BYOD
Information
Booklet
2015
Introduction
It is clear that the landscape has changed and technology is embedded in the everyday life of students,
teachers and parents. BYOD programs are now becoming well established in many schools and they allow
students to have greater autonomy and involvement in their education. The College believes that a BYOD
program empowers students to personalise their learning and adopt technology to suit their individual
learning styles. In recent years, many students have taken advantage of Emmanuel’s optional BYOD program
and the feedback from students and teachers has been very positive. Students enjoy the flexibility of having
their own device and the ease with which they can work between home and school. The College has
decided to build on this success in 2015 with a mandatory BYOD program in the Senior School.
From 2015, all Senior School students will be expected to provide their own device to support their
learning. While there will be some computers available for student use in the library, specialist labs and key
classrooms, it will be essential that students have their own computer.
Selecting a Device and Accessories
For Senior School students in 2015, a laptop or tablet computer is required as their primary device for use at
the College. These devices should meet the following minimum specifications:
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Intel Core i5 Processor (or equivalent)
4GB RAM
128 GB Hard Drive (SSD is strongly recommended, but not mandatory)
Windows 8 or Mac OS X (10.6)
It is strongly recommended that devices support the 5GHz 802.11a (preferably 802.11ac) wireless standard.
This will become a minimum standard in the future as the density of devices increases at the College. At
that point, devices that only support 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz) will no longer be able to connect to the College’s
network infrastructure without an external adaptor.
Parents are encouraged to consider the following features when selecting a device:
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Portability & Mobility (size and weight) – your child will be carrying the device around the campus and to/
from school.
Performance (CPU, RAM, SSD) - Solid State Drives (SSD) offer vastly improved performance, reliability
and battery life, but are not mandatory.
Battery Life – there will be limited opportunity to charge devices at school, so a device with an expected
battery life of greater than 7 hours is optimal. Devices with Solid State Drives (SSD) typically have
significantly better battery life.
Warranty – consider the process involved if the device breaks down. Some vendors have a turnaround
time of up to 6 weeks for repairs, while others offer much shorter timeframes. Also consider extending
the manufacturer’s warranty to 3 years.
For students wishing to study specialist visual arts & design subjects in Years 10-12 (such as Film, Television
and New Media, Art and Graphics), it is worth considering the following higher-end specifications:
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Core i7 Processor (or equivalent)
8GB RAM
250GB Hard Drive (SSD is strongly recommended, but not mandatory)
Windows 8 or Mac OS X (10.6)
We also recommend purchasing the following accessories for your child:
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Headphones - volume restricted over-ear headphones are ideal as they limit the maximum volume to a
safe level which can be used for an extended period
Mouse - scroll function either wireless or USB
Stylus - for touch-enabled devices.
BYOD Information Booklet 2015
Purchasing a Device
Parents have the option of sourcing a laptop from a vendor of
their own choice or bring a laptop they already own as long as
it meets the minimum specifications. When selecting a vendor,
consider the after-sales and warranty support offered.
Student Expectations
Emmanuel College is committed to providing supportive
learning environments for all our students and the BYOD
dynamic is changing the way we manage our classrooms.
Appropriate use, security and day-to-day management of
student devices have been considered. Students are expected
to fulfil the following obligations:
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Bring their device fully-charged and ready to use every day.
Be comfortable and confident in the operation and use of the device.
Take responsibility for care of the device. E.g. keeping it in its case/protective sleeve throughout
the day to avoid physical damage, not leaving the device unattended. The College does not accept
responsibility for theft or loss of the device.
Respond to teacher direction regarding use of their device.
Manage their time, use and battery life of their laptop so that at school it can be used productively for
educational purposes.
Lock the laptop in their locker during other activities not requiring the device.
Use the device responsibly, appropriately and respectfully in accordance with Student Acceptable Use
Policy.
Keep passwords private and protecting their device so it requires a login when not in use.
Using school WiFi only, not 3G or 4G.
Seek permission before photographing, videoing or sharing online.
At all times being mindful of both their own digital reputation and that of the College.
Ensure that software and apps are regularly updated to ensure the device is an effective tool for
learning.
Back up important work and files regularly (this can include the use of Cloud storage).
Consequences of misuse or failure to fulfil these obligations will be applied, and dealt with as a
behavioural issue. This may include withdrawal or restriction of BYOD privileges.
Insurance
Students must accept full responsibility for the care and use of their own laptop device while on campus.
In particular, the College does not accept responsibility for theft or loss of devices. We recommend that
Parents/Guardians check the details of their personal insurance coverage for instances such as loss or
damage when computers are outside the home.
Software
The College will not install any software on BYOD devices but has made significant investments
in infrastructure over the past few years to allow centralised provision of some software packages
to multiple platforms (Mac or Windows). In addition to this, under the College’s Microsoft Licensing
Agreement, all students are eligible to download and install a copy of Microsoft Office, free-of-charge.
Instructions to access these services will be available from the IT Support Office and ECNet. It is expected
that there will be minimal need to install software locally on BYOD devices as further use of cloud-based
technologies and services is adopted in the classroom.
BYOD Information Booklet 2015
Textbooks
In order to make use of current resources and It is planned that the College will move towards digital
textbooks over time, with trials planned in 2015.
IT Support
The College will provide support in getting student devices connected to College IT infrastructure and
services, and troubleshooting related connectivity issues, but cannot offer general technical assistance.
Students are encouraged to become self-sufficient and confident users of their devices. As such, the
College will be organising and promoting initiatives to encourage and support students in this regard.
Recommendations for Parents / Guardians
Parents are encouraged to consider the following to ensure the smart, safe, responsible use of the
device at home:
• Ensure the device is used in an open area at home, where it can be visually monitored.
• Regularly ask your child to show you what they have been doing and the tools they have been using.
• Respond with consequences if the device is not being used in an appropriate manner.
• Implement content filtering or parental restrictions at home should you wish to control the content
that can be accessed through the device. It’s important to consider use of parental control tools or
restrictions that are appropriate to your child’s age, but these measures could include:
- time limiting or disabling access to particular programs, websites or functionality through
content filtering.
- restricting management of an online account (e.g. Apple ID, Microsoft Store) to allow
parent access only.
• Ensure a balance of screen time and off-screen time as appropriate for your child’s age.
Health and Safety
For good ergonomic practice, students are advised to consider the following when using their device:
• Take regular rest breaks within the confines of the classroom and as directed by your teacher
• Avoid using the device for more than an hour without a rest break
• Use the device on a desk rather than on your lap or floor whenever possible
• Angle the screen to minimise the need to bend your neck. Use of a case/device with a stand and an
external keyboard for tablets is recommended.
• Work in an environment free from glare and adjust the tilt of your screen to avoid reflections from lights
or windows.
• Maintain good posture and avoid sitting for long periods of time.
• Increase font size for comfortable viewing.
• When using headphones keep your volume low or use volume restricted (to 89dB) over-ear
headphones. See the Australian National Acoustic Laboratory for publications on the use of volume
restricted devices.
• Adjust your device settings for brightness depending on your location and the lighting where you are
working.
emmanuel.qld.edu.au
Emmanuel College ABN 71 010 563 256 CRICOS Provider No. 00789B
BYOD Information Booklet 2015