Supporting children and young adults with using technology responsibly can be a difficult task for many families. At the International School of Beijing (ISB), we try to provide as much support as we can to families and students.  

What We Do On Campus

On campus, we have a range of strategies that we use to teach students how and when to use technology responsibly, including: 

• A clearly defined Responsible Use Agreement (RUA) that positively outlines expectations for student behavior and use at an age-appropriate level.  This RUA is acknowledged every year by all students and parents; 
• A clearly defined behavior matrix that outlines clear and proportionate consequences for inappropriate use that is available in our Student Handbooks (ES, MS, HS); 
• Network-wide filtering of inappropriate sites such as pornography, violence, and gambling;  
• Automated removal of unapproved software at a grade-appropriate level, such as popular games, 3rd party VPNs, and external messaging apps like WeChat;
• Providing older students with on-campus access to network resources through Cisco AnyConnect to ensure that they are still accessing internet sites through our existing filters. 

Starting in Grade 6, all students begin to bring their school-issued device home. Prior to doing so, we require and support all families in developing Family Technology Agreements so that they can have similarly clear expectations and consequences for the use of technology at home that are aligned with their own family values and expectations. This includes setting time limits on usage, having clear boundaries on where the device can be used and charged overnight, and discussions about how and when children are allowed to create accounts on 3rd party sites, such as Instagram, Snapchat, and other social media sites. We encourage families to write these agreements so that they encompass all technology and devices, not just school-owned laptops.

Beginning in August 2024, we will expect all students in Grades 6 to 8 to complete a Family Technology Agreement before they can bring their school-owned laptop home. Families of high school students are also encouraged to develop and update these agreements regularly. The earlier and more regularly families can have conversations around technology usage and expectations, the easier it becomes to have more difficult discussions in the future. 

Internet Filtering at Home 

Access to internet resources in Beijing can be tricky to navigate. It is up to each individual family to determine what is the best way to provide internet connectivity in their homes and on their personal devices. ISB does not provide device-level internet filtering on school-owned laptops. Instead, we provide older students (Grade 8 and above) with access to Cisco AnyConnect so that they can remotely access the school’s internet resources. Not only does this provide them with the same level of connectivity as when they are physically on campus, but it also ensures that their internet traffic is filtered in the same way.  

Family Monitoring Software on School-Owned Devices 

It is not currently possible to install parent-controlled device monitoring apps such as Bark, Famisafe, or Qustodio on school-owned laptops. This is because these apps require the installation of a profile that conflicts with the school-required profile for device management. 

In Middle School, students should not use their personal Apple IDs to collect Screen Time data connected to Apple Family on their school-owned laptop. This is because we require students to be logged into their ISB-managed Apple IDs so that we can use the Classroom app. Parents are able to set a local password to enable parent controls but this information will not be reported back to your Apple Family account. It is important that controls are not set in a way that they interfere with a student’s learning at school.  

Time Management and Self-Monitor Productivity 

ISB provides access to apps to help students learn to self-monitor their usage and manage their own distractions on their school-owned laptop:

1. Focus App: Available for all students and teachers in Self Service, Focus is an app that ISB has purchased that will block distracting websites and apps for a set time. This can be done on a case-by-case basis by the user, or it can be done on a set schedule. The list of distracting sites and apps is fully customizable by the user. If desired, parents can set a password so that the schedule or list cannot be modified by students. You find more detailed information here.

1. RescueTime Lite. Available for download in Self Service, RescueTime’s free powerful time-tracking software gives users the data needed to track and improve productivity. It gives rich insights into how time is spent while using the laptop so that users can build better habits and beat distractions.  Families can choose to upgrade to a paid, premium membership for further insights and details. Note that this is not designed to block specific usage but rather to allow users to understand how and when they are most (un)productive so that they can take informed action.  You can find more detailed information here.

Personal Device Monitoring 

There is a range of third-party apps and subscriptions that families can use to monitor technology usage on personal devices such as desktops, laptops, iPads, and mobile phones. Which app or subscription is best for you will depend on your own family situation and technology infrastructure. ISB does not endorse any specific third-party app or subscription. 

We recommend that families begin by exploring the built-in family safety features that are provided by most major technology developers. For families that use Apple devices, it is recommended that they utilize the Family Sharing controls to help you monitor usage. Families that use Microsoft devices can use Microsoft Family Safety controls. For families with access to the Google Play store for Android devices, they can use Google Family Link.