BYOD Years 10-12 Coombabah State High School 1
Contents Introduction: What is BYOD? Pg 3 Software Pg 5 BYOx Charter Pg 7 Suitable Devices Pg 8 Warranty & Technical Advice Pg 11 Where to Purchase? Pg 12 Fees for 2018 Pg 13 Further information regarding BYOD at Coombabah State High School is available from the school s website. Our BYOX page can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/coombyox Our BYOX documents can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/coombyoxdocs 2
Introduction What is BYOD? BYOD stands for Bring Your Own Device. It is a program that allows for privately-owned devices such as tablets and laptops to be brought to school for learning. At school devices can be connected to our wireless network to access the Internet. Laptops are also able to access our network drives and printers. Software packages from Microsoft and Adobe are also available for free or for a nominal fee. Devices can be connected once the Parent Contribution component of the Resource Scheme has been paid. What is Coombabah s plan for BYOD? The school s plan is to recommend tablets in Years 7-9 but encourage laptops as the preferred device for Years 10-12. Our feeling is that tablets are more suitable in the junior school for many reasons such as portability, ease of use, versatility and cost. In the senior school the needs of students become more diverse. There are many subjects which require specialist software that will only run on laptops or desktops with higher specifications. As students mature and physically develop, they are more able to comfortably carry heavier laptops. Why should I go to the expense of buying a laptop? Doesn t the school have computers? The fact is that access to computers and the Internet is essential for students today both at home and at school. When parents purchase a device it means that a student can use it all day at school and then continue with it at home to work on projects and homework. Numerous studies have been conducted both in Australia and around the world that demonstrate better outcomes when this happens. Coombabah is committed to providing computer facilities to support various subjects, but unfortunately no school is in a position to finance a laptop for every student to take home. Parent contribution is essential to achieve a digitally rich 1:1 environment and provide Twenty-First Century learning for students. 3
Do I have to buy a laptop for my child? We already have a tablet they can use. Laptops in the senior school will provide greater flexibility than tablets but we understand that a laptop might represent an extra financial burden for families. Therefore students who BYOD in Years 10-12 may bring a tablet as an everyday learning device and opt to use school IT depending upon subject choices. The school will maintain some facilities so students can access specialist equipment and software as needed. What happens if my child doesn t BYOD? Won t the school supply a take-home device? In past few years we have had take-home laptops available for students as a result of special funding from the Federal Government. That funding has ceased and those laptops are no longer available. Where can I get more advice? The best place to get information is from the school s website. The BYOD page can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/coombyox Alternatively, our Head of Department for IT is Mr Scott Dickinson. He can be contacted either by email or phone: Email: sdick20@eq.edu.au Phone: 55523848 4
Software There are two software packages that students have access to for free. Microsoft Office All state school students from Prep to Year 12 can now download multiple free copies of the Microsoft Office 365 Suite to their personal home and mobile computer equipment. Students who want the free software will need an active Managed Internet Service (MIS) login, school email account and password. Please note that the initial login page requires a MIS email address and password. This software is available for both Windows and Mac. Detailed instructions on accessing and installing the software can be found on our documents page at: http://tinyurl.com/coombyoxdocs Adobe CC Students have access to Adobe s Design and Web Suite. Products included in this suite include: Photoshop Illustrator InDesign Dreamweaver Flash Fireworks Edge Animate It does not include video editing tools such as Adobe Premiere. 5
This offer is for BYOD devices only and cannot be downloaded for home desktops. Please see Library staff for instructions on installing it on your laptop. Note that we may have available a limited number of licenses available for the Adobe Master Collection. This suite includes Premiere and After Effects which are required by students who take the subject Film and Television. There is a cost of $20 applied to this premium suite. This software is available for both Windows and Mac. Antivirus It is a requirement that an antivirus product is installed on laptops. This is the case for both Windows and Mac. There is a perception that Mac computers do not require antivirus, but security experts commonly agree that one should be installed. Education Queensland has strict antivirus software on its networks and it is extremely unlikely that a BYOD device will be infected through connecting at school. To help guarantee our security, the school s network automatically checks for an installed antivirus before allowing a device to connect. All BYOD laptops will be checked upon connection. A range of both free and paid antivirus products exist. Some free products such as AVG and Avast are highly rated and provide a satisfactory level of protection with the option of paying for added features. Here have been some issues with antivirus affecting the ability of devices to connect to our network. Please check our website for updated information. Norton by Symantec Symantec offers the Norton Security anti-virus product to state school students at a subsidized rate. Students have the option of choosing either 12 months protection for $9.99 or three years for $29.99. 6
The antivirus is available for Windows, Mac, ios (ipads) and Android. To access it, follow these steps: 1. Go to the page: http://tinyurl.com/eqnorton 2. You will be redirected to a page that says Access Denied. 3. Select Student. 4. Log In with MIS Username/Password. 5. Select either Middle or Senior phase. 6. Click on the Link that says Exclusive security offer. 7. Follow the directions as stated. BYOx Charter To apply for BYOD, students will need to have paid school fees as outlined on page 12 of this booklet. Once that has been done, students can take their receipt to the Library. Any student who has not yet completed the Technology Agreement will be required to do so and return the relevant pages signed before connection can occur. In signing the charter, both parents and students agree to the responsible use of technology at Coombabah State High School. Failure to comply with these expectations can result in BYOD privileges being withdrawn. 7
Suitable Devices The most important decision you will need to make involves which device to purchase. There are a range of devices which are suitable and which one is right for you will depend upon your circumstances. Factors which will influence your decision include such things as: budget the subjects your child chooses warranty and whether you have a preference for Windows or Mac. The following pages are intended to provide background information to help you make the right decision. Windows A range of Windows laptops are available from different manufacturers. There are many considerations when making a purchase. The following operating systems are supported for laptops: Operating System Windows Windows Windows Version XP SP2+ Vista SP1+ 7 (and service packs) Windows 8 Windows 8.1 Windows 10 8
We strongly recommend that you do not purchase a laptop with Windows 10S. This will prevent you from being able to install school supplied software such as Office or the Adobe Suite. The Windows RT operating system is not compatible with our network. The Microsoft Surface and Surface 2 tablets are therefore not acceptable. The Microsoft Surface 3 and Surface Pro series, however, run Windows 8 or above and therefore are acceptable. If you are not clear as to the difference, please check carefully with your retailer before purchasing. Please consider the warranty and the build of the machine. Remember that the machine will be constantly used for a number of years in a school environment by a teenager. In general we would recommend the following specifications: Subjects Standard Device Suitable for most subjects Premium Device Preferred for Graphics, Film & Television, Photography, Visual Arts Processor Dual Core - i3 i5 or i7 (preferred) Screen 11 14 13-14 RAM 4GB 8GB Hard Drive 500 GB + 1 TB + Graphics Integrated graphics Dedicated graphics card All devices must be Wi-Fi enabled. Cheaper notebooks with lower specs are available but should only be purchased with caution. We strongly recommend that you avoid any device with an Intel Atom processor. Also check how much life a fully charged battery provides. The school cannot guarantee access to powerpoints throughout the day. 9
It is highly recommended that laptops have a battery life of a minimum 6 hours when fully charged. Processors Intel Processors Atom Celeron Pentium Core Dual Core Quad i3 i5 i7 Intel manufacture a range of chips which provide the computer with its processing power ( brains ). You will also find computers with chips from another maker called AMD. In general AMD chips are roughly equivalent to Intel and can be slightly cheaper. The table to the left shows the range of Intel chips available. It is arranged from least powerful (Atom) to most powerful (i7). Avoid cheap machines using Atom processors. Chips in the range between Celeron to Core Quad are older and will provide performance from sluggish to adequate. An i3 chip will provide good performance, particularly in a machine not required to do heavy video or 3D rendering. An i5 or i7 chip is best suited for this work. Apple We understand that some families will have a preference for Apple products or own an existing device which they wish to bring to school. Any Apple Macbook purchased recently is acceptable. Both Microsoft Office and Adobe Web & Design are available for Mac and will create files compatible with school-owned devices. 10
There may be software used in specialist classes which is not compatible with a Mac but in general an Apple laptop will generally be suitable for most subjects. Devices NOT Suitable Some devices are not suitable for school and will not connect to the school s network or be able to access the Internet. Operating System Version Windows RT Microsoft Surface and Surface 2 Windows Mobile Linux Unix Mobile (phone) All All The Chromebook is also not supported. Warranty and Technical Advice We strongly recommend that all devices are covered by an extended warranty. The life of a laptop should be between 3 4 years if handled with care. If possible, consider a warranty for at least three years. Please be aware that a manufacturer s warranty generally covers defects in the build or a failure of parts which might occur even with careful handling. Such things can include a hard drive failure or blown power supply. Such warranties may not cover damage which occurs as a result of accidents such as dropping the device or breaking a screen. 11
It is possible to purchase Accidental Damage Protection (commonly known as ADP). Please consider this option. Please also consider purchasing a suitable bag or case with adequate padding. No device should be carried to school without this kind of protection. Be sure to read the conditions of the warranty, what is covered and how repairs are carried out. Most local retailers do not take responsibility for carrying out repairs and you will need to deal with the manufacturer directly. Repair times can be lengthy. Most local retailers are also able to offer a Flexirent option which can make repayments easier. Such arrangements frequently also offer insurance. Technical Advice The school will not be responsible for repairs to BYOD devices. This is the responsibility of parents. We will provide advice on connecting to the school s network and on the installation of software. We are also able to offer advice on the use of the devices at school covering such things as printing, email, the Internet and accessing electronic resources supplied by the school. Where to Purchase? As an Education Queensland school we are prohibited from entering into a partnership with or recommending any one retailer. Local Retailers There are a number of local retailers who can provide suitable devices and helpful advice. When speaking to salespeople, please be very 12
mindful of the advice offered in this booklet. Some questions to consider: 1. Is the machine powerful enough to meet the likely needs of my student? Is it the right size? (See page 8.) 2. What is the battery life? Will it last 6 hours? 3. Am I satisfied with the build of the machine? Does it feel like it will withstand 4 years of use at school? 4. What is the warranty with the machine? How long is it? What does it cover? How do I claim? Can it be extended? 5. Can I get Accidental Damage Protection or an insurance option? Most local retailers are also able to offer a Flexirent option which can make repayments easier. Such arrangements frequently also offer insurance. Fees for 2018 In order to participate in BYOD, students must pay the Parent Contribution component of the Resource Scheme. Once the fee has been paid, students bring their receipt and device to the Library where we will arrange connection. Year 10 For students in Year 10, the fee payable is $230*. Years 11 12 For students in Years 11-12, the fee payable is $100*. All fees must be paid before devices can be connected. *Arrangements can be made for families if school fees create a financial burden, especially if more than one student is enrolled. To discuss your options, please contact our Business Services Manager Mr Jim Kenny on 5552 3888. 13