Parents

Most of the learning resources that students access during school are accessed through our Clever portal. Many of those tools will continue to be available during the summer months.

Using the Chrome Browser, start by navigating to https://clever.com/in/darienps

Alternatively, older students would select Log in with Google. Students enter their full username, which follows the pattern lastnamefirstinitial@darienps.org. (ex: smithj@darienps.org)

Elementary student passwords are unique, but follow the pattern of two words followed by two numbers. (ex: shinyapple24). Older students generate their own passwords.

Accessing Clever resources from a personal iPad requires the installation of the Clever App. 
The application is available for free via the Apple App Store.

Clever Login instructions for multilingual families are available on this page: https://clever.com/learning-at-home/families 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to digital systems designed to complete specific tasks. Your smartphone’s facial recognition, virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri, and social media algorithms all use AI. Generative AI (GenAI) is a newer technology that creates original content, including text, images, video, and music, by learning from existing data. If used appropriately, AI supports digital literacy, learning, and productivity in school and beyond.

AI's purpose in our learning environment is to augment, not replace, the effort put into learning. AI in the classroom can provide personalized support, rapid feedback, and engaging learning experiences tailored to individual needs and progress. With teacher permission, AI may be used to facilitate tasks, but not to complete them, ensuring students develop necessary skills.

Use of approved AI tools is at the teacher's discretion and in alignment with curriculum standards and learning goals. If unsure, students should ask the teacher if using AI is acceptable for any given learning task. It is likely that approved usage may require further documentation from older students. Those students should explain how AI was used when they submit an assignment. Librarians can assist with citation formatting for AI prompts.

 

Typical Appropriate AI Usage		Inappropriate AI Usage
Research Assistance: Gather knowledge and information for a topic, assignment, or assessment.		Submitting AI-Generated Work: Turning in assignments entirely created by AI without disclosure.
Brainstorming: Collect ideas to help start new work.		Plagiarism: Using AI to rephrase existing content without proper citation.
Practice and Revision: Utilizing AI for practice exercises, grammar checks, and feedback.		Misinformation: Relying on unchecked AI-generated information.
Personalize Learning: AI may help you learn at your own pace.		Not Asking Permission: Submitting work without confirming that GenAI is permitted to be used.

 

The appropriate amount of technology use and screen time for children at home varies depending on several factors, including age, the purpose of screen time, and individual circumstances. It's essential to strike a balance between technology use and other aspects of a child's development to promote healthy physical, mental, and social growth. The Mediatrician's Guide by Dr. Michael Rich is a worthwhile read for any parent interested in learning more about strategies for raising children around technology.

School-assigned Chromebooks, if brought home, are filtered for internet content, with large groups of sites unreachable. Please monitor and reflect on your child’s use of technology at home, no matter the device type or owner. There are some general guidelines below that may help families make informed decisions about screen time at home:

Age-Appropriate Limits:

• For children under 2 years old, it is generally recommended to avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family or friends.
• For children aged 2 to 5, limit screen time to one hour per day of high-quality, educational programming. Co-viewing and discussing content with the child can enhance the learning experience.
• For children aged 6 and older, screen time can be extended, but it's important to balance it with other activities like physical play, reading, and social interactions.

Content Matters:

• We believe creative content production is more beneficial than passive consumption. Prioritize educational and age-appropriate content. Look for apps, games, and websites that promote learning, creativity, and collaboration. 

Part 1: Non-Technology Solutions for Technology

Establish Screen-Free Zones:

• Designate specific areas in your home, such as the dining room or bedrooms, as screen-free zones to promote family interactions and healthy sleep habits.
• Do not allow students to take devices to bedrooms at night.

Set a Schedule:

• Create a daily or weekly schedule that includes time for schoolwork, physical activity, social interactions, and screen time.

Monitor Usage:

• Have conversations with your child about screen time. Look at usage monitoring tools together and discuss concerns.
• Make sure other caregivers understand and consistently apply your expectations.
• Limit access to social media, especially for children under the age of 13.

Encourage Outdoor Play:

• There is evidence that excessive screen use leads to issues with eyesight and physical fitness. Physical activity and outdoor play address both of those concerns. Aim for at least one hour of physical activity per day.

Model Healthy Screen Habits:

• Children often model their behavior after adults. Be a positive role model by demonstrating healthy screen habits and limiting your own screen time.

Establish a Family Media Plan

• Common Sense Media and the American Academy of Pediatrics offer ideas and samples of plans for all ages and stages of family life. The Mediatrician's Guide also includes information on shared media agreements.

Engage with Your Child:

•  Whenever possible, co-view or co-play with your child during screen time. Ask questions, discuss content, and use it as an opportunity to bond and learn together.
• Find device-free family time, such as during meals together, book sharing at bedtimes, or family game nights.
• Build open communication so if issues with content or online interactions arise, then your child feels comfortable discussing the problem with you.

Homework and Educational Use:

• For older elementary students, ensure that screen time related to homework or educational activities is productive and focused on learning. Bedrooms are not the ideal location for homework. Set aside a location that gives you good visibility of your child while they are completing homework.

Regular Screen-Free Time:

• Encourage regular breaks from screens to reduce eye strain and promote other activities.

 

Part 2: Technology Solutions for Technology:

Some personal consumer-level device types offer built-in parental controls.

Your home internet provider may offer tools as part of your subscription for monitoring and managing home internet use. It is worth contacting them to find out more. There are three technology strategies that parents might explore to further manage internet access on personal or school devices:

• Router/Network Devices (e.g., Google Mesh, Netgear Smart Parent Controls)

How it works: A small box or router add-on connects to your home network and lets you filter, set time limits, or even “pause” internet access for specific devices. Works for all devices in the house without needing to install extra apps.

Limitations: Buying a new router and setting it up can be technically challenging and expensive. Again, your internet provider may already offer these features. Some devices may be harder to identify or manage depending on your router setup, but limits and restrictions can be applied to all device types.

• DNS Filtering (e.g., FamilyShield, NextDNS)

How it works: You change settings on your home Wi-Fi router so that all internet traffic goes through a family-safe filter. This blocks categories like adult sites or anonymous proxy sites. It applies to the any device on your home Wi-Fi.

Limitations: It doesn’t protect devices on other Wi-Fi networks or cellular hotspots. Kids who are tech-savvy may try to bypass it. Setup can be a little technical. Free options (like FamilyShield) are basic; paid services (like NextDNS) allow more custom settings. Some of these services will conflict with devices managed in multiple ways.

• Parental-Control Apps (e.g., Bark, Qustodio, Net Nanny)

How it works: Apps or services that monitor what kids do online, send alerts for risky behavior, and let you set time limits or block apps/sites. Some can watch searches, YouTube, or social media. These monitoring apps work no matter the location of the device.

Limitations: Most require a paid subscription and must be installed on personal devices. Children may find ways to uninstall these tools. These apps cannot be installed on school Chromebooks.

 

The Darien Public School Technology Department cannot assist you with setting up devices or restrictions on your home network.
 

Most of the district-assigned Chromebooks use a USB C style charging system. If you wish to replace a missing charger, or would like a spare, feel free to order your own. Many different chargers will work. For your convenience, this Amazon link is for a popular cost-effective charger.

What digital applications or services are used in the classrooms?

Privacy contracts and a list of approved software resources for teaching and learning may be accessed here:

Instructional Software Library

A listing in the portal is not an expectation that your child will use that software. Specific questions about usage in the classroom should be directed to your child's teacher.

We have chosen Securly Classroom as a service for our classrooms to: 

• Help students stay more focused when learning online
• Help assess students’ progress on class assignments
• Facilitate communication between teachers and students during class time 

Securly complies with Connecticut student data privacy laws. The service helps teachers redirect off-task computer use, share resources directly to student screens, pause the use of devices, and enable staff to filter internet resources beyond the current settings from our network. 

Securly’s web-based services operate when a student is signed in to their school-managed account while using a school-assigned Chromebook or Chrome tablet. Darien Public Schools enables teachers to use Securly Classroom with students in their classes only during school hours, Monday through Friday.

When a student is off campus, parents are responsible for supervising internet access and usage. We encourage you to discuss rules for appropriate internet usage with your child, and reinforce lessons of digital citizenship and safety with him or her.  
 

Darien Public Schools believes in a thoughtful and balanced approach to technology use in the classroom. Technology helps us to challenge students at all instructional levels, provides varied opportunities for success, and assists in measuring and monitoring learning growth. Students should learn, communicate, collaborate, and have opportunities to demonstrate their learning and creativity in many mediums including digital, face-to-face, and traditional paper and art supplies in ways that are appropriate for their age. Teachers' use of technology in the classroom should directly correlate to learning objectives and standards. We believe learning activities utilizing technology tools that include collaboration, critical thinking, and incorporate student creativity and ownership of learning have a deeper impact on depth of understanding.  

We recognize that technology is evolving rapidly, along with our understanding of the impacts of technology. We believe one of our responsibilities is to encourage healthy screen time habits for students. Screen time is a phrase referencing activities completed in front of an electronic screen, such as watching TV, working on a computer, or playing video games. We view screen time in two principal domains: consumption and creation. Passive (or recreational) consumption, such as watching a sitcom, or scrolling through a popular social media platform, doesn’t qualify as an educational use of technology. Instead, our teaching staff focuses on using technology in the promotion of learning, such as researching a topic of study, developing individualized skills in content areas, and in collaborative ways such as making a short video with partners.

Table 1 outlines research-based screen time guidance provided by three organizations that promote healthy practices for children in the United States. There is a great deal of agreement that common sense strategies for families include avoiding screens for an hour before bed, maintaining healthy sleep habits, and engaging with play that gets the body moving. In addition, all adults should role model healthy screen habits.

When we consider screen time from an educational perspective, advice from healthcare organizations and current research does not support strict time limits. Evidence demonstrates that well-planned use of educational technology improves student outcomes. However, emerging research correlates extended screen time to physical discomfort such as headaches and neck pain, and potentially promotes the development of myopia. That is why Darien Public Schools believes in the balanced use of technology in the classroom, with a focus on the intended learning outcomes.
 

Table 1. Screen Time Recommendations

	Ages 0-2*	Ages 2-5*	Ages 5-9	Ages 9+
American Academy of Pediatrics	Interactive video chatting with caregiver. (0-18m) High-quality programs viewed together with caregivers. Avoid allowing children to use media by themselves. (18-24m)	Limit media to 1 hour or less per day of high-quality programming.	No time recommendations. Develop a family media plan.	No time recommendations.  Develop a family media plan.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry	Limit to educational programming with a caregiver and video chats with a family member.	Limit non-educational screen time to about 1 hour per weekday and 3 hours on the weekend days.	Encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens.  No time recommendations.	Encourage healthy habits and limit activities that include screens. No time recommendations.
World Health Organization	Subdivided: under 18 months screentime is not recommended.  18 months to age 2 sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better.	Up to age 4, sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better.  No recommendation age 5.	No recommendations.	No recommendations.

*Darien Public Schools does not offer instructional services for students under the age of 3.

Darien Public Schools has implemented the following practices to maximize the benefits of technology use in the classroom:

Limit Apps on Assigned Student Devices: Students and teachers do not have access to add any app they want. Teachers must submit a work order request before new tools can be added to student devices. 

Usage Evaluation of Curricular Apps and Subscriptions:  Many subscription services such as IXL, CodeMonkey, and Formative provide district and classroom-level analytics. In addition, we are now looking at broad-level usage of applications across the district. Underutilized apps that do not contribute to student growth may be removed. Usage out of line with typical practices may warrant additional consideration.

Digital Citizenship and Responsible Use: Digital citizenship and responsible is everyone's responsibility.  As online collaboration and publication become common practice in classrooms, discussions and expectations should become part of the classroom culture and practices. We work with our media specialists, health and physical education teachers, and secondary technology teachers, who are experts in this area to promote the balanced use of media and digital tools in and out of the classroom.

Teacher Professional Development:  Staff training will encourage reflection on the purpose of the digital resources and an eye toward interactive, creative, and collaborative learning with technology. The PICRAT technology integration matrix is a helpful resource for teachers reflecting on their use of technology with students in the classroom.

Limit Education Device Access: Pre-K students do not have individual access to technology. Students in Kindergarten through fourth grade have classroom access to a device, which stays in the classroom. Students in grade five may begin bringing devices home for educational purposes. Take-home devices are provided for middle school students, while high school students provide their own devices for learning during the school day. There are limited exceptions to this based on identified learner needs.

Restrict Access to Personal Devices: New guidelines have been drafted to reduce access to personal devices such as cell phones and smartwatches during the K-12 school day. K-8 9-12

Internet Filtering: All school devices are subject to content filtering intended to reduce the use of non-educational resources. K-8 staff may further limit access through tools such as Clever and Securly. Staff actively monitors student use of technology in classrooms.