Frequently Asked Questions
Why are parents expected to obtain their Chromebook from the school?
All our educational Chromebook are MIL-STD-810 military tests passed for different factors (stress, shock, vibration & temperature) designed for educational and student use. All our devices also have features such as 360 degree convertible and some models also have a USI Pen with 10+ hours of battery life.
We already have a Chromebook or we are looking to buy one outside of school. Can my child bring this in?
If you have not bought a Chromebook yet, we strongly recommend buying through us because of the repair service offer, warranty and guarantees that we can provide. As School Chromebooks are managed by our IT admin team via a management license, outsider devices cannot be brought into school.
Al Salam has developed its Chromebook policy in order to streamline the supply, enrollment, securing, distribution, management, Accidental Damage Protection (Not Insurance) and repair of Chromebooks for all children. The Chromebook models currently approved by the school are:
ACER SPIN 511, ACER SPIN 512, LENOVO 300e, LENOVO 500e, Asus CR11 and Asus CR12 Educational Chromebooks.
As Educational Chromebooks are not locally available in UAE markets, and in order to ensure we are able to provide technical support to student devices, parents are expected to obtain their children’s Chromebook through the school.
Where parents insist on obtaining their device externally, the chosen device must be from our approved models list only. In addition, the device must be eligible for Chrome updates for a minimum of 2 years. This can be checked using the following link. Parent must pay the Google License fee.
Why have you chosen Chromebooks?
Chromebooks are simple, secure and safe devices that students can use to learn, explore, create and collaborate on with their teachers and their peers. We believe Chromebooks can make learning more effective and engaging and will enable our pupils to become well informed, responsible digital citizens and lifelong learners. Chromebooks have an amazing potential to change the way students and teachers interact and learn.
Can we have different models to choose from?
In order to both ensure equity of experience and to achieve the economies of scale with a manufacturer which make this scheme most affordable, we have selected the most appropriate device for students.
Did you look at Windows, iPads, Mac, Linux or Android as alternatives?
Yes, very seriously. We believe that iPads are great tools for consuming media but they are not as good for creating content and allowing our pupils to work collaboratively. Whilst the range of applications available on iPads and Android is vast, many of the resources that teachers currently use in classrooms would not be available. We also looked at traditional Windows, Mac and Linux laptops. Although these devices are indeed more powerful they are also more complex, more expensive and have poorer battery lifetimes. The simplicity of the Chromebook overcomes these barriers so that the focus will be on learning
How do we order the Chromebook?
School offers different Chromebook models with specs that meet the school’s educational requirements and are recommended by Google for Education. For parents who need to purchase a Chromebook, please click order school’s Chromebook at the top of this page
Will students be using their devices all day at school?
No, students will only use devices when the teacher deems them beneficial to teaching and learning. This could be for a small portion of the lesson, e.g. to check their learning using a low stakes quiz, or for longer periods when undertaking extended tasks, e.g. a collaborative piece of extended writing or not at all. The ability to access a device in any lesson as a creative, research and/or formative assessment tool will open up new possibilities for both teachers and students.
Will using Chromebooks be detrimental to handwriting?
Writing is still an important skill and note-taking and extended writing can still be done alone or in combination with technology. The device can become a research tool and doesn’t need to always be a recording tool. Where notes require images, videos and audio, devices and third-party apps can complement handwritten notes. Digital skills, including typing, are also essential skills for students’ next steps and in the workplace. Many students, particularly those with SEND have found the ability to re-write and type to be less constraining. They can also make use of accessibility features such as talk to type and audio notes.
Is it compulsory for my child to own a Chromebook?
Yes, for all students from Year 3 to Year 13. We selected Chromebooks as our choice because of their value, longevity, and compatibility with Google Workspace applications and Google accounts. We believe that a Chromebook supports your child’s learning beyond the classroom and as we have seen more than ever this year, distance/remote learning plays an important role in the educational development of our students. With our digital strategy embedded into our school ethos and curriculum, students and teachers have been making use of all the benefits that working in the cloud has afforded us over the past year.
How are teachers being helped to maximise the potential of Chromebooks?
Over the past years, teachers’ expertise has been growing throughout this time through regular training events and shared professional learning relationships. We have a specialist team of Google Teacher Trainers who are being given additional support and developing their practice so that they can help other teachers they work alongside. We will be continuing to focus on the use of Chromebooks in the regular staff training at our school.
My child already has a different device, such as a laptop or mobile. Can they bring that in instead?
No. These are not be fully compatible with the Google Apps and add-ons that we will be using for teaching and learning. Also, the battery may not last on a single charge, the device may not boot up within 8 seconds, and the device will not be managed by the school. Technicians and teachers will not be able to spend time on lots of different, individual devices.
Can my child put their own content onto the Chromebook (music, video, games)?
Yes, your child should treat the Chromebook as their own when at home. A big part of the success of this scheme will rely on pupils valuing the Chromebook as part of their wider life and therefore taking care of it, charging it and bringing it to school every day. Storage space is provided via the Google domain that the School owns and will be unlimited so pupils can store unlimited files and still have ample space for school-provided apps and content. However, pupils who use the school domain to store personal files will need to remember to move them to a personal account before leaving the school. The device will remain school managed which will mean any non-education apps will need to be approved by the school before installation can occur.
What is the school going to do with the current IT suites?
We will be maintaining our investment in the IT suites which run specialist software including our suites for Media, Graphics design, Technology, Coding and Music. The School recognizes the importance of IT facilities and continues to invest significantly in this area to maintain an infrastructure that allows pupils to access high-quality resources to support their learning. Our Chromebook scheme will allow pupils to access online services in every lesson across their timetable.
What technical support will there be for pupils?
School’s IT Support Service will be able to help resolve many technical issues but one of the major advantages of the Chromebook is that it rarely goes wrong. We are available every school day for pupils to come to with any problems or questions they have. Also we will have a student Digital leadership scheme, and our students will be trained to help others.
What happens if my Chromebook gets damaged?
If you buy this Chromebook from the school it comes with either one year or a 3-year manufacturing warranty and repair service. The warranty will not extend to any repairs or replacement on parts found to be damaged due to negligent or careless use, incorrect maintenance work or work carried out by unauthorized third parties. Full details of the warranty can be found on the vendor web sites. If your device is damaged, please bring it in to be seen by our IT Technicians.
Technical support provided from school which can only be provided if the device is obtained from school:
- Troubleshooting and fixing issues on site by our technical team
- Provide accessories and peripherals whenever needed e.g. student forget charger at home
- Provide a temporary standby device in critical circumstances e.g. an online exam is running or student device malfunction/damage for any reason
- Collecting damaged devices and sending it to the authorized service centre, assure repair and spare parts are genuine, provide a temporary device during the repairing period and collect it back after repair, T&C apply
- All school’s Chromebook comes with Accidental Damage Protection (ADP) Add-on for 3 and 5 years that covers accidental damage, T&C apply
- Managed devices is a requirement for conducting controlled/restricted online assessments and exams
Who owns the Chromebook?
Any Chromebook that is being bought through us will belong to the School until the full payment is received, after receiving the full payment the ownership is transferred to the student. Please contact us at accounting department for installment plan.
Is my child expected to bring their Chromebook in every day?
Yes. It is likely that students will be using the devices on a daily basis and must ensure they bring their Chromebook to school just like they would their exercise books and pencil case. The Chromebook for learning programme is there to provide students with a suitable, working device that can give them access to their schoolwork and resources inside and outside of school.
What about safety on the way to and from School?
Thefts of devices to and from school are very rare and for most schools running a one-one programme have been non-existent. However, it is sensible to reduce the risk of theft through some common-sense measures; pupils should keep their Chromebook in their bag on the way to and from school, both for road safety and crime prevention reasons. This is advisable if travelling by bus or on foot.
What is the School doing to promote Online Safety with the Chromebooks?
School has a very effective web filtering system and all devices attached to our network go through this web filter. School will be actively monitoring students’ Chromebooks while in school. We will be able to look at web filter logs should an issue become apparent. Students are already taught the importance of Online Safety through PSHE, Computer Science lessons, across the wider curriculum and assemblies. We continuously monitoring our systems and planning for more enhanced online security and child protection and giving parent shared control over their children’s devices; cost & charges may apply.
How will inappropriate use of the Chromebook at school be dealt with?
Students, with the support of their parents, will be required to sign up to a set of ‘Chromebook Rules’ which set out some simple rules to make things go smoothly. Some of the rules concern management (e.g. “I will bring the Chromebook to school every day, charged”) and some will be about classroom behaviour (e.g. “I will stop using the Chromebook when my teacher asks me to”), with the overall intention of creating a way of operating that all students, parents and staff understand and agree with.
Upon detection of any abusive or threating behaviour is detected, our school community consoler and child protection officers are automatically notified to take the necessary action and communicate with student and their parent.
Can I set up the Chromebook for use at home?
Connect to your home wifi when prompted just like you would with any other device. Your child can then log in with the username they use at school. They may need to add the email address if it does not appear automatically.
For example, Username: 6789@ascsdubai.ae or 1234@aspasdubai.ae
Password: This will be the same password that your child uses for their School Google for Education account
How do we set up the Chromebooks to print at home?
Please follow this link for instructions on how to print:
https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/7225252?hl=en-GB
Do we need to print work at home?
No. There is no expectation for you to print from home for the school. Staff have been trained on how to use Google Classroom, our virtual learning environment, and other online systems for the submission of work online and most will use this. Some subjects may still require a printout occasionally as evidence for work and the teacher will help the student on that.
How does my child access Third Party Platforms, for example, MathsWatch, ActiveLearn, Kerboodle and other school systems at home?
They can all be accessed through the school managed in built apps on the Chromebooks links on Classroom pages, or bookmarks that students can set up. Many sites will allow students to log in using their school Google account. If the site requires a separate log in this can be saved in the browsers password vault for ease of access.
Are there any tutorials we can access on how to use Chromebooks and Google for Education apps?
Chromebooks use the Chrome Operating System and you can find a lot of support in the playlist below on how to use the Chromebooks and Google Workspace for Education apps such as Docs, Slides, Sheets, Drive and more.
Will I be able to use the device to access apps or websites at home that may have restrictions in school?
No, the device can be used only by the student account. The restrictions applied on school account, will be applicable at home too. For parental peace of mind, we are offering optional shared parent control; which the parent have to pay on yearly subscription basis.
Additional restrictions can be applied through your overall home internet connection by your internet service provider. The settings can usually be found under parent controls.
Will my child’s work be backed up?
Yes. The Chromebook is always backed up, our students have unlimited storage space in the Google Cloud. This is already set up and associated with their School email address.
What happens if my child leaves school?
If you have purchased the device outright the school will be able to de-provision the device for you and it will then be useable with a personal account.
If you have entered a finance agreement with the School, you will have to pay the remaining balance and keep the device, which will then be de-provisioned as described above. You will not be able to access a refund for any monies already paid and the school does not refund/purchase used devices back from parents.
Will my child need their own Google account? If so, how will they be able to install apps?
Your child’s School email account is in fact a Google account and will be used when they are in school. The school will use management software to enable us to distribute apps to any Chromebook registered with it and effectively will ‘gift’ the app to the device. Only apps appropriate for teaching and learning will be distributed.
I’m concerned about my child’s data being stored with Google
The data is the property of the School – Google for Education customers own their own data, not Google. Google offers customers a detailed data processing amendment that describes our commitment to protecting your data: https://www.google.com/intx/en/work/apps/terms/dpa_terms.html
As a school we are following KHDA advice in this area.
Google does store and log information but this data is encrypted in transmission and at rest, at the same time Google have a contract that says they do not share the data. http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/terms/education_terms.html