Technology Systems to Support Distance Learning at CNG
In developing our Distance-Learning Plan, CNG researched multiple sources and reviewed recommendations from several leading organizations and agencies, including the U.S. State Department Office of Overseas Schools, the World Virtual School Project, Global Online Academy, and International Schools Services. Our Leadership Team also carefully studied the DLPs of other leading international schools. With regard to the school’s core technological and communications systems, CNG offers the following Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to describe how we will communicate and manage learning in the event this DLP is implemented.
The IT/TechSmartTeam will be available to support teachers, students and parents.
QUESTION ONE: How will CNG communicate with parents, students, and faculty/staff in the event of an extended campus closure?
ANSWER: CNG will continue to use the same channels it employs for normal day-to-day communications with parents, students, and faculty/staff. All of these systems are remotely accessible and will function in an emergency situation. They contain auditing tools that will allow CNG to ensure that all students and parents are receiving important communications. The table below describes these systems:
QUESTION TWO: Are the technology systems utilized in this plan the same as those used during normal school operations?
ANSWER: Yes, CNG’s technology systems are already built on cloud-based systems, including Google GSuite, Google Classroom, and Seesaw. That means these systems will continue to work from anywhere in the world, even during an emergency. CNG’s data is not physically hosted on the school’s network, which means we can continue to use our systems during a crisis, even if buildings are damaged or our campus is inaccessible. Finally, each of our primary systems has multiple administrators, so they can be managed remotely (from anywhere, online) by more than one person, in the event that a system administrator is out of contact or unavailable.
| Channel | Audience | Description & Access |
|---|---|---|
| faculty, staff, parents, students |
Email will be used for all major communications and announcements, including those from the School Director and division principals. Faculty will also use email to communicate, although they will use other platforms to interact with their students as well. |
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WhatsApp Chat Groups (parents) |
parents |
All notifications to the school community related to important health and/or safety issues will be communicated only by the School Director, who serves as the official spokesperson for institutional news and information. |
| Google G Suite | students across all divisions |
Google GSuite (including Gmail, Docs, Classroom, Hangouts, Meet, etc.) will continue to be the platform used by most teachers. For video conferencing in small or large groups, we will use Google Meet. |
| Seesaw | PS Students |
PS teachers and students will use Seesaw and other apps they are familiar with |
| Google Classroom | ES, MS, and HS Students |
ES, MS, & HS teachers and students will use their Google Classroom for sharing and assessing assignments as well as general communication for the whole class. |
| Skyward | parents |
The Skyward portal for parents, which can be accessed from CNG’s public website. |
| Public Website | general public |
CNG will maintain general information on its closure status for the public at www.cng.edu |
QUESTION THREE: How will CNG ensure that students have access to these systems from off-campus?
ANSWER: PS and ES students will need to utilize devices from home, while MS and HS students should take their laptops home every night. In the event that campus closure seems likely, teachers would attempt to ensure all students in grades 6 through 12 bring their devices and chargers home. Also, most of our technology tools are not device-specific, which means students will be able to access learning through parental devices, phones, etc.
QUESTION FOUR: How can I request IT Tech. Support in the case I need it?
ANSWER: The IT Department will be available to support teachers, students and parents.
| Faculty/Staff |
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| Students |
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| Parents |
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Note: Special acknowledgement to the American School in Japan (ASIJ – Tokyo) and Shanghai American School (SAS – China) for generously sharing their DLP foundational documents and learnings, which helped inform CNG’s base plan.
Family Suggested Technology Purchases
(Recommendations by Division)
| PRIMARY SCHOOL | Tablet, iPad, Chromebook, or Laptop based on comfort level and use by the student. The decision would be based on what you know about your child. |
|---|---|
| ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | Minimum of a Chromebook; but we have found Laptops work best. (See Laptop specifications below.) |
| MIDDLE SCHOOL | Laptop (required for all students on campus) - see Laptop specifications below |
| HIGH SCHOOL | Laptop (required for all students on campus) - see Laptop specifications below |
Specification requirements for Laptops (Mac and Windows both supported).
The following are the minimum requirements that will guarantee the functionality for students to participate successfully in this educational program.
| BYOL - Laptop recommendation specs | |
|---|---|
| Type | Laptop (Windows or Mac) |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 8th generation or superior |
| RAM | 8GB or superior |
| Hard Drive | 256GB or higher (recommended solid state disk (SSD)) |
| Screen Resolution | Full HD |
| Operative System | Windows 10 / Mac OS 10.15 or superior |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, HDMI, USB3, USB2, Wi-Fi, Audio in/Audio out, built in microphone and camera |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Software requirements and recommendations
Technology Protocols for Teachers, Students, and Parents