Welcome to the official Q&A page of the Kingswood-Oxford School Flash Drive Program - a technology initiative where the school provides each Form III student with a flash drive to use as a personal data storage and transport device.

Why do this? The School assumes via its Purpose, Values and Aims statement a role in helping young people understand how to utilize technology responsibly and how to integrate skills across academic disciplines. As technology users in the 21st century, it is important that students learn to take responsibility for their personal data and understand how to access, move and protect it. Using a flash drive puts students in charge of their own data and reinforces the idea that personal data is something to be cared for. It is also an excellent tool for transporting data between home and school.
What is a Flash Drive? A flash drive is a portable storage device consisting of a small printed circuit board integrating flash memory and a USB interface encased in a robust plastic or metal casing, making the drive sturdy enough to be carried about in a pocket, as a keyfob, or on a lanyard. Only the USB connector protrudes from this protection, and is usually covered by a removable cap. The drive receives power through the USB port when it is plugged into one on a computer. Flash drives are faster, hold more data, and are considered more reliable (due to their lack of moving parts) than floppy disks.

Which Flash Drive will Students Receive? Each of this year's entering Form III students receives a Kingston Data Traveler Elite 1 GB flash drive. This drive was selected because it provides the ability for students to encrypt their saved data to protect it in case of loss of the drive.

What if a student loses his/her Flash drive? In the online Research Technology course every Form III student takes there are instructions on how to create a IfLost.txt file on the drive so if it is lost that information can be read and the drive returned to its owner. If a drive is lost and not returned, the student is responsible for purchasing another flash drive. Although the each student is provided with 15 MB of server storage space in a Home directory, it is recommended that students use their Flash Drive as their primary storage and the Home directory only as emergency or temporary space.

Are Other Flash Drives Allowed? Yes, although we selected the Kingston Data Traveler Elite drive for its encryption capabilities, it is perfectly acceptable to use other flash drives on public K-O computers. A lost flash drive can be replaced by any other flash drive of any size.