The Prowler
November 2015
News
A4
Self Service app limits distractions, organizes learning By Steven Clawson Staff Writer
Starting in 2012, Central students were given laptops and iPads for educational purposes. However, the first thing many students did was install a wide array of mobile games and other distracting apps. This may have been fuel for creating restrictions placed on the devices. Now, the only way to download apps is through Self Service. “If you’re in class and your teacher wants you to download an app, you have to wait until the app is put into Self Service app,” said senior MacKenzie Fiene. “Why give us iPads, but then restrict us to only use what the school thinks we need to use?” she said.
“We do have to filter content by law to exclude sites with pornography, gambling, etc.” said Technology Integrator Carol Roth. “We also chose to block many social media sites because of misuse during and after the school day on district-owned devices.” Information System Specialist Joseph Lucia has also expressed the importance of Self Service app. “By providing students with only a limited number of apps, the potential distractions from coursework are reduced.” Learners are still able to use a browser to search for apps to meet their needs, so that teachers can request additional apps to benefit all learners. Lucia also said, “one complaint [about the app] is that Self Service does not
Photo by Dylan Mehring Austin Schaffer browses the apps available on Self Service
work, but that is almost always due to the fact that the registration for Self Service was not completed. Once the set up is completely, learners have access to more than 80 apps requested by teachers. In some cases, tech support staff
will need to reinstall Self Service so that learners are able to effectively use this resource.” Students on iTeam, a collaborative group of students interested in technology, also think the app may be useful. Junior Noah Gerberick
said, “the Self Service app, once set up correctly, serves as a good way of pushing paid apps out to students.” Some of those apps include Notability and Book Creator. “One problem is that the Self Service app isn’t configured correctly for the students. Some students like to use other apps for classes that are not available on the [Self Service] app,” said Gerberick. An example would be Adobe software. iTeam members and staff specialists like Lucia stress that they will help any students who are having problems with the Self Service app. Despite the problems with the app, it still serves an important role in the school’s initiative to make classrooms more digital.
Dash of holiday inspiration comes from Central Optimist Club By Diashalyqe Bradley Staff Writer
Junior Ileen Yeng said that it’s immensely heartwarming to see students come together using their minds and bodies to better society. “I think that this club is just a great way to get involved, not only in the community, but with your peers,” said Yeng. Yeng and junior Ayushi Gupta are student directors of the Optimist Club, a club that helps children develop to their full potential by encour-
aging them to give back to their community. With the holiday season approaching Yeng, Gupta and other members of the Optimist Club want to spread hope and inspiration with their kind acts of gratitude during these holiday months. “One of the reasons I joined the Optimist Club was to help out and give back to the community, which is exactly what the Optimist Club strives to do,” said Gupta. In the past, the Optimist Club has collected enough food to contribute to two families’ Thanksgiving dinners. They have also participated in
helping out with the younger children in the elementary and middle schools by decorating pumpkins and different festivities with them to celebrate the holidays. “I think that during this time of the year, it is really hard for parents to try and go out and buy gifts because they still need to provide for their household. So, with us doing the littlest thing, such as donating canned goods, could go a long way for families who are less fortunate,” said Yeng. Optimist members are preparing to send cards to troops in York County and are
filling shoeboxes with goodies for Operation Christmas Child. These boxes are then sent to countries all over the world who may not receive gifts for Christmas. “The whole meaning of Thanksgiving is to give thanks for what you have and the best way for me to show my appreciation is to help those who don’t have much,” said Gupta. “With everything going on around the world and especially during this time of the year, it’s hard for everyone to help everyone, but for you to just do your best to help one person, you’re doing your
part in society. You’re making a difference instead of just sitting around,” Gupta added. Yeng and Gupta said that even if you can’t do much, lending a helping hand could have a huge impact. The Central Optimist Club has over 30 members who are working during Thanksgiving and Christmas, and are also actively helping with the entire process. Central Students in the Optimist Club are spreading not only cheer this holiday, but inspiration and hope.