Technology Philosophy

Burroughs provides a rich technological environment that helps maximize teaching and learning. We believe that technology belongs in the classroom when it makes learning experiences more lasting and powerful than they would be otherwise.

Burroughs teachers constantly examine their own practices and make changes as necessary to deliver the best education possible to our students; technology plays an essential role in that process. Of course, there are still times where the best learning environment is free of technology, and we trust our teachers to make the day-to-day decisions about when and where technology is beneficial within specific curricula. We work to make available any and all technologies that teachers need to improve the learning process in their classrooms. Our teachers model ethical, responsible and innovative uses of technology, and our goal is to cultivate the same attitude toward technology in our students. 

Here are many of the technological tools in daily use:

  • A robust, campus-wide wired and wireless network supplements and supports classroom instruction as well as student work.
  • All teachers have a presence on Canvas, our learning management system. This offers a single place for students to access assignments and other online resources needed for class. There are multiple walk-in spaces on campus where students may use a computer to print something out or check/work on an assignment.
  • As members of a G Suite school, every student, faculty and staff member has a jburroughs.org account that is used for email and other Google services. These accounts are also used to log in to a myriad of cloud-based services (such as Canvas) that our students and teachers use in the classroom.
  • All classrooms have projection systems that support multiple forms of video and sound input and output, and many classes are equipped with SMART boards and iPads or iPad Pros.
  • The Performing Arts Center boasts a professional, fully-equipped theater with state of the art audio-visual equipment to make our school performances and assemblies the best they can be.
  • Students are welcome and encouraged to bring their own devices to school to complete coursework; however, it is not required or necessary given that almost all resources are cloud-based. The school is always able to provide the necessary technology to students if they do not bring a personal device to school. It is essential that they have a dedicated computer at home for completing homework.
  • All core and many elective departments have dedicated laptop and/or iPad carts for teachers within these departments to use for projects and group work within their classrooms.
  • The library has over 60 laptops and several iPads available for faculty and student use onsite.
  • English and History classes use laptops for in-class essays, research and multimedia projects.
  • Modern Foreign Language (MFL) courses are supported by a virtual language lab called Extempore. The virtual lab uses specialized software that allows students to practice and be tested on speaking and comprehension, facilitating individual, partner and group work. This aspect of study is an important tool in the acquisition of language skills at Burroughs, from introductory-level courses through the AP levels.
  • Mathematics classes use graphing calculators and associated computer software daily. These classes also make use of specialized content-based software and websites.
  • Science courses are laboratory based and make extensive use of computers for data collection, analysis and modeling. Early mastery of these research skills increases opportunities for inquiry and engagement, for development of investigative skills, and for understanding and interpreting data and graphs.
  • Computer Science, Industrial Technology and Engineering courses are heavily supported by multiple computer labs. This hardware is maximized through a broad array of specialty software. These labs support coding, web design, computer-aided drafting, animation programs, architectural drawing, robotics and video editing.
  • When computer labs are not in use by scheduled classes, teachers in all disciplines may sign up to bring a class in for various projects. Individuals may also walk in to use the lab whenever equipment is available.

Here is our Technology and Social Media Acceptable Use Policy (as of August 2022):

This policy applies to all technology resources used by our students. It applies but is not limited to computers, iPads, phones, smart watches, video equipment, copy machines, information storage devices, e-mail addresses, social media and personal devices. Burroughs provides students with access to its technology resources for academic purposes only. As such, the school reserves the right to access and monitor all aspects of its technology systems and devices, and students should not expect any information stored on school equipment or systems to be private. Students may, of course, use personal devices for non-school-related reasons but only during non-school hours.

Students may face disciplinary action for unauthorized use of a personal device during school hours, and/or for creating or promoting content that is in violation of this policy.

Any failure to follow the rules listed below is considered a violation of the school’s Technology and Social Media Acceptable Use Policy:

1.  Students are to use on-campus internet access for strictly academic purposes. Examples of internet sites that may not be visited outside of academic use at JBS include but are not limited to the following:

●      personal use of sites such as blogs, Google shared apps, podcasts, wikis, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Pandora, Snapchat, TikTok and other media that involves the interaction and sharing of social information

●      gaming or gambling sites

●      pornographic or otherwise sexually explicit sites

●      sites promoting “how-to” documents encouraging violence or illegal acts

●      sites that promote racism or hate speech

2.  Students may not use cell phones during the school day, unless they are being used for an academic purpose with the express permission of a faculty member in a designated area. Students may not use Airpods/earbuds during the school day, unless they’re being used with the express permission of a faculty member in a designated area. Their use is never allowed in transitional or pedestrian spaces, the Commons, and the dining room. Students in grades 9-12 are allowed these devices after the end of 8th period, but they must refrain from their use in academic areas.

3.  The use of laptops/tablets/iPads is allowed in common spaces during the school day, when used for academic purposes. Their use is not allowed in classrooms without the teacher’s express permission.

4.  Students should remove smart watches while testing. At any other time, teachers may request that students remove smart watches if their use is distracting the student or others.

5.  Students are expected to review their JBS e-mail daily. Faculty and administrators use e-mail to communicate with students and for official notices.

6.  Students may not use technology to bully or harass others.

7. All students must respect the privacy of others. Any attempt to access private files, phones, or email messages is considered theft. Impersonation of Burroughs, another student, or a Burroughs employee online is illegal and falls under the 1998 US Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act.

8.  Students may not in any way vandalize equipment or software that belongs to JBS or any other organization to which JBS has access. Examples of unacceptable behavior include but are not limited to the following:

●      damaging, hacking or destroying networks, computer hardware or software

●      physical abuse to equipment

●      the creation or intentional use of malicious programs

9.  Students may never share their JBS e-mail password with anyone else. Stolen or lost passwords can create significant problems for the student and for the school.

10.  Students may not transmit, retrieve or store communications of an obscene, discriminatory, offensive or harassing nature or containing derogatory, disrespectful or inflammatory language. If students encounter such communications, they should immediately report it to their principal.

11.  Students may not use JBS technological systems for any purpose that is illegal and/or violates school rules and must respect copyright and fair use guidelines.

12.  Students may not misuse JBS or personal distribution lists or discussion groups for sending irrelevant messages.

13.  Students may not use JBS technological systems or devices for private gain or any commercial purpose.

14.  Students must always adhere to the license agreements for installing/copying software that is purchased by the school.

15.  Students are not allowed to create personal social media accounts that suggest they are official JBS-sanctioned accounts. Students who wish to create social media accounts for clubs or other organizations must work with their club sponsor to apply through Congress. When participating in approved school-based social media for clubs or other organizations, students are expected to create and promote an atmosphere of honesty, respect, and consideration. Students are personally responsible for the content they publish online and must keep in mind that posts created and/or promoted by Burroughs staff and students are a reflection of the entire school community.

16.  When participating in personal social media, students must comply with the School’s

non-discrimination and harassment policies as detailed within “Major School Rules” in the JBS Family Handbook. The misuse of personal social media, depending on its potential effect on the health, safety and welfare of students/others and the sanctity of the educational setting on campus, may result in referral to the principal, head of school, Student Court, and/or law enforcement.

The consequences of violating any of these policies will result in referral to the school’s disciplinary system. For violations, access to technology may be revoked for a period of time in addition to disciplinary warnings, probation, suspension, expulsion from school, or a referral to law enforcement depending on the gravity of the action and the resulting consequences.