Bring Your Own Device Overview Wangaratta High School runs a Bring Your Own Device Program (BYOD). The use of technology to facilitate learning enhances the teaching and learning process at Wangaratta High School. Our aim is to ensure that all students have skills to access opportunities to learn anytime, anywhere, given the recent complexities to education and work in the post-COVID era. Students also need to learn how to manage and operate technology, but mostly, they need to know how to leverage technology to make things happen – to enhance their learning and enact their ideas. Students will develop information and communication technology (ICT) capabilities as they learn to use ICT tools effectively and appropriately to access, create and communicate information and ideas. Never in our history has there been such easy access to knowledge and information. The key role for educators and parents is now to help students access this appropriately. Students from Year 7 to Year 12 will be asked to bring a suitable device to school each day to support their learning. Students will be permitted to use a Windows or a macOS device, however, these devices will need to meet a set of minimum requirements which are outlined in this document. These devices are required to enhance the teaching & learning experience, but they do not drive it. Some of the key reasons we are embracing devices in the classroom: • • • •
Learning is not just confined to the classroom. Learning can take place anywhere and a quality device is critical. Students will have the opportunity to be more responsible, efficient, and organised in their daily school life which will build their skills in our Ready to Learn & Personal Best values. Students are more likely to care for and maintain a device they have been involved in choosing and that they own, reducing breakages and loss which can lead to downtime in learning. Students are more likely to take responsibility and initiative in learning about their device and how it can support and enhance their learning if they own it.
Wangaratta High School has partnered with Learning With Technology (LWT), who have put together a portal that allows parents to purchase devices that meet all our minimum requirements. Parents can access further information and purchase devices by visiting the following link https://wangarattahs.orderportal.com.au/ Please read through the following Frequently Asked Questions for further information. If you have any queries, please contact the school.
Frequently Asked Questions: Can I use an older device or a device from elsewhere? If you have recently purchased a device for your child and it is less than three years old, it will most likely meet the minimum specification requirements; however, you are encouraged to ensure that it does meet the requirements specified below. What are the minimum requirements for a device my child brings to Wangaratta High School? We recommend that if you are bringing a device that is pre-owned or purchased new from elsewhere:
• That it is still under warranty.
• That it can maintain battery charge for a typical school day.
• Has a charger (clearly labelled)
• Has at least Windows 11 installed
• Has wireless capabilities
• Has a minimum of 8Gb of RAM
• Has a minimum of 128Gb storage
• Is not damaged
You are free to choose devices from elsewhere (if they meet the minimum requirements) such as Apple, but we encourage you to check if education pricing is an option, as this can make the device cheaper than retail prices. I.e. https://www.apple.com/au-hed/store
What if I can’t afford a new device for my child? Wangaratta High School has worked with Learning With Technologies to offer a number of affordable devices for purchase, beginning at around $500 (excluding insurance). If this price is a concern for your family, which given recent cost of living increases it may well be, please reach out to your child’s Homeroom teacher for more information about how we can support your child with their learning. Can I use an iPad or tablet? Wangaratta High School has determined that a tablet device without a physical keyboard, e.g., an iPad, is not suitable to sufficiently deliver all the desired learning outcomes for students in Years 7 - 12 and therefore is not recommended as part of our BYOD Program. Where can I buy a device I know will be supported from? Wangaratta High School has a dedicated portal for parents to purchase a device through our selected technology partner LWT. All devices purchased through the dedicated portal will meet our minimum required specifications. Warranty bundles will be available with the devices which include a 3-year warranty with some level of ADP (Accidental Device Protection). It is highly recommended that ADP is added to a newly purchased device, as the cost to replace a smashed screen, for example, can be quite costly (almost the same price as purchasing a new device). Each device's ADP is different and has different excesses. They should be read and checked thoroughly. The basic ADP warranties do not cover lost or stolen devices and you could look at any house or contents insurance you may have to cover this sort of incident. Any issues that arise with devices purchased through the LWT portal can be taken directly to our
ICT Service Desk. The ICT Support technicians can assist in the logging of any warranty or ADP claim on your behalf. What about the safety of the devices at School? We seek to promote personal responsibility amongst all our students. Therefore, as for all equipment and belongings, students retain full responsibility for their own property. We recommend that devices have appropriate protective covers and cases. Parents should make their own arrangements in regards to insurance and cover for accidental damage. Lockers are provided to students and these should be used at lunch and during sport classes to secure their device. The School will not take responsibility for accidental damage to student property and our insurance does not cover it. Other schools have reported much less theft or property loss under a BYOD program, compared to when the devices are not owned by the student or their family. We will closely monitor this situation. To prevent theft, we recommend: • •
engrave your device, or use some other indelible marking (but check that this does not void the warranty). use inbuilt tools if your device has one to track when they go missing. Windows has ‘Find my device’ and Mac OS has ‘Find My’ which allow for tracking of missing devices and some other features should the device be stolen or go missing. Exploring and understanding these tools before it goes missing is recommended.
Will students be able to charge their device during the day? The minimum device specifications recommended reference a battery life that will last a typical school day. Students should not need to recharge given regular use for class and should not expect there will be available chargers or power outlets. There should be no need for them to bring chargers to school and it is important they develop the habit of charging their devices overnight. This will be an important habit to form early and we seek parents’ support with this. Students will not be allowed to use chargers on-site due to Work Health and Safety risks. It is essential to factor in battery life when you choose a device. What policies and procedures will guide students’ use of their device? The key protocol is that student use of ICT and their device occurs with the explicit authorisation of their teacher to support their learning. Please refer to the ‘Student ICT Policy’. What about specialist subjects that need higher powered computers? In classes where specialist software or hardware is required, the School will continue to provide computers. What if my computer breaks or stops working? Keeping devices working is a primary responsibility and important skill for students. Being able to troubleshoot and perform key tasks and maintenance will be a part of critical self-guided and directed learning. We will teach and encourage students to take the initiative to seek solutions themselves rather than seeking to be ‘rescued’. This is also why we encourage parents to consider the Accidental Damage Protection when purchasing their student’s device.
My child struggles with organisation. How will they manage electronic files as well? This is the world that our children live in, and the realities most of us face at work and home. Learning and developing these skills is essential. Fortunately Cloud computing makes some of the processes and steps much easier than ever. Please speak to your child’s Homeroom Teacher or Year Level Leader for assistance. What about distractions? Will they be playing games and playing on the internet in class? These are real challenges that we all face today, even as adults. We think it is a critical skill of all students that they are aware of the temptations and their own tendencies, and that they learn self-control and selfleadership. Parents and the school have a role here in helping young people self-regulate. Professional learning for our teachers will feature ways to heighten engagement with learning in the classroom, and advice about ways to manage technology as part of the learning process. Please speak to your child’s Year Level Leader for assistance. What about storage of work? Student storage of data files has been moved to the Cloud. These systems are very robust and work without intervention when set up properly. Significantly, they allow students to access their work and other school learning resources from wherever they are – home, school or anywhere in the world. Students will be taught about some of the tools available to them.
Software Each device comes with antivirus protection in its Operating Software and third party antivirus does not need to be purchased. There is no need to purchase any other additional software, such as Microsoft Office, as student receive this on a free license while they are enrolled in a government school. What about devices that can access the Internet through Mobile Phone Networks ? Mobile-enabled devices with SIM card slots to access mobile networks are NOT considered to be appropriate for school use and are NOT on the approved list. Does my child need to bring the device home each night? Yes, they will need it for homework (when set), and they will need to make sure it is charged overnight. Therefore, devices should be taken home daily.