but if you buy them their own computer, it can't be a chromebook. The problem with a personal chromebook for kids is that you can't apply any parental controls / Family Link settings to their school account (and they have to set up a separate school account to access Zoom/coursework). So once their time runs out or they run into a blocked site on their personal account, they switch to the school account and -- tada! -- unlimited screentime and only some blocking of inappropriate content.
I'm telling my 6th grader that the school can see everything he does on his school account, since that used to be the case. He's not caught on yet but it's only a matter of time.
Also watch for shared Google Slides where kids share messages, memes, videos, etc.
No chrome books, agree. We have parental controls on all the computers kids use. Its nice as they have to ask for time every time.
This. We got laptops. Set parental controls through Verizon Fios. Password needed to turn them on and off. Laptops are in the dining room.
Not foolproof, but it’s a start.
We did this also. Agree that it’s not foolproof because my DS also was looking at stuff he wasn’t supposed to.
The MCPS Chromebooks are terrible. Get your kid a laptop that you can put controls on.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You either do it through your router or get your own computer.
Sure, but if you buy them their own computer, it can't be a chromebook. The problem with a personal chromebook for kids is that you can't apply any parental controls / Family Link settings to their school account (and they have to set up a separate school account to access Zoom/coursework). So once their time runs out or they run into a blocked site on their personal account, they switch to the school account and -- tada! -- unlimited screentime and only some blocking of inappropriate content.
I'm telling my 6th grader that the school can see everything he does on his school account, since that used to be the case. He's not caught on yet but it's only a matter of time.
Also watch for shared Google Slides where kids share messages, memes, videos, etc.
No chrome books, agree. We have parental controls on all the computers kids use. Its nice as they have to ask for time every time.
This. We got laptops. Set parental controls through Verizon Fios. Password needed to turn them on and off. Laptops are in the dining room.
Not foolproof, but it’s a start.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You either do it through your router or get your own computer.
Sure, but if you buy them their own computer, it can't be a chromebook. The problem with a personal chromebook for kids is that you can't apply any parental controls / Family Link settings to their school account (and they have to set up a separate school account to access Zoom/coursework). So once their time runs out or they run into a blocked site on their personal account, they switch to the school account and -- tada! -- unlimited screentime and only some blocking of inappropriate content.
I'm telling my 6th grader that the school can see everything he does on his school account, since that used to be the case. He's not caught on yet but it's only a matter of time.
Also watch for shared Google Slides where kids share messages, memes, videos, etc.
No chrome books, agree. We have parental controls on all the computers kids use. Its nice as they have to ask for time every time.
This. We got laptops. Set parental controls through Verizon Fios. Password needed to turn them on and off. Laptops are in the dining room.
Not foolproof, but it’s a start.
Anonymous wrote:If the sites are really inappropriate, you must lodge a formal complaint with MCPS. They are responsible for blocking porn and similar.
If the things they access are technically allowed by MCPS, just not during instructional time, then you're on your own, OP. I have a 16 and 11 year old who do nothing but surf the web on their school Chromebooks, and all I told them was that I would wreak vengeance on them if they had any grade below an A. If they can get straight As and multitask, they'll have learned an important lesson in life![]()
They have straight As.